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Hope for regulation in a fourth state in the US, Pennsylvania hit a minor road bump. Cause for optimism On the heels of an optimism-yielding Pennsylvania House of Representatives approval of a legislative package for online gambling and daily fantasy sports, slots at off-track betting parlors and in six state airports offering mobile games to waiting passengers, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the spending portion of the state’s budget over the weekend. Final hurdle The final step is the investment revenue portion, which legislators hoped to pass on Tuesday, or Wednesday at the latest. Fall realistic However, the Associated Press now quotes Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Browne saying “the gambling legislation would not be included in any revenue plan passed this week.” He updated the approval ETA to the fall, further acknowledging that the state has already deemed the estimated $100m gambling revenue yield the primary solution to its budget gap. Impact Asked about the fiscal impact of deferring resolution, a candid Brown provided a message of hope for iGaming stakeholders: “One hundred million dollars in the scope of a $31.5 billion budget … it’s not needed right away. But if it’s probable? You can book something that is probable.” That probability scales all the way up to a 400 million dollar revenue windfall at highest estimates, requiring investment in all possible forms of gambling, including the online format. Upshot Pennsylvania remains likely to become the fourth state to regulate gambling in the fall. The question is whether online gambling will be included in the state´s investment. Influencing Factors Factors that could influence inclusion of online gambling provisions include the casino table gaming tax increase from 12 percent to 14 percent, increasing demand for online operation and play as an alternative; and increased availability of slot machines in the state, when there are so many popular slot games available online as among the most popular online forms of gambling in general. Watching State Sentiments Other states reported to be taking a closer look at the results include West Virginia, where State Lottery spokesman John Myers acknowledged that his staff is closely monitoring the developments:“…to stay competitive, we’ll have to consider these (results)...” Outlook Whether Penn approval and inclusion starts a trend of more states regulating online gambling remains to be seen. It would certainly increase the likelihood.
“When pigs fly” is a popular English idiom used by people who doubt that something is going to happen. Ironically, this is the title of a new NetEnt video slot that is slated for release next week. Despite the name, players can definitely expect this slot to appear at leading NetEnt sites such as Casino Cruise, Playamo Casino, and PunchBets Casino next week. ‘90s Cartoon Visuals Footage of NetEnt’s When Pigs Fly slot first emerged on YouTube in early June, with players shown a strange experience quite unlike any other. For starters, the cartoon visuals hark back to the days of Ren & Stimpy in the ‘90s. So, perhaps some of the NetEnt’s visual artists were inspired by the popular cartoon. Changeable Reels More importantly, though, the footage shows a bizarre slot setup that has never been seen before from a major software developer. The five reels are what players are used to, but the numbers of symbols that can appear in each row seem to change. At times, some of the reels have five symbols, but then at others there can be one. By adopting a highly innovative, changeable style, NetEnt can include 3,125 ways of winning. Expand the Reels The changeable reel design is the principal feature of the game, and there is enough going that players do not need to look for side-game. After each win, players will see reels expand, with it possible to end up with a five by five grid of symbols. Free Spins Counter Going back to the intro of the YouTube video, NetEnt shows that players have wild symbols and that they can win up to 480,000 coins. But the more important feature appears to be the re-spins. Each win will trigger a re-spin during gameplay, with each consecutive re-spin lowering a countdown. Aim for five consecutive re-spins and there will be eight free spins.
Electric Diva is a 5-reel, 40-payline slot machine from Microgaming that has a Sci-Fi / rock music inspired theme. With attacking aliens being fought off in a free spins round that comes complete with multiplier wins, this game has recently been released at Crazy Vegas Casino. About Electric Diva Produced in collaboration with Mahi Gaming, Electric Diva features mysterious alien bats and scorpions and the Diva herself as well as high card 10 through A symbols. Set in Spark City, there's a wild symbol that can earn players up to 300x the total stake should 5 appear on an active payline, while the scatter is some guitars which emphasises the music element of this game, as does the rock soundtrack that plays along in the background. A bonus symbol will trigger free spins with multipliers. Three scatters will start a single spin, with a 1x multiplier, 4 scatters triggers 2 spins and a 2x multiplier and 5 will launch 3 spins with all wins multiplied 3x. However, with each of the 18 alien ships that players manage to destroy in a side game that plays out before they start, further spins are added and it's possible to end up with 40 free games where wins are 8x the base value. A jackpot of $140,000 can also be won during the free spins round. About The Release At Crazy Vegas Casino Electric Diva was released on 6th July at Crazy Vegas Casino, commenting on it, Harry von Schlussel, Crazy Vegas Casino manager and spokesperson has said ''The unique combination of Sci-Fi and rock is certainly not disappointing, but you also won't expect anything less from Microgaming of course.'' Crazy Vegas Casino has welcome bonuses for new players and a wide range of slots, table and card games for all to enjoy and now players can release their inner rock star with Electric Diva..
SpinEmpire Casino added a significant amount of new gaming titles to their roster in the recent month. The casino diversified its offer by adding over a thousand games from some of the best software developers in the industry. Games from brands like NetEnt, IGT, Spigo or Leander Games can now be found in the online casino’s gaming roster next to the already popular titles from developers such as Microgaming or Betsoft. The new additions mix slots titles with table games and also include some new Live Dealer games as well. New Games Change SpinEmpire’s Gaming Roster SpinEmpire Casino added a whopping thousand games to their already large roster. The casino now offers 1293 games in which users can gamble in real-money play. Among the new titles 85 slot games have been created by IGT or International Gaming Technology. A further 12 Edict created slot games and 38 video slots created by Leander Games are also included in the new additions. Spigo also supplied the online casino with 10 games while OMNI Gaming offered 7 games. WorldMatch offered 77 diverse games including video poker, slots or other table games titles. The new additions to SpinEmpire Casino’s gaming roster also include new Live Dealer games. They are provided by Vivo Gaming and BetGames and include baccarat, roulette or blackjack titles. SpinEmpire Casino’s reliable and fair service has been recognized by several independent audits. Because of this it has been awarded the Online Casino Reports Seal of Approval after meeting the numerous stringent requirements needed for the distinction such as a 24/7 support service as well as a strong SSL encrypted transaction system. SpinEmpire Casino’s Games The casino offered a good selection of games even before its significant new additions. It boasted numerous slot titles as well as table games from the likes of NetEnt, Microgaming or Betsoft. The online casino’s games could all be easily accessed via the website’s instant-play function. The casino’s reputation of offering a good number of table games in addition to their slots titles has been preserved even after the recent increase in games with a good balance being struck.
The Quebec government's recent announcement to require Internet Service Providers to block unauthorised gambling sites has already met a challenge. Source of Opposition Immediately opposed by many as a breach of internet freedom, a form of censorship, and beyond the scope of the province's jurisdictionary powers, the first formal protest against the legislation first proposed in early 2015 has been filed. The Filing The Public Interest Advocacy Centre has filed a request with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission CRTC that the federal regulator declare the law unconstitutional. The Problem External PIAC counsel Geoff White asserted that “Bill 74 violates a long-standing recognition of federal jurisdiction over telecommunications” raising his own organization's concerns as to “what could happen if one province is allowed to order ISPs Internet service providers to block certain websites.” The Purpose The legislation initially was drafted to divert revenues from “unauthorised” gambling sites to Espacejeux, the website run by Loto-Québec, which would also compile the list of unauthorised sites. The Provincial Position The government defended the law as a legitimate measure within the provincial powers to regulate gambling and promote health and safety, with the Quebec National Assembly approving the new provision in May as part of Bill 74. Costing ISP's Already ISP's are already incurring new technical costs while they evaluate how to comply with the new rules and block certain sites specifically in Quebec but not outside the province. Call for Quick Resolution White called for a commission decision to avoid “an unnecessary and protracted constitutional debate, given the very clear past rulings of the Supreme Court.” Federal Government Stance The decisions he is referring to include the June ruling by Canada's top court over the site of a new cell tower reaffirming that the federal government has authority over telecommunications (as opposed to the smaller provincial authority of Quebec). Quebec Minster Responds Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitao responded via e-mail that Quebec province officials have “reasonable assurance that we are acting within our jurisdiction to protect consumers and fight against the risks of gambling.” Outlook This is the ideal time for the CRTC to chime in, and the commission's ruling will go a long way towards determining if the Quebec ISP blocks will ultimately be allowed to stand.
Fans of Ancient Greece will get a kick out of Habanero’s newest slot game, Sparta, which features hardy warriors, billowing warships and ancient military weaponry. But unlike the feature film 300, which is set in the ancient city, the Sparta slot focuses less on the gore and more on the opportunities for scoring large wins. About the Game Sparta is a 5x3 reel, low volatility slot. Players can select up to 25 lines, and the Zeus lightning symbol has a high value and pays up to 1800 times the total spin bet. The background of the game itself is rather, well, Spartan (pun intended!), but the soundtrack is intriguing and the graphics enjoyable. When players hit a winning combination, golden coins rain down upon the screen, the numbers soar, and the tempo speeds up. True to form, Habanero’s newest creation was developed in HTML5, which means that it runs smoothly on desktop, tablet, and phone. CEO of Habanero, Nic Ioannoy, commented, “We think Sparta will be really popular across a wide range of territories as it is a perfect combination of the old and the new.” Players can expect to find the new Sparta slot at Habanero casinos like Winner Casino, 32Red Casino, and Gala Casino. Habanero Slots In March of this year, Habanero released a slot game entitled Roman Empire, a 25-payline, medium volatility slot that was received well across the board. With its latest release of Sparta, it seems that Habanero has tapped into a niche that suits both the company and their players. About Habanero Habanero supplies quality slots and table games for the online and land-based casino industries. Habanero’s portfolio of slots currently includes over 60 titles, with an additional six table games and ten video poker games. Habanero games have been directly integrated into 25 operators and are available in 15 languages.
Lucescu left Shakhtar Donetsk after 12 years and will be training Zenit St. Petersburg. The Ukrainians have brought Paolo Fonseca and the new manager hopes to start the season with an important victory. Opportunity is at hand as his team plays against Dynamo Kiev in the Ukrainian Supercup. His opponents have the upper hand after winning the domestic championship last season by a comfortable margin. Back-To-Back Victories for Dynamo Kiev The reigning champions were busy this summer and played no fewer than seven friendly games after the end of the regular season. With only a couple of footballers playing for the national team, they had plenty of time to test the new squad. The campaign of friendly games went better than expected as Dynamo won all but one and is yet to lose a match. Shakhtar Donetsk played fewer games and they were less successful, but had tougher opponents. The team is also undergoing a series of changes, as the Portuguese manager tries to find the ideal starting 11. His preference for Brazilian players is self-evident and luckily for him, Lucescu left a couple of quality South American players. The Head to Head Record Favors Shakhtar Dynamo Kiev won the championship last season despite losing both games against their archrivals. Shakhtar Donetsk dropped plenty of points against weaker teams and eventually this came back to bite them. In the head to head games however, they were more than a match for the team from the nation’s capital. They won both games by 3-0 and hope to extend this winning streak in the Super Cup. In the last seven games played between Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk the winning team kept clean sheets every time. Two games resulted in scoreless draws, so there are plenty of arguments in favor of taking the odds of 4/5 offered by bet365 Sports on fewer than 2.5 goals to be scored.
Betmotion has finalised an agreement that will see the online gambling operator integrate Endorphina video slots to its existing gaming portfolio. With the integration process now underway, Betmotion players will soon be able to play titles from Endorphina’s growing back catalogue. For Endorphina, this is another major step forward in the software firm’s development. Betmotion serves players throughout Latin America and is one of the continent’s largest online gambling operators. Moving forward, this strategic agreement gives Endorphina a greater international reach than before. Endorphina games are designed in Flash-based software so that the content can be played on an array of electronic devices. Beyond this commitment, the developer is also known for its commitment to Bitcoin. Dedicated Endorphina casinos allow for players to deposit securely using the world’s number one cryptocurrency. The Endorphina Back Catalogue Endorphina’s full back catalogue has more than 30 video slots for players to explore. Thus far, the developer has committed to creating games that embrace a wealth of popular themes, from myth and legend to pirates and superheroes. The slots are also diverse in their use of paylines, with Endorphina ranging from five to 50 in the styles produced so far. Satoshi’s Secret is a notable slot because it was the world’s first Bitcoin slot, with the name chosen based on the supposed creator of the cryptocurrency. This slot was also notable for its inclusion of a sixth reel to add further innovation to the experience. Betmotion players will have yet more online slots to explore, with Ice Pirates letting players embark on a treasure voyage to an extremely cold part of the world. For animal lovers, they could be drawn to titles like Wild Safari, while Blast Boom Bang is designed for superhero fans. Players can slots to meet many more of their interests within the slot library.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive is the most popular first-person shooter and the uncontested leader in the eSports industry. Millions of dollars are won by those who win prestigious tournaments, but these prizes represent just the tip of the iceberg. Over the last couple of years a lot of money was made by the gambling industry using CS skins as a bargaining chip. The industry is estimated at $7.4 billion, but it can all come down in flames as Valve is on the verge of shutting it down. Valve Gives in to Criticism The company that produced Counter Strike: Global Offensive and distributes many other games on Steam was accused of benefiting from this industry. Detractors claim that Valve made a lot of money by facilitating the purchase of skins over the Internet. This is how it was possible for the industry to take bets worth billions of dollars in 2016, but it’s the same company that could reduce it to rubble. After facing waves of criticism, they decided to come out with a statement that leaves no shred of a doubt regarding their position. Valve has announced that they will start sending notices to all those websites that facilitate these transactions and ask them to stop immediately. Without the support of the company that has produced CS and Steam, it’s hard to believe that the industry can survive. This also marks an important moment for the company that previously encouraged players to collect virtual items. Skin Gambling Prohibited by Twitch Twitch has achieved something spectacular by convincing millions of players to share their content and watch professionals play. Now the popular service warns users against promoting any skin gambling for CS, following the announcements made by Valve. Even though it didn’t seem possible a couple of weeks ago, the end seems to be nigh for the Counter Strike: Global Offensive scheme gambling industry.
The recently signed agreement between Barcelona and Betfair adds the betting exchange on the list of official global partners of the Spanish football club. Over the next three seasons and starting on July 1, they will be working together to improve the brand visibility of Barcelona. Great News for Football Fans Betfair is the leading betting exchange where punters can bet on top odds on their favorite teams and dozens of sports. Primera Division is widely regarded as the best football championship, which explains the preference for this competition. As a result of signing this agreement, Betfair will enjoy access to Barcelona players, which in turn should help them create better marketing campaigns. Their customer base is expected to increase as a result of this deal, while the quality of their promotional content will also improve. There brand is already well known internationally, but shaking hands with Barcelona comes as a confirmation of their high profile. The Spanish football club has a reputation of only associating its name with companies that have a flawless track record. An Important Year for Betfair The merger between the betting exchange and Paddy Power made the resulting company one of the top three online gambling operators. Nearly half of all the revenue generated by Betfair Paddy Power comes from football, which highlights the importance of this recent agreement. Now that they have access to Barcelona’s digital channels, the betting exchange will have an easier task at achieving its ambitions. The ultimate beneficiaries of this deal are the punters themselves, who can expect unique sporting experiences and exclusive campaigns. Other online bookmakers have signed lucrative deals with major football clubs in 2016, to improve their exposure. However, all these agreements pale in comparison to the one signed by Barcelona and Betfair, as the partnership will continue for at least three years.
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