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An event of major significance in the ever-growing sector of sports betting is kicking off at London Bridge to launch the fall season. Can´t Miss The Betting on Sports Conference from 15-16 September at the 5-Star Grange Hotel Tower Bridge is shaping up as a true must attend for members and stakeholders in the sports betting industry. SBC Organization SBC has already established itself as a sports betting player through successfully hosting the SBC Betting on Football Conference, voted one of the top 10 industry conferences by CalvinAyre.com, whose third edition just concluded in April in front of 400 delegates at Stamford Bridge. Betting on Sports builds on that considerable momentum. The Opportunity SBC characterizes the Betting on Sports conference as a business, networking and charity event whose delegates will include a high turnout of UK and European tier 1 and 2 bookmakers, with 80% of attendees involved in sports betting governance and corporate leadership. Some Speaking Highlights Among the vast array of movers and shakers speaking at this year's Betting on Football Conference are Betsson Co-Founder Chris Duncan and Worldpay CEO Asaf Peled. Highlight Events Highlight Events include Day 1´s Predicting the Future of Sports Betting, co-hosted by SNA CEO Fabio Schiavolin and Viktor Hoffmann, and Day 2´s feature discussion Emarketing, the Commercial Opportunities around Esports, led by ESL UK subsidiary founder and co-managing Director James Dean. The Charitable Effort Launched in 2014, the BiG Sports Dinner fundraising event will be hosted by an array of sports stars, and feature key industry awards, such as “The Best Sports Betting Campaign” and; “The Best Use of a Sporting Star in a Betting Campaign.” The event supports the BiG Foundation which aims to through the healing power of sport to improve the quality of life of injured, sick, or terminally ill individuals globally. Six Events in One The Betting on Sports conference will be grounds for six events: The exhibition itself, the speaker sessions, the networking activities, a C-Level Management event, the Top Sports Betting Affiliate Event and the annual BiG Sports Charity dinner. Commenting on the myriad of events, SBC Managing Director Andrew McCarron said: “Betting on Sports is going to be the biggest event the betting industry has seen for 10 years. Alongside the speaker sessions, exhibition and plenty of networking, we are excited about the addition of the C-Level Management Event, the Top Sports Betting Affiliate Event, and the BIG Foundation Sports Charity Gala Dinner.” Outlook This is a real chance to get in on the ground floor of accelerated expansion in the diverse, dynamic, and lucrative sector of sports betting.
July 2016 marked the moment for the latest UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) annual report, with analysts and operators ready to review the industry’s financial performance. Crucially, the report was also used as an opportunity for the UKGC to reiterate the commitment it has to protecting players and safeguarding their interests. Recapping 2015/16 Changes In recapping the key changes for 2015/16, the UKGC explained how the industry now requires board members of gambling operators to introduce assurance statements that guarantee to ensure their service is safe, fair, and crime-free. The UKGC also made changes that required online operators to implement digital tools for players to monitor their gambling and activate self-inclusion triggers when necessary. Given its demand for a player focus, the UKGC supported the philosophy by promising enhanced enforcement efforts against any operators who fell short of their agreed-upon responsibilities. Moving forward, all UK-licensed operators will need to demonstrate a concern for combatting money laundering and maintaining their social responsibility. UK Operators Could Pay Less Fees Meanwhile, the second major news story to impact UK gambling operators is the revelation that a proposed new scheme could reduce their licence fees. Working in conjunction, the UKGC and the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) has proposed for the yet-to-be-approved changes to be made in April 2017. The decision stems from the UKGC explaining how its operating costs have decreased, meaning there is now the possibility of decreasing fees by introducing payment bands that are dependent on gross gambling yield (GGY). The UKGC estimates 1,900 of 3,000 operators would receive a reduction in their fees. At present, the UKGC has a GGY band of £5.5m, with all operators under that level required to pay £13,529 a year. In the future, there could be bands of sub-£550k, £550k-£2.0m, and £2.0m-£5.5m. By implementing bands, this means smaller operators would be subject to lower annual fees. However, any change is unlikely to be welcomed by the most successful operators, as a new top-end band has been proposed. If the UKGC can convince the government, then operators that surpass £550m will see a fee increase from £155,425 to £494,856 or higher.
Realtime Gaming has released its latest slot, perfectly timed for the upcoming Rio Olympics in August. Samba Sunset brings the fun of a Brazilian beach party right to players’ homes and phones. With lively graphics and a festive soundtrack, this game will make you want to get up and dance - if you weren't busy enjoying all of its special features. About the Slot Samba Sunset has 5 reels and 243 ways to win. High-paying symbols include rattlers, the samba dancer, the bay (the scatter symbol which only appears on reels 2 and 4), and the Samba Sunset logo (the wild symbol, which can substitute for other symbols - including the scatter - to complete winning combinations). Other symbols include traditional playing cards that have an exotic flare. Base Game In the base game, the highest payout is 4,500 credits. When five scatter symbols line up on the reels, players can win a maximum of 900 times their original bet. Special Features Three or more scatters appearing from left to right will activate the Free Games feature, during which players are awarded 10 free games. During this feature, if players score a winning combination using a wild, their wins will be doubled. Also during the Free Games feature, if three scatter symbols appear on the reels, the Super Games feature will be activated, which adds samba dancers to the reels and awards players with another five free games. In this feature, the wild symbol will triple all wins! The only downside is that this feature cannot be retriggered. Another huge draw of Samba Sunset is the jackpots - Samba Sunset has one local jackpot and a network of progressive jackpots. Progressive jackpots have the potential to soar to high heights, since every time a player places a bet, no matter where he or she plays, the progressive jackpots climb higher and higher. Where to Play Samba Sunset can be played on PC or mobile at RTG powered casinos such as Slotastic Casino, Grande Vegas Casino, and Intertops Casino.
The Premier League is one of the strongest European football competitions, with several teams competing for the trophy each year. This season promises to be even more interesting, as some of the best managers in the world are at the helm of English teams. Last season, Leicester lifted the trophy, in what was one of the biggest surprises in the history of this division. The odds of this repeating are slim to none, but then again the odds on Leicester winning were 5000 to 1. All Eyes on the Derby of Manchester Manchester United and their city rivals are credited with the first chance to prevail, at a significant distance from the pack of favorites. Guardiola is the new manager at Manchester City and his track record explains the preference of bookmakers. Those who have an account at bet365 sports will enjoy odds of 9/4 on City to prevail. The Spanish manager was unstoppable with both Barcelona and Bayern, but English football is an entirely different beast. Mourinho is more used to this competition and the former Chelsea manager has a lot of money to spend at Manchester United. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was at the top of his priority list and the Swedish football player will spearhead the offensive for the Red Devils. It’s been a while since they won the domestic league and their performance in European competitions left a lot to be desired. With a new manager and more money than ever before, they are a force to be reckoned with and bookies price them at 7/2 to win. Arsenal and Chelsea Tied at 6/1 London teams were more successful at winning the championship in recent years, but neither Arsenal nor Chelsea are favorites this season. The Gunners gets tested in the first match against Liverpool and once again they spent less money than most of their competitors. Wenger has turned the club into a money-making machine, but this came at the expense of performance. This year, he is encouraged by owners to spend more money and do whatever it takes to win the Premier League. Chelsea lacks much of the glamour of its counterparts, but has enough great players to stand a chance. Last season was one of the worst in recent club history and both the owners and the fans have high expectations from this year. Conte did a fine job as manager of the Italian national team and had a convincing performance at the European championship. Chelsea has an easier schedule in the first month, before the team will be seriously tested in back-to-back games against Liverpool and Arsenal. Dark Horses and Relegation Threatened Teams Tottenham and Liverpool had their chance last season, but failed to take advantage of Chelsea’s struggles. They now start from scratch and will have to do more with less money. Bet365 has odds of 8/1 on these two teams winning the Premier League, similar to the ones offered one year ago. What they lack in novelty and resources, these two squads compensate through stability and consistency. They managed to retain their key footballers, who play well as a team and have the kind of synergy needed to prevail. Hull, Burnley and West Bromwich are at the opposite end of the spectrum, as the main candidates for relegation. Those who hope to win a fortune can bet on any of these three teams to win the trophy at odds of 1500/1. Bookmakers are reluctant to cross this threshold, as Leicester’s success is still very much alive in the mind of football fans and punters. Sunderland, Watford and Swansea have clear objectives for the season, as the three teams try to avoid relegation and if possible, finish in the first half. To check out the odds for yourself and start preparing for the upcoming season.
UK gambling and betting firm advertising expenditures are escalating. New Figures New research shows that in 2015, UK gambling firms spent 46% more on television adverts than in 2012 with 2016 on pace to set a new spending record. The Guardian newspaper reports that the Nielsen data figure of £118.5m for TV promos in 2015 has jumped from £82.1m in 2012 in the pre 9 PM slot in which gambling firms are permitted to advertise. The Breakdown Bingo operators were the biggest spenders at £56.9m, for a jump of 17% from 2014. Online casino ad expenditures saw the most substantial increase, vaulting 54% to £30.1m. Another major vertical, sports betting, came in third at £26.7m. This Year´s Pace As for the 2016 pace, gambling firms spent £51.4m on TV adverts over the first five months. The full year pace projects to £123m, keeping in mind that the figures do not include the spike in activity at Euro 2016. Cumulatives As for the cumulative total, TV ad spending on gambling adverts between 2012 and 2015 has reached £456m. This figure includes sports betting, bingo and online casino and poker operators, but does not include the £169m spent by lottery firms during this period. Restrictions Loosened The rise can be traced to the UK government´s 2012 relaxation of restrictions on television gambling ads from the 2007 Gambling Act that had limited advertising permissions to National Lottery, bingo and football pools. One year after the loosening of restrictions, in 2013, UK media regulator Ofcom reported a six-fold increase in television gambling advertisements. Complaints Reportedly Down A wager-happy UK public does not seem to mind. In fact, gambling-related complaints have actually dropped during this era of expanded advertising, with the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority receiving 956 complaints in 2015 about gambling ads versus 1,152 in 2012. Social Concern Expressed As for the danger of ads for an addictive activity, delegates at a conference on gambling addiction held in Cardiff last month expressed fears about the “serious social blight in this country” for which “the government still insists on light-touch regulation.” Outlook A sufficient reinvestment of advertising revenues in social programming via government taxation is the best hope for social justification of increased competitive advertising, but rises in addiction need to be monitored as well.
Real Madrid failed to win the domestic championship but emerged victorious in the Champions League. This means a lot for a club that has high expectations and a budget to match them. Before the official start of the season, they get to test their players against equally capable teams in the International Champions Cup. The first game is against Chelsea, a squad that fell from grace and is trying to pick up the pieces. No Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid The reigning Champions League will be playing without their best footballer, as Cristiano Ronaldo is still mending injuries. He picked up an injury in the final a few of 2016, but still got to lift the trophy after Portugal defeated France. Now he will spend some time on the bench until his 100% fit to play and this is not going to be against Chelsea. On the bright side, Real Madrid has plenty of alternatives and will use an offensive starting formation. In fact this will provide other footballers with a chance to prove their skills in the absence of the biggest star. Since winning the final against Atletico Madrid they didn’t play any official game, and will try to make the most of this opportunity. Disappointing Campaign for Chelsea After finishing in the second half of the Premier League last season, Chelsea wasn’t very successful in friendly games either. They only managed to win one of the two games against a mediocre opponent from the Austrian championship. This would be a serious test for them and will probably try to salvage a point. Real Madrid will come out firing right from the start and will not settle for a draw against Chelsea. That’s why punters would be wise to take even odds offered by bet365 Sports on the Champions League winners to prevail in regulation time.
Delaware Online Gambling Hits New High Finally, some good news from Delaware. Since the state legalized online gambling in 2012, its revenue has been less than dazzling. But a few days ago, the state reported that June’s revenue hit $304,874, the highest benchmark ever since the state legalized online gambling. This is a whopping 180 percent year-on-year increase. The state’s three licensed operators all reported increases: Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway and Casino. While Delaware’s numbers might not seem like much when compared to New Jersey, which posted over $16 million in revenue in June, it is still a notable milestone for the less-densely populated state, which has struggled with its online gambling revenue since its inception. The hope is that revenue will continue to climb, albeit at a slightly faster pace than before. Pennsylvania Land-Based Casinos Break Records Another state reporting a good month of June is Pennsylvania, with their land-based casino revenue hitting its highest mark in the nine years since gambling was legalized in the Keystone state: $3.23 billion. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported that June revenue from slots and table games topped $3.2 billion, breaking the previous record by $86 million. Table games revenue alone was $839 million, showing an 8 percent year-on-year increase from 2015. Overall, total gaming revenue rose by $112 million from the previous year, an increase of 3.6 percent. Parx Casino in Philadelphia brought in the most overall revenue - $543 million - while Sheldon Adelson’s casino, Sands Bethlehem, came in a close second with $533 million. What Does This Mean for Pennsylvania Online Gambling? Ironically, casino magnate Adelson is one of online gambling’s biggest opponents; yet Pennsylvania’s successful year might just pave the way to legalize online gambling during the next legislative session. While the legislature has adjourned for the summer, online gambling is certainly an issue that will be brought up again in the fall.
Leicester is the team that everyone talks about in England and they are still a big thing in Europe. Nobody gave them a chance at the beginning of the regular season, but they managed to win the championship. For this season, they have lower expectations, but the recent triumph brought them in the spotlight. That’s how they were invited to play in the International Champions Cup and take on PSG. PSG Can't Rely on Zlatan Ibrahimovic Savvy punters and pundits say that class is permanent while form is temporary. This idea will be put to the test when Leicester plays against PSG, the multiple French champions. They lost a couple of players during the season break, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but still have plenty of options up front. Nobody doubts their ability to win the domestic championship once again even without their star. Against Leicester, PSG will have to play it smart because the English champions are deadly on counterattacks. Scoring an early goal would tip the balance in their favor, as Leicester has a hard time coming from behind. Their game is simply not built on exercising constant pressure, especially against a team of this caliber. 15 Undefeated Games for Leicester Even after they won the Premier League, Leicester didn’t take the food off gas and managed to extend its invincible run. Truth be told, none of their opponents so far were as good as PSG, or as motivated as the French outfit. Splitting points wouldn’t be a tragedy for the English team and Ranieri will be aiming for such a result. He knows that his team is the underdog in this match and will play accordingly. PSG is the team to trust in this fixture, despite the recent performance of Leicester. The odds are surprisingly high at the time of writing, revolving around 9/10 at bet365 Sports.
Totally Gaming´s World Regulatory Briefing Africa WrB is coming up on September 8th in Central London´s OXO2 with a unique social driver. YGAM Sponsorship Education charity YGAM is the main sponsor, and this unique moment in the sponsor´s young history also goes a long way towards optimizing the integrity of the proceedings in considering a global region where protection is as important as expansion. About YGAM Founded by CEO Lee Willows, YGAM was launched only last year, as a way to educate young people about the risks of gambling and social gambling. YGAM rapidly gained industry support for its grass roots efforts as it delivered its message of safety through local communities, schools and universities. YGAM Development Willows expressed his pride in the progress made by his organisation in the last year-and-a-half, calling the development “an incredible journey…effectively developing curriculum, achieving accreditation, and engaging with schools and youth groups on the issue of youth gambling-related harm” in “a relatively short amount of time.” WrB Support As for WrB, the international gaming sector will convene for the second year in a row to enhance online play through examination of consumer analytics to increase value for all stakeholders in iGaming. Representatives from key online betting play organisations such as Caesars, Sky Betting & Gaming, Betway and the UK Gambling Commission all will be on hand to speak. Walters Lauds YGAM Event producer Sadie Walters noted that the YGAM co-sponsorship would add the necessary dimension of social impact to the proceedings, Themes Themes on the 2016 Agenda include Responsible Gambling and the Bottom Line; Best practice sharing across Europe, featuring international examples from USA, Canada and Australia; Segmenting Data and Targeted Responsible Gambling strategy; and CSR in Gaming. Speakers Speakers include Claire Pinson, President of European and International Affairs for France´s online gambling operator Arjel; Gamcare Chief Executive Dirk Hansen, Ladbrokes Responsible Gaming Head Graham Weir, and Jan Jones Blackhurst, Executive Vice President of Government Relations and Corporate Responsibility for Ceasars Entertainment.
Since it was acquired by Caesars Entertainment Corp in 2011, Playtika grew into a profitable company. With more than 1300 employees, it shows tremendous potential for growth. This caught the eye of a Chinese consortium led by Shanghai Giant Network Technology. The online games developer and the other investors found it worthwhile to pay $4.4 billion in cash for the Israel-based company. Great Return on Investment for Caesars Entertainment The fact that gambling is illegal in China didn’t have a deterring effect on the local investors. They play the long game and are confident that the acquisition of Playtika will pay off in the long run. Caesars Entertainment only spent about $170 million five years ago when it acquired the company with the headquarters in Herzliya. Granted they invested massively in the online casino games unit, the return on investment is spectacular. As for the Chinese buyers, they expect this acquisition to help them consolidate their position in the gaming industry. The Chinese market is the biggest in the world and once the regulatory obstacles are surpassed, it is expected to generate tremendous profits. Playtika is a leader among online casino providers of software and they are a strong promoter of mobile applications for gambling. A Bright Future Ahead for Playtika Playtika will retain much of its independence in the wake of this acquisition. The Chinese buyers are thrilled at the progress made so far and try to tap into the new commercial opportunities presented by this deal. The casino style games offered by Playtika are free to play and this is not going to change. The deal is virtually ensured after the auction process concluded, but it is still subject to regulatory approvals. It will only be completed in the final quarter of 2016, but the wheels have been set in motion.
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