Daily Archives: February 10, 2020

If you read a lot about gaming, you probably see advice telling you to gamble more online. I have given this advice myself because theres really no better way to get a lot of games in quickly, gain experience, test yourself in tournaments, etc.

In fact, playing online poker is always widely regarded as one of the best ways to start earning serious poker income if you want to go pro.

Theres only one small problem with this particular piece of adviceonline gambling is still either operating in a legal gray area or flat out illegal. If you dont know your local laws, theres a very good chance you could end up doing something thats a crime with a very easy-to-follow paper trail.

The good news is that online gambling is getting legalized in more places all the time, and many states offer some sort of online gaming. Still, there are better and worse states across the United States when it comes to allowing online gambling.

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Also, it should be noted, when talking about this issue, online gambling is limited to money directly changing hands as it would in a casino.

It is my understanding (in other words, the understanding of a non-lawyer) that any game that doesnt involve money is fair game. You can play as much video poker or roulette or whatever as long as youre not wagering money.

Areas where you pay money to earn virtual currency that you cant then cash out also appear to be legal as a few sites (like WSOP.com) appear to operate on this basis. Again, I am not a lawyer. Please feel free to contact a gaming law professional within your area for more specific information.

No. Yes Maybe?

There seems to be a lot of back and forth on the topic on whether it is illegal to play poker or table games at online casinos. (The matter of sports betting is far more certain as all parties agree that betting on sports is illegal in places unless it is specifically allowed.)

Still, there are several very good opinions about online gaming that generally boil down to the argument that there is nothing that specifically disallows one from gaming online. This is especially true if the casino is hosted outside the US.

On the other hand, the FBI has a very well-stated opinion on their site that says online gambling with real money is completely illegal and goes on to show that people have been arrested for it. This article, though dated in 2007, is a pretty strict warning to avoid online gambling.

Again, Im not a lawyer, but I would never advise one to go against what the FBI said, even if it was in 2007. This is doubly true because a search of FBI.gov does not show that the 2007 opinion was reversed and, in fact, does show arrests for activities outside of online gaming. Therefore, you take your freedom in your own hands if you carelessly gamble online.

With that said, there are plenty of exceptions to whether you can or cannot gamble online, and they vary by state.

Of the three categories of online gambling activities (casino, poker, and sportsbooks), if you live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, you have room to celebrate. Your online gambling laws are the most lenient in the country, and you can do all three. More than likely, it wont be long until more states adopt this attitude, but for now, these states are the most open to letting you gamble from your own home.

If living in New Jersey or Pennsylvania is not an option for you right now, there are other states that openly allow some combination of the three major online gaming activities. Delaware will allow you to both frequent an online casino and play poker online.

West Virginia and Rhode Island also allow online sportsbook betting, making them one of a very few number of states to allow sports betting. Strangely enough, Nevada, a state that has counties with legalized prostitution and legalized recreational marijuana will only let you play poker online. They want you to visit in-person casinos for your table games. Nevada sportsbooks do offer online betting through land-based sportsbooks and their respective apps.

If you dont live in one of the states mentioned above, its time to start asking around to see what is and isnt legal. (By the way, dont just blindly trust the internet on this matter. If you have any concerns, always seek out a legal gaming professional with a real understanding of the law.)

With that said, a lot of state laws are strange or poorly worded when it comes to online gambling. For instance, both Kansas and Missouri have laws that generally fail to mention online gambling. Given how old some state constitutions are, this is hardly surprisingly. Still, both have laws that deal with gambling, though they focus on specific areas (for Missouri, riverboats; in Kansas, lotteries and moral crime).

Therefore, as concerned citizens, each of us has to ask themselves whether it makes sense to try gambling online. There are a lot of sites that preach a doctrine of whatever is not addressed specifically is legal.

Frankly, this is an argument that, I believe, does have some merit in a court of law. On the other hand, it may fail to encompass the full breadth of the law.

For instance, according to K.S.A. 21-6404 of the Kansas Statutes, gambling, which is partially defined as making a bet is a class B nonperson misdemeanor. In other words, its a crime. So, while the Kansas Constitution doesnt specifically call out online gambling as being illegal, it does say making a bet is a misdemeanor.

Theres likely an argument that a good lawyer can make in this case, which would somehow show that online gambling is not covered under those statutes. Thats for good lawyers and courtrooms to decide.

What it really boils down to is what the police or federal agents think when they decide if they are going to make an arrest, what the district attorney thinks when they decide to prosecute, and what the judge thinks when they hear the case. If thats acceptable to you, then you can make that choice. However, online gambling is not for everyone.

Plus, Pennsylvania is apparently a really nice place to live and all online activities are legal there.

Because Im not a lawyer, I cant tell you that anywhere in the United States is legal to gamble except the states mentioned above. Even then, I would argue that you should check to make sure laws havent changed.

As always, while playing poker or casino games online is fun, there are ways you can do it and not get in trouble with the law at all. When it comes to playing games for money, your best bet is to head out to a licensed, reputable casino offshore and play there. Its a little more work and requires a little more planning, but its legal.

This is a good question, though one thats shrouded in a lot of history. First, gambling in general has often been made illegal because it is an affront to morality laws which state the gambling leads to general bad behavior.

There are also a number of non-moral reasons for making gambling illegal, including protecting people from losing all their money on bets or falling into gambling addiction. Plus, physical casinos are notorious for money laundering. Online casinos have even less transparency.

On the other hand, some of the reasons why online gaming is illegal clearly have to do with taxes and keeping money from heading overseas.

There is some validity to this, too, though making it legal to operate an online casino from inside the US (and regulating and taxing it) would solve a lot of these problems.

It is a little hard to draw a conclusion on the matter of online gaming in the United States. It seems strange that just about everywhere has some sort of legalized gambling outside the home, but few methods for gambling online.

Still, for now, this is the situation in which gamblers find themselves. There are a few places which clearly welcome online gamblers to peruse their hobby in some form. For most of the country, though, the online gambling is a gray area in which there is no specific law against gambling. Theres also plenty of general laws that prevent it.

In the end, the best policy is to hit a casino and lobby your Congresspeople to change laws. That keeps you out of hot water and playing the games you love so well.

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Where to Gamble Online in the US - Best Options for Online Gambling - BestUSCasinos.org

The age of the internet was a game-changer for the gambling industry. It enabled anyone with an internet connection to play their favorite casino games or engage in sports better from anywhere. Now, despite being heavily regulated in many countries, the online gambling sector is growing at an impressive rate. According to a report from market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the industry can expect further growth of 8.77% CAGR between now and 2020.

However, despite this optimistic projection, the online gambling space also faces several key challenges. There is a lack of trust on the part of users, partly driven out of the fact that theres a low level of transparency into wins and losses.

Perhaps this is the reason that millennials are less interested in online gambling than their predecessors. One survey suggests that half as many millennials consider gambling a priority activity compared to other generations.

According to the Mordor report cited above, the industry is also highly fragmented and highly competitive, driving profit margins ever lower for smaller operators.

It isnt all doom and gloom, though. As technology has evolved, its providing opportunities. For example, the increasing use of chatbots helps to reduce staff overheads. However, the biggest technological opportunity for online casinos right now is blockchain.

Perhaps the biggest benefit that blockchain brings to online gambling is transparency. Rather than transactions taking place in a black box, all gaming transactions, including wins, losses, and payouts can be recorded permanently on the blockchain ledger. Moreover, games can be configured to be provably fair.

Users and casino operators can benefit from instant payouts, and by operating in digital tokens rather than fiat, theres no need to share sensitive banking or credit card information online. Regulatory compliance can also be baked in as needed. For example, if theres an upper limit on the value a user in a particular country is allowed to gamble, then this can be programmed into the platform.

If further proof were needed, the decentralized app (dApp) numbers say it all. While many dApps struggle to gain user adoption, the most popular dApps, by quite some distance, are gambling games. At the time of writing, dApp ranking site Dapp Radar shows that five of the top ten most-used dApps are gambling games more than any other category.

However, this doesnt mean that anyone wanting to participate in the blockchain gambling market needs to go and learn enough code to develop their own dApp. There are several operators making it easy for anyone to participate.

In the casino gaming space, FunFair provides a white-label blockchain platform making it easy for anyone to open their own online casino.

Its a full turnkey solution so that an operator only needs to add their branding, and they can start marketing their casino to users. FunFair is also open to game developers, who use the FunFair platform as a means of getting their games to a broader user base. This means that operators can take their pick of the games available on the FunFair platform, each of which is decentralized and provably fair.

FunFair is developed on the Ethereum blockchain and uses the ERC-20 FUN token as the native payment currency of the platform. Because the entire platform is decentralized, funds are managed by smart contracts meaning that FunFair never takes custody of user stakes or operator profits.

Once an operator starts attracting players, they can earn commissions from their casino at a rate thats around 10% what other online casino platforms would charge.

Payouts are made instantly, meaning operators dont have to wait the standard 30 or 60 days required by other platforms. Therefore, using FunFair provides operators with the opportunity to significantly enhance their earning potential.

The sports betting space is also a significant growth market, particularly in the U.S., where the government lifted a federal ban in 2018. So, blockchain-based betting platforms are also seeing a surge.

Bethereum is one such example. Rather than users betting against the house, Bethereum operates a social betting model, enabling users to bet against friends and other players.

Like FunFair, Bethereum leverages blockchain to ensure transparency in the betting process and associated financial transactions. It also offers a turnkey solution for white-label sports betting operators.

By increasing trust and driving profitability, platforms like FunFair and Bethereum are helping to open up online gambling to new markets, driving further growth and profitability.

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How Blockchain is Changing the Fortune of Online Gambling - newsBTC

Cryptocurrencies in the gambling industry dont need any introduction as an impressive number of online gambling platforms have already adopted Bitcoin and other altcoins. But thats not the end, as there is still a considerable chunk of platforms that are yet to make a transition, which combined with the growing interest in cryptocurrency among the general public and online casino gambling enthusiasts has left the doors open for the industry to scale great heights in terms of future growth.

In the current situation, the online gambling industry is poised to register a CAGR of over 8.77% by 2024. The exponential industry growth rate over the years has been achieved mostly by the introduction and adoption of new technologies like cryptocurrencies and its underlying blockchain technology. While Bitcoin offered a way out for platforms to turn into truly global offerings, it also brought along with it few challenges that are to be overcome in order to achieve the forecasted growth and maybe even stretch beyond that. Some of the challenges today include the uncertainly surrounding cryptocurrencies legal status across jurisdictions, fluctuation of crypto prices due to volatility and prevalence of fraudulent casino platforms.

According to one of the cryptocurrency casino platform operators, in order to be successful, online casino operators should strive to maintain a good reputation by maintaining a strong relationship with both crypto as well as gambling communities. The online gambling industry is involved in finding ways to overcome issues affecting their growth by working on advanced provably fair technologies, decentralization of game engines and inclusion of support for stable coins. In order to further fuel the growth of the online gambling industry even governments have to proactively involve themselves by drafting crypto and gambling-friendly regulations.

Both online and offline gambling establishments continue to be one of the major revenue drivers for many governments across the world. By creating a friendly environment for both industries, they can actively contribute towards the trust-building exercise. A lenient licensing regime for both industries will see more people adoption cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, along with an increase in the number of licensed Bitcoin Casino platforms. The combined growth of both verticals will witness more people using digital currencies on regulated gambling platforms, as they perceive them to be trustworthy.

Some of the online gambling solutions providers have invested heavily to promote innovation in casino games. With developments in Virtual Reality gaming, the next big thing in online gambling could be the new breed of interactive games that offer a much better, immersive gaming experience compared to existing options. The iGaming industry is also exploring new methods of delivery for crypto games in sync with changing tech adoption trends. One such step in the evolution of online gambling is support for gaming over wearable devices like smartwatches etc.

While the industry moves at its own pace to keep up which changing market conditions and user behavior, enthusiasts and professional gamblers can continue to pick the best out of whats available and get the most out of them. When it comes to players, whatever was earlier described as challenges for the gambling industry should be taken into account while choosing the right platform. Discussed earlier by multiple publications on various occasions, the things to look in an online casino includes the gambling platforms legal and licensing status, reviews and feedbacks for other gamers who might have used that platform, support for multiple payment options including leading cryptocurrencies and stable coins, promotions and bonus programs, deposit and withdrawal fees, and availability of provably fair games. If in doubt, pick a platform that has been around the longest and has more users, instead of those that are launched recently or with an unverified track record.

If the online gambling industry sustains growth without any technological or regulatory hindrance, then the segment is expected to be worth close to $90 billion by 2024, driving the cumulative value of the entire gambling industry to over $600 billion.

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Online Gambling: A $100 Billion Industry with Innovation and Bit of Favorable Regulations - newsBTC

Online gambling revenue in Portugal amounted to 65.4m (55.6m/$72.3m) in the fourth quarter of 2019, with national gambling regulator Servio Regulao e Inspeo de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ) noting growth across all areas of the market.

Revenue for the three months through to 31 December 2019 was up 52.1% year-on-year from 43.0m in the final quarter of 2018. Q4 also represented the eighth consecutive quarter in which the market set a new revenue record, surpassing the previous high of 54.1m in Q3.

Sports betting revenue for the quarter amounted to 33.4m, up by 55.0% on the previous year. Consumers wagered a total of 185.3m, an increase of 67.5% from Q4 of 2018.

Football was the most popular sport to bet on in Q4, accounting for 74.6% of all wagers in the period. Basketball followed in a distant second with 13.3%, then tennis on 6.3%.

Meanwhile, revenue from online games of chance revenue also increased 49.1% year-on-year to 32.0m, while the amount spent by players on such games rose by 47.9% to 852.2m.

Slots were responsible for 69.0% of all online casino bets in Q4, some way ahead of French roulette on 13.6% and poker with a 9.4% share of the market.

A total of 12 approved operators were active in the Portuguese market in Q4, compared to nine in the same period last year. The operators held 20 licences between them, nine of which covered sports betting, with 11 for games of chance.

Licensed operators paid a total of 35.8m in online gambling tax during Q4, an increase of 67.4% on the previous year.

Some 163,900 new account registrations were recorded in the fourth quarter, up from 103,500 in the same period in 2018, while it was also revealed that a total of 390,400 people placed online wagers during the period.

Meanwhile, the SRIJ published figures for the countrys land-based sector, with overall revenue for the market down 0.8% year-on-year to 80.6m.

Gaming machines were the most popular form of land-based gambling during Q4, accounting for 66.1m of total revenue, though this was down 3.5% on the same period in 2018.

Table games revenue was up 15.5% year-on-year to 13.6m, but poker and bingo revenue was down 10.1% to 991,190.

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Portuguese online gambling revenue reaches 65.4m in Q4 - iGaming Business

The U.S. Department of Justice announced in January 2019 that all forms of interstate online gambling are illegal, reversing a longstanding DOJ opinion. Since then, proponents of legal online casinos and poker sites have accused Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson of calling in political favors with the Trump administration to change federal laws. Since Adelson is the largest single donor to the Republican Party, the adoption of his pet cause by the Justice Department struck many iGaming advocates as suspicious.

Soon after the new online gambling policy was announced, observers noted that the 2019 opinion by the DOJs Office of Legal Counsel contained suspicious language. The DOJ opinion, titled, Reconsidering Whether the Wire Act Applies to Non-Sports Gambling, used the same language as anti-online gambling brochures used by one of Adelsons lobbying groups. That led many to believe there was coordination between the U.S. Justice Department and Sheldon Adelsons lobbyists.

Ray Lesniaks Freedom of Information Requests

Recently, a former New Jersey state senator released documents that shed light on the dispute. In September 2019, Ray Lesniak, a longtime advocate of online gambling, received 76 pages from a freedom of information request filed to learn about the secret lobbying of the Trump administration by Sheldon Adelsons associates.

Lesniak released the documents to the U.S. media, which showed Adelson allies used considerable pressure to influence the January 2019 DOJ opinion. They also proved the pressure was bipartisan in nature.

U.S. Lawmakers Urged Jeff Sessions to Change DOJs Opinion

Readers of gaming news long knew that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) supported a change in the DOJs online gambling opinion. The two sent a letter to then-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in May 2017 asking for Sessions to change the policy.

What the gaming community did not know was that three Democrats Dan Lipinski of Illinois, Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, and Henry Cuellar of Texas called on Sessions to do the same. The three Democratic representatives sent a letter to the AG which said, Internet gambling is not a partisan issue. Its one we believe should be more closely examined by policymakers in Congress before being allowed to expand any further.

Lesniaks document release also showed that former State Attorney General Jon Bruning (R-NE), who serves as the lawyer from Adelsons Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling (CSIG), also sent a letter to Jeff Sessions calling for a reversal.

Stating he served as Nebraskas AG for 12 years, Bruning stated, During that time I observed firsthand the threats to our children and most vulnerable citizens lurking on the Internet and was a strong advocate for protecting my citizens from illegal activity prevalent online. This is why I was extremely troubled when President Obamas Department of Justice reversed a longstanding interpretation of The Wire Act to permit online gambling.

Brunings letter raised an issue that is dear to Adelson: the threat posed by underage gambling on the Internet.

Recent History of U.S. Legal Online Gambling

For the past 7 years, Sheldon Adelson has advocated a comprehensive ban on U.S. online gambling. When Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey approved online gambling in 2013, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson vowed he would spend whatever it takes to see online casinos and poker sites banned in the United States.

Over the years, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp fought legalized online betting at the state and federal level. Because the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama era supported legalization, Adelson relied on federal lawmakers instead of administration officials.

Those efforts failed, despite support from power brokers like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT). In 2014, Adelsons political allies introduced Restore Americas Wire Act (RAWA) in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, but the bill never got out of committee.

New Jersey Online Gambling Revenues

In the intervening years, New Jersey built a $300 million online gambling industry. Atlantic City casinos, which had struggled during the recession years, found new sources of revenue. Delaware and Nevada, hoping to copy New Jerseys success, signed the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) to share online poker liquidity. Meanwhile in neighboring New York talks for legalization have frozen as they see their citizens travel to New Jersey for a fun time and take their taxing money with them.

To counter such efforts, Sheldon Adelson funded the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling (CSIG) to stop the spread of online gambling at the state level. The billionaires war on online gambling kept most U.S. states from adopting such laws from 2013 to 2017, but it failed to stop Pennsylvania from legalizing online cardrooms and casino sites in October 2017. Pennsylvanias budget problems required novel remedies; online gambling would provide at least $200 million a year. For an up to date report on online gambling regulations across the United States refer to this map.

By 2017, though, Adelson had a different avenue to an online gambling ban. Sheldon Adelson was President Donald Trumps biggest donor in the run-up to the presidential election, as well as a member of Trumps inauguration committee. The relationship gave Adelson a direct line to the White House, which culminated in the 2019 reversal of the DOJ opinion on online gambling.

Sheldon Adelson Points to Underage Gambling

As said before, the opinion mirrored many points Adelson has made over the years. At the 2014 Global Gaming Expo, Sheldon Adelson gave a keynote address where he discussed the threat of online gambling to American youths.

During the talk, Adelson noted the ease with which his grandchildren navigated the Internet and expressed his unease at their ability to play online casino games for real money. The casino billionaire cited the threat to underage children as his reason for opposing online gambling so staunchly.

Critics suggested the octogenarians perspective on the millennial generations technology habits might be skewed. Eighty-something casino executives do not play games online and are n0t typically the most tech-savvy. Adelson marveled at his grandchildrens ability to manipulate smartphones and tablet computers, seemingly confusing the ability of children to work tech devices and download apps with the skills of a computer hacker.

Why Sheldon Adelson Wants to Ban Online Gambling

In the keynote address, Adelson suggested that many tech savvy young adults can hack an online casinos age verification software. At the same time, he assumed those same children were naive enough to gamble online without knowing they were gambling.

Members of the gambling media questioned Adelsons motives. Many noted he has generated more wealth from gambling than any other person in history and therefore lacks credibility when discussing concerns over problems gambling. The pundits suggested the chairman of Las Vegas Sands conveniently eliminates competition if the U.S. government adopts his suggested changes.

The LVS executive is a billionaire many times, in part due to gambling. In his defense, Adelson would argue that his land-based casinos screen out underage gamblers. Adelsons critics point out that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board fined Sands Bethlehem several times for allowing underage gamblers in their doors.

Are Children Vulnerable to Online Problem Gambling?

Sheldon Adelson is not making up the threat posed by gambling to underage players. Consistent gaming research supports his claim. The UK Gambling Commission conducted research on student gamblers in 2018 and showed a marked increase in problem gambling.

A 2014 study by the University of Adelaide School of Psychology researcher Daniel L. King titled Adolescent Simulated Gambling via Digital and Social Media showed the social media gaming on simulated free-play casinos make children more likely to develop gambling habits when they reach maturity.

Yale Gambling CORE Research

Meanwhile, Dr. Marc Potenza of Yales Gambling Center of Research Excellence (CORE) released a 2008 study on the effects of adolescent gambling. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Potenza and the CORE team has conducted research on the human brains role in the development of pathological gambling. Using a variety of testing methods, CORE had studied recreational gamblers, non-gambling players, problem gamblers, and pathological gamblers.

Potenzas team of researchers, which includes experts on alcohol and drug addiction, has shown there is a psychological component to compulsive gambling. In that way, pathological gambling is much like alcohol, drug, or shopping addiction.

Are Online Gambling Bans Effective?

Advocates of legal online gambling counter that such arguments miss the point. Because of the proliferation of online gambling, strict bans leave the young much more vulnerable than regulated gaming would.

If a state legalizes and regulates online gambling, lawmakers require consumer protections. They also require responsible gaming measures that protect gamblers. Gaming hotlines, self-exclusion lists, and links to counseling services are prominent on licensed online casinos. When problem gamblers use unregulated online casinos, they have no such resources.

Sheldon Adelsons Lobbying Effort on a Federal Online Gambling Ban

Ray Lesniaks disclosures add another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate over Adelsons proposed online gambling ban. They show that other interests want to ban interactive gaming, though the citation of CSIG talking points in the 2019 DOJ opinion show that Adelson allies led the lobbying effort of the U.S. Department of Justice under Donald Trump.

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The Lobbyists Secret War behind Gambling Legalization in the United States - International Policy Digest

Enticing players with their colourful fruitand brimming with incredible bonuses, fruit-themed slots have dominated the worldwide gaming markets for decades.

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Cleopatra Casino is glamorous and stylish for those who value quality over quantity. It is always looking forward to keeping up with the times, with its solid selection of top-quality titles. Here you will find slots of all kinds, including fruit-themed games.

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Fruit Themes Slot Machines Top Online Gambling Sites - Inkedin

Ah, Mondays! If the week were a coffin, then Mondays would be the nails sticking out. Couple that with a hard day at office and you get the perfect start for a stressful five day stint, unless. you get to win bucks out of online games! True you can take out that old pack of cards, call up your friends, order a bottle, and start gambling, but what if you prefer isolation? In before you head over to your nearest casino donning your precious suit and your gold-platted watches, remember that you can experience the same thrill of gambling online. You might not even have to step outside your home for there are tons of online gambling sites in India.

At this point, you might have a question. Is online gambling legal?

And you know what? Absolutely!

If you want to play, but are stalled due to concerns regarding the legality of online gaming sites like NetBet, Indias premier online gaming site, fear not! The laws and regulations that target these sites are directed toward the markets themselves and their base of operation. Online gambling is deemed completely legal at the state level. Ultimately, questions of legality all go back to the location of the casino or where the website operates out of. In fact the use of online gambling sites is becoming so common that many of the top-rated casinos have taken the initiative and made these websites compatible via different mobile apps. And its not only limited to casinos, there are even online sites dedicated to sports betting like horse races or NBA (some Hollywood stuff right there). If you just want to pass the tiresome night after a rough day at office, youll find that the social-oriented culture of race betting is still very appealing. But if youre in for some serious cash grab and currency is like dust to you, then worry not, for there are sites where youve to deposit real money for bets. Whether youre a high stakes poker player or a sharp sports bettor, nothing tastes better than fine wine and traditional betting.

You only have to do a Google search for top 10 gambling sites or top 5 gambling sites to see that. And you know what? There are sites for esports betting too! The media coverage on esports have steadily increased over the years. This is why more and more people have developed an interest in it. These multiplayer gaming competitions have become so popular and massive in their stakes that there are Esports Leagues now. And with this comes a new brand of online bettors. There are now betting sites for Player Unknowns Battle Grounds (PUBG), Defense of the Ancients 2 (DotA 2), Fornite, Overwatch, StarCraft, Apex Legends, Halo, Call of Duty, and many more! Betting online is the easiest and most convenient way to place your esports wagers and earn quick bucks and in fact it presents an opportunity to earn extra bonuses and rewards too!

Scared of making money by placing bets on some videogame competition? Fear not, its similar to placing bets on real-life physical sports. You can win, that is, if youre willing to go through. It depends on how much you know about esports, and how much effort youre willing to put into your betting. If you know plenty about esports, or are prepared to learn, then you definitely stand a chance. It wont be easy though, so youll need to work hard. Youll have to try to develop some winning strategies, and youll have to do a lot of research and analysis when making your betting decisions. Same amount of effort might not go into betting on NBA or horse races, but the worlds changing and change is the only constant in the universe. So if you are interested in trying to make money from esports betting, then the time to act is now as betting on esports will only get harder in the future when the bookmakers and betting sites become more and more knowledgeable about the various games and contests. At the moment, their knowledge is somewhat limited. Theyre certainly not as knowledgeable about esports as they are about the traditional sports, which means its definitely possible to take them on and win.

So what are you waiting for? You should get started today, while the opportunity is still there. Make hay while the sun shines!

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The age of online gambling - IndianNoob

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Scientific Games Corporationannounced that a total of 22 U.S. and international lotteries are launching its newJAMES BOND 007licensed games. Scientific Games has successfully extended the intrigue and excitement of theJAMES BOND 007 brand across its gaming entertainment ecosystem, including lottery, social and casino products.

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Scientific Games created the lottery industrys first linked instant game in 2007 and has continued innovating once-in-a-lifetime winner experiences for lottery players.

Kyle Rogers, Executive VP of Lottery Licensing at Scientific Games, said, We continue to lead the gaming entertainment industry with licensed brands and linked games that generate incredible excitement with players and provide once-in-a-lifetime prizes and unique experiences. With over a decade of experience, Scientific Games understands how to connect players with the lottery brand and with brands likeJAMES BOND 007in relevant and memorable ways.

Rogers also shared that big games appeal to both new and existing lottery players. In addition, linked games offer participating lotteries powerful prize experiences that most could not provide on their own, as well as unparalleled marketing benefits.Over the last decade, Scientific Games presented more than eight linked game blockbusters, each packaged with quality, creative marketing assets for participating lotteries, with local radio and TV ad campaigns and at retail point-of-sale. Many became among the top-sellers with lottery players.

Scientific Games is the worlds largest provider of lottery instant games, and the industrys leading creator of linked games. The company currently has more than 100 licensed brands for lottery, digital, social and casino games.

2020 Scientific Games Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

About Scientific Games:

Scientific Games Corporation(NASDAQ:SGMS) is a world leader in entertainment offering dynamic games, systems and services for casino, lottery, online gaming and sports betting. Scientific Games offers the gaming industrys broadest and most integrated portfolio of game content, advanced systems, cutting-edge platforms and professional services. Committed to responsible gaming,Scientific Games delivers what customers and players value most: trusted security, engaging entertainment content, operating efficiencies and innovative technology. For more information, please visitscientificgames.com.

SOURCE Scientific Games Corporation

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Portuguese Online Gambling Revenue Grows to 65.4M in Q4 - European Gaming Industry News

Despite many countries opting to relax their regulation in recent years, Thai gambling laws remain incredibly strict. There have been many calls for the authorities to reconsider their directives, however, at the time of writing, there has been very little evidence to suggest that this will happen within the next five years.

As of January 2020, Thai gamblers are only allowed to wager on horse racing at either of the two provincial racetracks in Bangkok, however interest has waned in recent years with the younger generation preferring to follow other sports such as soccer and boxing. Residents are also able to play the national lottery on a weekly basis, although all other forms of wagering are currently prohibited.

Although these laws have been in place for a number of years, this hasnt stopped Thais from enjoying gambling in various forms. In 2014, it was estimated that over 43.5 million Thai Baht was wagered on the World Cup and that number has predictably climbed in the subsequent years.

Playing online casino games has also proved popular with Thai gamblers with an assortment of welcome bonuses and offers currently helping to attract new customers. Users are able to bypass the restrictions by using a VPN and this allows them to play slots and classic table games from the comfort of their own home.

Thailand isnt alone in this approach with countries such as Azerbaijan, Algeria and Israel also possessing similar restrictions on all forms of gambling. There are also a handful of countries such as the USA and Canada which have contrasting laws that are governed by each individual state.

These tend to prohibit players from accessing online casinos, although a number of states have relaxed the lawin recent years with online gambling now prominent in Nevada, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The gaming industry contributes around $8.86 million to the economy each year and despite some campaigners arguing otherwise, it is certainly a big business in the US and looks set to grow considerably over the next decade.

Although the Thai authorities have outlawed most forms of gambling, very few individuals have been prosecuted for wagering on sports or accessing an online casino. Players are strongly advised to use a VPN in order to continue using their favourite online betting sites and bypass the current restrictions.

Despite a growing number of calls for change, the law seems unlikely to be modified anytime soon. Although the strict legislation makes it difficult, many Thais still enjoy gambling on a regular basis and their love of gambling is highly unlikely to be quashed by the lawmakers uncompromising stance.

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Online Gambling Scene and Regulations in Thailand - Chiang Rai Times

The ban, which will come into force on April 14, is being implemented to provide an additional level of protection to vulnerable people. It is the latest in a series of legislative changes to be introduced that are designed to ensure that the UK gambling industry is seen to operate in a fair manner.

Studies have shown that 800,000 consumers in the UK used a credit card for gambling during 2018, with almost a quarter of those classed as problem gamblers, highlighting why the UKGC has introduced the new rule.

Read on as we take a closer look at the newly-introduced ban on credit card payments and assess how it will affect betting websites in the UK over the next few years.

Research by the Royal College of Psychiatrists says that gambling is a problem for approximately one percent of the population in the UK.

While this is a relatively small amount in the grand scheme of things, it is a figure that many organisations have expressed a desire to see reduced even further.

Charity groups such as Citizens Advice, GamCare and GambleAware have all called for the gambling industry to do much more to tackle betting addiction.

The Gambling Commissions chief executive, Neil McArthur, acknowledged that gambling with a credit card can cause significant financial harm to people.

The ban that we have announced should minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have, he told the UKGCs Official Website.

Research shows that 22% of online gamblers using credit cards are problem gamblers, with even more suffering some form of gambling harm.

We also know that there are examples of consumers who have accumulated tens of thousands of pounds of debt through gambling because of credit card availability.

There is also evidence that the fees charged by credit cards can exacerbate the situation because the consumer can try to chase losses to a greater extent.

Realistically speaking, the new legislation should certainly go a long way to addressing the issue of problem gambling.

While just 1% of the population in the UK are said to be problem gamblers, the other 99% of people who place bets on a regular basis do so without any issues.

Preventing vulnerable people from racking up huge credit card debts is undoubtedly a major step in the right direction, but it is not one which will have a huge impact on bookmakers profits in the long term.

Most betting websites in the UK will continue as normal, with gambling firms still able to offer many other popular payment methods to their customers.

Punters can still bet with payment methods like Boku and many others that are easy-to-access, providing the funds do not come from a credit card.

With all online gambling operators also needing to sign-up to the GamStop self-exclusion scheme by the end of March 2020, the industry appears to be well on its way to tackling problem gambling.

For the people who sadly struggle with addiction, the new rules will clearly put much-needed barriers in their way with regards to placing bets online.

However, for the 99% of punters who enjoy gambling without any such issues, the revised landscape is unlikely to make too much different to their activities moving forward.

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How will the credit card ban affect the online gambling industry in the UK? - Business MattersBusiness Matters