Daily Archives: April 22, 2022

Connecticut betting and igaming revenue reaches $25.0m in March – iGaming Business

Posted: April 22, 2022 at 4:53 am

Connecticut's betting and igaming market reported month-on-month revenue growth in March.

Gross gaming revenue for the market reached $25.0m (19.1m/23.0m) in March a 45.4% rise from $17.2m posted inFebruary. Year-on-year comparisons are not yet available, as legal online gambling did not launch untilOctober of last year.

Gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Connecticut is calculated after promotions are deducted. Before these deductions, revenue came to $30.1m, a month-on-month rise of 39.4%.

Online casino was the main draw for consumers in the state, with players wagering $568.3m with FanDuel and DraftKings. Before deductions from promotions, revenue totalled $22.6m, falling to GGR of $18.6m after bonuses and free bets were taken out.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which operates Foxwoods Casino and is partnered with DraftKings for online betting and gaming, retained top spot in the market with $10.2m in online casino revenue after promotional deductions.

Consumers wagered $540.3m via Foxwoods and DraftKings, though $32.2m of this sum was credited as promotional bets.

The Mohegan Tribe, which operates Mohegan Sun and is partnered with FanDuel, posted igaming revenue of $8.1m, having processed $271.6m in online casino wagers. A total of $903,992 in promotional coupons and credits were recorded for the month.

Turning to sports betting, combined revenue from online and retail GGR for the month was $7.5m after promotional deductions. Prior to deductions, sports wagering revenue was $9.8m, while total handle for March was $140.7m.

Online sports betting GGR after promotions was $6.7m, while for the retail market, which did not have any promotional offers, GGR reached $827,609.

Mohegan Sun and FanDuel claimed first place in the online betting vertical, posting $3.5m in GGR after promotional deductions. This was ahead of the Foxwoods-DraftKings on $2.5m and the Connecticut Lottery, partnered with Rush Street Interactive, with $717,667.

In terms of player spending, DraftKings and Foxwoods processed $61.5m in total bets for the month, with $829,706 credited as promotional bets. Players staked $56.3m in wagers via Mohegan Sun and FanDuel, $1.2m of which were promotional credits, and the CT Lottery $13.2m, with $307,246 noted as promotional.

The CT Lotterys retail betting operation processed $8.8m in bets for March, and posted $827,609 in GGR for the month.

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Connecticut betting and igaming revenue reaches $25.0m in March - iGaming Business

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Bovada Review for 2022: Is Bovada Legit and Safe to Use? – Firstpost

Posted: at 4:53 am

Bovada Casino is certainly a name that frequently pops up on many of those best online gambling sites lists these days.

Bovada Casino is certainly a name that frequently pops up on many of those best online gambling sites lists these days. But is itactuallyany good? And more importantly, is it legit and safe to use?

If youre a TL;DR kind of person, weve prepared a brief recap for you:

Bonuses available at Bovada:

Our experts decided on a detailed set of parameters on how Bovadacompares to other online casinos. This Bovada review showcases and sums up their findings.

Sounds good?Read on!

>> Click here to visit the Bovada Casino website

Were about to dive into an in-depth review of Bovada, and we know not everyone has the time for the whole show.

So, we figured a brief rundown of the highlight features this gambling site has to offer would come in handy here.

Our experts noted this is usuallythefirst question players have for basically all online casinos. And the answer is:

Yes, Bovada is 100% legit and legal.

Bovada Online Sportsbook and Casino has been in business for over a decade. The site was put in motion in 2011 and currently operates under the Curacao license. Therefore, it is overseen by the same regulatory authority as many of thetop online casinosworldwide.

Bovada's reputation is next to impeccable - an impressive achievement in the internet age after 11 years in the industry.

Not only is Bovada completely safe, but it also provides more competitive odds than many other online gambling platforms. Well get into more detail on that below.

"Variety" seems to be the word of the day here. We could call Bovada the best online casino for Bitcoin users or a possible top pick for live casino online, but the reality is that the site delivers a solid experience across the board.

Our experts like to rank online casinos based on a series of benchmarks to showcase the overall quality. We report their findings on Bovada in full below:

Variety of Online Casino Games: 4.8/5

Live dealer games got our attention at Bovada from the get-go. With 34 live dealer options, the site steps up as a top online casino with elegant, sharp, and professional dealers.

The Bovada game catalog features about 200 titles from four game providers: Rival Gaming, Spinomental, Realtime Gaming, and Revolver Gaming.

Free online casino games (aka demo games) are included in the mix, so you can practice before putting real money on the line. The selection features around 120 slots games. Although its not a huge slots library, were looking at some of thebest online slotshere.

Another thing that should be mentioned is that Bovada is one of the leading online poker rooms. The team did a solid job of attracting poker players to the platform. Throw in the Bovada poker welcome bonus to the mix, and youre off to the races!

Classic table games are included in the mix, too, so that you can play a pair of baccarat titles, five roulette games, and eight blackjack games, including the classic single-deck blackjack. Elsewhere on the platform, you can check out bingo and keno games.

Although our experts cant deny the overall gamecountcould be higher, the collection of table games is well-balanced and bound to satisfy most users. In this section, the poker room section and video poker games are definitely the night's highlight. Progressive slot games are pretty good, too, though.

All in all, Bovada is a great online casino for real money games for every kind of player.

Over on the Bovada sports betting site, the variety is once again wide. Thirty two sports betting markets is a serious number, especially when placed on top of an established casino website.

Sports bettors have a string of leagues at their disposal, ranging from the mainstream stuff like the NBA, MLB, or NFL, all the way to niche sports like snooker or esports. If you want to venture outside the sports world, you can bet on entertainment events or politics. The prop builder feature is also a neat touch.

In terms of betting limits, the minimum bet size is $0.50, while the max depends on the event. For horse racing bettors, the minimum is set at $1 with the exception of a Superfecta, limited only at $0.10.

The bet types cover all grounds from classic win bets through parlays, all the way to live betting on games still in progress. We could produce a separate Bovada sportsbook review with equally high marks, to be honest.

Bottom line:Quality casino games across the board, albeit with few minor complaints.

Welcome Bonuses and Regular Promotions: 5/5

Let's review Bovada casino promos next. Which bonuses are we looking at, then?

Our experts dug really deep and managed to find as many as 120+ Bovada bonus codes. Thats a lot of codes!

If you want the important stuff, dont miss CAWELCOME, thecasino welcome code for a 100% match up to $1,000. For folks seeking Bitcoin welcome bonuses, go with BTCCWB1250 for a cool 125% match up to $1,250.

Hey, but thats not all.

For sports betting enthusiasts who are also into crypto, hit the BTCSWB750 code for a 75% match sports welcome bonus up to $750 when banking with Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin SV, and Bitcoin Cash.

Theres also the exclusive promo code BIGLEAGUES that you canuse for a 100% deposit match and 25 free spins on 777 deluxe.

Finally, the poker welcome bonus code is PWB500. You can type that one in andplay poker with a $500 bonus at a 100% match rate.

Banking Methods and Speed: 4/5

At Bovada, you get an average set of nine payment methods, covering fiat and cryptocurrency.

You can deposit using Visa, MasterCard, Match Pay, AMEX, and vouchers. For the crypto crowd, feel free to throw your Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin into the ring.

When it comes to withdrawals, players can opt for Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, or Litecoin.

The minimum deposits are $10 for crypto and $20 for fiat. Our experts unanimously agree that more e-wallet options like Skrill would have been fantastic.

We've touched on withdrawals, so we might as well share the good news: cashouts can take as little as one hour when using Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, or Bitcoin SV.

That's right, you can get your hands on the winnings in under an hour.

We have to take a moment to appreciate the speed here because many online betting and gambling services these days take so long to process payments. Not Bovada, though - a clear sign of a leader in the online casino industry.

Back to the numbers, minimum withdrawals are $10 for BTC, BCH, and LTC. For some reason, you can't withdraw less than $50 when playing with Ethereum.

Crypto max withdrawals are not capped, but you can cash out in maximum increments of $9,500. Also, note that you can only request one crypto withdrawal in three days.

Related Post:Best Bitcoin casinos

User Interface and Mobile Optimization: 4.7/5

First and foremost, the Bovada user interface is clutter-free. That's a significant advantage right out of the gate.

The main menu is intuitive, and the devs did a solid job making every section of the site easy to find and figure out.

In terms of design, Bovada Casino is easy on the eyes, with a mixture of white, grey, and a good measure of striking red for a unique and memorable look.

The company has yet to unleash a dedicated Bovada casino app, although the website is 100% optimized for tablets and smartphones, both on Android and iOS.

While some users would like a dedicated app, others praise the current solution as the best one. On the one hand, you get the app experience in your browser, and on the other, you save storage space. A win-win? Maybe.

In terms of performance, this is one fast gambling site. Fromtable games to video poker, through other real cash games and slot machines, playing casino games at Bovada is a seamless experience.

Customer Service and Social Media Presence: 4.9/5

The customer support at Bovada is solid. The guys are polite and responsive, but we first have to note that the FAQ section was masterfully organized.

The library is easily searchable, so you can browse through the recommended questions or type in any query you want, like "casino online real money," reload bonuses, payment options, and see what the site offers.

If you prefer to talk to an agent, Bovada delivers, too. The Bovada customer support team is at your disposal 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They run around the clock and guarantee 24-hour replies to all queries. Many players report that response times are actually even shorter.

Contact options include live chat, phone, or email.

The company has a solid social media presence as well. Apart from instilling additional trust in users, the casino's Twitter account is extra helpful for players looking to start a public discussion on any topic or issue related to the site. They reply quickly, so don't hesitate to reach out.

With some basic math, we can conclude that based on the five key benchmarks, this Bovada review reels in a 4.68 average mark.

Is that a good score?No, that's an excellent score.

All things considered - the casino bonuses, the mobile casino experience, Realtime Gaming options, and design, Bovada justifies its reputation in our book as one of the top online gambling sites.

Whether you want toplay casino games or place a bet or two, this site is a solid destination.It gets thumbs up from us!

As per the Bovada FAQ and the official terms and conditions, players from 45 states are welcome to join the party.

While residents of the remaining five states are undoubtedly welcome, they are limited by their local laws and regulations. The US states where Bovada access is restricted are:

On an international scale, the site is still a long way from reaching every corner of the world. Most of the EU does not support Bovada, with restricted countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and more. You also cannot access this online casino from Canada, Australia, Serbia, and more countries.

As always, check your local rules, regulations, and laws before joining any gambling site.

In terms of currency, the only acceptable fiat is the US Dollar. As previously noted, supported cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Bitcoin SV. The minimum age requirement is 18 unless otherwise declared by your local laws.

The standard wagering requirement at Bovada is 25x, not including live dealer games and craps.

Throughout the site, you will stumble upon numbers ranging between 4x and 30x. 4x is obviously pretty low, but even that 30x figure is not a whole lot as far as offshore online casinos go. Its normal to come across even 50x, so Bovada fares quite alright in our book.

We like how the site included a progress bar for all bonuses so you can track your wagering progress without hassle. All you have to do is access your profile and select Active Bonuses for an update on each bonus.

To explain these numbers a little bit, a 25x wagering means you must wager $2,500 to cash out on a $100 bonus. You are not obliged to win nor lose those $2.5k; just use that sum in the betting process.

Our guys have repeatedly pointed out that Bovada delivers the goods on the casino bonuses front. Thats why we figured to discuss this section of the site in more detail.

For starters, we wanted to showcase a list of the top bonus codes at Bovada you can use at just about any time.

Compared to other casino sites and sports betting services, Bovada updates its bonus codes and promos more frequently.

Every month is different, so pay attention.

The bonuses are primarily aimed at fresh players. They're divided into casino, sportsbook, and poker room goodies.

Some bonuses are just the good ole match bonuses with specific wagering requirements. Others are different; for example, the BIGLEAGUES code for free spins on the site's 777 Deluxe online slot machine.

If you're into online poker, hit PWB500 for a 100% match up to $500 on your initial deposit in the poker space.

Bovada also hosts a referral program with up to $125 in bonuses for inviting your friends to hop on board.

The Bovada Rewards Program does a fine job keeping users hooked and happy with cash-back offers, time-sensitive promotions, and much more.

The VIP program offers rewards, perks, and even some bonus credits. All you have to do is keep placing bets and collect points for it. The bigger the stakes, the more points you'll fetch. But always stay responsible and within your budget.

As for the sports betting section of the Bovada website, every US Dollar you wager delivers three points for straight bets, while every USD you spend on parlays reels in 25 points.

If it bugs you that Bovada only offers nine banking methods, we say check out BetOnline. This online casino boasts a selection of 350+ games, which is above Bovada's catalog, but also an impressive line of 19 payment options that include credit cards, MoneyGram, and even Dogecoin!

BetOnline handles transactions swiftly and even greets you with a $1,000 welcome bonus. The dedicated app hosts over 25 markets, but we have to say we're not fans of the 7.5% credit card fee at all.

Anyhow, if you want to avoid that fee and dive in headfirst with crypto, use the CRYPTO100 code for a 100% match up to $1,000.

Do you want more than the 200 games Bovada has in store? OK.How about 3,500?

That's right: more than three thousand games!

BitStarz is known as possibly the hottest crypto casino in the world right now. The site delivers the goods on all fronts with instant withdrawals, crypto-exclusive titles, and no fees.

But it has no sports betting section, and Bovada clearly does.

If you're up for it, join the party for a 100% match up to a whopping 5 BTC in welcome bonuses.

If you want a site that goes the extra mile in the bonus department, Ignition is always a solid choice.

Apart from 120 games in the catalog from as many as 13 providers, Ignition grants new players as much as $3,000 in combined casino bonuses.

The wagering requirements are decently low, and withdrawals take under 24 hours. Use the code IGWPCP100 for a 100% match up to $1,000 in fiat money.

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Technamin: online gaming has made its first forays into the virtual realm – Casino Beats

Posted: at 4:53 am

Factoring out the myriad of science fiction novels and films that have been highlighting the digital realm for many years, the metaverse is still a relatively new phenomenon.

To truly understand how online gaming works within the meta space, Technamins Founder and CEO, Suren Khachatryan, stressed we, as an industry, need to define what the concept means for the sector.

Speaking as part of CasinoBeats ongoing Heavy Meta Series, sponsored by SBC Advisory, Khachatryan asserted that, while everyone is still yet to tap into the full potential of the metaverse, the online gaming vertical already has elements which can be considered as the first forays into the virtual universe.

We have various casinos that are digital reproductions which give the player the illusion of being inside a physical gaming location, albeit looking at it through a screen, Technamins CEO stated. The metaverse will only serve to make this experience even more immersive and realistic for the player.

Lest we forget, cryptocurrencies will also play a big part here. It is very likely that these decentralised, digital currencies will dominate the metaverse, and their popularity today is a very visible hint that they will be around when the metaverse blooms into its ultimate form.

Some will embrace the metaverse with open arms, and others will be less accepting.

Reminiscing on the early days of the internet, an idea which would be alien to most of us in this modern era, Khachatryan emphasised that no one was sure what it was, or how big it would get and believes the world as a whole could witness parallels when it comes to the metaverse.

He added: Some will embrace the metaverse with open arms, and others will be less accepting.

I think that in terms of online gaming, people will react positively, especially now, in a post-COVID reality where so many physical locations have shut down, having the ability to enter a real casino from the comfort of ones home will be a welcome relief. Keep in mind that AI is also expanding every day.

We now have engines that can replicate human beings. Instead of a computer dealing the cards, you will be greeted with a life-like replica of a person, adding more feel to the playing experience. The metaverse also allows people to be present in the same simulated environment from different physical locations. This will cover the social encounter side of things.

Standards must be met in order to ensure that players enjoy their time in total safety.

However, when it comes to responsible gaming policies, Khachatryan stressed that people are people, whether in a physical location or in a virtual reality, and the need to enforce RG should be just as strict within the metaverse.

Standards must be met in order to ensure that players enjoy their time in total safety, the CEO claimed. The advancements we have made in online gaming allow us to follow responsible gaming regulations in a less rigid manner through customising the experience for the player.

The same can be done in the metaverse, in an even more exciting way. The more customisable the games and the environment, the safer everything will be for the player.

Looking into how online gaming can make the metaverse inclusive for all, Khachatryan warned interested users that, at least in the early stages, the metaverse will remain a bit inclusive as the concept progresses.

He continued: Its the same with every other phenomenon. As we move forward, new technological advancements will make it possible to mass-produce these devices and technologies for everyone to afford.

I think theres great potential here for creating breathtaking experiences that players can enjoy.

I remember when VR headsets first came out, and not a lot of people could afford them. Now you can find affordable devices everywhere online. The same thing happened with flying drones and action cameras.

As with any uncharted territory, the risks remain an enigma until revealed. When addressing what risks the digital frontier will unveil, Khachatryan believes that this question can open a long chain of discussions.

Technological aspects will no doubt come into question, with Khachatryan predicting that ethics may have a part to play in regards to risk. One factor which Technamins CEO stressed would play a factor, from a very superficial point of view, would be the physical aspect.

Many people complained that VR headsets induced headaches and nausea after being used for prolonged periods of time, he explained. Metaverse technology may cause the same issues.

Alongside the aforementioned risks, Khachatryan highlighted the security potentially becoming problematic as everything will be based online with the potential of players and their information becoming exposed to greater risk.

We are living in very, very exciting times in the igaming industry and in general!

Moreover, he also brought up another potential concern the length of player engagement: Players will tend to stay in the virtual casinos for longer periods of time, with the experience being so immersive, he explained.

In terms of responsible gaming, this might be problematic. But on the other hand, Im sure that responsible gaming tools will also evolve accordingly.

With any new concept, the pros and cons list will forever grow, each overtaking the other at one point or another. However, Khachatryan concluded by expressing his thoughts that the online casino industry is fully open to embrace the metaverse but warned that the sector must take every precaution to keep our players safe.

Adding: I think theres great potential here for creating breathtaking experiences that players can enjoy. Imagine an online casino which is not just a screen you can click on, but a virtual world which you can inspect as you would do in a land-based casino, interact with other players directly, and even choose what type of clothing you can wear.

On top of that, you can pay with ease using crypto, and the entire experience is fully customised to your preferences. We are living in very, very exciting times in the igaming industry and in general!

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Join the penguins in the arctic party of the year at Springbok Casino – Business Wire

Posted: at 4:53 am

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There is a cool vibe in the air at South Africas favourite online casino, Springbok Casino, where an arctic party is set to get started when fun-filled slot Penguin Palooza lands in its game lobby later this month.

Players will not be left with a frosty feeling when playing this game as the super-chilled penguins are on hand to deliver plenty of bonus features including Free Spins, Respins and Multipliers.

There are two types of Scatter the Igloo symbol acts as the Standard Scatter while the Baby Emperor Penguin is the Locking Scatter. The former triggers Free Spins with Multipliers and the latter Respins. This is how they work

When three Igloo Scatter Symbols appear, ten Free Games with Multipliers of x2, x3, x4 or x5 are awarded. An extra ten Free Games can be retriggered if an additional three Igloo Scatters land while the feature is active.

The Respin feature freezes over the reels when two or more Baby Emperor Penguin Locking Scatters shuffle across reel one to reel four. If four symbols appear across those reels, they become locked and the player receives three Respins on reel five.

If Baby Emperor Penguin symbols only appear on reels one to three, then those reels are locked and two Respins are awarded on reels four and five. If the symbols appear on reels one and two, those reels lock and players receive one Respin on reels three, four and five.

If more Locking Scatter symbols appear during a Respin, the current Respins stop and the counter is reset based on the new number of Scatters in the wheel box. The feature stops if players hit five Locking Scatters at any point.

Penguin Palooza will get the arctic party started at Springbok Casino on 27 April and players can join in with the frozen fun via download, instant play and mobile.

Springbok Casino Manager, Daniel Van Wyke, said: Penguin Palooza promises some super cool big wins thanks to the games Free Spins and Respins features. So, join the penguins in what looks set to be the arctic party of the year here at Springbok Casino.

ENDS

Editors notes:

About Springbok Casino:www.springbokcasino.co.za

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Join the penguins in the arctic party of the year at Springbok Casino - Business Wire

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Solvency is One of the Important Indicators of a Good Casino in Poland – Programming Insider

Posted: at 4:53 am

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Many times we are faced with the doubt of plunging into a new online casino because it seems generous in its promotions, or a classic one that has years of good reputation. But, really, where are the good indicators to choose the right casino?

Some players will tell you that the bonuses are perhaps the most attractive, but the most professional ones know how to look at other aspects. One of these aspects is the solvency of the operator itself.

We have analyzed this issue to know what influence the solvency of an online casino has and what it can tell you in the long term. If you want to find out more about the so-called wypacalne kasyna internetowe, then pay attention.

Opening an online casino is a tremendous risk, even if it hides behind a very famous iGaming group. After all, it is not like a recurring physical store, but it is a virtual platform that can fall into oblivion.

Then there are also the so-called whales of the industry, who can appear and make incalculable profits.

For an online casino to be able to defend itself from these possible threats, it needs to demonstrate an important solvency. Solvency is easily explained:

Solvency: Defined as the casinos ability to meet its obligations to pay no matter when it has to make that payment. An online casino is solvent when it can maintain for a longer period of time sufficient resources to meet its costs.

An online casino that dares to jump into todays iGaming market without solvency may find its days numbered. And that is exactly one of the reasons why casinos with a long history work so well.

Just like any other industry out there, online casinos are also made up of specialist companies that dedicate everything they have towards their platform.

Actually, opening a new online casino has tremendous costs. Among the most basic costs are the following:

All this leads to the fact that the active and passive money of the company is fragile. A casino with years of experience does not have this problem, or has already gone through it.

These casinos have a tremendous active player base, which makes the accounts and the solvency of the online casino itself flourish.

Many times we can feel the seductive power of a newly launched casino, which seeks to attract players with incredibly generous promotions. Risk-free online casinos with lots of players do not have to offer thousands of euros or PLN in prizes.

What happens is that when such a generous new casino does not have the necessary backing, we can lose everything. Experienced casinos laugh at that, because a problem like solvency will never reach them.

Therefore, the decision will always be in your hands. But pay attention to the respected players in the industry, as they will know best how important a casinos solvency is.

Luckily, you have hundreds of sites to choose from, as the iGaming market is stronger than ever.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches on record-tying 12th mission, lands on ship at sea – Space.com

Posted: at 4:52 am

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off for a record-tying 12th time on Thursday (April 21) and aced its 12th landing as well.

The two-stage Falcon 9 launched Thursday at 1:51 p.m. EDT (1751 GMT) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 53 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites to orbit.

It was the 12th liftoff for this particular Falcon 9 first stage, tying a SpaceX reuse record set just last month on a different Starlink launch. And it likely won't be this booster's last flight; about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, it came down for a safe landing on the SpaceX droneship Just Read The Instructions, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.

The Falcon 9's second stage, meanwhile, continued carrying the Starlink spacecraft to orbit. The 53 satellites deployed into their parking orbit as planned, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk announced via Twitter about an hour and 20 minutes after liftoff.

Related: SpaceX's Starlink megaconstellation launches in photos

The Starlink megaconstellation provides internet service to customers around the world, including in Ukraine. In fact, SpaceX, in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development, has sent thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine to help the nation maintain communications capabilities, which have been degraded by the ongoing Russian invasion.

SpaceX has launched more than 2,300 Starlink satellites to date but plans to loft many more. The next-generation version of the megaconstellation could consist of up to 30,000 spacecraft, according to paperwork filed by the company.

And Starlink satellites have been going up at brisk pace recently; nine of the 15 missions that SpaceX has launched so far this year have been dedicated Starlink flights.

Another of those 15 was a crewed flight the April 8 launch of the Ax-1 mission, which sent four private astronauts to the International Space Station. And SpaceX has another crewed flight coming up soon as well the Crew-4 mission for NASA, which will send four professional spaceflyers to the orbiting lab for a lengthy stay.

Crew-4 is currently scheduled to lift off no earlier than April 26. That date recently slipped a few days due to bad weather in the projected splashdown zone for Ax-1, which pushed that mission's planned departure from the station from Tuesday (April 19) to Saturday (April 23). NASA officials have said they want at least a two-day window between Ax-1's splashdown and Crew-4's launch.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 2:10 p.m. EDT (1810 GMT) with news of successful liftoff, then again at 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) with news of satellite deployment.

Mike Wall is the author of "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or on Facebook.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches on record-tying 12th mission, lands on ship at sea - Space.com

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Watch SpaceX launch a US spy satellite and land a rocket today – Space.com

Posted: at 4:52 am

SpaceX will launch a spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Sunday morning (April 17), and you can watch the liftoff live.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with the NROL-85 spacecraft is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday at 9:13 a.m. EDT (1313 GMT; 6:13 a.m. local California time). You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX, or directly via the company.

In addition to the launch, SpaceX plans to bring the first stage of the two-stage Falcon 9 back to Vandenberg for a pinpoint touchdown about eight minutes after liftoff. It will be the second launch and landing for this particular first stage, which also helped launch the NROL-87 spacecraft in February, according to a SpaceX mission description.

Related: 8 ways SpaceX has transformed spaceflight

The NRO operates the United States' fleet of spy satellites. The activities and payloads of most of these spacecraft are classified, and NROL-85 is no exception; we don't know much about the satellite or what exactly it will do once it reaches orbit. In addition, SpaceX will likely end the broadcast shortly after launch, as the NRO usually requests.

Friday's launch is part of a very busy stretch for SpaceX. On April 8, the company launched Ax-1, the first-ever all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.

The Ax-1 SpaceX Dragon capsule is scheduled to depart the space station on April 19 and splash down in the ocean a day later. And on April 23, SpaceX will launch the Crew-4 mission, which will send four professional astronauts to the ISS for a lengthy stay.

Crew-4, which will lift off from KSC, is the fourth contracted crewed mission that SpaceX will fly for NASA. Its crewmembers are NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines and Jessica Watkins and the European Space Agency's Samantha Cristoforetti.

Mike Wall is the author of "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or on Facebook.

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SpaceX Wont Be First Company To Land On The Moon If Jeff Bezos Delivers – Wccftech

Posted: at 4:52 am

Blue Origin founder Mr. Jeff Bezos during a happy moment. (Image Credit: Lindsey Wasson | Reuters)

As part of an announcement made yesterday, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania based aerospace and robotics firm Astrobotic Technology revealed its Peregrine lunar lander. Astrobotic is aiming to become one of the first companies to land a lunar lander on the Moon's surface, and the Peregrine lander will use the United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan rocket for its journey. Its launch is set to take place during the fourth quarter of this year, and Astrobotic's chief executive officer (CEO) Mr. John Thornton confirmed during yesterday's event, hosted by the Keystone Space Collaborative, that the Vulcan is on schedule to meet his company's launch target.

The ULA Vulcan is a new rocket that is part of American efforts to wean the crucial national security space launch segment away from Russian-made engines. Prior to Space Exploration Technologies Corporation's (SpaceX) Falcon 9 and Heavy rockets, ULA was the primary go-to company for governmental agencies to launch their satellites. Its rockets use Russian engines and after legal changes, the company is required to use U.S.-built engines for all its future rockets.

NASA Virtually Teleports Doctor Hundred of Miles In Space To Show Off Holoportation

Its Vulcan Centaur rocket will use two of Blue Origin's BE-4 liquid natural gas-fuelled oxygen-rich rocket engines with each capable of generating 540,000 pounds-feet of thrust. These engines have been quite controversial in the world of rocketry, with their persistent delays after originally being envisaged to complete their development in 2017. Since then, the company has made several management changes, and currently, sentiment indicates that the BE-4 might finally be on track for its delivery.

Comments made by Mr. Thornton at the start of yesterday's event are the latest indication of steady progress on the BE-4. As his lunar lander announcement kicked off, the executive explained that the Peregrine will become the first commercial lander to go to the surface of the moon. The launch will take place in the fourth quarter of this year and is on schedule as of now.

The Peregrine lunar lander in all its glory was visible yesterday. Image: Astrobotic

The executive shared more details about the BE-4 engines in statements made to The Verge. He shared that the BE-4 engines are on track to be delivered to ULA in the middle of this year. This belief is based on assurances that Mr. Thornton has received from the launch provider, and he has no reason to doubt them.

If Blue Origin does deliver, then the ULA will become the first American rocket to take a payload to the Moon in decades. Blue Origin is planning its own lunar missions, in the form of a lander that was recently approved by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for initial design. The company came to the forefront of the industry late last year when it strongly protested NASA's decision to award SpaceX with a multi-billion dollar contract to launch the first astronauts on the Moon. This contract will see SpaceX use its Starship rocket to conduct missions for NASA's Artemis program, which is a multi-year, multi-mission initiative that aims to develop a presence on the Moon.

SpaceX's lunar Starship is aiming for its first test flight in 2024, and it appears that its development progress has satisfied NASA. The space agency announced earlier this year that it plans to extend SpaceX's lunar Starship contract to add more missions, which will be part of its efforts to develop a sustainable lunar presence. SpaceX is currently developing the Starship rocket (different from the lunar Starship) in its facilities in Boca Chica, Texas, and it plans to conduct an orbital test flight after securing the required approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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SpaceX Wont Be First Company To Land On The Moon If Jeff Bezos Delivers - Wccftech

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Morgan Stanley analyst breaks down the ‘fire and ice’ recession indicators – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 4:51 am

As the earnings season gets underway, all eyes are on companies performance as markets will be gauging how big names across various sectors have been navigating inflation, rising interest rates, and the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Morgan Stanley (MS) Chief U.S. Equity Strategist and CIO Mike Wilson, there are two things that investors should focus on during this critical earnings season.

It's really about, I think, two things. Number one, what did the companies guide to for 2Q and the rest of the year? I think that will be a real mixed bag, Wilson told Yahoo Finance Live. We have some strong views that consumer goods companies probably have to lower the bar a bit for obvious reasons. Maybe the services companies could see something tick up. Those are two pretty good examples of differences on the guidance.

The corporate logo of financial firm Morgan Stanley is pictured on the company's world headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City, January 20, 2015. Wall Street investment bank Morgan Stanley said it would pay a smaller portion of revenue in bonuses to its bankers and traders this year even in a better revenue environment. The bank reported a drop in fourth-quarter adjusted earnings, missing estimates, as it deferred fewer bonus payouts and unexpected market swings hit its division that trades bonds, currencies and commodities. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS LOGO)

The second thing investors should keep their eyes on, Wilson said, is how stocks react to positive news. He and Morgan Stanley believe that companies are now peaking in terms of margins and profitability.

But then I think the other thing that we have to really watch is, how does the stock trade even on good news? Because it's our view that this is pretty much as good as it gets, right? That the margins now are going to deteriorate, he added.

Wilson joined Yahoo Finance Live to discuss earnings season, tech stocks, inflation, growth, and the outlook for the economy. His thesis that earnings will only go downhill from here echoes that of other strategists who predict that the Federal Reserves rate hike campaign to quell inflation will bring forth a significant slowdown in growth. Other experts see inflation peaking concurrently this earnings season as the Fed battles surging prices.

For now, however, Wilson believes it will be difficult for companies not to beat a bar that has already been lowered throughout Q1 2022 in light of unexpected market turbulence such as geopolitical risks.

I think the first quarter itself will be fine, he said. I mean, companies do a really good job of managing the quarter that we're in. So there's no reason to think that we're not going to see companies beat what has been a lowered bar. So one thing I would point out is that earnings did come down over the course of the quarter, earnings estimates for the first quarter, and now companies will likely beat that.

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But while companies are benefiting from strong demand consumers are spending despite facing record levels of inflation the S&P 500 (^GSPC) continues to grapple with supply-side pressures as costs pick up. In any case, Wilson says its too early to say whether or not this will be the last quarter of earnings growth for the S&P.

But I do think earnings growth is going to decelerate further from what is being modeled, he said. The problem is that the rest of the year, [The Street has] the margins going back up. So I think that will come in. You could still get positive growth. But it's going to be low single digits, maybe mid-single digits at best. And that doesn't justify 19 times earnings in our view.

Thomas Hum is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @thomashumTV

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Morgan Stanley analyst breaks down the 'fire and ice' recession indicators - Yahoo Finance

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Wimbledon’s ban of Russian, Belarusian players latest sad example of politicization of everything – Yahoo Sports

Posted: at 4:51 am

On Monday, the Boston Marathon hosted 28,000 runners. Russians and Belarusians were not allowed to race.

On Wednesday, the All England Club announced players from Russia and Belarus are banned from playing in this years Wimbledon. This includes mens world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev of Russia and women's world No. 4 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

These decisions are made under the guise of Russias invasion of Ukraine that, in the words of the All England Club, unjustified and unprecedented military aggression will not be tolerated. But if organizers were being honest, theyd acknowledge its really about virtue signaling. And not just any virtue signaling, but the virtue signaling of the day.

Because if they did care about unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, no Chinese players would be allowed at the All England Club in June, which (as of now) they will be. And no Chinese runners would have been allowed to compete in Mondays marathon, which they were. In fact, one primary sponsor of the marathon was Wanda Sports Group based in Beijing.

What this is really about is optics, the organizational equivalent of putting the Ukrainian flag on your Twitter profile. To think otherwise would be to ignore what these organizations have and are ignoring.

Whats happening in Ukraine is sad, tragic and unjust. But on the scale of bad things, it isn't more "unjustified" than what's happening to the Uyghurs in China.

But again, no one is banning Chinese athletes.

Banning Russia from World Cup competition is one thing, because the team is playing under the Russian flag. Banning individuals because of their country of birth is nothing more than guilt by uncontrollable association.

The policy drew scorn from multiple top voices in tennis, including Novak Djokovic who said, "The players, the tennis players, the athletes have nothing to do with [the war]. When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good."

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The politicization of everything has led to the likes of world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev not being allowed to play in Wimbledon simply because of where he was born. (Michael Wagstaffe/Yahoo Sports illustration)

Following the All England Clubs ban, a group of Ukrainian tennis players demanded on Wednesday their Russian counterparts declare where they stand on the invasion of Ukraine.

In times of crisis, silence means agreeing with what is happening, read a statement from the Ukrainian group. We have noticed that some Russian and Belarusian players at some point vaguely mentioned the war, but never clearly stating that Russia and Belarus started it on the territory of Ukraine.

That sounds all well and good, except that many, if not all, of these Russian athletes likely have family in Russia whom they might fear could be, shall we say, taken care of if they were to speak out against the motherland. So no, silence doesnt always mean agreement.

This has become an all-too-common tactic, demanding allegiance or else. Its led to the politicization of everything, including marathons and tennis tournaments. To manage public perception and by extension thwart any potential backlash the likes of the Boston Athletic Association and the All England Club signal their virtue by joining the trending movement of the moment.

Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russias global influence through the strongest means possible, read the All England Clubs statement.

Really? Where were you when Russia invaded Ukraine back in 2014? Or after Russia started conducting airstrikes in Syria back in 2015?

Nope, this is all about playing to the news cycle, and once it moves on and it will; it always does so will their responsibility ... to limit Russia's global influence" ... even though the Ukrainian people will still be in need of support, just like the Uyghurs are now, just like the Bosnians were in the '90s, a few years after the cameras left there, just as countless others have been only to be back-burnered when a "more important" issue of the day captures the media's attention.

Dont kid yourself. This is a public relations move. Nothing more.

This column originally appeared in Yahoo Sports' daily newsletter, Read & React. Click here to subscribe.

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Wimbledon's ban of Russian, Belarusian players latest sad example of politicization of everything - Yahoo Sports

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