Daily Archives: May 25, 2022

What do Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have in common? An unhealthy Twitter habit – The Guardian

Posted: May 25, 2022 at 4:59 am

Why do billionaires tweet? Is it because they no longer have to earn a living? Or because theyre bored? Or because they spend a lot of time in, er, the smallest room in the mansion? Elon Musk, for example, currently the worlds richest fruitcake, has said that At least 50% of my tweets were made on a porcelain throne, adding that it gives me solace. This revelation motivated the astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to do some calculations, leading to the conclusion that more than 8,000 tweets over 12.5 years suggests that, on average, Musk poops twice a day. (I make it 1.75 a day, but thats just quibbling.)

So why does Musk tweet so much? One explanation is that he just cant help himself. He has, after all, revealed that he has Aspergers. Look, I know I sometimes say or post strange things, he said on Saturday Night Live, but thats just how my brain works. Understood. It may also be a partial explanation of his business success, because his mastery of SpaceX and Tesla suggests not only high intelligence but also an ability to focus intensely on exceedingly complex problems without being distracted by other considerations.

There are, however, darker interpretations shared, it seems by the US Securities and Exchange Commission that some of his tweeting is not, as it were, involuntary but is aimed at manipulating stock markets. Exhibit A: his announcement on 4 April that he had acquired a 9.2% stake in Twitter sent its shares rocketing upwards from $39.31 to $49.97 which meant the value of his holding went from $2.9bn to $3.5bn, giving him a notional profit of $600m in a single day. Nice work if you can get it, eh?

Exhibit B: on 26 April he agrees to buy the company, whose shares were trading at $49.68 that day, for $54.20 a share, which leads Wall Street to conclude that he was paying too much. Then (exhibit C), on 13 May he announces that he is pausing his bid pending investigation of Twitters estimate of the prevalence of spam bots on the platform and the share price tumbles, confirming Wall Streets view of its overvaluation, but also suggesting that Musk is trying to find a way of wriggling out of what is now beginning to look like a foolish deal. And if that proves impossible for legal reasons, stand by for a torrent of tweets portraying himself as a victim.

Where the truth lies in all this is unknowable, at least to a humble columnist, but the thing to keep hold of is that its all been driven by Musks tweets. Theres method somewhere in the madness, in other words.

On one thing we can all agree, though, is that Musk is sui generis. What then about another insanely rich guy also obsessed with space exploration Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder? He bought the venerable Washington Post newspaper in August 2013 for what was effectively small change $250m. This had the useful side-effect of infuriating Donald Trump. More importantly, it secured the papers future. And, as far as we can tell, Bezos doesnt seem to be driving the Posts editorial agenda.

Yet Bezos, too, seems to have a tweeting problem. Last week, for example, Joe Biden published an anodyne tweet saying You want to bring down inflation? Lets make sure the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share. Up pops Bezos, saying the newly created Disinformation [Governance] Board should review this tweet, or maybe they need to form a new Non Sequitur Board instead. Raising corp taxes is fine to discuss. Taming inflation is critical to discuss. Mushing them together is just misdirection. He followed this with what can only be described as a sermonette in Twitter-speak: In fact, the administration tried hard to inject even more stimulus into an already over-heated, inflationary economy and only Manchin [Joe, the coal-brokerage founder who is also a senator representing West Virginia] saved them from themselves. Inflation is a regressive tax that most hurts the least affluent. Misdirection doesnt help the country.

So why is Bezos wasting his time on Twitter? I can only think of two reasons: one bad and one good. The bad one is that hes bored not running Amazon any more and needs to do some virtue-signalling just to show Musk (and the Twitterverse) that other billionaires are available. Though, as Politicos Jack Shafer puts it: Twitter fulminations may give Bezos a rush of ego-gratification, but why should the man who owns an entire dairy get such a kick out of sipping from a personal-sized milk carton?

The more charitable interpretation is that, unlike most proprietors of newspapers, hes not using the Post as his personal megaphone and using Twitter to indulge his inner child. Like Musk but without the porcelain, in other words. So at least any war between the two of them wont be a game of thrones.

A strange breedLife among the Econ. Axel Leijonhufvuds delightful satirical ethnography, now available as a pdf, of an interesting academic tribe economists.

Hidden figuresA nice essay in the online magazine Aeon by Ann-Sophie Barwich on how the history of ideas still struggles to remember the names of notable female philosophers.

Culture clashFighting talk from Maureen Dowd in her New York Times column about US supreme court justice Samuel Alitos views on womens rights.

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What do Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have in common? An unhealthy Twitter habit - The Guardian

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Elon Musks obsession with bots will do nothing to stop Twitter spam – The Next Web

Posted: at 4:59 am

Twitter reports that fewer than 5% of accounts are fakes or spammers, commonly referred to as bots. Since his offer to buy Twitter was accepted, Elon Musk has repeatedly questioned these estimates, even dismissing Chief Executive Officer Parag Agrawals public response.

Later, Musk put the deal on hold and demanded more proof.

So why are people arguing about the percentage of bot accounts on Twitter?

As the creators of Botometer, a widely used bot detection tool, our group at the Indiana University Observatory on Social Media has been studying inauthentic accounts and manipulation on social media for over a decade. We brought the concept of the social bot to the foreground and first estimated their prevalence on Twitter in 2017.

Based on our knowledge and experience, we believe that estimating the percentage of bots on Twitter has become a very difficult task, and debating the accuracy of the estimate might be missing the point. Here is why.

To measure the prevalence of problematic accounts on Twitter, a clear definition of the targets is necessary. Common terms such as fake accounts, spam accounts and bots are used interchangeably, but they have different meanings. Fake or false accounts are those that impersonate people. Accounts that mass-produce unsolicited promotional content are defined as spammers. Bots, on the other hand, are accounts controlled in part by software; they may post content or carry out simple interactions, like retweeting, automatically.

These types of accounts often overlap. For instance, you can create a bot that impersonates a human to post spam automatically. Such an account is simultaneously a bot, a spammer and a fake. But not every fake account is a bot or a spammer, and vice versa. Coming up with an estimate without a clear definition only yields misleading results.

Defining and distinguishing account types can also inform proper interventions. Fake and spam accounts degrade the online environment and violate platform policy. Malicious bots are used to spread misinformation, inflate popularity, exacerbate conflict through negative and inflammatory content, manipulate opinions, influence elections, conduct financial fraud and disrupt communication. However, some bots can be harmless or even useful, for example by helping disseminate news, delivering disaster alerts and conducting research.

Simply banning all bots is not in the best interest of social media users.

For simplicity, researchers use the term inauthentic accounts to refer to the collection of fake accounts, spammers and malicious bots. This is also the definition Twitter appears to be using. However, it is unclear what Musk has in mind.

Even when a consensus is reached on a definition, there are still technical challenges to estimating prevalence.

Networks of coordinated accounts spreading COVID-19 information from low-credibility sources on Twitter in 2020. Pik-Mai Hui

External researchers do not have access to the same data as Twitter, such as IP addresses and phone numbers. This hinders the publics ability to identify inauthentic accounts. But even Twitter acknowledges that the actual number of inauthentic accounts could be higher than it has estimated, because detection is challenging.

Inauthentic accounts evolve and develop new tactics to evade detection. For example, some fake accounts use AI-generated faces as their profiles. These faces can be indistinguishable from real ones, even to humans. Identifying such accounts is hard and requires new technologies.

Another difficulty is posed by coordinated accounts that appear to be normal individually but act so similarly to each other that they are almost certainly controlled by a single entity. Yet they are like needles in the haystack of hundreds of millions of daily tweets.

Finally, inauthentic accounts can evade detection by techniques like swapping handles or automatically posting and deleting large volumes of content.

The distinction between inauthentic and genuine accounts gets more and more blurry. Accounts can be hacked, bought or rented, and some users donate their credentials to organizations who post on their behalf. As a result, so-called cyborg accounts are controlled by both algorithms and humans. Similarly, spammers sometimes post legitimate content to obscure their activity.

We have observed a broad spectrum of behaviors mixing the characteristics of bots and people. Estimating the prevalence of inauthentic accounts requires applying a simplistic binary classification: authentic or inauthentic account. No matter where the line is drawn, mistakes are inevitable.

The focus of the recent debate on estimating the number of Twitter bots oversimplifies the issue and misses the point of quantifying the harm of online abuse and manipulation by inauthentic accounts.

Recent evidence suggests that inauthentic accounts might not be the only culprits responsible for the spread of misinformation, hate speech, polarization and radicalization. These issues typically involve many human users. For instance, our analysis shows that misinformation about COVID-19 was disseminated overtly on both Twitter and Facebook by verified, high-profile accounts.Through BotAmp, a new tool from the Botometer family that anyone with a Twitter account can use, we have found that the presence of automated activity is not evenly distributed. For instance, the discussion about cryptocurrencies tends to show more bot activity than the discussion about cats. Therefore, whether the overall prevalence is 5% or 20% makes little difference to individual users; their experiences with these accounts depend on whom they follow and the topics they care about.

Even if it were possible to precisely estimate the prevalence of inauthentic accounts, this would do little to solve these problems. A meaningful first step would be to acknowledge the complex nature of these issues. This will help social media platforms and policymakers develop meaningful responses.

Article by Kai-Cheng Yang, Doctoral Student in Informatics, Indiana University and Filippo Menczer, Professor of Informatics and Computer Science, Indiana University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Tesla to soon have self-driving cars without need for human drivers: Elon Musk – Economic Times

Posted: at 4:59 am

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has said that his electric vehicle company Tesla will have self-driving cars without the need for human drivers, behind the wheel for supervision, around this time next year.

According to the auto-tech website Electrek, it is not the first time that Musk made this announcement.

He made the announcement in Brazil, where he was for a partnership with the local government to launch a program to connect Amazonian regions with SpaceX's Starlink satellite-based internet.

Recently, Electrek reported that Musk changed Tesla's 1 million robotaxis by end of the year goal to a1 million people in Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta, which are two different things.

The term "robotaxi" implies that a vehicle can provide a taxi service without a driver at the wheel.

On the other hand, Tesla's FSD Beta has all the features of a self-driving system, but they often fail, which is why it requires a driver behind the wheel at all-time to be attentive and ready to take control.

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Opinion | Musk and Bezo Show the Perils of Plutocratic Pettiness – The New York Times

Posted: at 4:59 am

The tech elite, however, had it all. Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg was, for a while, a feminist icon. Musk has millions of Twitter followers, many of them actual human beings rather than bots, and these followers have often been ardent Tesla defenders.

Now the glitter is gone. Social media, once hailed as a force for freedom, are now denounced as vectors of misinformation. Tesla boosterism has been dented by tales of spontaneous combustion and autopilot accidents. Technology moguls still possess vast wealth, but the public and the administration isnt offering the old level of adulation.

And its driving them crazy.

Weve seen this movie before. Back in 2010 much of the Wall Street elite, rather than feeling grateful for having been bailed out, was consumed with Obama rage. Financial wheeler-dealers were furious at not, in their view, receiving the respect they deserved after, um, crashing the world economy.

Unfortunately, plutocratic pettiness matters. Money cant buy admiration, but it can buy political power; its disheartening that some of this power will be deployed on behalf of a Republican Party that is descending ever deeper into authoritarianism.

Did I mention that the most recent meeting of the right-wing gathering CPAC, which included a video address from Donald Trump, was held in Hungary under the auspices of Viktor Orban, who has effectively killed his nations democracy?

The right turn by some technology billionaires is also, may I say, very stupid.

Its true that oligarchs can get very rich under autocrats like Orban or Vladimir Putin, whom much of the U.S. right deeply admired until he began losing his war in Ukraine.

But these days Russias oligarchs are, by many accounts, terrified. For even vast wealth offers little security against the erratic behavior and vindictiveness of leaders unconstrained by the rule of law.

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The Pros and Cons of Online Gambling vs. Gambling In Person – The Sports Geek

Posted: at 4:58 am

There is a good problem to have if you are a gambler in the United States. The proliferation of land-based casinos across the country and online gambling is making it more convenient for gambling in person and gambling online.

Whether you prefer gambling in person or gambling online, its becoming increasingly easy to find a gambling outlet. There arent too many states that dont have at least one casino for gambling in person.

The only states without legal casinos are Utah and Hawaii. Utah isnt far from Nevada, while Las Vegas is a popular destination for Hawaiians, so the casinos in the desert are not complaining.

Even though most people reading this have a casino within driving distance, is it always the best idea to bypass gambling online for a land-based casino?

There are pros and cons for online gambling and in person gambling, so you will have to decide which is best. If you want to gamble with friends or make it a social activity, you probably want to go to a casino and not sit at home.

Having said that, online gambling can be made into a social activity with the advent of live tables. The live dealers at online casinos are a game-changer to the experience.

TheSportsGeek is going to break down the pros and cons of gambling in person at a casino and gambling online. So, when you ask yourself whether I should go to the casino or not? We hope to clear a few things up, so its easier for you to decide.

Are you new to gambling? This brief and information section will help you get started gambling in person and how to gamble online. For more information regarding online gambling, hit the link and check it out for yourself.

This might include doing some casino shopping online. If you live in a state with multiple casinos, it might be worth doing your homework. Reading online reviews isnt everything, but they can provide multiple opinions from gamblers that have been there already.

If you want more of a high-end experience, such as the Wynn in Las Vegas, for instance, you might have to sacrifice proper gambling rules and comps. The limits are going to be higher at a casino like Wynn, too.

You dont necessarily have to be a high-roller to get room comps at a high-end establishment, but its much easier to earn comps at the more budget casinos. They will also have better gambling rules (ie. 3:2 blackjack) and lower limits.

Setting a budget for your trip to the casino is incredibly important. This might be the most important advice on how to gamble at a casino in person. The money you withdraw at the bank is your allowance for your gambling session.

ATM fees are not cheap at casinos. Its important to have cash in hand before going to the casino.

Do not reload your bankroll at the ATM if you lose the money you went to the casino with. The money you entered the casino with is yours to lose, but going above your budget can quickly get out of hand and not be a fun experience.

One of the most befuddling things at the casino is watching people play triple-zero roulette when there is a double-zero table nearby with no one playing. The same goes for 3:2 vs. 6:5 blackjack.

Avoid Triple-Zero and 6:5 Blackjack

Casino bosses love gamblers that gamble on games with bad odds. Triple-zero roulette and 6:5 blackjack are a terrible bet versus their better odds counterparts. Triple-zero roulette is more of a Las Vegas thing, but it will likely be in your local casino in the future if it isnt yet.

If you are a video poker player, be sure to look at the paytables. Unlike slot machines, video poker gives away how good the machine is on the paytable.

Slot machines and keno are among the worst bets in the casino, though are the most generous with comps. Do not chase comps.

If you are looking for a fun time and dont care about math and odds, slots might be your favorite bet in the casino. Please understand that the odds are severely stacked in favor of the house on slots.

Its important to read trustworthy online casino reviews online. Most people dont like to go to a new restaurant before reading reviews, and you should make a habit of it before depositing an online casino.

TheSportsGeek has put together a helpful guide for choosing an online casino. There are hundreds of online casinos on the internet, and it can be overwhelming. We hope to simplify the process. For quick reference, below are our favorite online casinos in 2022.

The online casinos want your business and entice gamblers with free bet bonuses.

The online casinos we highlight on TheSportsGeek are legitimate bonuses. You may run into a casino scam if youre not careful.

Not All Bonsues Are Made Equal

Some bonuses are better than others. They may offer more free bonus cash or have better terms and conditions. Ensure that you are aware of the details, including your bonus and deposit terms.

After youve done your research, you can deposit and get started with online gambling at your online casino. Its then time to find your favorite online casino games.

If youre betting at an online casino, I suggest playing the games with the best odds online. This includes blackjack and baccarat, which both have live dealers.

Not everyone cares about the best odds when theyre doing casino gambling. Most importantly, play the most fun game in your eyes. Just remember to go in with a set budget.

Some people need to be part of a crowd or with friends when gambling. A lot of people just like going to the tables, meeting new people, and having a good time.

When a craps table is on a long roll, it can be the most fun you can have gambling. Most of the time, everyone is having a good time and winning money together.

There is also something that should be said about the atmosphere at a land-based casino. This will vary depending on where you are gambling, but it can often be a good time.

Most casinos have some form of free entertainment as well. Nightly acts, including live music, might be part of the schedule.

Cash is king in the casino. You dont have to be concerned with depositing at an online casino. Not everyone feels comfortable sending their money to a casino online.

Cash Is King

If you want peace of mind and play with cash, you can do that at a local casino or in Las Vegas. Gambling online requires depositing, storing the money in an account, and then waiting for a withdrawal.

Conversely, suppose youre betting at a land-based casino. In that case, you will have your money right away without any stress regarding the deposit and withdrawal process, which brings me to my next point regarding verification.

This is a tedious and usually unwanted process that everyone must go through if they want to gamble online. The Know Your Customer procedures to verify your identity and perhaps the source of funds can be inconvenient.

At a minimum, you must provide government-issued identification and a document to verify your plcae of residence. Sometimes this can take minutes to complete, but other times it can drag on for days and even weeks if the online casino wants to investigate further.

While you may have to provide ID to prove your age, thats usually as far as it goes at a casino. However, there may be an exception if you are a high-roller and they arent familiar with your gambling habits.

There is a chance that the casino may request proof of your income for money laundering protection. This isnt a problem the majority of us will have, but before somebody comes at me, its worth noting.

There are hidden expenses associated with going to your casino of choice. There will be other expenses besides your gambling budget, and they can add up in a hurry if you arent watchful.

You might want a bite to eat or have drinks when you get to the casino. Eating at casinos isnt the cheapest, and these expenses can eat into your bankroll.

I could spend more time going over expenses you will incur by gambling in person. However, write down your personal expenses and do the math if you are curious.

You might be surprised by how expensive a trip to the casino can be, and you havent even started gambling. And if you win, there might be some temptation to blow it on an expensive dinner or drink it away.

The limits at your casino will depend on high-end you want to get, but generally speaking, limits continue to rise at land-based casinos.

Expenses for casinos are going up, and remember that they had to shut down for Covid-19. No, most casinos arent hurting, but they do want to make that business back they lost.

What was normally a 5-dollar blackjack table might be a 10-dollar table now. Perhaps the low-budget casinos have 5-dollar craps, but even thats becoming a dying breed at lower-tier properties.

This has been more of a talking point over the past two years and not just at casinos. Even before Covid-19, though, casinos werent the cleanest places in the world.

The filtration systems do wonders in a casino. There are state-of-the-art systems that do a terrific job cleaning the air. This is true at most modern casinos.

Casino staff does their best to clean around the facility as well, but those slot machine buttons, cards, and chips cant be sanitized constantly.

Im not trying to gross anyone out, though the number of people I see in a casino bathroom that dont wash their hands and then go back to gambling is enough to make anyone queasy.

A land-based casino will rarely provide up-front comps before gambling. They will track your play and offer comps based on your gambling activity.

If your play is strong enough, then the comped room, food, and free play will come your way. At an online casino, you will receive free play in the form of a free bet bonus in your account right away.

Its also a fantastic way to get your feet wet and discover if online casinos are right for you. Online casino bonuses dont require much for a deposit to get your free bonus, so there isnt much risk involved.

Gambling at a casino can be too much for some people. The music, sounds of slot machines (Bufffallo), gamblers shouting in glee and frustration, employees interrupting your gambling session, etc. can become a nuisance if you want to be left alone to gamble.

When youre at home on your computer or phone there will be fewer distractions. At first, the sounds of a casino might be seen as a positive. However, if you want to get in a serious gambling session, this can get annoying quickly.

The wide array of gambling games that you can find at an online casino is endless. It far surpasses anything youre going to find at an online casino.

Games You Can Only Find Online

There are even specialty games, such as Monopoly Live, that you will not find at your local casino. No matter your mood, there will be a game to play online.

Also, keep in mind that you can find these games most likely at a limit you can afford. Unlike land-based casinos, there will be table games for under 10 dollars. If you want a bit of a social element, check out the live dealers.

Addiction is the giant elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss regarding online casinos. There is a higher probability of getting addicted to gambling while doing it online.

The fact that everything is digits on your computer screen can detach the gambler from their money. The money in your account may not feel real.

When you have the cash in from of you at a casino, you might have second thoughts before continuing on beyond your budget. The simplification and ease of online gambling can make it tough for some people.

When you request a withdrawal at your online casino, there is a process involved. It doesnt suddenly appear in your bank account.

Even if you are making a cryptocurrency withdrawal and want to convert it into cash, this will require waiting before it lands in your bank account. If you need the money now, that could be frustrating.

Not So Fast, Chief.

If you havent verified your identity, it is something that you will have to do before having a withdrawal processed. This could happen on the same day, but as we noted, it can also drag on.

You will go to the casino cage or insert your gaming slip into a money counter at the casino. This will instantly be converted into cash for you to take home.

Problems with your internet, electricity, or device may be unavoidable. You will eventually run into something when youre in the middle of a hand or action.

Do you know how frustrating it is when youre in the middle of doing something and your computer locks up? How about that happening when youre about to win a hand and you get timed out from the table because of no activity.

Keep in mind that the online casino can also have glitches. If there is a glitch on their side, then tough luck; they have the right to take away your winnings if you won a hand or slot pull.

While errors made by a dealer can be quickly rectified at a land-based casino, its going to be a lot tougher arguing with an online casino. This isnt common, but something to keep in mind.

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Online Gambling: It’s Past, Present, and Future – GineersNow

Posted: at 4:58 am

The Past, Present, and Future of Online Gambling

Its hard to believe that online gambling is only a little over two decades old. The first online casino, InterCasino, launched on the internet in 1996 and the industry has been booming ever since. Today, we see the rise of revolutionary casinos such as Mybet88th online casino in Thailand, CMD368, and many more, which offer an unprecedented gambling experience.

The online gambling industry is now worth an estimated $45 billion and continues to grow at a rapid pace. With more and more countries legalizing and regulating online gambling, we can only expect this trend to continue.

In this article, we will take a look at the history of online gambling and how it has evolved over the years. We will also discuss its present and future state. Read on!

Online gambling has come a long way since its inception in the 1990s. The first online casinos were simple affairs with basic games such as blackjack, roulette, and slots. These casinos were often plagued by issues such as fraud and cheating.

It wasnt until the late 1990s that online gambling started to take off. This was thanks to the development of more sophisticated technology, which made it possible for developers to create more complex games with better graphics and sound. This, in turn, made online gambling more attractive to players and led to rapid growth in the industry.

The early 2000s saw the rise of online poker, which quickly became the most popular form of online gambling. This was followed by the launch of online sports betting sites and casinos offering live dealer games.

Today, online gambling is a fully-fledged industry with a wide range of products and services on offer. You can now gamble on everything from casino games and slots to sports and esports. There are also a number of different platforms to choose from, including desktop and mobile casinos, sports betting apps, and dedicated poker sites.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the gambling industry. With land-based casinos closed and people stuck at home, many have turned to online gambling as a way to stay entertained. This has led to a boom in business for online casinos and sports betting sites.

Some of the current trends we are experiencing in the world of online gambling include:

Cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly popular as a means of payment and this is also true in the world of online gambling. There are now a number of crypto casinos that allow players to gamble with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies.

Free-to-play gambling is a relatively new phenomenon that is becoming increasingly popular. F2P casinos offer players the chance to gamble without risking any of their own money. Instead, they use in-game currency or virtual credits. This allows players to try out games and get a feel for the casino before committing any real money.

Live dealer games are casino games that are streamed live from a studio or real-life casino. This gives players the chance to experience the excitement of a land-based casino from the comfort of their own homes.

Its hard to predict what the future holds for the online gambling industry. However, its safe to say that it will continue to grow in popularity. Some of the trends we are likely to see in the coming years include:

The use of artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and machine learning will become more prevalent in the online gambling industry. These technologies will be used to create more immersive and realistic experiences for players.

As the industry grows, we are likely to see increased regulation from governments around the world. This could include measures such as age verification and anti-money laundering measures.

More Innovative Payment Methods

We are likely to see more innovative payment methods being introduced in the online gambling industry. This will include the use of cryptocurrencies and other digital currencies.

Increased Access Even in Restricted Areas of Gaming

Even in areas where online gambling is restricted, people will find ways to access it. This could be through the use of more improved VPNs or other methods of bypassing restrictions.

The use of smartwatches and other wearables will become more common in the online gambling industry. This technology will allow players to gamble on the go while still being able to stay connected to the action.

The bottom line is that the online gambling industry is here to stay and its only going to get bigger and more popular in the years to come. Make sure you stay ahead of the curve by keeping up with the latest trends. Also, always remember to gamble responsibly.

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The History of the Online Casino in Canada – Study Breaks

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It will come as no surprise to anyone to learn that Canada has a long and varied past with gambling and in fact, various versions of the pastime were first legalized in 1969. Online casinos are nothing new and in fact, in many parts of the world, they are becoming the preferred way for people to place a bet. Much like any form of gambling, different countries have their own rules and regulations, and Canada is certainly no exception. This Canadian online casino has plenty to offer patrons that visit the website for the chance for a bit of excitement, and this just goes to show what Canadian gamblers are looking for from modern-day online gambling platforms.

Technology certainly has a part to play in what online casinos in Canada offer now compared to when they were launched a number of years ago. If you head to an online casino now, youre hit with a number of options including live video dealer games and interactive betting. Back when online casinos were first launched, internet capabilities were much more limited and most only offered a small handful of card games for people to enjoy.

Much like land-based casinos, online casinos in Canada have to abide by a number of rules and regulations. Canada is not alone in having to adapt and adjust these rules on a regular basis; after all, things have changed massively since internet casinos were first launched over two decades ago. Online gambling was banned until 2009 when the Government took steps to allow provinces to set their own rules and even now, rules vary depending on the area, in a similar way to betting rules in the U.S.

Currently, Canadians are able to visit any online casino as long as it is licensed offshore this is one way that technology has helped bridge the gap and make online betting much more accessible. Some provinces do allow betting at Canadian based online establishments too although there are different rules regarding how old you have to be to participate.

When you consider that betting in Canada has been around for hundreds of years but was only actually made legal in 1969, it is easy to see how much things have changed since then. For starters, when the bill was first passed to legalize some forms of gambling, the internet and online casinos didnt exist as such, the rules and regulations did not take these things into account.

The way we use the internet and bet online will help shape the rules and regulations that Canadian authorities are forced to put in place. For example, throughout the UK there are currently discussions regarding the regulation of cryptocurrency and gambling because its something increasing in popularity, but as of yet, there are no rules. The same is likely to happen in Canada, where betting laws are adapted to suit consumer trends.

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Online gaming will benefit from robust regulation – The New Indian Express

Posted: at 4:58 am

The ubiquity of technology has led to numerous new avenues of businesse-commerce, entertainment, education, communication, etc. This has called for the management of the respective sectors and the need for their regulation has been felt. One less noticed sector is the area of online gaming, which received a massive boost during the pandemic. As per a report published by consulting firm KPMG, more than 43 crore Indians have spent time on gaming. To appreciate this better, it is important to understand what online gaming is.

There are essentially three types of online gamingfantasy sports, esports and online casual games. Fantasy games allow users to create a team consisting of players from real sports teams (for example, the IPL or NBA) and then win points according to how they perform in the real tournament. E-sports are video games of yesteryears now played online in an organised fashion. They have tournaments for professional players, individually or as teams. Online casual games are either a game of chance where the end result is strongly determined by random activity such as rolling the dice (and if money is involved, it is considered gambling), or a game of skill that requires physical and mental strategies to win.

This new-age industry suffers from a complex regulatory muddle. Given the pan-India operations and reach, a central regulation could take things forward. But there is no clarity on who should regulate itwhile the IT ministry is responsible for the information technology system, the Act governing the sports ministry did not envision electronic gaming. And the IT ministry limits itself to the content, leaving the online gaming industry with no clear nodal ministry.

Here is the fundamental issue confronting the online gaming industrywhether it is a game of skill or a game of chance. From this issue arises the legitimacy of online gaming. While games of skill are allowed in most parts of the country, games of chance are considered gambling and hence deemed unethical and illicit. As betting and gambling is a state subject as per the Constitution, some states have placed restrictions on games of skill as well.

There have been numerous cases filed by groups and organisations to classify their offering as a game of skill and get legal status. There have been many public interest litigations questioning the legality of online games, especially fantasy platforms. In August 2021, a Madras High Court verdict (Junglee Games India Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Tamil Nadu) struck down a TN government law that put a blanket ban on all forms of online gaming, including games of skill.

But there is another issue that surrounds online gamingIP rights including image rights violation, and using players names and team logos on their platforms. Globally too there is no clarity over the regulatory authorities. However, countries like Russia, China, Turkey and the Philippines recognise esports as a real sport. Even the International Olympic Committee has tested the potential for esports through exhibition games.

This industrys regulatory muddle needs a comprehensive makeover. It was hoped that announcements in the Union Budget would accelerate the movement down this path but it was not to be. And there are benefits from good management and efficient regulationaccording to the KPMG report cited above, the online gaming industry is expected to have 66 crore users by FY 2025, leading to thousands of new jobs and a revenue generation of Rs 29,000 crore. The sector will also attract a higher Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the experience of the gaming industry points to that. Online gaming businesses will benefit from proper regulations as they will augment investment and revenue. The sector will also be able to attract talent and potential professional players will also profit from it.

Regulations will also curb illegal activities that have created a black market, supplemented by the use of virtual currencies. Since there are no rules, players also indulge in match-fixing and there is also the problem of underage gambling. Importantly, the mental health of players will be addressed and exploitation can be prevented.

In addition to the dramatically increased screen time, there is the risk of adverse impact on our people, especially the youth. There are increasing indications of young people becoming compulsive gamers. Addiction of any kind can be destructive for the individual and society. A regulator can be expected to address such societal issues too.

The current wide disparity in rules and regulations poses a huge compliance burden for the companies. The ambiguity results in users having varied rights and remedies against the platforms. Without clear guidelines as to what constitutes a game of skill or a game of chance, innovation in the field is stifled.

The disparity in regulations poses a compliance burden for the gaming companies. This ambiguity can lead to users having varied rights. Indian gaming severely requires a robust regulatory revamp. It will be appropriate for the Central government to step in to create an omnibus regulatory framework for the industry.

Manavendra PrasadThe writer is a policy analyst

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Mohegan Tribe Partners With Yale University to Combat Problem Gambling – NBC Connecticut

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The Mohegan Tribe is partnering with Yale University to fund a new initiative aimed at combatting problem gambling. Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine will begin developing an app to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy.

"Which is an evidence-based treatment for substance use as well as other behavioral addictions including gambling," said Dr. Brian Kiluk, associate professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine.

The app would help broaden access to treatment for people struggling with problem gambling.

"That's the hope. I think one of the challenges in the field - not just gambling, but mental health in general - is that there just aren't enough treatment providers available to meet the demand and the need of individuals," Kiluk said.

The partnership comes months after online gaming and sports betting became legal in Connecticut. As part of that legislation, the tribal casinos and the Connecticut Lottery had to enhance their commitment to combatting problem gambling.

"You cannot do expansion of this magnitude without having a strong focus on problem gaming," said Paul Mounds, chief of staff for Governor Ned Lamont's administration.

In accordance with the legislation, the Mohegan Tribe will contribute over $2 millionto YalesSchool of Medicine to develop the app.

According to a press release from the Mohegan Tribe, the funding comes in addition to the Tribesannualcontribution ofnearly$300,000 to the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling.

This joint effort with Yale is the first of its kind. We recognize modernizing gaming comes with additional responsibility to our community and we have readily doubled down on our support to promote responsible gaming, said Ray Pineault, President and CEO of Mohegan, said in a press release.

Connecticut's Council on Problem Gambling has recorded a huge increase in call volume to their helpline since online gambling was legalized last year.

"Increased 126% so it's really gone up. Because it's that ease of access- people are running into trouble really fast," said Diana Goode, president of the CT Council on Problem Gambling. "With this app, I think more people will be likely to log in and try to get some help."

The app will take more than a year to develop. Researchers will then conduct a clinical trial to make sure it is effective.

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How The Metaverse Will Change iGaming And Gambling Forever – KHTS Radio

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The Metaverse is all the talk of the tech industry today. Whether it is from a gaming perspective, gambling perspective, or the general integration into everyday life, new frontiers are being created as we speak, which leaves industries wide open for the development they can create. With gambling there is a huge question to what extent will innovative solutions go for a gamblers user experience. Thats exactly what we are here to tell you.

Gambling and the Metaverse is about to blow up big time, with the virtual reality of games, the Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTS) that are up for grabs, and of course the possibility of elaborating the online mobile casino experience. Many casinos are currently integrating Blockchain technology as it comes and playing on any one of these mobile casinos can be great fun as they have already incorporated Blockchain to a certain extent too!

The Metaverse in simple terms is a world combining the metaphysical with reality. Everything that once could not be touched is not a possible reality. Of course, this is a very broad term that tech fanatics like Elon Musk, Tesla giant, are still trying to conclude and expand. The new technology and concept essentially allow parallel space and business to coincide together, regardless of the physical distance. Everything can become manifested and augmented into reality.

So, what does this actually have to do with gambling, you ask? Well, online gambling is still very much a newcomer to the world of gambling, meaning all virtual door possibilities are still up for grabs and can be pioneered into the future. Microgaming a very well-known and profound brand in the iGaming space, have already taken steps in combining the online gaming experience with the Metaverse, and while many brands in the iGaming space want to fight against who got the crown first, Microgamings current actions pretty much speak for themselves. They are continually trying to innovate new profound concepts for online gamblers.

Currently their unique NFTs have become a huge hit within the industry and have grappled the interests of multiple gamblers who are involved in cryptocurrency already. Live dealer games have now become the big question for Metaverse possibilities. While the live casino experience is already virtual reality enough, player reality and paying methods are still being enhanced into the system.

Countless slot games and game libraries will need to integrate into Web 3.0. Meaning this leaves many questions unanswered for now, such as, will players be able to become creators within the online gambling spaces that they are a part of? Will physical casinos and tournaments push through the virtual realms of reality using unique tokens online? Similar to the eSports and sports betting Metaverse moves forward, casino tournaments could take a similar spin where crowds and participants are concerned.

New gadgets that can be integrated into the virtual reality space are bound to be developed further, such as chips for table games, headsets and so much more. While these are all just theories for now, powering such expectations and predictions is going to take a lot of work. Like, players could literally go to their favourite land-based casino virtually, and stroll across game lobbies, as well as witness tournaments in the making. Who would ever need to step into a physical casino again after this? Player reality is completely up for innovative grabs, and it will only take the brightest minds to truly keep pushing the boundaries even further as time progresses. All gamblers can do is stay for the ride and wait for new developments to drop.

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