Daily Archives: July 3, 2022

82% Of Internet Users in Countries With Some of the World’s Harshest Internet Censorship Regulations Expect the Need for Web Access Tools to Grow in…

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 3:49 am

TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research released today by Hola has highlighted concerns amongst internet users in countries with some of the most restricted web access in the world, that the need for web tools to access online content is going to grow in the next 12 months. The study, carried out by the leading market research firm Vanson Bourne on behalf of Hola, gathered insights from 2000 internet users across China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and United Arab Emirates (UAE), and found 82% of users believe the need for web content tools will increase in the next year. 93% of respondents in China believe the need will increase in their region, and this comes as internet censorship in China will continue to expand.

Citizens surveyed across these regions are struggling to gain access to basic resources that many outside of those regions take for granted. The research revealed that those with limited access to web content are struggling to access educational information and resources (43%) and online news (29%). When it comes to overcoming the growing challenge of internet censorship, citizens in those territories most impacted by restrictions overwhelmingly believe technology providers should be doing more to make online content accessible. 97% of those asked believe this to be the case and nearly all respondents in China (99%) think technology providers should be doing more in this area.

Web content tools are becoming increasingly important as censorship grows and users look to bypass local restrictions. The findings show 92% of respondents that use web content unlocking tools to access online content believe they are important to enable this access. 95% of internet users that have limited access to online content already use web content tools to access restricted material. Some online tools can be expensive and therefore not accessible for all users, making free tools that allow a gateway to web content a necessity. When it comes to free-to-use tools, 80% of respondents would consider using free technology tools to be able to access online content.

The internet was created to be a global borderless resource that benefits us all, but due to geopolitical interferences, it is becoming increasingly closed off in certain regions, and we must all work together to fight back against this, explained Avi Raz Cohen, Holas General Manager. As we can see in the findings, users are struggling to gain access to educational material and online news content, amongst other things, and this is simply unacceptable. We agree with users in those regions that technology companies should be doing more to address this and one key weapon in this battle is free web content tools that help unlock blocked content. We are proud to provide free VPN technology and web tools that unlock online content and help bypass restrictions. One thing is certain - well do all we can to support citizens around the world as they push for borderless online freedom.

Read the rest here:
82% Of Internet Users in Countries With Some of the World's Harshest Internet Censorship Regulations Expect the Need for Web Access Tools to Grow in...

Posted in Censorship | Comments Off on 82% Of Internet Users in Countries With Some of the World’s Harshest Internet Censorship Regulations Expect the Need for Web Access Tools to Grow in…

Poverty, restrictions, censorship: What’s driving Egyptians to head for Europe – InfoMigrants

Posted: at 3:49 am

Since the beginning of the year, 4,154 Egyptian migrants have arrived on the shores of Italy. This represents a threefold increase compared to the same period last year. Confronted with an economic crisis and wide-spread repression at home, they consider leaving Egypt by boat as their only option.

Beginning in the spring, small boats loaded with migrants started arriving in Italy almost every day. Rescued off the coast of Calabria, Sicily and Lampedusa for the most part, these new arrivals take enormous risks to reach Europe by crossing the Central Mediterranean, one of the world's deadliest migration routes.

According to the Italian interior ministry, 26,652 people arrived in Italy by sea between January 1 and June 27, 2022. Egypt comes in second after Bangladesh as the top nationality of people arriving irregularly in Italy. It was even the first nationality represented among the arrivals up until May.

The distance from the Egyptian coast to Italy is considerable: for example, more than 1,500 kilometers separate Alexandria from the Italian islands of Lampedusa and Sicily.

Of the total number of people disembarked in Italy this year, 4,605 were Bangladeshi (16%) and 4,154 were Egyptian (15%). This is a threefold increase compared to 2021, when 1,543 Egyptian nationals were counted.

The European Commission has called this "a spectacular increase", and in an internal note dated June 15 and consulted by the media Euro Observer, it pledged 80 million to the Egyptian government to prevent people from taking boats toward Italy.

Of this amount, around 23 million will reportedly be handed out this year for "maritime border surveillance equipment." The remaining 57 million will be doled out next year "for further equipment to be identified," the document stated.

The note further stated that increased controls of the Egyptian border with Libya and Sudan are also to be expected, but without further details.

Read more: Egypt town fears worst for local men lost en route to Europe

The factors pushing Egyptians to leave for Europe via irregular channels seem to be rooted in the dire eonomic constitution of their country.

For several years now, Egypt has been mired in a serious economic crisis from which it is struggling to extricate itself. In 2016, two years after Abdel Fattah al-Sissi became president, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released an initial bailout loan of 12 billion dollars. The government then planned to implement austerity measures while encouraging the development of an inclusive economy driven by the private sector, necessary to create jobs and reduce poverty.

"Only half of this plan was implemented," says Timothy Kaldas, researcher at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. "Austerity has become the reality for millions of people. The state has cut subsidies for oil, natural gas and even electricity. For Egyptians, the bill has been hefty: the amount of money spent on electricity by the poor and the middle class has increased by 271% between 2011 and 2017-2018."

As a result, the poverty rate in Egypt has skyrocketed. According to official figures, it now stands at 29.7%, two points more than in 2015. The World Bank issued an even grimmer outlook in 2019, declaring that 60% of the Egyptian population was very poor or vulnerable.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have dealt the final blow to an economic situation that was already moribund. Before the Russian offensive, Egypt was one of Kyivs main clients, importing 30% of its wheat imports from Ukraine. The remaining 60% of Egypts wheat imports came from Russia. This situation of almost total dependence makes the threat of a food shortage in Egypt all the more likely, the consequences of which would be disastrous for the population.

Faced with the scarcity of imports and the price of food increasing by 17.5% in February, the Egyptian government has been struggling to continue subsidizing the traditional Egyptian "baladi" bread, which has fed 70% of the population for decades.

Already in 2020, the Egyptian authorities had made the population pay for their poor economic management. To maintain the price of bread at the subsidized level of 5 piastres, or around 0.0027, the government reduced its weight. From 110 grams in 2016, it went down to 90 grams in 2020. This represents a departure from the years 1988 to 2013, when Egyptians could buy a 130-gram flatbread at a steady price.

For Timothy Kaldas, "the authorities constantly accuse foreigners as the source of all the evils in the country. But Egyptians have been fighting daily for a long time. Many young adults who cannot afford to move out live with their parents to spend as little as possible. So after several years without improvements, and faced with a constellation of problems, its logic that they seek opportunities elsewhere.

In this context, many Egyptians are turning to the informal sector for work, which is certainly easier to access, but also more precarious. Some also choose entrepreneurship, a seemingly faster and easier way to earn a living. "But even starting your own business, the last resort for many people who cannot find work, is complicated. It is not uncommon to see the military arrive overnight in your offices, and close everything, if your activities do not suit them," says Kaldas.

The lucky ones are reprimanded. The others are thrown into prison. According to Amnesty International, Egypt currently has more than 60,000 prisoners of conscience, including "peaceful activists, human rights defenders, lawyers, academics and journalists detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association". For Bahey Eldin Hassan, an Egyptian pioneer of human rights exiled in France, the Egypt of Abdel Fatah al-Sissi is comparable to the "Syria of Bashar al-Assad" or "the Sudan" of former dictator Omar al-Bashir, as he said in an interview with TV5monde.

On April 27, the Egyptian president made concessions. That day, more than 3,200 detainees were released, on the anniversary of the "liberation of Sinai", a peninsula occupied by Israel from 1967 to April 25, 1982. The presidential pardon will not resolve eight years of restrictions, threats, and censorship. For Egyptians in search of a better life, it is difficult to imagine a future in a country with a leader who could technically remain until 2030, due to a revision of the Constitution carried out in 2019.

"I fear that migration has become the inevitable fate of thousands of Egyptians", says Hassan Abdel Rahman, a researcher. "The dream of a better future in Europe has become the main objective for many."

More here:
Poverty, restrictions, censorship: What's driving Egyptians to head for Europe - InfoMigrants

Posted in Censorship | Comments Off on Poverty, restrictions, censorship: What’s driving Egyptians to head for Europe – InfoMigrants

Opinion | Justin Trudeau’s government is on a quest for censorship – Hamilton Spectator

Posted: at 3:49 am

Sign first, then well discuss the details.

Nobody would trust a real estate agent or used car dealership with that approach, but thats how the Trudeau government is trying to sell its plan to regulate the internet.

The government is trying to rush new censorship legislation through Parliament at lightning speed. Through Bill C-11, the Trudeau government plans to hand the CRTC the power to control what content Canadians can access online. This includes filtering feeds on popular apps like Netflix, YouTube and TikTok.

As if that wasnt bad enough, the government is deliberately choosing not to disclose the scope of these new regulatory powers until after the bill becomes law.

Such an approach runs roughshod over the democratic process.

If the government wants to ram through new censorship powers, at a bare minimum we deserve to know just how aggressively the CRTC will be instructed to regulate what we see and share online.

The government cant even get bureaucrats singing from its own hymn book.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has promised up and down that user-generated content, meaning content a typical Canadian might upload to YouTube or share on Twitter, will not be regulated through Bill C-11.

But Ian Scott, the chair of the CRTC, which will be responsible for applying the regulations on the governments behalf, says user-generated content will be fair game.

Who should Canadians believe?

If the CRTC says it will have the power to regulate user-generated content through Bill C-11, and theyre the ones tasked with implementing it, Canadians should listen to the CRTC.

As the government attempts to give itself sweeping new powers, it is worthwhile to ask why the government wants bureaucrats to have these new powers in the first place.

The government claims it wants to ensure Canadians are exposed to enough Canadian content online. But this raises serious questions.

First, is the government competent to decide what should count as Canadian content?

Currently, the CRTCs process in making that determination is flawed. A biopic of the Trump presidency, entitled Gotta Love Trump, is considered by the CRTC as Canadian content, while The Handmaids Tale, based on legendary Canadian writer Margaret Atwoods famous novel, is not.

On the competence question, the answer clearly is no.

Second, what happens if the government decides it wants to use the CRTCs new powers to influence what we see and share online based on standards other than Canadian content?

Its easy to foresee mission creep. Today, the government wants to promote Canadian content. But tomorrow, with the CRTCs powerful new tools to regulate the internet, Bill C-11 could easily be repurposed to quiet dissent or promote favourable narratives. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, for example, has mused about the government pursuing new regulatory measures for the sake of social cohesion.

With these clear risks, it is worth asking whether this legislation is even needed, as the government claims, to ensure Canadian content gains adequate exposure.

The truth is that Canadian content is thriving like never before. In 2020 alone, Canadas film and television industry enjoyed $6 billion in foreign investment, up five per cent from the year prior. And Canadian films and shows are easy to find on streaming services like Netflix.

If the sole rationale of Bill C-11 is to have Canadian content thrive and succeed online, then present data demonstrate that the legislation simply isnt needed. The government could just scrap Bill C-11 and call it a day.

The fact that Rodriguez and the Trudeau government are still aggressively pushing Bill C-11 in light of these facts demonstrates that the governments motive is not, as it claims, to promote Canadian content. Rather, it is all about control.

Jay Goldberg is the Ontario and interim Atlantic director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Troy Media.

Read the original here:
Opinion | Justin Trudeau's government is on a quest for censorship - Hamilton Spectator

Posted in Censorship | Comments Off on Opinion | Justin Trudeau’s government is on a quest for censorship – Hamilton Spectator

In face of ‘woke’ ideologies, Catholics increasingly self-censoring their faith – The Catholic Register

Posted: at 3:49 am

Controversial issues on which the Church maintains counter-cultural positions definitely bring more heated discussion, and you do have to play it safe, Chong said. You have to be more careful in the workplace. You want to pick your battles ... and if you need to avoid controversial issues, then do so if you think your job is at stake.

Such self-censorship by Catholic workers is definitely not fair, she admits, because fellow workers holding politically acceptable liberal woke views are usually free to espouse them at will.

Self-censorship can be seen as a manifestation of cancel culture, and its more than just a minor workplace irritant, say the authors of a major international report on the anti-Christian chilling effect thats rolling across modern Western society. In fact, they say secular intolerance represents a persecution engine that is both pernicious and dangerous to religious freedom.

The report Perceptions on Self-Censorship: Confirming and Understanding the Chilling Effect was published by the International Institute for Religious Freedom, the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America, and the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe.

Hate crimes, including the wildfire of anti-Catholic arson and vandalism that swept across Canada last summer following the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential school sites, may be the latest, most visible manifestation of anti-Christian bias, but just as threatening is the rendering as unacceptable any expression of traditional Christian teaching on fundamental life issues.

Religious persecution is often thought of as people who are jailed or facing criminal charges, or even facing death for their faith, Canadian academic Janet Epp-Buckingham said during an online conference with the Vienna-based Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians.

But in secular countries there is this death by a thousand cuts consisting of numerous smaller matters adding up to the larger issue of feeling under pressure for your faith and thereby having this chilling effect that I cant say anything about my faith, said Epp-Buckingham.

Epp-Buckingham, a professor at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., and director of the Laurentian Leadership Centre in Ottawa, said in a later interview that while the report on self-censorship centred on case studies in France, Germany, Colombia and Mexico, there has been a clear narrowing of acceptable public discourse in Canada, with the result that Christians here are being forced to self-censor.

Christians are afraid to express their views on social media for fear of repercussions at work or in their social circles, said Epp-Buckingham, who is also executive editor of the International Journal for Religious Freedom.

Christians are regularly advised to keep any church affiliation off their resume or LinkedIn as it might hurt their career. There seems to be a widespread view that religion should be a private matter and kept to oneself.

The chilling effect could have even more serious effects, said Madeleine Enzlberger, executive director of the Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians.

One of the most worrying and tragic findings of this report is that (it finds) if the social costs to follow your belief and to express it become too high, people will ultimately abandon their belief, said Enzlberger. And it is especially younger and uneducated people whose faith is at risk here.

The study found secularization has narrowed the corridor of socially acceptable discourse, in turn producing a chilling effect on opinions outside of that corridor and ultimately precipitating extensive Christian self-censorship. The phenomenon is most noticeable in online social forums.

Its not about strict legal cases or persecution even, said German sociologist Friederike Boellmann, one of the reports three authors, but every person that I interviewed noticed a change in the climate or a narrowing of the opinion corridor.

German research showed it is universities that are the most hostile environment.

And the largest extent of self-censorship I found in my research (was) in the academic realm, said Boellmann.

Some interviewees said the nature of public debate has worsened to the point that people are forever excluded from debates, lose their professional credibility, are not invited anymore and not to be underestimated (are thought to) become dangers to other people that are seen in contact with them.

The research found that Catholics tend to self-censor more than other Christians. While the researchers did not study the self-censorship problem in Canada, Trinity Western political-science professor Paul Rowe told the conference this countrys political climate has clearly had a chilling effect on Christians.

Rowe said the Liberal Party of Canada has been responsible for mobilizing the electorate along anti-religious lines, with the result that Canada is far ahead of many other states when it comes to chilling Christian discourse.

The Liberal Party has long seen conservative Christians to be a soft target within the wider conservative movement, said Rowe.

It has become clear that certain views are not acceptable within the Liberal Partys ranks, and more to the point, they will run directly counter to them in an effort to pillory so-called social conservatives.

Whether or not Christians feel they can publicize their beliefs, there are clear reasons that they need to remain quiet about them if they wish to gain access to public funding, Rowe said, citing such examples as the Canada Summer Jobs program and pro-life organizations charitable status.

Moreover, he said, the breadth of application of (Parliaments) conversion-therapy ban also leaves many religious people uncertain whether they can affirm conservative religious views on sexuality without fear of prosecution, whether or not they formally engage in trying to persuade someone to diverge from their chosen sexual preferences.

Rowe said each of these policies has had a chilling effect not only on Christians but also on people of other religious communities and even some of no religion at all.

The instrumental use of religion as a wedge to ply apart Canadian society is dangerous. It signals that there is a minority which neither fully belongs in our society, nor should it enjoy the full privileges of citizenship.

Catherine H, a Catholic public sector worker whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said that pressure to conform to secular values takes many forms. Her employer is now encouraging employees to identify in their emails their favoured pronouns (she/hers, him/his, they/their). So far she is refusing and hasnt spoken out against it.

Its not mandated, but theres always the fear, What if I dont? she said. If that should come down to a condition of employment, then thats very troubling.

Christian Elia, executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League, said there is an easy solution to the problem.

The solution really is to be more Catholic, Elia said. Think about it. We are called to love our neighbour and were also called to love our enemies. We are called to reconcile faith and reason.

While Catholics are called to live lives of humility, that doesnt mean being silent.

Quite frankly, we have to remind people of the immense good that we do, said Elia. What if our hospitals and schools didnt exist? Would Canada be a better society? Of course not.

Read the original post:
In face of 'woke' ideologies, Catholics increasingly self-censoring their faith - The Catholic Register

Posted in Censorship | Comments Off on In face of ‘woke’ ideologies, Catholics increasingly self-censoring their faith – The Catholic Register

Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code: UFC 276, MLB $1,500 Risk-Free, Boosts, Bonuses – Mile High Sports

Posted: at 3:47 am

The latest Caesars Sportsbook promo code fires up a Fourth of July weekend special that includes a huge risk-free bet, dozens of odds boosts, and other bonuses. A Saturday sports lineup headlined by UFC 276 and a loaded slate of MLB games will lead the way, but other sports like soccer, tennis and golf are each on tap, too.

Caesars Sportsbook promo code MHSXL15 gives a Fourth of July weekend $1,500 risk-free bet, one that can be locked in for UFC 276 or any other event on the sports schedule Saturday and Sunday.

Notably, the UFC 276 fight card is totally stacked, headlined by the showdown between Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier. Those looking to bet on the fights, a big day in MLB, or anything else, will have the chance to pick from hundreds of markets and score significant value in the process.

Lock in code MHSXL15 here to get the $1,500 risk-free bet.

On Saturday, bettors can take advantage of 35 different odds boost. Well dive into some of the top offers below, but first, lets take a look at how the risk-free first bet available with Caesars Sportsbook promo code MHSXL15 works.

Lets say someone wants to back Sean O Malley to beat Pedro Munhoz at -300 odds. So, they place a $900 bet to win $300. If O Malley wins, a bettor would secure the $300 cash profit. If, however, he loses, and the bet loses, players would receive a $900 site credit bonus that can then be played on another game or event.

The same works for baseball. Lets say someone wants to back Kyle Gibson and the Phillies to beat Matt Liberatore and the Cardinals at -130 odds. If a player wagers $390 on the Phillies and wins, hell get $300. If the bet loses, a $390 insurance will be issued.

Of course, players can risk up to $1,500 to remain eligible for the insurance.

If youre in any of the following locations, then getting the latest Caesars Sportsbook promo code is quick and easy: Colorado sports betting, NY sports betting, New Jersey, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, Virginia and West Virginia.

Caesars Sportsbook promo code MHSXL15 locks in value on a variety of bonuses. Ahead of UFC 276, be sure to grab parlay insurance. Place multiple bets together in a single wager, and if it loses, receive a site credit refund, good up to $25.

Some notable UFC boosts include:

Also, be sure to check out all in-app boosts, including these MLB specials:

Lock in Caesars Sportsbook promo code MHSXL15 here to get the $1,500 risk-free bet.

View post:

Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code: UFC 276, MLB $1,500 Risk-Free, Boosts, Bonuses - Mile High Sports

Posted in Sportsbook | Comments Off on Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code: UFC 276, MLB $1,500 Risk-Free, Boosts, Bonuses – Mile High Sports

Wimbledon Odds: Picks and Predictions to Consider on DraftKings Sportsbook for July 2 – DraftKings Nation

Posted: at 3:47 am

The weekend is here, and there will be no shortage of tennis as Wimbledon continues. After a relatively rocky start, most of the favorites are still alive as the tournament carries on. Im highlighting three bets on DraftKings Sportsbook I see the most value in for Saturdays slate.

DraftKings users can get in on the action by betting on DraftKings Sportsbook or by downloading the DK Sportsbook app.

Despite Tsitsipas boasting the No. 4 seed in this tournament, Kyrgios is actually the favorite entering this match, and deservedly so.

Its worth noting that I picked Kyrgios to win this quarter in my last article, so that obviously plays a role here. The ultimate wild card in tennis has had Tsitsipas number over the years, owning a career 3-1 advantage in head-to-head matchups with the 23-year-old, including a 2022 win on grass in Germany.

Kyrgios has now won nine of his last 12 matches. Notoriously one of the streakiest players in the world, this is the time to bet on him.

Tsitsipas bowed out of the Australian and French Open in the third and fourth rounds this year, displaying an unfortunate tendency to fall apart on the biggest stage. While it has been five years since Kyrgios reached Round 4 in London, things are setting up nicely for the Australian to make a deep run.

The Taylor Fritz experience continues.

The most exciting American prospect in recent memory has been extremely impressive in each of his matches at Wimbledon so far, and that trend should continue against Alex Molcan on Saturday.

Fritz has now won six straight matches on grass in relatively dominant fashion. Both of his victories in London were accomplished in straight sets, which means hell be well-rested for Saturdays contest.

Molcan is a talented young player, currently checking in as the No. 51 player in the world. That being said, winning more than 16 games will be a tough task against the red-hot Fritz. Even if the match extends to four sets, theres no guarantee Molcan hits that number.

Iga actually dropped a set in her last match, which was a tough victory over Lesley Kerkhove.

As a result, DraftKings Sportsbook has tempered expectations for her next match after setting Kerkhoves game total around 3.5.

There are two ways you can look at this match. The first is that Swiatek has lost a bit of her edge and could be heading towards an early exit. The second viewpoint is that Iga will be eager to dominate and make a statement.

I tend to lean towards the latter.

Swiatek dropped just one set in her French Open title run during a fourth-round match against Qinwen Zheng, and responded by rattling off three-straight dominant performances to claim the Roland Garros crown.

As long as Iga plays up to her standards, holding Cornet under eight total games won is certainly feasible.

Place your bets at DraftKings Sportsbook or by downloading the DK Sportsbook app.

All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.

The contents contained in this article do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600 (ONT), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY; 19+ ONT). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/ONT/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions. DraftKings operates pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario. Please play responsibly.

See the original post:

Wimbledon Odds: Picks and Predictions to Consider on DraftKings Sportsbook for July 2 - DraftKings Nation

Posted in Sportsbook | Comments Off on Wimbledon Odds: Picks and Predictions to Consider on DraftKings Sportsbook for July 2 – DraftKings Nation

Today’s Best Sportsbook Odds Boosts and Promotions: July 1 – Edmonton Journal

Posted: at 3:47 am

Breadcrumb Trail Links

Author of the article:

Finding the best sports betting value has become just a little bit easier, as most sportsbooks routinely offer daily odds boosts and promotions on select markets.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Whether its a boost in price on a specific player prop, a featured parlay getting increased odds, an overall profit boost, or a specialty sign-up bonus, online sports betting operators are coming up with creative ways to give users more bang for their buck when making their daily wagers.

While it can be tedious to go toevery different sportsbook and search for the best bonuses of the day, weve got you covered weve compiled a list of todays best odds boosts and betting promotions, tucked into one neat and tidy package.

Here are the best betting boosts available for Friday, July 1, 2022.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

*Eligible USA locations only

Jose Berrios will take the ball for the Blue Jays in their Canada Day matinee against the Rays. Though Berrios has struggled this year, the matchup with Tampa Bay is a good one and he should go deep enough to pile up some punchouts.

Kirk has been an important piece of Torontos potent lineup, batting .319 this season with 10 home runs and 31 RBI. The catcher has averaged 1.6 total bases per game.

Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani features in a lopsided matchup today, with L.A. facing off against the Astros. While the Angels will no doubt be overwhelmed by Houston, Ohtani is primed to continue his outstanding season. Ohtani has recorded 20 multi-hit games this season and will look for No. 21 in Houston.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Most betting sites will offer daily promotions and odds boosts but its best to use the top sites, which are safe and secure, offer a wide range of banking options, and give you a ton of markets for each game.

Check out the best online betting sites in your region to find the best spots to claim daily sports betting odds boosts

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Information in the above article is for entertainment purposes only and is not targeted to under 19 audiences. Using this information to contravene any law is prohibited. Visit the Responsible Gaming Council's Safer Play to keep gambling safe and fun.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Edmonton Journal Headline News will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Originally posted here:

Today's Best Sportsbook Odds Boosts and Promotions: July 1 - Edmonton Journal

Posted in Sportsbook | Comments Off on Today’s Best Sportsbook Odds Boosts and Promotions: July 1 – Edmonton Journal

BetMGM Expands BetQL Network Relationship as the Presenting Sportsbook Partner – Business Wire

Posted: at 3:47 am

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BetMGM will become the exclusive sportsbook of the BetQL Network, Audacys network of sports betting content heard across its broadcast portfolio and digital platforms. The partnership (The BetQL Network presented by BetMGM) is an exclusive multi-year agreement that significantly expands the current relationship between BetMGM and Audacy. Since its launch in June 2021, the BetQL Network has expanded from two markets to 31 markets and has seen steady growth in podcast downloads (+575%), total listening hours (+467%), live video hours (+440%), video on-demand starts (+270%) and over-the-air audience (+140%) from July 2021 to January 2022.

We are delighted to expand our strategic partnership with BetMGM, highlighted by their new exclusive position with the BetQL Network, said David Field, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Audacy. Barely a year old, the BetQL Network has a bright future ahead of it as legalized sports betting continues to expand over the next decade.

BetMGM will have category exclusivity of the networks full slate of programming, including flagship program You Better You Bet, commencing in September, and BetQL Daily, The Daily Tip and BetMGM Tonight. BetQL Networks weekly lineup will distribute approximately 100 hours of original content per week on the Audacy and BetQL digital platforms. Audacy will also produce content for live audiences at various MGM Resorts across the country who will host the network inside of BetMGM sportsbooks.

Were excited to further our strategic partnership with Audacy and to bring our market-leading sports betting and gaming entertainment content to millions of listeners nationwide across the entire BetQL Network platform, said Matt Prevost, Chief Revenue Officer, BetMGM.

As part of the expanded partnership, Nick Kostos, host of You Better You Bet, the most consumed sports betting podcast in the country, and co-host Ken Barkley will become brand advocates for BetMGM. An industry leader in the sports-betting space who has been covering the medium since 2013, Kostos joined Audacy in 2019 when he and Barkley launched You Better You Bet in August of that year. Alongside Barkley, Kostos has built You Better You Bet into the No. 1 sports betting podcast in the U.S., according to Triton. From July 2021 to January 2022, the shows podcast downloads jumped 678%, live video hours grew by 531% and total listening hours increased 335% over that span.

Audacy first announced a partnership with BetMGM in March 2021, which designated the market-leading platform as a preferred sports betting partner of Audacy across its best-in-class sports broadcast stations, the Audacy and BetQL apps and digital platforms, and the BetQL Network. Initial key partnership details included integrated content across Audacys broadcast sports stations, customer acquisition opportunities, and talent endorsements across Audacys wide spectrum of local and national sports betting content, while bringing BetMGMs sports betting content to the millions of sports fans across the country who tune in daily to Audacys portfolio of broadcast stations, podcasts and shows.

The BetQL Network is a live, linear digital channel that distributes approximately 100 hours of original content per week on the Audacy and BetQL digital platforms and YouTube. The network, which is also the current home of the popular shows BetQL Daily, You Better You Bet, The Daily Tip and BetMGM Tonight can also be consumed on numerous digital on-demand platforms, Audacy owned and operated broadcast stations around the country and other network broadcast affiliates. The BetQL Network is available nationwide via the Audacy mobile app and website, over 10,000 home and auto-connected devices and betqlnetwork.com.

Audacy is the unrivaled leader in sports radio, reaching three times more people than the leading competitor. Audacy is the #1 sports radio ownership group, which owns and operates 39 all-sports stations across the U.S., including WFAN 101.9 FM/660 AM (WFAN-FM/AM) in New York, SportsRadio 94WIP (WIP-FM) in Philadelphia and 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) in Chicago. Its unparalleled broadcast portfolio reaches nearly 30 million sports fans monthly and boasts the nations leading collection of radio play-by-play coverage. Audacy also serves as the flagship home of 41 professional teams and over 50 Division 1 collegiate programs, including the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls, and University of Michigan and University of Oregon, among others.

About Audacy

Audacy, Inc. (NYSE: AUD) is a leading multi-platform audio content and entertainment company with the countrys best collection of local music, news and sports brands, a premium podcast creator, major event producer, and digital innovator. Audacy engages 200 million consumers each month, bringing people together around content that matters to them. Learn more at http://www.audacyinc.com, Facebook (Audacy Corp) and Twitter (@AudacyCorp).

About BetMGM

BetMGM is a market leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Entain Plc (LSE: ENT), BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM's U.S. land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain's US-licensed, state of the art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market leading brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey. For more information, visit https://www.betmgminc.com/.

Originally posted here:

BetMGM Expands BetQL Network Relationship as the Presenting Sportsbook Partner - Business Wire

Posted in Sportsbook | Comments Off on BetMGM Expands BetQL Network Relationship as the Presenting Sportsbook Partner – Business Wire

Deposits, Withdrawals Among Biggest Sportsbook Customer Issues – Gaming Today

Posted: at 3:47 am

A new PayNearMe survey has identified what may be the most neglected sportsbook customer service issue: bad experiences with deposits and withdrawals.

The survey found that one in six bettors who have a deposit declined leave the app and never return. Also, about 40% of surveyed bettors reported waiting a day or more to receive their winnings. Bettors rated the withdrawal process 10% less positively than the deposit process.That probably doesnt surprise bettors.

Sportsbook customers are quick to vent their frustrations online when they have payment issues.

Its more surprising that sportsbooks havent done more to address payment difficulties. They are losing customers because of deposit and withdrawal issues, even after offering expensive welcome bonuses.

Much of the dissatisfaction is among casual bettors. PayNearMes survey found that while 78% of frequent bettors rate the withdrawal process positively, only 58% of casual bettors do. That points to a failure of sportsbooks to set expectations for new bettors. The bright side is sportsbooks have a clearer idea of which bettors they need to focus on pleasing.

Although sportsbook deposits and withdrawals lack Amazon Primes fluency, sportsbook payments have come a long way since PASPAs repeal. One of the intentions of legalization is to do away with sports bettors settling up through middlemen and anonymous payments.

If you werent set up to settle via an agent (in unregulated offshore markets), then you had to move money through gift cards and mysterious wires to random people, professional sports bettor Captain Jack Andrews said. Regulated betting gave us banks finally willing to process online casino and sportsbook payments. Now I can move $50k from my bank account to an operator without having to do anything more than log into PayPal or confirm the ACH transfer.

Although progress is undeniable, payment inconsistencies remain. Reddit is full of contradictory accounts of major banks allowing or prohibiting deposits and withdrawals. Debit and credit cards can be among the most convenient deposit and withdrawal methods. But they lack the cross-state reliability offered by modern e-commerce sites like Amazon.

These payment issues primarily affect casual bettors. Frequent bettors are used to the quirks and rhythms of sports betting. But some casual bettors are put off by the personal information and payment difficulties they may experience. The casual bettors bar for payouts is set by companies like Amazon, which offers seamless checkout processes.

With fewer new launches to hide sportsbooks shortcomings, sportsbooks must satisfy casual bettors. While some challenges are out of a sportsbooks control, there are a few ways to satisfy the most pressing mainstream bettor needs:

Gambling laws designed to disrupt offshore gambling also affect available deposit and withdrawal methods. Many major banks still dont allow gambling app transactions even when those apps are legal in parts of the United States. Their policies prohibit them from processing deposits to offshore gambling sites, and those same policies often block deposits into DraftKings or FanDuel.

In contrast, PayPal is such a popular deposit and withdrawal method partly because its willing to process gambling transactions. The same is true of Venmo. However, offering more deposit and withdrawal methods isnt just about having more choices.

Choice from the perspective of [payment] tenders that people use in their everyday lives [is whats important], PayNearMe Vice President of iGaming and Sports Betting Leighton Webb said. Its not just adding and adding and adding. Its making sure that [sportsbooks are] adding tenders that are popular in the general way that people transact and are comfortable with.

For example, 63% of PayNearMe survey respondents listed Cash App as their most desired deposit method. Only PayPal, debit and credit cards, and online banking were more popular. The difference is that PayPal is widely available across sportsbook brands. Cash App isnt.

Companies like PayNearMe develop relationships with companies like Cash App so sportsbooks can use them for deposits and payouts. But sportsbooks also have to pay attention to what their customers are asking for. They should also develop relationships with the payment vendors that customers use outside of gambling.

Its almost like you want to be tender agnostic, Webb said. Let them [customers] tell you what they want to use.

Sportsbooks face unique regulatory challenges that impact which deposit and withdrawal methods are available and how long they take. For example, online gambling companies must comply with strict know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering laws (AML).

To comply with these laws and ensure that bettors on state self-exclusion lists are not making deposits or that money doesnt go to money launderers or terrorists, many sportsbooks manually approve transactions. Given the volume of sports bettors, this results in delays that can last a week or two.

PayNearMes payment platform offers a partial solution. It allows sportsbooks to automate certain deposits and withdrawals. Common automated payments include amounts under $100 or automatic withdrawals for known VIPs. Sportsbooks can also offer instant withdrawals through PayPal or Venmo instead of using ACH, which takes longer.

Even simplifying the steps to go through a deposit or withdrawal can improve customer satisfaction.

It needs to be pixel perfect, Webb said. Any little area you shed from the flow, meaning an extra screen, something thats not clear, a declined payment, thats where users will drop out.

Developing relationships with payment vendors can take time. Vendors outside the gambling industry also have to feel comfortable enough with the online gambling industry to agree to a partnership. But while sportsbooks invest in those relationships, they can smooth out the payment processes on their apps.

One of the greatest differences between frequent and casual bettors has to do with information privacy concerns. About 33% of frequent bettors listed deposits taking too long as their biggest pain point. But 28% of casual bettors listed having to share their personal information with a sportsbook as a pain point, and 26% reported they would leave a betting app over it.

Sportsbooks have to ask for personal information. Social Security Numbers confirm identities and ages. Approved deposit and withdrawal methods prevent criminals from money laundering or funding criminal activities.

However, casual bettors dont necessarily know the reasons theyre asked for such personal details. They certainly dont trust that information to remain safe. Major data breaches like those at Target, Equifax, and other supposedly secure companies have damaged consumer trust in any companys ability to protect a customers data. Thats one of the reasons online wallets like PayPal are in such high demand.

Its one thing [for a hacker] to have access to my PayPal account and get $20 versus having my online bank account if that were breached, Webb said.

Offering deposits and withdrawal options that customers know and use can help bridge this trust gap. Bettors may not know what ACH is, but they know things like PayPal, Venmo, or Chase Bank. They may assume that if these major brands work with a company, then that company is safe to trust.

Sports betting payments arent seamless like Amazon Prime, because sports betting is subject to laws that e-commerce sites arent. They have to meet strict KYC and AML standards to avoid aiding organized crime or terrorist operations.

However, some of these laws are outdated and unfairly target legal sportsbooks. Bank policies that prevented offshore gambling deposits now prevent legal sportsbook deposits. Preventing gambling funds from crossing state lines makes it more difficult for betting exchanges to operate.

While reform is needed, sportsbooks can still make important improvements. In addition to the recommendations above, sportsbooks can better communicate to new bettors what they should expect from signups and withdrawals.

For example, a bettors first sportsbook withdrawal could be accompanied with a message saying how long they should expect to wait for their withdrawal to be approved. Then, bettors could receive a small number of site credits to use in the meantime. This could set withdrawal expectations for new bettors and divert bettor attention back to lines instead of the withdrawal wait time.

These free site credits could be split from the site credits some books award for creating accounts. $20 in site credits for signing up could become $10 for signing up and $10 for the first withdrawal.

As mainstream audiences embrace sports betting, sportsbooks must conform to expectations set by seamless apps in other industries. Customers already notice that deposits and withdrawals are their own separate steps in the sports betting process. Eliminating that awareness is key to solving this sportsbook customer service issue in the long run.

They shouldnt be thinking about that [deposits and withdrawals] as a separate part of the player experience, PayNearMe Vice President of Marketing Anne Hay said. The fact that they do [means] that theres a disconnect there for an operator to get much better at providing that overall player experience.

Read more:

Deposits, Withdrawals Among Biggest Sportsbook Customer Issues - Gaming Today

Posted in Sportsbook | Comments Off on Deposits, Withdrawals Among Biggest Sportsbook Customer Issues – Gaming Today

Rovell: How a Bettor Turned a Sportsbook Free Bet Into $200K Profit Thanks to Rams, Warriors & Avalanche – The Action Network

Posted: at 3:47 am

Jeremy Malone sighed as he deposited more money into his BetMGM account last December. A big college football and NFL bettor, it had been a bad November. After seeing the latest deposit, a VIP concierge responded by giving Malone a few free bets.

Whenever I get them, its not going to do any good to put it on one game, Malone, 36, told the Action Network. So I do parlays.

So, with two $500 free bets in hand, Malone took his shot.

On Dec. 16, Malone entered two separate parlays. The first was on the Kansas City Chiefs, Phoenix Suns and Colorado Avalanche to each win their sports respective championships. The second was on the Los Angeles Rams, Golden State Warriors and Avalanche to do the same.

Im an Avs season ticket holder, Malone said. So the Avs were the constant.

Betting has been a big part of Malones life over the last decade. He used to go to Vegas 15 times a year and made his three sports bars in Colorado to look like sportsbooks with big TVs and odds tickers. Theyre called the Sportsbook Bar & Grill.

BetMGMs promo code will give new users a $1,000 risk-free bet on their first wager.

When the Rams won the Super Bowl in February, Malones attention focused on the Warriors. At the time, the Warriors were 4/1 to win the NBA title only behind the Brooklyn Nets with an implied title probability of 14.46%.

When the Warriors and the Avs made the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final, respectively, Malone felt like he needed to hedge his bet that paid out 538/1 odds for $269,000.

He put $65,000 on the Tampa Bay Lightning to win it all and $20,000 on the Boston Celtics. By winning games on teams he didnt want to win, he said he was able to make $20,000 of his hedge back.

And then came his dream.

On June 16, the Warriors beat the Celtics to win the NBA title. All that was left was Colorado, the season-long favorite to win the Cup.

Watching Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, surrounded by friends who were Avs fans, Malones three-championship parlay cashed.

It made the celebration that much sweeter, Malone said.

The big payoff, which turned out to be a net of $204,000, wont change how he bets, he said. Malone is already an active bettor, wagering a couple thousand dollars per week during the football season.

Its not his first notable score, either. Hes previously won two Super Bowl Bets for $25,000 each.

But this one might mean a little more. The bet featured his favorite team and paid out more than hed ever previously won.

The timing was just right, too. He and his girlfriend have a baby due in August.

How would you rate this article?

Original post:

Rovell: How a Bettor Turned a Sportsbook Free Bet Into $200K Profit Thanks to Rams, Warriors & Avalanche - The Action Network

Posted in Sportsbook | Comments Off on Rovell: How a Bettor Turned a Sportsbook Free Bet Into $200K Profit Thanks to Rams, Warriors & Avalanche – The Action Network