Daily Archives: March 4, 2023

Best 9 Sites for Gambling Online with Real Money USA

Posted: March 4, 2023 at 12:47 am

We are all becoming more and more enamoured with internet gaming. Whether you prefer playing traditional gambling games, reserving a place virtually at a live dealer table, or placing bets on sports online, the finest online gambling real money sites provide you with a seemingly limitless selection of gambling possibilities for real money.

Choosing the finest online sports gambling websites can be challenging due to the market's oversaturation. And how can you know which gaming websites near me are the best when there are so many brand-new online casinos and sportsbooks to select from? Do not fret, fellow casino fan. We have your back with a list of the three best online gambling sites that offer legal and online gambling real money.

Bovada has been delivering online poker for almost ten years and is one of the best online gambling sites. They are a part of the well-known PWL, formerly the Bodog Poker Network, the biggest gambling network with a US concentration. Therefore, a lack of player traffic is not a problem at all.

Bovada is one of the greatest poker sites online for new and casual players since it uses anonymized tables, which precludes cardsharps from targeting certain players and supports crypto gambling.

This online gambling casino real money site provides brand-new players with a superb 100% welcome poker bonus of up to $500 with wagering requirements that are well within reach.

For every 150 earned Rewards Points, the additional money is released in $5 increments. The points accumulate rather quickly depending on how frequently you play because they are credited when you leave money games or finish a tournament.

The distinctive Bitcoin casino incentives, which include extra increases to the welcome bonus ($3,750) and sports betting ($750), will be loved by cryptocurrency players. These days, using cryptocurrency when you gamble online really pays off real amounts of cash.

The mobile casino's catalogue is outstanding, and the gameplay is quick and precise. However, navigating on mobile devices is not as seamless as on PC browser casinos.

A player can find themselves browsing for longer than they would want in specific areas of the casinos, such as the slots and live dealers. But when you consider all the fantastic options you will have at your disposal, this is a tiny inconvenience.

Bovada's banking options lean heavily toward cryptocurrencies, typical of many gambling sites in the present era. Credit/debit cards, Litecoin, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, MatchPay, and the uncommon but practical option of Zelle are all acceptable methods of deposit.

Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and courier-delivered checks are all available as payment methods. Use Bitcoin Cash or Litecoin if you want your wins sent to you in an hour or less.

Since its launch in 2016, Ignition has maintained one of the US players' most popular gambling sites. They are also a part of the PWL Poker Network, so you can rest certain that you are in safe hands while gambling online.

This is one of the bitcoin gambling websites for recreational and inexperienced players because it has amazing gambling materials, a wonderful mix of players with different skill levels, online gambling real money and confidential tables.

One of the most interesting and justifiable promotions we've seen when evaluating online gambling platforms is the $3,000 dual-game welcome bonus. You get a 150% bonus for both the website's gambling and casino sections because it is shared between both.

If you deposit with a credit card instead of cryptocurrency, the bonus is decreased to 100% for each. If you haven't already, this is a fantastic little incentive to convert your bankroll to cryptocurrency and online gambling for real money.

The minimum deposit is 25x, which is ten times less than what is considered to be the industry norm. If you're lucky, it is simpler to cash out any gains.

Ignition's mobile experience is excellent, and the entire gambling website has been tailored to mobile screens. Elegant, responsive, and very user-friendly describe the mobile website.

The gamers' only slight gripe is that fewer games are accessible than at the in-browser Computer casinos, but even those offered are of excellent quality.

Ignition accepts deposits made using all the popular payment methods, including credit/debit cards, vouchers, USDT, Litecoin, and Bitcoin.

Players can choose from various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoins, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, and several more altcoins, for payouts, including MatchPay, cheque by courier, coupons, and these cryptocurrencies.

Since BetOnline began to offer online gambling in 2011, it has become a popular gambling room. They are a part of the Chico Poker Network, formerly the Action Network, which is the third-largest network accessible to US players and offers a wide variety of PKOs.

It truly is a story of two cities regarding bonuses at BetOnline. Despite being significant, the $1,000 gamble bonus has a 30x wagering requirement. Somewhat below normal but still quite high.

The wagering requirement for BetOnline's 50% sport introductory promotion is 10x, which is a significantly lower amount. Sports bettors will have considerably easier access to any possible winnings than gamble gamblers.

With seven more promotions to pick from, like top crypto gamble bonuses and exclusive gamble offers, they certainly attempt unequal blessings.

Connective Games, a cutting-edge provider of gamble software that offers top-notch in-browser instant play on mobile devices, powers this gambling room.

BetOnline offers casino gambling apps for Android and iOS, giving users access to their poker options with exceptional usability and quick and precise gameplay.

There are 19 ways to fund your account overall at BetOnline, including alternatives for cryptocurrencies and fiat money. We adore this kind of dedication to diversity since it allows more and more people to enjoy the enjoyment of gambling near me.

The withdrawal choices are also great; some let you make money in less than an hour. When it relates to banking at the finest online poker, there isn't much more you can ask for.

The fees related to some transactions on this sports gambling site are our sole complaint; credit card customers are slapped with a 7.5% surcharge, which isn't fair.

Visit link:

Best 9 Sites for Gambling Online with Real Money USA

Posted in Gambling | Comments Off on Best 9 Sites for Gambling Online with Real Money USA

Towson gets ahead of sports gambling problem at colleges

Posted: at 12:47 am

TIM: THE FOCUS HERE AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY IS ON EDUCATION, DIRECTED TOWARD AN ISSUE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A PROBLEM FOR STUDENTS. COLLEGE CAMPUSES ARE NOT OFF LIMITS WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS BETTING. TOWSON UNIVERSITY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE A $40,000 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING TO HELP LAUNCH A STUDENT AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. >> WE SAT DOWN AS A TEAM AND TALKED ABOUT IT, AND DECIDED, LETS START TALKING ABOUT IT. THIS PREVENTION DOESNT WORK IF YOURE NOT ENGAGING IN THE WORK. SO WE DECIDED, LETS WRITE THE GRANT, LETS SEE IF WE CANT CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS. TIM: AND THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD INCLUDING GAMBLING AWARENESS AMONG THE SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH TOWSONS OFFICE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUG PREVENTION CENTER. >> THERE IS SO MUCH STIGMA CONNECTED TO MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, SUBSTANCE USE. THE SAME WOULD BE TRUE WITH GAMBLING. AND SO, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO JUST AUTOMATICALLY COME AND ASK FOR HELP ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IF THIS FEELS LIKE A FORBIDDEN TOPIC ON CAMPUS. TIM: GAMBLING IS NOW A TOPIC MORE TOWSON STUDENTS SEEM WILLING TO ABOUT TALK ABOUT ON AND OFF CAMPUS. >> LIKE, IF YOURE GOING TO DO IT, YOU SHOULD KNOW -- LIKE HAVE HARD LIMITS OF LIKE, IM NOT GOING TO DO MORE THAN THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY. MAKING SURE YOURE NOT LOSING, LIKE, YOUR TUITION IN BETS. TIM: THE SCHOOL LAUNCHED ITS GAMBLING AWARENESS PROGRAM A FEW MONTHS BEFORE SPORTS BETTING BECAME LEGAL IN MARYLAND. >> I MEAN AS LONG AS YOURE DOING IT RESPONSIBLY AND NOT LIKE PROBLEMATICALLY, I GUESS ITS -- THATS A GOOD THING. TIM: TOWSONS GAMBLING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN INCLUDED AN IN-APP BANNER AD SENT AT RANDOM TO ADVISE STUDENTS THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE. DO YOU THINK ITS A GOOD IDEA THAT THEYVE GOT THAT? >> YES, ITS DEFINITELY GOOD TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND HAVE LIKE AN APP, SO WE CANNOT ALL GET OUT OF HAND. TIM: IN ALMOST A YEARS TIME, THE UNIVERSITY SAYS IT HAS TRAINED STUDENTS TO CONNECT WITH CLASSMATES WHO COULD BE REACHING OUT FOR HELP. ON THE CAMPUS OF TOWSON UNIVERSITY, TIM TOOTEN, WBALTV 11 NEW

Towson University gets ahead of growing gambling problem at colleges across US

Updated: 5:48 PM EST Mar 3, 2023

Gambling has become a problem on a growing number of college campuses.According to a report released by the International Center for Responsible Gambling, about 6% of college students have a serious gambling problem.While Towson University is not experiencing a problem, it has made an early commitment to address the issue. Towson became one of the few schools in the country to prepare for what it believed could become a problem for students betting on sports.The university applied for and received a $40,000 grant from the National Council on Problem Gambling to help launch a student awareness campaign."We sat down as a team and talked about it and decided, 'Let's start talking about it.' Prevention doesn't work if you're not engaging in the work, so we decided let's write the grant, let's see if we can't create a comprehensive prevention program, and let's see what happens," said Emily Wiegand, assistant director of Towson's Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Center.The school launched a marketing campaign with the hopes of getting ahead of what could become a trend among college students."We were expecting, potentially, an increase in dialogue on campus around sports betting. There was no previous conversation about sports betting on campus, but we knew that sports betting was set to go live in Maryland last fall," Wiegand said.Gambling is now a topic more Towson students seem willing to about talk about on and off campus."If you're going to do it, you should ... have hard limits of, like, 'I'm not going to do more than this amount of money,' making sure you're not losing, like, your tuition in bets," said Evy Kohler, a Towson student."I mean, as long as you're doing it responsibly and not, like, problematically, I guess that's a good thing," said Indira Fayson, a Towson student.Towson launched its gambling awareness program a few months before sports betting became legal in Maryland in November 2022."There is so much stigma connected to mental health concerns, substance use. The same would be true with gambling, and so, this is not something that students are going to just automatically come and ask for help about, especially if this feels like a forbidden topic on campus," Wiegand said.Towson's gambling awareness campaign included an in-app banner ad sent at random to advise students that help is available."It's definitely good to be responsible and have, like, an app, so we cannot all get out of hand," said Nicole Muroff, a Towson student.In almost a year's time, the university said it has trained students to connect with classmates who could reach out for help.

Gambling has become a problem on a growing number of college campuses.

According to a report released by the International Center for Responsible Gambling, about 6% of college students have a serious gambling problem.

While Towson University is not experiencing a problem, it has made an early commitment to address the issue. Towson became one of the few schools in the country to prepare for what it believed could become a problem for students betting on sports.

The university applied for and received a $40,000 grant from the National Council on Problem Gambling to help launch a student awareness campaign.

"We sat down as a team and talked about it and decided, 'Let's start talking about it.' Prevention doesn't work if you're not engaging in the work, so we decided let's write the grant, let's see if we can't create a comprehensive prevention program, and let's see what happens," said Emily Wiegand, assistant director of Towson's Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Center.

The school launched a marketing campaign with the hopes of getting ahead of what could become a trend among college students.

"We were expecting, potentially, an increase in dialogue on campus around sports betting. There was no previous conversation about sports betting on campus, but we knew that sports betting was set to go live in Maryland last fall," Wiegand said.

Gambling is now a topic more Towson students seem willing to about talk about on and off campus.

"If you're going to do it, you should ... have hard limits of, like, 'I'm not going to do more than this amount of money,' making sure you're not losing, like, your tuition in bets," said Evy Kohler, a Towson student.

"I mean, as long as you're doing it responsibly and not, like, problematically, I guess that's a good thing," said Indira Fayson, a Towson student.

Towson launched its gambling awareness program a few months before sports betting became legal in Maryland in November 2022.

"There is so much stigma connected to mental health concerns, substance use. The same would be true with gambling, and so, this is not something that students are going to just automatically come and ask for help about, especially if this feels like a forbidden topic on campus," Wiegand said.

Towson's gambling awareness campaign included an in-app banner ad sent at random to advise students that help is available.

"It's definitely good to be responsible and have, like, an app, so we cannot all get out of hand," said Nicole Muroff, a Towson student.

In almost a year's time, the university said it has trained students to connect with classmates who could reach out for help.

Read the rest here:

Towson gets ahead of sports gambling problem at colleges

Posted in Gambling | Comments Off on Towson gets ahead of sports gambling problem at colleges

Betting $1 billion: 5 takeaways from first month of sports gambling

Posted: at 12:47 am

Ohioans bet more than $1.1 billion on sports the first month it became legal to do so throughout the state.

The first revenue numbers for sports betting, released Tuesday, offer clues to the industry's future and its effect on Ohioans.

Bets are likely to increase as various sports seasons commence later this year, said John Holden, an assistant professor of business and sport management at Oklahoma State University. Along with a rise in bets, Ohio is also likely to see a jump in gambling addiction, said Derek Longmeier, executive director for the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.

Read more:Sports betting ads broke state law. What can Ohio do to stop it from happening again?

With March Madness around the corner, sports betting is likely to remain in the spotlight, Holden said. But that means any issues with sports betting will also be under intense scrutiny as the year progresses.

Here's what Holden and Longmeier said they expect to happen in the year ahead with sports betting now legal statewide.

January is usually a big month for sports betting. But numbers could have been "scary bigger" if Ohio State University had made the college football national championship, Holden said.

Going forward, Holden said he expects March will be a big month for bets in Ohio due to the NCAA basketball tournament.

As the NBA winds down, summer will be a down period for sports betting because baseball simply doesn't attract as many bettors, Holden said. But betting will ramp back up dramatically in late summer and early fall as Ohio State takes the field again and as the NFL season gets underway, Holden said.

"College football is big, but the NFL playoffs are king," Holden said.

Although it's hard to know for sure this early, gambling addiction is likely on the rise, Longmeier said.

In January, the network's helpline received 1,492 calls, he said. That's more than triple the number of calls the helpline received in January 2022.

Causes for the increased calls are likely twofold, Longmeier said.

Read More:Ohioans placed more than $1 billion in sports bets the first month it was legal

Sports betting ads that have popped up everywhere are required to list the helpline number. Those ads have likely made the helpline more visible than ever before, Longmeier said.

But Longmeier said it's likely that increased awareness isn't the only reason for the rise in calls.

"We've already seen it," Longmeier said. "it's definitely a combination and this was definitely something we knew was coming."

The vast majority of bets placed on games in the first month of legalized sports betting weren't placed in person.

Instead, Ohioans largely wagered on sports from their phones, tablets and computers, data from the Ohio Casino Control Commission shows.

Of the more than $1.1 billion spent on sports bets in January, $1.09 billion was placed online through sportsbooks. By comparison, just $22.9 million were placed at casinos or other retail spaces and $850,336 were placed at kiosks supervised by the Ohio Lottery.

"If you have online betting, that's how people are going to do it," Holden said. "For casinos, sports betting is another way to bring people in the door. ... it's like having a big act come and play."

For months, Ohioans have been subjected to an advertising blitz that blanketed airwaves, social media and billboards throughout the state.

Often, those ads promoted so-called bonuses, or credits, people can simply get for joining a sportsbook or wagering a certain amount of money.

Read more:A decade after casinos opened, Ohio takes a bet on sports

In Ohio, sportsbooks paid out nearly $320 million in promotional credits to bettors, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission. But Ohio doesn't allow sportsbooks to deduct those promotional dollars from tax revenue, so those kinds of offers won't last, Holden said.

"Right now, it's such a competitive market for fan acquisition," Holden said. "But those promotional bets don't make a lot of economic sense long-term, so those won't stick around."

Despite being legal for just two months, sports betting has already come under fire from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the commission tasked with oversight.

Along with fines that have been levied against various sportsbooks, the state may try to increase how much it taxes sportsbooks, said Longmeier.

Ohio has a 10% tax on sportsbook revenue. And while more than $1.1 billion in bets were placed in January, sportsbooks brought in $208.9 million in revenue translating to $20.89 million in taxes for Ohio.

DeWine, Longmeier said, has proposed doubling that tax to 20%.

Holden said he wouldn't be surprised if more states look to increase taxes on sports gambling. New York, he said, has the highest tax rate of 51% on sports betting.

Holden also expects sports gambling will face harsher regulation going forward as it becomes legal in more states. Legislation to better control sportsbooks would likely gain bipartisan support, he said.

"I think we will watch them come together against gambling," Holden said of state and federal legislators. "I think everyone is growing a little concerned. If things don't get toned down, in the not-too-distant future we'll see more done."

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

Continued here:

Betting $1 billion: 5 takeaways from first month of sports gambling

Posted in Gambling | Comments Off on Betting $1 billion: 5 takeaways from first month of sports gambling

New York Islanders vs. Detroit Red Wings odds, tips and betting trends

Posted: at 12:47 am

The New York Islanders (31-25-8, eighth in the Eastern Conference) host the Detroit Red Wings (28-24-9, 13th) in conference action on Saturday at 12:30 PM ET.

New York suffered a 2-1 road defeat against the Minnesota Wild its last time out on February 28, falling in the shootout 1-0.

Detroit lost 5-4 in overtime at home against the Seattle Kraken in its most recent game on March 2.

Ahead of watching this matchup, here is what you need to know about Saturdays action on the ice.

Want some action on the latest NHL games? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

See more here:

New York Islanders vs. Detroit Red Wings odds, tips and betting trends

Posted in Gambling | Comments Off on New York Islanders vs. Detroit Red Wings odds, tips and betting trends

UFC 285 Gambling Preview: Can Jon Jones and Valentina Shevchenko be trusted as betting favorites? – MMA Fighting

Posted: at 12:47 am

UFC 285 Gambling Preview: Can Jon Jones and Valentina Shevchenko be trusted as betting favorites?  MMA Fighting

Go here to read the rest:

UFC 285 Gambling Preview: Can Jon Jones and Valentina Shevchenko be trusted as betting favorites? - MMA Fighting

Posted in Gambling | Comments Off on UFC 285 Gambling Preview: Can Jon Jones and Valentina Shevchenko be trusted as betting favorites? – MMA Fighting

I Hate Gambling Contrary to Common Notion, Former American Tennis Star Reveals Real Personal Side in an Intimate Revelation – EssentiallySports

Posted: at 12:46 am

I Hate Gambling Contrary to Common Notion, Former American Tennis Star Reveals Real Personal Side in an Intimate Revelation  EssentiallySports

Go here to read the rest:

I Hate Gambling Contrary to Common Notion, Former American Tennis Star Reveals Real Personal Side in an Intimate Revelation - EssentiallySports

Posted in Gambling | Comments Off on I Hate Gambling Contrary to Common Notion, Former American Tennis Star Reveals Real Personal Side in an Intimate Revelation – EssentiallySports

4 days on the Minerva Reefs, then onto Fiji Sailing Logic

Posted: at 12:45 am

As you can see on the above satellite image, the Minerva Reefs are on a major under ocean ridge line. They are a couple of coral lagoon with almost nothing above the water at high tide and a substantial wall of coral deadening the ocean swell at low tide.

There isno land within 400miles, to wash sediment into the water, so the underwater visibility is like gin.

Both North and South Minerva Reefs lagoons has a small break in thecoral wall to allow a boat to access. The access passages into the lagoonsare notbig, sodaylight is essential to make sure I do not add Logic to the numerous boat that have been wreck on the reefs.

North Minerva Reef has a more substantial coral rim to the lagoon, which makes it a better protected anchorage from the ocean swell. We ended up being able to make it into South Minerva Reefs lagoon, in daylight, which would have not been the case if we had of continued the additional 24miles to North Minerva.I took the boat into the western lee of the island to try and catch a fish as we motored around to the entry of the lagoon. Which proved to be an ideal call as we caught a 4kg Big Eye Tuna, the Rolls Royce of sashimi tuna species.Compared to the coral reefs I had anchored in amongst , in the Great Barrier Reef, off the Australian coast, it was relatively easy to entre to South Minerva Reefslagoon, but I still would not have liked todo it without daylight to confirmthere were no coral bommies in our path.

We located a sandy patch to drop the anchor in, set the anchor alarm and had a very enjoyable nights sleep, not interrupted by having to alternate watches.

At high tide the reef was no visible, resulting in a swell, that has us postponing jobs until the stiller waters at low tide.

After the cold of a New Zealand autumn it was great to be able to go for a swim in the crystal clear watersand take Albert ashore to check out the reef at low tide

a walk took us to the outer edge, where the power of waves was very evident

The sunrises out in the middle of ocean where spectacular

after 2 nights in South Minerva we motored the 25 miles up to North Minervaagain staying close to the reef in the hope of catching a fish, but no luck this time.

An aerial photo of North Minerva, could well be off a human egg, taken from a paper on artificial insemination, with the NWen entry in thelagoon, where the replacement nucleusis to be inserted.

there was a very surreal feel to the lagoon. like a still pond in the middle of the ocean.

we anchored on the eastern side of the lagoonclose to what was left of the wreck of a trawlerdown one of the anchor chain tubes was a good size crayfish

so the plan was hatched, Mat would spear it from the top, Jemma would patrol the bottom, incase it tried to escape and I would be the cameraman.

success!!!

I also speared a good size tooth fish (nice eating)

We then went ashore, to find that under the big rocks there were crayfish

It took a quick bit of fine tuning and we had worked out how to stick a gloved hand under the rock, feel around for the crayfish, make sure it was a big one, then pull it out (great fun, in a hunter gather way).

They were good eating, just the legs and base of the antennas had us full after eating them for dinner.primate grooming Logic style

The next front moved over and the breeze changed from a northerly to a southerly, so it was time to reluctantly leave the Minervas and continue on our way to Fiji.

Initially the wind was too light, forcing us to motor

as it increased we were able to pull out the Screecher

Usually we heard the flying fish landing on the boat at night and threw them back, unfortunately nobody heard this one We had run out of fresh fruit and veg, so the germinated lentils were a welcome addition to our diet

As we approached Fiji it was time to put up the yellow quarantine flag and the Fijian cutesy flagUpon arrival, we were first visited by La from heath to make sure we were not a health risk to the Fijian population.We passed and the yellow flag could now come down. The next step in the paperwork for entering Fiji was Customs. Which again went smoothly.

with the paperwork out of the way, we then moved Logic into the Vuda Point Marinawe ended up covering the 440miles from North Minerva to Nadi in 2 days and 10hrs for a more respectableaverage speed of 7.5kt

The rest is here:

4 days on the Minerva Reefs, then onto Fiji Sailing Logic

Posted in Minerva Reefs | Comments Off on 4 days on the Minerva Reefs, then onto Fiji Sailing Logic

Republic of Minerva – Wikipedia

Posted: at 12:45 am

The reefs were put on the charts by Captain John Nicholson of LMS Haweis in December 1818 as reported in The Sydney Gazette 30 January 1819[4] and had been marked on charts as "Nicholson's Shoal" since the late 1820s. Captain H. M. Denham of HMS Herald surveyed the reefs in 1854 and renamed them after the Australian whaler Minerva, which collided with South Minerva Reef on 9 September 1829.[5]

In 1971 barges loaded with sand arrived from Australia, bringing the reef level above the water and allowing construction of a small tower and flag. The Republic of Minerva issued a declaration of independence on 19 January 1972,[6] in letters to neighboring countries and even created their own currency. Morris C. "Bud" Davis was elected as President of the Republic of Minerva.[7]

Prior to 1972, Tonga had not claimed sovereignty over the Minerva Reefs. In 1887, when King George Tupou I of Tonga first proclaimed Tongas territory, the Minerva Reefs were not included. When asked about the Minervan's project, the King of Tonga, Taufaahau Tupou IV, denied rumors that Tonga meant to claim sovereignty over it, yet said "it was in the best interest of Tonga not to allow a group of people, whose objects were to make money and whose activities could be harmful, to become established on the reefs." Neighboring countries agreed; Fijis Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, claimed the actions of the Minervans set a dangerous precedent: "If these people can claim Minerva, what would stop them from doing it here?"[8]

Consequently, a conference of the neighboring states (Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, and territory of Cook Islands) met on 24 February 1972 at which Tonga made a claim over the Minerva Reefs, and the rest of the states recognized its claim.

On 15 June 1972 the following proclamation was published in a Tongan government gazette:

PROCLAMATION

A Tongan expedition was sent to enforce the claim, arriving on 18 June 1972. The Flag of Tonga was raised on 19 June 1972 on North Minerva and on South Minerva on 21 June 1972. Tonga's claim was recognized by the South Pacific Forum in September 1972.[1] Meanwhile, Provisional President Davis was fired by founder Michael Oliver and the project collapsed in confusion. Nevertheless, Minerva was referred to in O. T. Nelson's post-apocalyptic children's novel The Girl Who Owned a City, published in 1975, as an example of an invented utopia that the book's protagonists could try to emulate.

In 1982 a group of Americans led again by Davis tried to occupy the reefs, but were forced off by Tongan troops after three weeks.[10]No known claimant group since 1982 has made any attempt to take possession of the Minerva Reefs[citation needed].

In November 2005, Fiji lodged a complaint with the International Seabed Authority concerning Tonga's maritime waters claims surrounding Minerva. Tonga has lodged a counter claim.[11] The Minerva "principality" group also claims to have lodged a counter claim[citation needed].

See more here:

Republic of Minerva - Wikipedia

Posted in Minerva Reefs | Comments Off on Republic of Minerva – Wikipedia

Fiji, Tonga war over Minerva Reef | Stuff.co.nz

Posted: at 12:45 am

The latest confrontation between Tonga and Fiji adds to the significance of an odd incident on an unpopulated reef 1500 kilometres north of New Zealand.

The Minerva Reefs have been part of Tonga for 40 years, but last year Fiji claimed them and sent its navy there to destroy navigation lights on the entrance to the lagoon.

Meanwhile, last week a Tonga navy vessel sailed into Fiji waters to take Fiji Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara to Nuku'alofa. Mara was facing charges of plotting to overthrow dictator Voreqe Bainimarama.

Mara is from the Lau Islands, part of Fiji, but culturally and historically part of Tonga. In the 1850s one of his Tongan forefathers, Ma'afu'otu'itonga, a Methodist, waged war on the Fijian Seru Cakobau who was based on the island of Bau, just off shore from Fiji's main island of Viti Levu.

Cakobau ultimately won and Lau became part of Fiji. Bainimarama comes from the Bau line.

However, the Lau Islands provided the leader crucial to modern Fiji: Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was Fiji's founding prime minister and later president. The runaway colonel is his youngest son.

The first broadside in the latest skirmish might well have occurred in 2009, when several yachts bound for New Zealand were chased out of Minerva Reefs' lagoon, a stopping point for those travelling here, by Fijian navy boats.

Minerva Reefs were claimed by Tonga in 1972 after the shadowy US Phoenix Foundation shipped in dirt and declared it a republic.

The late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV loaded a ferry with soldiers, a convict work detail and a four-piece brass band and sailed the 500 kilometres to personally haul down the "Republic of Minerva" flag.

As he raised his own banner, he declared it a Tongan island.

The reefs have taken on more significance as their possession gives rights to lucrative undersea minerals. South Korean, Chinese and Australian interests are seeking prospecting rights in the area.

Fiji's Foreign Affairs deputy permanent secretary Sila Balawa said last year it objected to Tonga building structures on Fiji territory.

In November 2009 the Fiji patrol boats arrived in the lagoon and chased yachts away.

Coincidentally, an RNZAF Orion was flying over the lagoon as the events were taking place.

Canadians Paul and Mary Major, of the yacht Bella Via, blogged on their arrival of the Orion over the reef: "It was very comforting to know that the plane was out there looking out for us."

Peter Sidler, on the Swiss-registered yacht Green Coral heading for the Bay of Islands, told of the Fijians challenging three yachts: "We were given 30 minutes to prepare for departure and leave. We left the Minerva Reefs angry and frustrated and continued our journey towards Opua."

Tonga's Ministry of Lands CEO Dr Sione Nailasikau Halatuituia said at the time that a dispute was taking place but they were surprised by Fiji's actions.

"The king claimed in it 1972. Since then we have been maintaining patrol and put up a lighthouse for the safety of seafarers," he said.

"We have developed a lot, and we are surprised at what is happening."

The Pacific Forum recognised Tonga's annexation of Minerva in 1972 but Fiji, which is now suspended from the 16-nation body, has not formally accepted it.

See the original post:

Fiji, Tonga war over Minerva Reef | Stuff.co.nz

Posted in Minerva Reefs | Comments Off on Fiji, Tonga war over Minerva Reef | Stuff.co.nz

What is Trance Music? (18 Different Types of Trance Music) – DITM

Posted: at 12:45 am

The birth of electronic music brought with it various unique genres.

Of these new styles, trance music is a notable one worthy of discussion.

Trance is specifically composed to manipulate its listeners into experiencing a hypnotic state reminiscent of a psychedelic trip.

The music started to gain popularity in the late 80s and early 90s, parallel to the birth of techno and house music.

Though trance can be categorized as one style of electronic music, it has distinct qualities that set it apart from its electronic siblings.

This article looks to take a more in-depth look into the funky world of trance lets take a trip with us.

Trance music is a part of the electronic music genre. It was born from the new-age British music scene, German techno, and hardcore music scenes in the 1990s.

Now, trance is considered a music genre on its own, often taking influences from other music genres, including techno, house, pop, chill, tech music, ambient tones, and even classical music.

A trance can be described as a state of hypnotism and blurred consciousness.

It can be triggered by spiritual meditation, the use of psychedelic drugs, some breathing techniques, or even occur almost randomly.

Trance music mimics this state by building up tension through a series of build-up beats and release layers.

This musics primary goal is to create tension and make people lose their consciousness in a trance state.

Modern trance music is often combined with other genres such as electro and progressive house.

Modern trance tracks may also include harsh bass lines and drum beats while still keeping their roots of melody breakdown and longer transitions.

Trance music is defined by its tempo, around 135-150 BPM, along with repeating melody and a musical form that builds tension through the so-called peaks and drops elements.

One of the most common trance music characteristics is a climax followed by a soft beat release leaving an atmospheric melody to hang for a while. The beats are gradually built up again.

Trance tracks are usually long to facilitate the multiple series of peaks and drops so the musics goals can be achieved.

Trance music is mostly instrumental, though ethereal female vocals are sometimes used. Male vocals are sometimes incorporated, though rare.

The tempo of trance music is usually faster than house music.

It incorporates kick drums and other percussion elements on the downbeat and open hi-hats and snare rolls on the upbeat.

The tension is built through frequency and volume.

Trance tracks often use a central melody or hook as part of its main theme and are repeated throughout the entire track.

On each breakdown, a simplified form of the lead motif is introduced to give the listener a sneak peek of the climax.

In the climax, the main melody is revealed and mixed with the first part of the track.

Our brains are easily manipulated by the things we listen to.

Trance musics effectiveness relies on this principle. Its repetitive melody sends signals and creates a pattern in the brain.

This can calm its listeners or make them feel trippy. When you reach this state, your brain releases dopamine, also known as the happiness hormone.

Dopamine is also known as the rewarding hormone, so your brain may ask for more.

This is precisely why some people can get addicted to trance music and crave its trip on a daily basis.

Before you get your pitchforks out and start calling it the demons music, you should understand that trance music is neither harmful nor damaging.

In fact, it can be a useful soother to those struggling with panic attacks or anxiety.

The repeated melody in its tracks calms the brain and is proven to slow down your heart rate.

Every time we enter a discussion of who invented a specific music genre, the answer is never straightforward.

Music is a product of long developments and experiments. For instance, before the term trance music gains popularity, similar sounds with repetitive melodies have long existed.

These sounds were referred to as acid house or atmospheric house in those days.

It gained popularity in clubhouses where psychedelics like magic shrooms (psilocybin mushrooms) are often used.

A quick Google search inquiring as to the inventor of trance music would yield a range of answers because it is not that simple.

For example, you might find Klaus Schulze mentioned a German musician who experimented with minimalist music with repetitive sounds.

His 1988 album En=Trance is also solid evidence. However, some argue that Sven Vath is the true trailblazer for creating early trance tracks.

On the other side of the globe, fans of Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima claim otherwise, stating that these trance music artists have been developing trance soundtracks for video games for far longer.

Regardless of which person actually invented trance music, it is a general understanding that the genre was born in Germany and later spread through other European countries.

Detroit techno may have inspired German trance music artists and later added atmospheric ambiance and repetitive patterns to create the trance genre we all know and love today.

After trance music gained popularity, various sub-genres of music started appearing. Some of the known sub-genres of trance music are listed below:

Also known as the first wave of trance, these tracks are characterized by the use of the Roland TB-303 bass machine as the lead synthesizer.

The tracks are characterized by the emphasis on the melody and repetitive chords.

It also uses less percussion and more techno.

The tracks are highly melodic, often featuring soothing piano riffs.

Also known as dance core, it is a hybrid of dream trance, progressive trance, hard trance, and Eurodance music.

It is a fusion of electronic music and anthem trance. The main characteristic of these tracks is the cold and dark feeling with a grandiose synthesized melody.

Futurepop also incorporates vocals and lyrics on its tracks.

Named after Goa, India, the tracks feature a complex melodic form.

It takes influences from Indian classical music and instruments.

Hardstyle tracks are characterized by a mix of gabber, hardcore kick bass sounds, and spontaneous rhythmic changes.

Hard trance is aggressive but produced at a slower tempo.

Also known as Ibiza trance or Balearic beat, the tracks are influenced by various relaxed music genres such as the Ibiza chill-out style.

The tracks are more melodic and mellow and often feature seaside elements.

It is a new genre that can be described as a more minimalistic trance.

The tracks have more breakdowns than regular trance but with fewer acid sounds.

The chord progression is the main feature of the tracks.

Developed from Goa trance with a lot of spontaneous sounds and samples.

Darkpsy does not feature any vocals, but it is common to use speech samples from movies or other genre elements.

Also known as melodic psytrance, it involves futuristic melodies, electric guitar, and vocals. It is considered a more radio-friendly trance.

A fusion between techno and trance. Use mostly consistent bassline, drums, percussion, and ambient pad.

A broad term of trance with a full set of lyrics. The tracks can feature real singers or samples from other traditional pop music.

One of the most popular styles of trance inspired the birth of progressive trance and acid trance.

A blend of different music styles such as jazz, funk, and electronic but has the iconic trance repetitive pattern.

Trance music has its fair share of hardcore fans, so it is definitely not a dead genre. But compared to other musical genres, trance music cannot be considered a mainstream music genre anymore.

The number of people listening to trance music is extremely limited and segmented. There are a lot of explanations for this phenomenon.

The repetitive melody can be monotonous for some people, making them hesitant to give it a second try.

Meanwhile, more modern trance music that combines different elements and samples has a tough time sticking to people compared to other easy-for-the-ears electronic music.

From all of these phenomena, we can say that trance music is not for everyone.

Some people may try to listen to trance music, but the tracks will not make it to their regular playlist.

If you are an artist who wants to try to produce trance music, you can go ahead and produce your trance tracks.

There is still a chunk of listeners ready to enjoy your tracks.

But if you are looking for a major breakdown and huge popularity, you may want to try another genre.

Trance and techno are both electronic dance music (EDM) genres, but they have distinct differences in terms of sound, production style, and overall feel. Techno is characterized by a repetitive, hypnotic beat and a focus on rhythm and percussion. Trance, on the other hand, is characterized by a more uplifting, emotional sound, with a focus on melody and harmony.

Trance music has been shown to have an impact on the brain through its ability to alter brainwaves. The repetitive and hypnotic nature of trance music can induce a trance-like state, causing brainwaves to slow down and become more synchronized. This can result in a state of relaxation, increased focus and creativity, and altered perceptions of time and space.

Check out the additional resources we have on Trance Music:

Trance music is something we all know but rarely listen to. It is a part of the electronic music scene that has its own listeners, but it is not considered popular or mainstream music.

There is nothing wrong with it, though. Not every type of music is made for everyone or meant to be part of the mainstream.

This does not have to be a terrible thing either; the exclusiveness of trance music is preferable for many of its fans.

That being said, trance is a must-listen for those craving a new and different type of musical experience.

Nates first ever major EDM event was Hard Summer in 2016. After hearing Porter Robinson close out the festival, hes been attending live shows on a consistent basis. His favorite EDM genres are currently trance, drum and bass, and house.

Read more:

What is Trance Music? (18 Different Types of Trance Music) - DITM

Posted in Trance | Comments Off on What is Trance Music? (18 Different Types of Trance Music) – DITM