Category Archives: Gambling

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nline gambling is booming, and operators are constantly looking for new ways to remain competitive. This is due to increasing demands from players for tech-savvy and innovative games and gambling options. Simply having video-style gambling games on your site is no longer enough to keep people interested. As an operator, you need to be looking ahead at new technologies that will keep your players happy, keen, and interested.

Augmented reality is a digital world that is created with pixels. It resembles the real world in some ways but can also be altered and augmented so that its significantly enhanced. As well as creating images with pixels, it also uses sounds and other sensory stimuli, which are delivered digitally or via the use of technology.

Some popular examples of AR technology include the Pokemon Go app. During the mid-2010s, the app had millions of users worldwide, and they could often be spotted in the streets, clasping their phones and hunting Pokemon. Another example is an app created by the European furniture brand IKEA. It allows users to place realistic 3D models of furniture into their homes through a smartphone camera and augmented reality.

AR apps have also been developed for a range of other uses. DoodleLens, Adobe Aero, GoogleLens, and various makeup and fashion apps. The technology has also found use in healthcare, real estate, and even education. But what about online gambling?

AR online gambling sites have been around for a while in some shape and form, but its only recently that the technology has really caught up with the concept. The first cross-technology, multiplayer, AR casino platform was launched in July 2021.

As well as these technologies, it also incorporated virtual reality and mixed reality into games like roulette, blackjack, and slots. Due to launch later in August, developers said they have other games in the pipeline that will launch in due course. The platform will be available on iOS and Android as well as other operating systems. Like other proponents of AR technology, they hope to provide incentives and provoke interest from Generation X, Y, and Z players worldwide.

One of the key drivers of AR technology in gambling is that, unlike virtual reality, headsets or goggles are not necessary. AR technology can be enjoyed without the need for additional software, meaning its more accessible to more people.

But lets look at the statistics. The Extended Reality market, which includes AR, is expected to exceed$125 billionper year by the end of 2026. Add in the fact that the global online gambling market will be worth $127 billion by the end of 2027, and you can see the two technologies together have serious potential.

Augmented reality can be used in regular casino games. It can transport people to a virtual casino and allow them to interact with various features. But it really comes into its own during Live Dealer games. This vertical of online gambling is one of the fastest growing in recent years, particularly in the last 18 months.

As many land-based casinos remain closed, under restrictions, or have shut down completely, demand for interactive gambling options has increased. Live Dealer games are experiencing increased demand, but audiences are also demanding more technological advancement. AR in Live Dealer games can give players the interaction they want while also interacting with digital enhancements.

Just think of a scenario where your Live Dealers can be superimposed into your player's environment without them having to leave the studio. This could also be the case with other players, tables, and even cards and chips. Its also possible to transport stats, bonuses, and various other in-game aspects.

The integration of AR into Live Dealer games and other technologies will increase interest in online gambling. It will also result in more time spent on site while increasing cross-selling ability.

As a gambling operator mulling the potential of integrating augmented reality into your platform, youre probably wondering whether additional licensing is required. The answer is NO. At the time of writing, there are no additional compliance obligations for online gambling operators who choose to use AR in their games. You will need youronline gambling licenseand any other permissions as required by the jurisdiction youre operating in, and youre good to go.

AR, along with VR are here to stay. As time goes on, consumers will want more and more high-tech gambling games and providers that can offer them. Doing so will ensure you remain competitive against other names in the market and give you an edge over others. It will also give you an advantage as you will have adopted an emerging technology early on, thus making it easier for you to keep up with developments in the sector.

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The potential of augmented reality in online gambling - Yogonet International

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Finding the best bitcoin casino can be difficult. What features do you look for when choosing a crypto casino online? Do you choose the one with the most attractive welcome bonus? Or should you evaluate their security and reliability?

We keep a close eye on the creation and opening of BTC platforms. And to help you make the right decision, we've compiled a list of what we think are the most respected crypto casinos in 2021. This review covers all aspects of these casinos, especially focusing on the following features:

Based on these metrics, we have identified the top 5 bitcoin gambling sites:

This is what the list of the best bitcoin casinos looks like. From those that accept US customers to others that offer a no deposit bonus for free spins.

mBit is on our list of the best bitcoin casinos primarily because of the level of privacy that is given to the online gaming platform. We also like the wide range of bonuses available to both regular and VIP customers. For example, you get a 110% bonus up to 1BTC + 250 free spins on your first deposit. Second and third deposits get a 50% bonus up to 2.5 BTC and a 75% bonus up to 1.5 BTC respectively.

mBit also offers its customers a no deposit bonus of 50 free spins. Note that you will need a minimum first deposit of 0.005 BTC to get the free spins, and an account verified by a valid phone number. Here you get access to more than 1,100 games that are grouped into jackpot slots, blackjack, roulette, table poker, and video poker. All from 15 reputable online casino game suppliers.

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BitStarz is commonly referred to as a hybrid casino, primarily because it accepts both fiat and cryptocurrencies. Here you can make deposits in euros, U.S. dollars, bitcoins, and a host of popular altcoins. You'll probably love their wide selection of games (more than 2,300) and highly competitive deposit bonuses.

For example, while most online gambling platforms offer a maximum of 100% on your first deposit, BitStarz offers you a 150% deposit bonus. The 2nd and 3rd deposits attract a 50% bonus up to 1 BTC and 2 BTC respectively. On the other hand, the 4th deposit attracts a 100% bonus of up to 1 BTC. You also get 180 free spins for your first deposit and 20 free bitcoin casino spins as a welcome bonus.

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Bitcoincasino.us describes itself as the first truly US-friendly BTC platform. However, it doesn't describe what makes it the best platform for U.S. traders - registration, licensing, or otherwise. Nevertheless, we included it here because we liked its friendly interface and high transaction speed.

This ensures that it has one of the friendliest game search options and an equally attractive real-time gaming experience. Note that Bitcoincasino.us is a pure cryptocurrency casino. It only processes transactions involving the five cryptocurrencies accepted here (BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, and DOGE).

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Another simple and convenient platform is 7Bit Casino. It has a lot of pluses and can attract any player. This is exactly a casino. Betting options on different events are impossible here.

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SoftSwiss is a well-known gambling software developer. It has introduced another product where you can bet in cryptocurrency - CryptoWild Casino. The platform is focused on players who prefer to keep their savings in the most popular bitcoin cryptocurrency because there is no payment in other currencies.

The number of games is huge, more than a thousand. For the convenience of visitors, they are divided into categories. These are slot machines, roulette, jackpot games, card games, several types of poker. There is a miscellaneous section with other games: dice, horse racing, and so on. You can also find the desired game through the search menu. Or choose a game product of a particular provider in the column on the right - there are 11 of them in total.

All games are made thoughtfully and very qualitatively. Almost each of them provides a bonus for new players after the first deposit. So, by depositing 1 BTC you can get up to 75 free spins. In addition, Crypto Wild regularly holds promotions and regular customers can also get a bonus without making a deposit.

Using Bitcoin to make payments already means security at the highest level. Cryptocurrency developers have taken care of this. The casino itself has the most up-to-date software. So transactions and personal data of users are reliably protected. If there are any problems with payments or other issues, they will gladly solve them in the technical support service.

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This is our top 5 best Bitcoin casinos. After studying each of the product characteristics, you will notice that they all offer similar services and bonuses. The only difference is the number of games available and the bonus bets.

Before you play an online casino for cryptocurrencies, make sure the site meets the minimum requirements. Consider the main ones:

Bitcoin Casino refers to an online gaming platform that supports bitcoin-financed betting. Originally BTC websites only accepted bitcoins, but recent events in the industry have shown that most platforms use more popular altcoins such as Ethereum and Litecoin.

Yes, most online bitcoin casinos do not impose geographic barriers on who can join their platform. They only have restrictions on the type of currency these members can use for betting. Online BTC platforms allow U.S. residents to make only cryptocurrency transactions.

A provably fair gaming protocol is a blockchain technology built into the core of a casino's gaming algorithm to guarantee fair play. This ensures that the game developer does not interfere with the algorithms of the game in his favor. It also allows the player to easily check if the game was fair.

There is no standard limit on the amount you need to sign up for bitcoin casinos. You will also notice that most platforms do not even have a minimum initial deposit. They will only specify the minimum deposit required to get the first deposit bonus. mBit, for example, requires you to have a minimum deposit of 0.005 BTC to be eligible for free spins.

Most platforms pride themselves on keeping their members anonymous. So in most cases, you'll only need to provide your name and address (possibly a phone number) for verification purposes. However, traders with large volumes (depositing or withdrawing) of more than 2 BTC may be subject to extra customer authentication requirements, such as proof of identity and physical address.

There is no limit to how much you can earn at bitcoin casinos in the United States. However, most of these online betting platforms have limits on how many bitcoins you can withdraw at one time. Some will approve withdrawals of no more than 2 BTC or 10,000 XNUMX euros per month.

Another way to make money from cryptocurrency is lending Bitcoin for interest. If you have a couple of Bitcoin coins (or any other token) in your wallet, this is a great opportunity to extract additional income from your investment.

Like traditional online gaming platforms, the bitcoin casino industry in the U.S. is run by complex gaming algorithms. They mainly focus on slot machines in which the algorithm takes on the role of the croupier. And to guarantee transparency, most of them have begun to incorporate a provable fairness protocol into their systems. It guarantees the integrity of the game.

Like the larger blockchain industry, the online bitcoin casino industry remains largely unregulated. The lack of clear legislative policy in major financial jurisdictions, such as the U.S. or the U.K., has resulted in no registered or licensed BTC platform here. However, most have turned to more cryptocurrency-friendly countries such as Curacao, Malta, and Cyprus for registration and licensing in search of credibility.

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We launched Native News Onlinebecause the mainstream media often overlooks news that is important is Native people. We believethat everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities. That's why the story youve just finished was free and we want to keep it that way, for all readers. We hope you'll consider making a donation to support our effortsso that we can continue publishing more stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. Your donation will help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount big or small gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change.Donate toNative News Onlinetoday and support independent Indigenous journalism. Thank you.

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China is establishing a national blacklist of karaoke songs that contain "illegal content," and they're set to be banned from all singing and dancing entertainment venues starting October 1, announced its Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Per the new criteria, songs stand to be banned if they encourage drug use, gambling, and violence or go against cultural traditions and social ethics, according to the ministry's statement. The country is also set to blacklist songs that endanger national security or unity, incite ethnic hatred or discrimination, violate China's constitution, or promote cults or superstitions, per the statement.

Content that is "prohibited by laws and administrative regulations" will also be banned, though the statement doesn't provide further details. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism did not immediately reply to Insider's request for comment.

There are over 50,000 karaoke spots across China, each typically using a music library of 100,000 songs, which will make it difficult for karaoke operators to enforce the new rules, a ministry spokesperson told local media outlet Xinhua News. The ban also extends to small karaoke booths, which often have space for only one or two people and are usually found in malls.

It will be up to the companies that provide the music to karaoke spots to check and report songs, said the ministry.

The ministry will ultimately decide which songs will go on the list of illegal music. It's also setting up teams to check on karaoke venues, and said perpetrators "shall be dealt with in accordance of the law."

In the meantime, the ministry encouraged music and content providers to promote "healthy and progressive" karaoke music.

The karaoke ban is the latest in China's efforts to regulate and censor media content. It actively cracks down on depictions of violence, pornography, and politically sensitive material critical of Beijing. For example, it censored social media posts earlier this year about Oscar-winning director Chlo Zhao because of her negative comments about China in 2013, and blocked emojis related to the Tiananmen Square massacre.

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China says it will ban songs with lyrics that promote cults and encourage drug use from 50,000 karaoke venues - Insider

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Aug 11: Looking to bet online at the best gambling sites for Indian players? Look no further; we have scoured the web and come up with several fantastic operators. Each online casino here offers something different, but they all have something in common all are top-notch platforms offering games from premium providers that Indian players can enjoy in a fun, safe environment.

When assessing top gambling sites for Indian players, we look for things like licenses, customer support, third-party feedback, game range, and a platform's overall feel. With that in mind, here are five excellent options to check out.

LeoVegas

Launched in 2012, this Swedish based studio has been the darling for many players the world over. The site has won several awards for its service and is always looking for new ways to entertain its customers. With an international focus, LeoVegas nevertheless is a good option for Indian players.

Raj.bet

Operated by WinSector N.V. and covered by a Curacao eGaming license, Raj.bet is a young and excitinggambling site for Indian players to try. This online casino focuses on players from India, offering accounts in rupees, and providing classic games like Teen Patti and Andar Bahar. As well as these, customers can play slots from industry-leading providers such as NetEnt, table games, live games from cutting edge studio Evolution, and many more. For those interested in sports, Raj.bet also runs an extensive sportsbook where top events like football and cricket can be bet on.

Betway

Betway Group is another popular choice for Indian gamblers and operates a suite of sites such as Betway Sportsbook, Betway Vegas, Betway eSports, and Betway Casino. Launched in 2006, Betway operates from Malta and Guernsey and holds several licenses. Their games list is long, and they are a reputable firm to gamble with.

10Cric

Like Raj.bet, 10Cric is an online gambling site that has a focus on Indian players. Here you can find a number of ways to have a punt, including casino games and sports betting. 10Cric was established in 2012 and has won awards for its mobile app. Online feedback has claimed 10Cric doesn't have the best odds compared to certain competitors, but many Indian gamblers have enjoyed their service over the years.

JeetWin

JeetWin might not be quite the number one casino in India that they claim to be, but they are a solid contender regardless. What makes JeetWin pop up on the radar is its fine selection of casino games, tournaments, and promos. They also have a sportsbook for Indians looking to gamble on sporting events, making them an interesting one-stop gambling shop.

So many great options for Indian gamblers to try in 2021

Players from India are spoiled for choice when it comes to online gambling, and the number of operators is constantly growing. You don't want to get caught out using a dodgy operator, though, so choosing licensed companies that have built solid levels of trust is paramount. Taking the time to go over the online gambling sites listed here will help you find the best fit, and always remember to bet responsibly.

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Top gambling sites in India to play in 2021 - Daijiworld.com

In 2013, Shaquille ONeal became a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings. But a new business venture changed his situation. ONeal is partnering with WynnBET and must sell his piece of the Sacramento franchise to comply with NBA rules.

He should make a healthy chunk of change from the deal, considering the franchise has more than tripled in value since ONeal bought his stake. Given how Shaq has managed his financial affairs since retiring from the NBA in 2011, that is right on brand.

Shaquille ONeal was a larger-than-life figure even among the giants in the NBA. Since retiring, hes translated that status to the business world. Per Celebrity Net Worth, ONeal is worth $400 million, and hes done it through an aggressive acquisition strategy.

The Hall of Famer explained that strategy during an appearance on the Earn Your Leisure financial literacy podcast in July 2021. Some of what he disclosed was stunning.

My real business is I own 50 brands. So, when I was retiring, Im looking around, Im like, How do Michael Jackson and all these guys live forever? So, one of the chapters in the book, joint venture-ship. I called the three companies that helped people live forever, and they bought my brand for a lot of money.

So, I took half that money, put it back in the company, now Im the No. 2 guy in the company.

ONeal owns at least a share of Marilyn Monroe, Playboy, Elvis Presley, Forever 21, and JCPenney.

According to the Big Lead, Shaquille ONeal has a deal with WynnBET to become the brand ambassador for the gambling app. He will advise on strategy and as well as figuring essentially in WynnBETs advertising campaigns.

ONeal will also create original content. WynnBET wanted to add a prominent sports figure to its campaigns to improve its profile, per AfroTech.

Even though gambling permeates sports leagues today, ONeal must, by NBA rules, divest himself of his share of the Kings. He reportedly owns between 2-4% of the franchise. Based on the teams current valuation of $1.9 billion, per NBC Sports Bay Area, that could mean between $38 million and $76 million for ONeal.

When ONeal bought his share of the Kings, he was front and center at a press conference. That was when majority owner Vivek Ranadiv was pushing the city of Sacramento for a new arena. The city council approved the financing for Golden 1 Center in May 2014. ONeal wasnt seen much around Sacramento after the initial fanfare.

Shaquille ONeal is a retired NBA player, and hes going to get paid to endorse a sports betting app. Weve come a long way from when banishment loomed for retired players having anything to do with gambling.

Baseball legends Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays picked up retirement gigs as official representatives of competing casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn had none of that and put both legends on the permanently ineligible list.

That prevented Mantle and Mays from participating in MLB activities, including appearances as spring training instructors. When Peter Ueberroth replaced Kuhn as commissioner in 1984, one of his first moves was to reinstate Mantle and Mays.

Gambling on sports continuously operated in the shadows. But after the Supreme Court upheld a New Jersey law permitting sports gambling in May 2018, its been a whole new world. With the ruling, the high court also voided the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.

Where locker rooms once had signs declaring sports gambling (or, really, any gambling) to be strictly forbidden, now there is at least one professional stadium set to open a sportsbook. The Arizona Cardinals plan to open a BetMGM retail sportsbook at State Farm Stadium before the 2022 season. The Phoenix Suns and Chicago Cubs also announced similar plans, per ESPN, while Capital One Arena in Washington opened one in 2020

Imagine it a two-story sportsbook inside the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. The phrase sign of the apocalypse comes to mind, but maybe itll turn out OK.

RELATED: Shaquille ONeal Once Put an Orlando Magic Veteran in a Headlock During Practice and Kicked Off a Whole Team Melee: My Neck Was Sore for Like 6 Weeks

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Shaquille ONeal Would Rather Bet on Gambling Venture Than on the Sacramento Kings - Sportscasting

To the editor:

It is not extreme to tell the truth.

Ron DeSantis is gambling with the health and safety of Floridas schoolchildren. And he is doing so in violation of the Florida Constitution, which says school boards shall operate, control and supervise all free public schools. His executive order, to withhold funding from school districts that do not comply with his dictates, appears to exceed his executive power.

DeSantis says he questions the science of face masks. His executive order is based on the position that his opinion is equivalent to the knowledge of scientific experts. Because he is governor, he has the power to turn opinion into public policy.

Face masks decrease the spread of respiratory viruses. Over 99% of COVID deaths occur in the unvaccinated. Vaccinations are about 94% effective at preventing transmission of COVID-19 infection. The Delta variant is 1,000 times more transmissible than the original COVID 19 virus. The virus is mutating, aided greatly by the unvaccinated, so there will be future variants. Pretending it is not a clear and present danger makes matters worse, not better.

The truth is that scientifically proven public health measures, not politically motivated opinions, are needed to protect schoolchildren from COVID-19 when classes resume this month.

Susan McGuire

Bokeelia

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Governor is gambling with health of schoolchildren | News, Sports, Jobs - Pineisland Eagle - Pine Island Eagle

DUBLIN, August 05, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Gambling Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts with Impact Analysis of COVID-19 (2021-2025 Edition)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global gambling market followed by analysis of its segments in terms of value. The report also consists of analysis of gambling market by value in regions such as Americas and Europe. The gambling markets of Italy, UK and France have been analyzed under the Europe region.

Under competitive landscape, different players in the gambling market have been compared on the basis of revenue generated and market capitalization.

The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global gambling market has also been forecasted for the period 2021-2025 taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.

The market observed moderate impact due to COVID-19 pandemic. Although, the global gambling market is forecasted to showcase positive growth through the forecast period (2021-2025). The market growth is estimated to supported by various growth drivers such as increasing spending capability, legalization of gambling in countries such as US, rising penetration of smart devices, hike in internet penetration, and overall increase in global population especially within those lying in between the ages of 20-64 years.

The market is also confronted by some challenges such as the negative perceptions surrounding the gambling market and lack of internet connectivity in developing countries. Emergence of bitcoins, growing number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), use of augmented reality to enhance gaming experience and cloud gaming are some of the major trends existing in the market.

International Games Technology Plc., Flutter Entertainment, Scientific Games Corporation and Galaxy Entertainment Group are some of the key players operating in the global gambling market whose company profiling has been done in the report. In this segment of the report, business overview, financial overview and the business strategies of the companies are provided.

Story continues

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

2.1 Gambling Industry: An Overview

2.2 Regulations on Gambling: An Overview

2.3 Gambling Market Segments

2.3.1 On the Basis of Product Type

2.3.2 On the Basis of Platform Type

3. Global Market Sizing

3.1 Global Gambling Market: An Analysis

3.1.1 Global Gambling Market by Value

3.2 Global Gambling Market: Product Type Analysis

3.2.1 Global Gambling Market by Product Type (Casino, Lotteries, Gambling Machine, Betting and Others)

3.2.2 Global Casino Gambling Market by Value

3.2.3 Global Lotteries Gambling Market by Value

3.2.4 Global Gambling Machine Market by Value

3.2.5 Global Betting Market by Value

3.3 Global Gambling Market: Platform Type Analysis

3.3.1 Global Gambling Market by Platform Type (Landbased, Computer and Mobile)

3.3.2 Global Landbased Gambling Market by Value

3.3.3 Global Computer Gambling Market by Value

3.3.4 Global Mobile Gambling Market by Value

4. Regional Analysis

4.1 America Gambling Market: An Analysis

4.1.1 America Gambling Market by Value

4.2 America Gambling Market: Product Type Analysis

4.2.1 America Gambling Market by Product Type (Casino, Lotteries and Others)

4.2.2 America Casino Gambling Market by Value

4.2.3 America Lotteries Gambling Market by Value

4.3 America Gambling Market: Platform Type Analysis

4.4 Europe Gambling Market: An Analysis

4.5 Italy Gambling Market: An Analysis

4.6 UK Gambling Market: An Analysis

4.7 France Gambling Market: An Analysis

5. COVID-19

5.1 Impact of COVID-19

5.2 Response of Market Players after Spread of Pandemic

5.3 Regional Impact of COVID-19

6. Market Dynamics

6.1 Growth Drivers

6.1.1 Improving Spending Capability Globally

6.1.2 Legalization of Gambling

6.1.3 Budding Internet Penetration

6.1.4 Hiking Penetration of Smart Devices

6.1.5 Growing Global Population

6.2 Challenges

6.2.1 Lack of Internet Connectivity in Developing Countries

6.2.2 Negative Perceptions on Gambling

6.3 Market Trends

6.3.1 Potential of Augment Reality (AR) Technology in Online Gambling

6.3.2 Emergence of Bitcoin Gambling

6.3.3 Cloud Gaming

7. Competitive Landscape

7.1 Global Gambling Market Players: A Financial Comparison

8. Company Profiles

8.1 Business Overview

8.2 Financial Overview

8.3 Business Strategy

International Games Technology Plc.

Flutter Entertainment

Scientific Games Corporation

Galaxy Entertainment Group

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tvtyjt

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210805005800/en/

Contacts

ResearchAndMarkets.comLaura Wood, Senior Press Managerpress@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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Global Gambling Market Size, Trends & Forecasts Report 2021-2025 with Impact Analysis of COVID-19 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Yahoo Finance

Gambling addiction is a very real problem for many families throughout the state.

To get a better idea of how serious the issue is, we spoke to people whove seen its impact firsthand.

Four percent of North Dakotans or about 19,000 people had a gambling addiction in 2017. Thats according to the Department of Human Services.

Lisa Vig, a program director with Gamblers Choice, says she believes theres a stigma keeping people from treatment and she thinks that number is actually much higher.

I think there are many people that are suffering, many family members who are embarrassed to come forward and divulge about financial problems, relationship problems, emotional problems. I believe that a lot of it is resulting from gambling issues that are being hidden, said Vig.

Gamblers Choice is an outpatient counseling service for those affected by gambling addiction.

We sat down with Daryl Gronfur, a man who says his addiction to gambling hurt those he cared about most.

I feel bad about it. I didnt want to gamble, but I was. I wanted to quit for my wife and kids and everything., but I didnt know how to deal with my life on a realistic basis, said Gronfur.

He says his addiction led him to a very low point in his life.

I had 38 cents in my pocket, I had the clothes on my back and I didnt have anywhere to go. It was just the guilt was getting to me. I considered my gambling at that point terminal because I was ready to drive off into the river, said Gronfur.

Gronfur is part of a Bismarck-Mandan gamblers support group that meets every Thursday and Sunday at Good Shepard Lutheran Church.

He says hes gone 31 years without gambling, and he wants to share his story so no one else gets lost in the shuffle.

Most people can go and gamble without having a problem, but theres a lot of people when they do have a problem they have nowhere to turn. They dont know what to do, and it usually destroys their life, said Gronfur.

Professionals working to help those affected say the situation is only going to get worse without help.

Its in every local restaurant and bar. We have casinos within a very short driving range. You have it in your pocket or in your purse or on your phone online gambling, sports betting. All of those things have been increasing significantly within the last year, said Vig.

Vig says many people who struggle with gambling addictions also are in recovery for other addictive behaviors and asks people to look out for warning signs.

For a list of support groups in the state, click here.

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Gambling addiction in ND: A closer look - KX NEWS

Fifteen years ago, when the UK government was finalising the legislation that shaped the modern gambling industry, moral panic about planned supercasinos meant the idea was ultimately consigned to the scrapheap. Plans for up to 40 were whittled down to eight, then again to just one in Manchester, before Gordon Brown caved in to media pressure shrewdly harnessed by the Tories and abandoned the idea altogether.

The flurry of gambling company results due out this week will show how the spotlight shone in the wrong place. Smartphones hit the market at roughly the same time as the 2005 Gambling Act came into force. We now live in a society where everyone has a 24-hour casino in their pocket.

Entain, owner of Ladbrokes; Flutter, which owns Paddy Power; and Gamesys, the firm behind Virgin Games and other brands, all have financial results out over the next few days. Investors will be watching to see whether a pick-up in online casino play during the pandemic, when betting shops and bricks-and-mortar casinos were shut, has endured or even accelerated. But the UK isnt really where the big action is.

For Entain and Flutter in particular, America is where its at. Since the supreme court overturned a ban on sports betting, the market has been opening up state by state. Tens of billions are being spent as firms jockey for a leading position in a market that looks like it could be even more lucrative than anyone thought.

The market research firm Ibis World thinks US sports betting could be worth $55bn (40bn) a year, about 17 times the size of the UK market.

How Entain and Flutter are faring in that race will be interesting. Both have launched major tie-ups with US partners but its the nature of the relationship between Entain and its American buddies MGM Resorts that will garner most attention.

In January, Entain knocked back an 8bn takeover bid from MGM, which decided it would rather own the spoils from their joint venture, BetMGM, than share them. Faced with short shrift from the Entain board and investors, MGM walked away, starting the clock on a six-month period during which takeover rules prevented it from having another tilt.

The moratorium expired in mid-July and Entains share price since then suggests the board was right to send the American suitor back across the Atlantic with a flea in its ear. Entains stock market value has soared to more than 11bn, meaning MGM will have to dig deep if it means business. Shareholders, who have already seen the value of their investments rise thanks to the accelerated movement online during the pandemic, will be licking their lips.

The reason US firms are so keen on British betting companies is that the UK market is one of the worlds most mature, having grown rapidly in both size and complexity since that 2005 Gambling Act. They are willing to pay a premium for ready-made expertise, rather than develop it over years themselves and run the risk of getting it wrong. William Hill has already fallen, to MGMs fellow Las Vegas casino operator Caesars Entertainment.

Interestingly, Caesars has no interest in UK bricks and mortar. It is keen to offload William Hills high street betting shops and last week sold its 11 British casinos for an undisclosed sum to the US hedge fund Silver Point.

Was that wise? Someone close to that deal told the Observer that Silver Point had snared an absolute bargain, grabbing the casinos at a knockdown price that means the deal is in the money from day one.

While the review of the 2005 Gambling Act is likely to crack down hard on online firms, smart money in the hedge-fund haven of Connecticut thinks MPs may even loosen ties on bricks-and-mortar casinos, allowing them to host more slot machines than ever. That would mark a curious reversal of the landscape shaped in 2005. We may be entering a world in which traditional casinos enjoy a boom era in the UK, while online betting is the main focus of regulators, the media and MPs. Meanwhile, the once prohibitionist US opens up at a rate of knots.

The roulette wheel keeps spinning but, as ever, the punters will be the only ones not making any money.

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Some bets are safe despite upheaval in the British and US gambling industry - The Guardian

For over a year I have been touting the fact that the 2022 election year in the Heart of Dixie was going to be the busiest and most monumental in history. Folks, it looks like it is not going to be as eventful as anticipated. Yes, everything is on the ballot, but the power of incumbency is thwarting the drama. It appears the U.S. Senate race is going to be the marquee event.

Most states have their big election years in the same year as the presidential contest. Not so in Alabama. Our carte blanche election year is in between presidential elections in what is referred to nationally as off years.

All our constitutional officers are on the ballot next year as well as all 105 state house seats, 35 state senate seats, all 67 sheriffs, all state school board members, along with all seven of our congressional seats.

Historically, the biggest race in Alabama is governor. In fact, throughout history, the governors race year has been the largest turnout year in Alabama. That is probably because it was not until the 1970s that could a governor succeed themselves. Therefore, there was an open governors race every four years.

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The inherent advantage of incumbency has cut down on the every four years gubernatorial circus and theater. This incumbency advantage is playing out to the nines as we head towards next years May 24 Election Day.

All four of our top-tier constitutional offices are held by popular incumbents and all four are running for reelection virtually unopposed. All of our statewide elected offices are held by Republicans. A Democrat cannot win a statewide race in Alabama. They can get 40% but that appears to be the ultimate threshold. Therefore, winning the May 24 GOP primary is tantamount to election.

Governor Kay Ivey is the prohibitive favorite to win a full second term next year. She has done a good job as governor despite the gigantic obstacles of having to fight through a once-in-a-lifetime COVID pandemic, which completely shut down the worlds economy for over 15 months. She did a good job of steadying the ship of state during the crisis.

It was thought and even anticipated that Kay Ivey would run for only one four-year term when she was elected in 2018. She, herself, probably thought she might only run one time because, coupled with her serving as governor the last two years of Robert Bentleys tenure, would give her a six-year reign. That mindset of striving to govern for four years rather than run for reelection has made her a successful governor. Kay has rolled up her sleeves and tackled the job and diligently governed. She has gubernatorially addressed many of the problems that have plagued the state and been swept under the rug or kicked down the road for decades. Addressing the problems of repairing the states roads and infrastructure and the prison problems has not been an exciting agenda, but she has been a workhorse governor rather than a showhorse governor.

She will coast to reelection. It would be difficult for a candidate to run negative ads against your grandmother. The only thing that could prevent Kay Ivey from serving another term is if she changes her mind. She relies a lot on her chief of staff, former Mobile/Baldwin Congressman, Jo Bonner. There is speculation that Bonner may accept the position of president of the University of South Alabama. Gov. Ivey would very much miss her little brother from Wilcox. However, she has a brilliant and loyal youthful staff that have been with her all four-years. She will probably stay the course and be reelected.

Speaking of youthful, our young Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth is poised to win reelection to a second four-year term essentially unopposed. He is waiting in the wings, ready to run for governor.

Attorney General Steve Marshall is also going to coast to reelection with only token or no opposition. Marshall has tackled his job well and diligently over his first four-year term. He, like Ivey, has strived to delve into his job rather than politick full time. He has staked out a position as being a bona fide conservative Alabama Republican.

Rick Pate has done an excellent job as Alabama Agriculture Commissioner and will deservedly win a second four-year term as the head of this important constitutional office. He is perfectly suited and qualified for this job.

So, folks, it looks like it may be a dull year. However, dont fret, we have 67 local sheriff races and all 140 legislative seats all running under new lines.

Steve Flowers is Alabamas leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at http://www.steveflowers.us.

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State Rep. Lawrence: Shutting Lowndes County out of gambling bill 'a bad thing' 'We're just asking for parity' - Yellowhammer News