Category Archives: Gambling

BITCOIN faces a unique opportunity in the wake of the Australian governments decision to crack down on offshore gambling.

The IGA Amendment Bill 2016 is expected to be finalised in the coming months, clamping down on offshore gambling sites which offer their services to Australians.

Some of the measures being debated include harsh penalties for businesses and individuals who market gambling products to Australians, plus politicians have vowed to investigate the possibility of payment blocking to unregulated sites.

This opens up doors for bitcoin to be more widely used as a deposit method at gambling sites as Australians continue to look offshore for better odds and the ability to wager larger amounts.

So why is bitcoin going to get a shot in the arm? Well it comes down to:

The bill to amend the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 was introduced last year after former New South Wales Premier, Barry OFarrell, released a report called the Review of Illegal Offshore Wagering.

The report addressed the ambiguity surrounding the gambling laws in Australia and while online gambling is not legal, it is not illegal either.

The review garnered a lot of publicity and politicians scrambled to alleviate the loopholes.

This resulted in the Minister for Human Services, Alan Tudge proposing the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2016 which makes it illegal to gamble at offshore sites.

Problem gambling was cited as the reason behind the bill, despite online gaming sites offering as many, or more protective measures than land-based venues.

Online casinos and bookmakers allow punters to set deposit and wagering limits as well as time restrictions. Operators also can easily keep track of spending habits and are alerted instantly to any unusual behaviour.

Land-based gambling laws in Australia relies on busy staff to notice problem gambling behaviour.

The bill has passed through the House of Representatives and was then debated by the Senate where secondary amendments were added.

Instead of looking to regulated markets, such as the UK Gambling Commission for inspiration, Australian politicians, egged on by anti-gambling bodies, vowed to crack down on offshore sites.

In reality they are clamping down on legitimate businesses with legitimate licensing from countries like the United Kingdom, which has one body regulating online casinos, poker, sports betting sites and any other type of wagering.

It soon became clear this was about the governments inability to tax offshore gambling sites, not about protecting the well-being of Australians.

One Senator called it how it is.

Screw the government and get a VPN, David Leyonhjlem said, after introducing an amendment bill which would have excluded poker and blackjack from the amendments.

Senator Leyonhjelms amendment was thrown out by politicians who have a guillotine hanging over their heads, brandished by staunch anti-gambling advocate and South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon.

This has forced many businesses out of the Australian market because they can not run the risk of falling foul of their own government regulation, if Australian authorities put pressure, for instance, on a UK or Malta regulated casino.

Gambling giants 888 and 32Red are just a few of the big name companies who have left the Australian market, while others with huge business bases in Australia like Pokerstars and Fortune Affiliates, who manage casinos like Royal Vegas and 7Sultans expected to follow suit.

This opens up the Australian market for the less government-scared bitcoin businesses.

Bitcoin gambling is already a blossoming industry with 100s of online sportsbooks and casinos operating online from various parts of the world, with huge business coming from Asian countries like China, where the people are traditionally tech savvy and face strict gambling laws.

In the 2014-15 financial year Australians spent almost $23 billion on gambling making them the biggest spenders per head on wagering in the world. This figure increased seven per cent on the previously monitored period and showed the extent of gambling in this country.

With Australian-licensed bookies facing more restrictions on advertising, offering lines of credit and the banning of in-play live betting, all services bitcoin bookies can offer, more and more people will turn to the digital currency.

The peer-to-peer nature of bitcoin means players are largely playing at these sites anonymously they simply sign up transfer the desired amount to the gambling site and begin playing. When they are finished they withdraw back to their e-wallet and carry on.

The Australian situation is potentially worth millions of dollars with many online poker enthusiasts, casino players and sports bettors vowing to continue to bet with whomever they like, spurred on by Senator Leyonhjelms verdict.

The funny thing is, the government is going to make the use of bitcoin a lot cheaper for Australian players.

The 2017 budget revealed from July 1, bitcoin and similar digital currencies will no longer be subjected to double taxation.

At the time of writing, users of the digital currency bear GST twice and while the government did not intend to change this for gamblers, it will make it cheaper for us to deal in cryptocurrency.

Continue reading here:

Australian Government's Crackdown on Offshore Gambling Sparks Interest in Bitcoin - newsBTC

Speech New Zealand Government

The regulation of gambling has received a lot of attention over many years, and there have been concerted efforts to devise effective legislation and regulations, which are the tools of your trade.Hon Peter Dunne Minister of Internal Affairs

17 May 2017 Speech

Opening address: Australasian Casino and Gambling Regulators Conference

Pullman Hotel, Auckland

Tena koutou katoa

Ka mihi kit e iwi manawhenua

Ka mihi hoki ki nga manuhiri no te Ao Rau rangatira maa, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

It is a pleasure to open this years Australasian Casino and Gambling Regulators Conference.

Today, I will briefly share with you some thoughts about your Conference theme regulatory excellence.

But first, I want to reiterate the warm welcome provided by the mihi whakatau and waiata.

Thank you all for joining us in Auckland, especially our international guests and speakers who have travelled from across Australasia and further afield to be here.

We welcome you with great pride to the unique mix of cultures, long history and beautiful landscapes of Tmaki Makaurau.

I would also like to give particular acknowledgement to Graeme Reeves, Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

I would also like to acknowledge Peter Cowsill, the Manager of the Casino Compliance team in Auckland, who is retiring in two weeks time after 20 years of service to the casino sector.

Peter was a Gambling Inspector for the Department of Internal Affairs when New Zealands first casino opened.

He has provided a strong customer-centric approach and contributed to significant changes in the approach to regulation over those years.

Peter is in the audience today and I thank him for his service.

And I would like to acknowledge all of the speakers who will share expertise during the Conference.

Thank you for your willingness and enthusiasm in taking the time to be here.

Role as Minister to oversee gambling regulation

As the Minister of Internal Affairs, I am responsible for the New Zealand Governments gambling policy and the legislation that provides the regulatory framework for gambling activity.

The regulation of gambling has received a lot of attention over many years, and there have been concerted efforts to devise effective legislation and regulations, which are the tools of your trade.

As you will all be aware, the regulation of gambling continues to engender strong feelings, both for and against, and this is an important part of the environment in which we all operate.

Whether we like it or not, gambling is a highly emotive issue to many people for a variety of reasons.

New Zealands Gambling Act balances the community benefits from gambling against the harm that can result from gambling.

It has a broad range of objectives, including: controlling the growth of gambling; minimising problem gambling; ensuring that gambling is fair; minimising opportunities for crime; and ensuring that money from gambling benefits communities.

The balance between harm and return from gambling

According to a report published in The Economist earlier this year, Australia wins the jackpot of having the biggest gambling losses per resident in the world an estimated $990 per resident in 2016.

This figure is around 40% higher than Singapore, the runner-up, and around double the average of other countries featured in the report, including the United States, Canada and Britain.

New Zealand came in at sixth place.

About 80 per cent of the New Zealand population participates in gambling at least once a year.

Around $2 billion is spent on the four main forms of gambling TAB betting; Lotto; casinos; and gaming machines located mainly in pubs and clubs.

It is within this context that gambling regulation in New Zealand aims to enhance the positive dimensions of gambling, and to reduce its negative dimensions.

An example of gamblings positive impact is the special Lotto draw that raised over $2.7 million in funds for the regions affected by the Kaikoura Earthquake in November 2016.

This generosity and community spirit in the face of adversity fits with Lottos goal of raising money for the community.

On the other hand, we are all familiar with the potential for addiction to gambling and the destructive behaviour that can result from it.

Its impact on individuals, families and communities is something we all have to consider in our roles.

I know that you face this same tension in your respective jurisdictions the need to enhance the positive aspects of gambling and reduce its negative aspects.

Regardless of whether this is recognised in your governing legislation, balancing the economic and entertainment value of gambling with the social harm that can accompany it is a challenge all our societies face.

Minimising harm from gambling is a topic I take particular interest in as I am in the fortunate position of also being Associate Minister of Health, with responsibility for gambling as a public health issue.

This provides me with a holistic perspective and enables me to keep a broad overview of the wider gambling environment and harm minimisation issues.

This hopefully helps our policy responses to be more consistent and better coordinated.

Professor Max Abbotts presentation about the past, present and future of gambling and gambling-related harm in New Zealand will also provide a host of relevant information on this important topic.

I hope you will all take away some valuable insights.

Class 4 review

While New Zealands Gambling Act is considered to be working generally well, we are looking at how Class 4 gambling operates that is, gambling in pubs and clubs on electronic gaming machines.

In New Zealand, the net proceeds from gaming machines return to local communities to help fund a wide range of activities.

Every year approximately $300 million is returned to the community, to the direct benefit of sports clubs, community groups, events and recreational facilities.

Gaming machine use has been in decline since the introduction of the Gambling Act in 2003.

While the decline has slowed in the past three years, the future of this class of gambling, and therefore community funding, remains uncertain.

The review of gaming machine gambling is looking at how the level of community funding can be sustained.

The review will consider whether we should concentrate our efforts on changes within this class of gambling, or whether there is potential to increase community funding through other avenues within the gambling portfolio.

I see that on Friday, Bruce Robertson, Chair of the Class 4 working party, will be sharing his thoughts on working with the community.

The Class 4 working party is a technical reference group that represents a large part of the industry in New Zealand and has built collaborative relationships with the regulator.

I welcome its establishment and the input that it has been able to have to date, and I look forward to that continuing in the future.

The Class 4 review is an example of the constant need for exploration of whether legislative frameworks are fit-for-purpose, and whether the regulatory regimes sitting beneath them are cost-effective.

Such exploration is especially necessary as gambling participants have increasing potential to move away from traditional forms of gambling, like electronic machines, to online and digital platforms.

It is essential that regulators and regulatory systems are equipped to accommodate any changes to the future of gambling.

Regulatory excellence

This brings me to the theme of this years conference, regulatory excellence.

This is an important topic and a crucial part of realising the purposes of the Act.

Achieving regulatory excellence is a significant goal, and both regulators and the parties they regulate have important roles to play.

The New Zealand Government expects that a regulatory system should deliver a flow of benefits to the country that exceeds its costs, and that a regulatory system should be an asset, not a liability.

Assets require maintenance and it is important that we maximise the long-term value of regulatory systems.

This means ensuring that systems are flexible; proportionate; fair; and easy to access and understand.

The Government expects regulatory agencies to adopt a whole-of-system view that incorporates a proactive, collaborative approach to monitoring existing systems, and which supports regulatory change.

A crucial element in doing this is to include regulated stakeholders, through supporting them to understand and meet their regulatory obligations, and by promoting opportunities for engagement and collaboration.

I am aware that efforts to achieve regulatory excellence are making a positive difference.

I am sure that this focus is continuing to be welcomed by stakeholders in the casino and Class 4 gambling sectors.

This helps to achieve negotiated outcomes and a problem-solving approach to improving compliance with regulations.

Working with our stakeholders in these ways, where appropriate, means that regulatory intervention can be better designed and unintended consequences are avoided.

Regulatory stewardship

This treatment of regulation as an asset to be sustained over the long-term reflects the concept of regulatory stewardship.

It involves looking at our environment, understanding what the future might look like, and assessing whether our regulatory systems can cope with that future.

It is a whole-of-system, lifecycle view of regulation that focuses on how we regulate, rather than the detail of what we regulate.

Shared challenges and interests

This whole-of-system approach is a way of thinking about regulatory excellence and provides a foundation on which to acknowledge our common interests and problems.

I recognise that many of the issues currently facing the casino and Class 4 gambling sectors in New Zealand are not unique.

There are many challenges and opportunities you share as regulators from across the Australasian region.

Technology in the digital age

I note that a number of the sessions will focus on digital and online forms of gambling, which is a very relevant topic in light of our shared interest in the digital space.

A regulatory future-focus is integral to responding to unprecedented, rapid growth in technology and digital forms of gambling.

While this growth creates opportunities, it also demands refined thinking about how the ways we regulate casinos and Class 4 gambling, to ensure they are fit for the future.

Despite the advantages of technological progress, the pace of change creates significant challenges for regulatory agencies.

Such tensions can expose the prescriptive nature of legislation, and may lead to more principle-based, technology-neutral legislation in the future.

Increasingly cyber-savvy customers and regulated parties expect sophisticated, easy-to-use transactions with government.

Regulators also need to be agile to respond to increasingly sophisticated use of technology by criminals and those who wish to evade regulatory requirements.

A particular challenge in the digital age will be how regulators minimise the harm that gambling can cause.

More people have the potential to access gambling outside of traditional boundaries, through digital platforms.

This is shaping the likely future of gambling.

As regulators, it is important that we have the right skills to respond to this evolution.

While online gambling is already firmly established in many other jurisdictions, we are somewhat behind the trend in New Zealand.

To be candid, we are not sure why this is and are trying to better understand the pattern.

Concluding remarks

Any thinking about regulatory excellence and establishing best-practice needs to take account of shared expertise and collective experience.

This conference is an excellent opportunity for you to connect, communicate, and learn from each other as you share your knowledge and experiences.

I encourage you all to make the most of this valuable opportunity and wish you all the best for a productive and informative few days.

I also hope you will have the chance to enjoy the sights, food and activities Auckland has to offer.

Thank you for your attention this afternoon.

Read more from the original source:

Australasian Casino and Gambling Regulators' Conference - Scoop.co.nz

COLEEN Nolan thinksWayne Rooney has a gambling problem after he lost 500,000 at a casino in two hours.

The Man United and England star, 31, who has spoken about his gambling fears in the past, ran up the bill on roulette and blackjack as he desperately chased his losses.

ITV

Today on Loose Women, Coleen expressed her worry for the football ace as the panel discussed his excessive betting spree.

She said: To me that suggests he does definitely [have a problem] because its not the first time weve been told about his gambling.

Its a problem, its not just him going, You know what Im just gonna blow half a million pounds, to me it suggests its a problem.

Getty Images

However fellow panellist Stacey Solomon said shes struggles to sympathise with Wayne who earns 300,000 a week.

She explained: Its hard for me to feel sorry for someone who can walk into a place and blow half a million pounds dont care about it.

But Coleen said his wealth shouldnt be a factor when it comes to sympathy.

You say that Stace, she said.

But what about people who go and lose 1,000 in a month and putting their whole family at risk?

Because Wayne earns a lot of money he doesnt have sympathy.

LOOSE WOMEN

The presenter then went on to reveal that she met Wayne while on holiday and he told her he rarely goes out due to the stick he gets from the public.

She explained: We got speaking to him we were staying at the same hotel, we were talking and we were saying whered you go out in Manchester and he said I dont go out because he gets so much stick

He spends most of his time at home on the XBox so a lot becomes his adrenalin rush.

On Sunday The Sun revealed he frittered away more than 4,000 a minute on blackjack and roulette during the casino losing spree.

One witness at Manchesters 235 Casino said: He was gambling a lot on red and seemed to be in his own world.

Link:

Coleen Nolan says Wayne Rooney 'definitely has a gambling problem' after he loses 500k in two hour casino spree - The Sun

MGM Resorts International is already in the New Jersey online gambling market via its ownership of Borgata. That gives the casino giant oversight of its online gambling and poker platforms in the state.

But now, MGM is bringing its own branded site to New Jersey gamblers. Will that change the dynamics for NJ online gambling sites?

First, heres what we know about MGM and online gambling.

The companyalready operates online casino and poker via its Borgata brand. It also has offerings via Pala(casino) and PartyPoker NJ.

That apparently isnt enough for MGM, however, as it has plans to roll out a site branded as playMGM. It will be much like the current Borgata platform, just with MGM branding. The site should go live some time later this year.

Its a big deal, because outside of some small-scale online slot tournaments in Nevada, MGM has never offered online gambling under the flagship banner. More from an MGM presser:

This is a historic moment for MGM Resorts to be launching real money online casino and poker under the MGM brand for the first time, said Corey Sanders, chief operating officer of MGM Resorts. GVC has been a first-rate partner for us, and we are excited about the possibilities of extending that partnership as regulated markets open up in the U.S.

The NJ iGaming marketplace already has a lot of different operators. Golden Nugget currently leads the way, while Caesars, Harrahsand Tropicana are among the best-known brands in the market.

Well, theres always room for more operators; the question is whether the effect will simply take away from existing sitesor have an additive effect. Theanswer is somewhere in the middle.

PlayMGM will cannibalize some of the existing online gambling revenue in New Jersey; a lot of existing customers are likely to move their play to the new site.

At the same time, the MGM brand is widely known in the US and in New Jersey, even without a casino bearing its name in the state. That brand recognition could create and attract new customers that didnt exist before.

The online casino market has set records for revenue in the past two months, so theres certainly a chance that the industry isnt done growing. And the addition of playMGM could spur more growth.

Weve seen new brands come into the market and succeed in the past few years; undoubtedly MGM can do the same. It simply comes at a point where the industry is more mature than during other sites entry points.

Visit Virgin

With Deposit

Overall Grade 4.6

MGMs move in New Jersey is important at the micro level. However, its even more important from a wider angle.

MGM is saying pretty loudly that it wants to be in the online gambling business in New Jersey. That means it probably wants to be in other legal and regulated markets, should the opportunity present itself. For one, it probably has its eye on Pennsylvania, which is considering legalization of iGaming.

The presence of MGMin online gambling could mean big things for the spread of online gambling beyond New Jersey. Legalizationefforts couldbenefit from MGMs lobbying.

For now, however, well look to see how MGM fares with its coming offering in the Garden State.

Go here to read the rest:

Will MGM Move The Needle With Its New NJ Online Gambling Platform? - NJ Poker Online

Consumer protection is on the mind of the Gambling Commission, a group that is currently placing their focus on online gaming operator 888 Holdings. It was announced yesterday that a subsidiary of 888 Holdings Plc is under investigation in regard to consumer protections and if the licensee is doing their part, staying in line with UK regulations.

The Gambling Commission will use the review to determine if the 888 run business is following the social responsibility requirements by having the proper procedures in place to help bettors manage their gambling activities. One tool that should be included is a self-exclusion option where players have the ability to prevent themselves from gambling for a specific amount of time. This time frame is usually set for around six months.

The time-out feature is another tool that should be implemented, which provides gamblers with the option to take a time-out and not be able to gamble for a set period of time, like 24 hours, one week, one month or as long as six weeks.

The announcement that 888s subsidiary is under investigation has taken a toll on shares within the company. 7% was wiped away from shares taking the company down to 278p once the investigation was revealed. In regards to the review by the UKGC, 888 stated that they are dedicated to providing players with a responsible and enjoyable gaming experience and the subsidiary will be proactively engaged in the process.

Brokerage firm Peel Hunt commented on the review stating that they believe 888 to be a responsible operator but still expect the company to face a fine and changes to be made to the business in question due to the review. According to the brokerage, it seems the public process is the way the Commission prefers to regulate the gambling industry as of late. The firm feels that fines and bad publicity are part of the cost of doing business.

The Gambling Commission has been quite busy as of late revving up their focus on responsible gaming and has started to reviewoperators and even affiliates in regard to whether such regulations are being followed. Earlier this month, BGO Entertainment was given a 300,000 fine due to a review by the Commission which found nine misleading advertisements used by BGO within their website as well as on affiliate websites.

The Commission ruled that the advertisements were run from July 2015 until the same month in 2016 on their site as well as 14 affiliates sites from February 2016 until October 2016.

The License Conditions and Codes of Practice within the Commission have required that all licensed gambling operators avoid misleading customers about promotions since May of 2015 and it seems the Commission is now focusing efforts on individual companies to see if they are holding true to these requirements.

As far as the 888 investigation is concerned, the company plans on making further announcements on the matter as soon as information is made available.

888 Holdings subsidiary under investigation by Gambling Commission in UK was last modified: May 16th, 2017 by Marie Kelley

UK Gambling CommissionUKGC888 Holdingsself-exclusionresponsible gaming

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888 Holdings subsidiary under investigation by Gambling Commission in UK - World Casino Directory

Ottawa Sun

Gambling on a new casino at the Rideau Carleton Raceway a timeline Ottawa Sun March 2012: OLG president Rod Phillips hints Ottawa could get one of two new casinos planned in a major modernization of gaming in the province aimed at boosting provincial coffers, noting he sees a lot of Ontario plates at the Gatineau casino. Rideau Carleton Raceway set to become the Hard Rock Casino OttawaOttawa Citizen Hard Rock International Expands Casino Operations in OttawaCasino News Daily all 11 news articles »

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Gambling on a new casino at the Rideau Carleton Raceway a timeline - Ottawa Sun

After receiving complaints, Buncombe County Sheriff's Office investigators have seized multiple gaming machines and thousands of dollars from two Asheville-area convenience stores. (Photo credit: WLOS staff)

After receiving complaints, Buncombe County Sheriff's Office investigators have seized multiple gaming machines and thousands of dollars from two Asheville-area convenience stores.

Warrants showed that the Quick Stop at 1430 Merrimon Avenue had machines in the front of the store, where a photo showed several men playing the machines.

The other store was inside a Shell gas station at 2251 Hendersonville Road.

According to warrants, in both cases investigators played the machines, and then cashed winning tickets.

According to details in the warrants, because the clerks in each store delivered cash payouts, the machines were operating illegally in the state, and were seized.

No one from either store would speak to News 13.

Charlie Gentry said he frequently goes to the Quick Stop just north of Beaver Lake.

I go straight to the counter to buy my lottery tickets, said Gentry, who added he has never played, much less noticed, the gaming machines. It doesnt please me at all.

Gentry said he will consider not returning to the store because of the illegal gaming that was allegedly taking place inside.

Kurt Potter said he regularly goes to the station on Hendersonville.

The machines there are operated by a manager of a restaurant inside the station.

Potter said he wonders about North Carolinas laws.

For 20 years Ive been in this area and (the laws) come and go, Potter said. I think they should make a decision and stick to it, because they're wasting time taking care of it and then bringing it back.

Potter was referencing the fact that the machines had been returned to the store, but were not operating.

More:

Gambling machines seized at two Asheville convenience stores ... - WLOS

The government and the ruling parties plan to propose a system that would allow pachinko parlors and other gambling facilities to ban serious gambling addicts, government sources said.

The problem of gambling addiction has drawn attention since Japan legalized casinos last year. The government believes building resorts with casinos and hotels will lure more tourists and lift the nations stagnating regional economies.

The government opened the door to casinos by enacting a law that legalized the use of so-called integrated resorts. The law took effect in December.

The government is now in the process of crafting a bill to dictate how the casinos should operate and hope to submit it to the extraordinary Diet session expected to be convened this fall.

Under the plan, only those who wish to overcome their problem, or their families, would notify nearby gambling facilities to ask that access be restricted.

If the facility operator recognizes the persons addiction, it could ban entry, or ask the person to leave. And if the addiction was determined to be less serious, an operator could limit the number of visits allowed to the facility.

Addition level could also be judged through medical certification, the sources said Saturday.

The government and ruling parties want to have the outline of the system drafted by this summer, but the operators might oppose the move because it would hurt their take.

De facto gambling has been permitted at slot-machine and pachinko parlors for decades. Betting on publicly run horse, bicycle and powerboat races is also allowed.

Pachinko parlors would most likely express strong opposition because they are privately run. A person must be at least 18 to enter a pachinko parlor.

A government survey in March said that 2.7 percent of respondents reported experiencing some form of gambling addiction at some point in their lives. In proportion to the population, that corresponds to roughly 2.8 million people.

When respondents who acknowledged being addicts were asked to name the type of gambling in which they spent the most money, the greatest number named pachinko or hybrid pachinko-slot machines.

See more here:

Government crafts way to ban gambling addicts from casinos, pachinko parlors - The Japan Times

Welcome MMA bettors, speculators, and gambling lurkers! Were back at it again for another week of comprehensive gambling analysis from your friends at MMA Fighting.

As always, a disclaimer: This aims to be an exhaustive preview of the fights in context with the odds, and doubles as a breakdown of where you can find betting value. The number after the odds on each fighter is the probability of victory that those odds imply (so Miocic at -145 means he should win 59 percent of the time). If you think he wins more often than the odds say, you should bet it because there's value in the line.

All stats come from FightMetric and all the odds are from Best Fight Odds. Net Value means how much money you would have made if you bet $100 on that fighter in every one of his/her fights that odds could be found for. Doubly as always, I'm trying to provide the most thorough guide I can for those who want to legally bet or who just enjoy following along. If you are a person who chooses to gamble, only do so legally, responsibly, and at your own risk.

Now with all that out of the way, lets go.

Breakdown

In the main event, Stipe Miocic defends his heavyweight title against the last man to beat him, Junior dos Santos. For Miocic, a win solidifies himself as one of the best heavyweights ever and ties him for the most successful heavyweight title defenses at two. For dos Santos, its possibly his last shot at UFC gold and a chance to reclaim the title he lost to Cain Velasquez.

Miocic is the quintessential jack of all trades, master of none. He can box, he can wrestle, and his game is held together by his combination of athleticism, durability, and cardio. More often than not, Miocic prefers to use his boxing. He throws a very high volume and he does so with technical proficiency. His striking is built around sharp footwork and a snapping jab-cross combination. He can apply pressure (leaving discernible openings for his opponent), but hes much better on the counter, slipping and shifting into a pretty check hook and an excellent back-stepping cross-counter.

Aside from boxing, Miocic has had clear success working his wrestling and ground-and-pound. He has good entries into single leg takedowns (particularly off the counter) and clean finishes. His top game is like his stand-up, lots of volume that wins rounds and wears his opponents down. He doesnt look to pass much but he will posture up and land good strikes from inside the guard and he doesnt need much space to do so.

Like many aging fighters (aging in cage-time, not years of life), dos Santos appears to be fading physically, though he has more than made up for this with serious technical and strategic improvements. For most of his career, dos Santos was an athletic power-puncher with sharp boxing and quick hands. He was also impossibly durable and difficult to take down, a combination which led him to the heavyweight title.

The problem for dos Santos was mostly strategic. He never possessed great footwork and was prone to crumble under consistent pressure, like Cain Velasquez put on him in their second and third meetings. Dos Santos has made huge improvements in his movement, and that could pay big dividends for him in Dallas. If his last fight with Rothwell is any indication, todays dos Santos is happy to stay on his bike, moving and countering in combination, or throwing straight shots to the body of his opponent.

There are a ton of variables to this fight. JDSs strategic approach has improved in large part because his durability was greatly diminished by the beatings he took from Velasquez. He also hasnt been all that active lately, whereas Miocic has been busy. Still, dos Santos is a specialist while Miocic is an all-rounder. If Miocic cant take dos Santos down, the fight should favor the former champion. If dos Santos stays moving and forces Miocic to pressure, there will be plenty of openings to hurt the champion. The basic math for the main event is this: Miocic is too hittable and dos Santos is too violent. The pick is dos Santos by KO in the second round, and I like him for a bet at underdog odds.

Breakdown

In the co-main event, Joanna Jedrzejczyk takes on one of the toughest tests, defending her strawweight title against the young bruiser, Jessica Andrade. A win for Jedrzejczyk puts her one away from tying Ronda Rouseys womens record of six straight title defenses, and likely sets her up for a fight with Rose Namajunas later this year. For Andrade, a win would be the culmination of the promise she has shown since dropping down to 115 pounds.

Jedrzejczyk is one of the best strikers in MMA today with a wealth of expertise stemming from her time training kickboxing under Ernesto Hoost. Jedrzejczyk works behind a piston-like jab which sets up the rest of her offense. From that, she attacks the head and body in combination and with volume. The volume is key for Jedrzejczyk. Shes not an enormous one-hitter-quitter type puncher but she has good power and the amount of heavy punches she lands wears opponents down rapidly.

The rest of Jedrzejczyks game compliments this all very well. She has excellent footwork and distance management, allowing her to maintain her preferred punching range. When fighters can work their way inside on her, Jedrzejczyk is a handful on the interior as well with her elbows and knees and shes an elite defensive wrestler and shes good at making fighters pay for failed takedown attempts.

Andrade is an exceptional athlete with a game built to maximize her explosiveness and power. From the opening bell, Andrade pressures opponents and looks to unload Tekken-style hook combinations to the body and head. She has great hand speed, so when she does corner a fighter she can unleash dozens of shots in mere seconds. Shes a powerful puncher but similar to John Lineker Andrades punches arent out-cold KO shots. Theyre thudding shots that overwhelm whoever is eating a dozen of them in rapid succession.

Andrade is also an excellent wrestler. Formerly a powerful 135-pounder, Andrade at strawweight is one of the divisions strongest competitors, and she uses that physicality to bully opponents with explosive wrestling and clinch control, the latter of which she uses to drag opponents to the mat. On top, Andrade is tough to shake and utilizes that same power to land heavy strikes. Shes no slouch in transitions either, as she has an excellent guillotine.

Andrade may be Jedrzejczyks toughest test in the division. Her speed, pressure, power, and stamina pose a host of problems for Jedrzejczyk, who often wins by relying on those very attributes. Still, Jedrzejczyk is a far superior technician and she has gotten increasingly better at playing the matador, a skill shell need to use here.

What puts me over the edge toward the champion, though, is the clinch fighting. Andrade is strong, but shes still small in stature and tends to get lazy in the clinch, whereas Jedrzejczyks frame and slashing elbows should score points and give her another phase of the game to operate in. In the end, Jedrzejczyk just has more areas to succeed in and more depth of skill to make those areas the ones in which the fight is contested. The pick is Jedrzejczyk by narrow decision in the Fight of the Night, but I favor placing a value bet on Andrade since the odds should be close to even.

Breakdown

Demian Maia takes on Jorge Masvidal in a fight that may well determine the next welterweight title challenger. Maia has been on a tear recently, winning six in a row over top competition, and a win should guarantee him a chance at the belt. Likewise, Masvidal has looked sensational since moving up to 170 pounds and a win over Maia would be the biggest of his career and give him an excellent case for a title shot.

Maia is a throwback to a simpler time of MMA, when pure specialists roamed the land. Despite the increasing prevalence of focused striking games as the dominant skill set, Maia succeeds by being the very best grappler in MMA, along with being an incredibly effective wrestler. Maia's game is all about getting a tie up with his opponent, and from there it is a decision tree of options. In the clinch, he has foot sweeps and throws or he can drop levels to attack the legs with chains of singles and doubles. Hes not the cleanest nor the most explosive finisher, but he is dogged in his pursuit of takedowns and, if all else fails, hes not averse to pulling guard and transitioning from that into a roll up single or using an excellent arm drag to sneak around to the back.

Once on the ground, nobody is better than Maia. His game is fundamentally flawless, prioritizing positional dominance over everything. He moves through positions seamlessly, finding his way eventually to mount or back mount where locks in a fight-ending choke.

On the feet, Maia... well, he's there. He knows how to punch and kick but still looks gangly and uncomfortable doing so. His striking mostly exists to disguise his relentless takedown attempts. Predominantly, he uses a jab feint to set up his outside shot. Beyond that, there isn't much to write home about here because everything is just a prelude to the grappling game.

Masvidal is a well-rounded fighter and an exceptional technician. A seasoned veteran who began fighting in boatyards as a teenager against much larger men, Masvidal is a defensive genius on the feet. He has layers of defense that set up a strong counter-punching game, but hes not restricted to that. Masvidal can fight at all ranges and moving in all directions, specifically behind a piercing jab and stinging low kicks. When openings arise, Masvidal has excellent timing and enough power that when he sits down on shots, they can hurt opponents.

While striking is his bread and butter, Masvidal is well-versed everywhere else. He has an offensive wrestling game that's better than average and his timing on single legs is tricky enough to be successful. Masvidal is also a very good grappler remember, he tapped Michael Chiesa, which is nothing to sneeze at and he has above average ground and pound. His biggest weakness is a general lack of volume and a tendency to do just enough to get it done rather than putting a mark on the fight. That kind of complacency has burned him with judges more than once. However, in his most recent outings he appears to be fighting with greater purpose, urgency and frankly speaking a meanness, something that bodes well for his run as an elite welterweight.

As with all Maia fights, this is a classic striker versus grappler affair. In a just world, Maia would tap Masvidal quickly and take his rightful title shot this summer, but we all know MMA is far from just. Even so, Im going to side with Maia here. Masvidal is a much better striker and an excellent defensive wrestler, but Maia is the bigger man, and he has taken down better wrestlers than Masvidal. Realistically, two takedowns is all he needs to win the fight. The pick is Maia by boa constrictor in the second round, but if either guy gets to over +100, theres value in betting that.

Breakdown

Frankie Edgar takes on Yair Rodriguez in a showcase bout between the aging veteran and the new kid on the block. Edgar is a former lightweight champion who has twice come up short against featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo. A win over the young, hotshot prospect Rodriguez likely cements his bid for a third title shot, if Max Holloway unseats Aldo later this year. For Rodriguez, this is his chance to announce himself as one of the truly elite at 145 pounds. With the UFC loving his ascension and his star power in Mexico, a victory here may well earn Rodriguez the next shot at the champion, regardless of who holds the strap.

Edgar is a classic wrestle-boxer and one who has continued to make technical improvements despite being a long-tenured veteran. He has quick footwork which allows him to dart in and out of exchanges on the feet, working head-body combinations and piling up points. This isnt the most threatening offense but its consistent, it wins rounds, and builds momentum for Edgar who gets stronger as the fight progresses.

Edgars constant boxing attack also creates big opportunities for his wrestling. Edgar disguises his entries behind strikes beautifully, and he has a variety of finishes either from a single or double leg position. Once he gets his opponent to the ground, Edgar has ferocious ground-and-pound. This has been an area where he has shown his biggest improvement over the last few years. Edgar is absolutely ruthless on the floor.

Rodriguez is a highly-touted prospect with a creative and brutally violent striking arsenal. He has an array of vicious kicks and functional footwork to maintain a long distance where he can use those weapons the most efficaciously. Hes still developing a boxing game, especially on the interior where he is hittable, but he has excellent speed and power when he does punch. He also switches stances effortlessly which creates a lot of uncertainty in the defense of his opponents.

Despite the gushing about his striking acumen, grappling is probably the strongest part of Rodriguez's game. Hes a sneakily good offensive wrestler and an improving defensive one, aided by his ability to maintain a long range. As a top position grappler, Rodriguez works sharp ground-and-pound and hes good at passing and holding position. From the bottom, hes even more aggressive, constantly moving his hips to find attacks but quick to stand back up if hes not finding a sweep or submission.

Can Edgar work takedowns? Thats the fundamental question here because if he cant hes going to get lit up. Rodriguez is younger, faster, longer, and hell force Edgar to wade through brutal salvos of offense to try and get takedowns and I just dont see it happening. Rodriguez announces himself as the next featherweight contender, stopping Edgar in the third round with something magical and violent and I like him for an underdog bet.

Breakdown

In the pay-per-view opener, Krzysztof Jotko welcomes former two-weight WSOF champion David Branch back to the Octagon in a bout that was bumped up from the undercard after Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis was cancelled this week. A win here puts either man right in the thick of the middleweight rankings and should earn the winner a bout with one of the many highly-ranked contenders trying to standout in a crowded title hunt.

Jotko is a young, rangy southpaw who throws straight punches and a variety of kicks. He doesn't have a lot of power but he piles up volume and he has fantastic takedown defense to keep things where he wants them. Jotko also has a complete ground game, more than holding his own in prolonged grappling exchanges with BJJ black belt Thales Leites. He has underrated offensive wrestling, good control on top, and excellent submission awareness.

Branch is a well-rounded fighter, who is competent on the feet but does his best work from top position. He uses long jabs with the occasional straight right to maximize his 81-inch reach until he can work his way into the clinch or a shot-takedown. From there he has an excellent combination of control, striking, passing, and submissions to give anyone in the division problems.

This looks to be a pretty straightforward affair: either Branch gets takedowns or Jotkos volume and kicking game outpoints him on the feet. Jotko is eight years younger, steadily improving, and his takedown defense is great. Branch will fail in the wrestling and though he wont get embarrassed on the feet, he will clearly lose the rounds. The pick is Jotko by decision and a prop bet on Jotko by decision at +130 is a good bet or parlaying him with another fighter down the card is fine.

Breakdown

Former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez takes on ninth-ranked Dustin Poirier in his first fight since losing the title to Conor McGregor at UFC 205 last year. A win doesnt exactly return Alvarez to title contention (such was the nature of his demolition), but it is at least a chance to wash the taste from his mouth after his last performance. For Poirier, a win over Alvarez would be the biggest win of his career and earn him another shot at the elite of the division while a loss would likely be the end of any real title aspirations he has.

Alvarez is mostly a veteran wrestle-brawler who has turned into a more refined boxer with his work under Mark Henry. He can operate in both directions on the feet, though hes less comfortable as a pressure fighter, preferring to stick on the outside, cut angles, and counter. He has good natural power and his right hook to the body is a potent weapon, but he also tends to get hit, especially early, and though hes ruggedly tough, you have to wonder if his many years in the game and his propensity for brawling is starting to catch up with him.

Aside from striking, Alvarez also has a strong secondary line of attack through his wrestling game. He doesnt have the most explosive shot or cleanest finishes, but he is dogged in his pursuit of the takedown and his physical strength and endless cardio mean he can grind fights down to a halt if need be. On top, hes got solid control and striking and hes pretty good at getting to the back and securing the rear-naked choke.

Poirier is a well-rounded fighter who has found his stride since moving up to the lightweight division. Despite spending a long time as a featherweight, Poirier is one of the biggest punchers at 155 pounds. At range, has a good jab and thudding left kicks as well as a heater of a left straight. But although hes fine at range, where Poirier thrives is as an inside fighter. Hes an excellent combination boxer in the pocket and he works all levels of the body well. Hes willingness to exchange in close quarters means he gets hit a lot, but its a calculated decision based on him bringing more power to the firefight.

Poirier is also an excellent clinch fighter. He has good knees and trips from that range, and he has a nice uppercut that he hides behind his own head before bringing it up the body to score. Hes a good defensive wrestler and he has solid takedowns of his own as well. Once on top, he is a powerful ground-and-pounder with solid scrambling and control.

This is an extremely tough rebound fight for the former champion. Poirier will carry many of the same physical advantages that McGregor did from Alvarezs last fight and we all saw how that worked out for The Underground King. Alvarez gets hit early and often and was especially susceptible to straight left hands, one of Poiriers best punches. Moreover, Alvarez is easily drawn into brawling exchanges in the pocket and there are few people at lightweight better at that than Poirier. Add in a genuine concern that Alvarezs best days are behind him and everything seems to be coming up Poirier here. Poirier is still hittable so its possible the former champion lands a big shot in the exchanges and knocks him out, but the more likely scenario is that Poirier lands the kill shots and gets his hand raised. The pick is Poirier by first-round KO, but the odds are good here so I would pass.

Chas Skelly (-125/56%) vs. Jason Knight (+105/49%)

Skelly is a grinder by trade but one with an aggressive submission game to compliment his NAIA All-American wrestling pedigree. He also showed dramatically improved striking in his last fight which can be attributed to his work with Henri Hooft. He flashed a decent jab and straight right hand to compliment his natural sense of timing. Knight is affectionately known as Hick Diaz for his aggressive boxing on the feet and his extremely active guard game. Hes a poor defensive wrestler but his rubber guard creates a world of troubles for fighters looking to take him down.

Can Skelly get takedowns? Thats the key question here. Skelly has improved his boxing but Knight is still the more skilled and more active striker and if it stays standing, Knight is gonna chew him up. This is a razor close fight but I think Knight has improved his wrestling enough to have the advantage here. Hopefully there is some grappling because that could be extremely fun to watch but the pick is Knight by unanimous decision in an extremely fun contest and I like him for a bet at underdog odds.

Marco Polo Reyes (+350/22%) vs. James Vick (-420/81%)

Reyes is a power-punching boxer with a penchant for getting into brawls. Hes throws excellent combinations in the pocket and both hands have fight changing power. Hes a bad defensive wrestler but hes active in getting back to his feet when taken down. Vick is enormous for the lightweight division and sports big advantages in reach and height. Hes fights well at range behind kicks and a long jab and hes uses his frame well in the clinch too. He also has an absolutely lethal set of chokes from the front headlock, making wrestling with him a dangerous proposition.

This fight is much closer than the odds suggest. Vicks biggest issue is his defense and his propensity for getting hit by left hooks, a specialty of Reyes. Reyes pressure and power can certainly create problems for Vick. That being said, Vick is durable and Reyes struggled navigating the distance against Jason Novelli in his last fight, the same reach advantage Vick will have. Vick is a more potent offensive threat than Novelli and with the striking being close to a wash otherwise, I favor the man with the inherent physical advantages. The pick is Vick by third round submission but a value bet on Reyes is suggested since these odds are nuts.

Jessica Aguilar (-115/53%) vs. Cortney Casey (-105/51%)

Aguilar is the former number one womens strawweight in the world (back before the UFC implemented the division). Shes a well-rounded fighter with a high-volume boxing game but she excels with her wrestling and top control grappling. Casey is a big, athletic strawweight who has been improving drastically each time out. Shes uses good footwork and a long jab on the feet to maintain distance and shes ferociously strong in the clinch and on the floor.

Caseys biggest issue is her defensive wrestling (which is bad), and Aguilar can certainly test her there, but for JAG to do that, she must navigate a substantial height and reach advantage (four inches of both). Aguilar has also been out for almost two years and is coming off a torn ACL, whereas Casey is younger, a better athlete, and should be able to dominate in the clinch with her size and strength. The pick is Casey by unanimous decision and shes worth a bet if she stays this low.

Chase Sherman (-145/59%) vs. Rashad Coulter (+125/44%)

Shermans a light-on-his-feet heavyweight who likes to box in the pocket and has decent kicks at range. Hes a defensive disaster but hes got a great chin and solid cardio to compensate. Coulter is a well-built, powerful heavyweight with thunder in his punches and vicious knees. Hes coming in on short notice though, and his record has no notable wins.

Shermans head never met a punch it didnt like to get hit by and that spells trouble against a hitter the likes of Coulter. This should look a lot like the Walt Harris, fight where Sherman gets dinged up by the guy with the heavier artillery. The pick is Coulter by KO in the second round, but since he is coming in on short notice and making his UFC debut, I advise caution if you choose to bet him.

Gabriel Benitez (-140/58%) vs. Enrique Barzola (+120/45%)

Benitez is a southpaw striker who prefers to operate at range, setting the distance with chopping inside leg kicks. He has a sharp counter left straight and he works the body well. Barzola is also a striker but a more athletic and diverse one than Benitez. He has an active jab and throws in combination while also mixing in spinning attacks and a potent wrestling game.

This is a tough fight to call. Barzola will consent to fight at Benitezs range for the most part and Benitezs body work and pace should be effective; however, Barzolas jab and combinations attack the many holes in Benitezs defense. Ultimately, I think Barzolas wrestling will be the difference, keeping Benitez guessing and mitigating his superior counter attack. Benitez will win stretches but Barzola will win more of them on his way to taking a razor close decision and as such, I like him for a bet.

Joachim Christensen (+300/25%) vs. Gadzhimurad Antigulov (-360/78%)

Christensen is a big, well-rounded light heavyweight. Hes an active striker who pumps a consistent jab and works in combination on the feet. Hes dreadful defensively but has a good chin, and a BJJ black belt and active clinch give him strong secondary tools. Antigulov is a powerful light heavyweight whos surprisingly light on his feet. A Russian Master of Sport in wrestling, Antigulov can grind in the clinch or snatch a single leg and work opponents over on top with efficacious punching, passing, and submissions.

Christensen is fresh off a win over another short, stocky wrestler in Bojan Mihajlovic but Antigulov is a different animal, being better in almost every facet of the game and eight years Christensens junior. Antigulov needs takedowns to overcome Christensens four-inch height and six-inch reach advantage and I think he can get them. I also favor him to win the pressure battle, as both men operate much better coming forward but Antigulov is more adamant. The pick is Antigulov by decision in a close, back-and-forth affair, but with the odds this wide, a value bet on Christensen is worthwhile.

Conditional Bets

Its been a few weeks since our last go, and Nashville wasnt too kind to us. We went 3-4 on bets for a loss of $54 (calculating based on betting $100 per bet). Hopefully we will rebound this week with a lot of underdogs coming through for us. That being said, I am picking a lot of underdogs this week and a lot of bets in general so this week could feasibly backfire spectacularly. Only time will tell but pay special heed to the Editors Note at the bottom here.

Enjoy the fights everyone, good luck to those who need it, and if you've got any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew.

(Editor's note: All of this advice is for entertainment purposes only.)

Originally posted here:

UFC 211 odds, gambling guide - MMA Fighting

Date published: Sunday 14th May 2017 7:07

Jose Mourinho has denied taking a gamble by writing off Manchester Uniteds Premier League campaign and said league matches were games his side did not want.

The Europa League has been Jose Mourinhos priority for several weeks now, but the manner of his sides 2-1 defeat at Tottenham, particularly in the first half, will stick in the craw.

Behind after six minutes thanks to Victor Wanyamas powerful header, it would have been worse was it not for David De Gea.

Harry Kane also clipped the crossbar before bringing timely end to his wait for a goal against United, with the fans favourite directing home a free-kick from the ever-impressive Christian Eriksen.

Wayne Rooney pulled one back for the visitors the last goal at White Hart Lane but could not take the gloss of a victorious end to life at the Lane in a game in which United were firmly second best.

I make the the maximum of the teams potential. The players have the motivation to win the last match at home. They played to win and we tried to have balance even with players out of position, Mourinho told Sky Sports.

We gave minutes to people who needed minutes and gave protection to those who needed protecting. After we went 2-0 down we brought more quality and balance to the team and put the players in their correct positions.

We got to 2-1 and we could have made it 2-2, but Im happy and fine with the individual performances. The two goals are two very bad goals conceded, but the team is not used to playing together.

Asked if his hands were tied with so many matches, he added: Yes, today, against Man City, Swansea, Arsenal, Southampton and the final game against Crystal Palace.

And when people say we gambled, we didnt gamble. Nobody can play two big competitions with 15 players and this is what we had. It was compulsory, we didnt gamble and Im happy with the situation.

I rested a few players, there were no injuries and one less match to play because at the moment the Premier League are just matches we do not want to play.

Asked what he thought he needed to mount a two-pronged challenge next season, he dashed off before adding: I do not want to think about that. Im thinking about the final.

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