Category Archives: Gambling

In the main event of ONE Championships ONE: 158 on Friday in Singapore is Muay Thai superstar Tawanchai PK.Saenchai, who takes on Danish WBC Muay Thai World Champion Niclas Larsen for a shot at Petchmorakot Petchyindees ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title.

Both competitors are fierce technical stylists packing both skill and power, so get ready to see The Art of Eight Limbs at its finest.

Ahead of the June 3 fight card, Saenchai spoke with ONE Championship officials about the promotion.

ONE is amazing, ONE is on a big stage, a global stage, Saenchai said. There is no gambling here, what we focus on is winning the fight. Its much different from fighting on Thailands stages.

In Muay Thai, I want to face Petchmorakot. Thats my goal. And after winning the belt in Muay Thai, I want to fight for the [Featherweight] kickboxing belt.

Tawanchai PK.Saenchai vs. Niclas Larsen (Muay Thai featherweight)Kwon Won Il vs. Fabricio Andrade (MMA bantamweight)Reece McLaren vs. Xie Wei (MMA flyweight)Kairat Akhmetov vs. Tatsumitsu Wada (MMA flyweight)Rade Opacic vs. Guto Inocente (kickboxing heavyweight)Alex Silva vs. Adrian Mattheis (MMA strawweight)

Yodkaikaew Fairtex vs. Gurdarshan Mangat (MMA flyweight)Marouan Toutouh vs. Constantin Rusu (kickboxing lightweight)Marcus Almeida vs. Simon Carson (MMA heavyweight)Odie Delaney vs. Mehdi Barghi (MMA heavyweight)Duke Didier vs. Jasur Mirzamukhamedov (MMA heavyweight)Jenelyn Olsim vs. Julie Mezabarba (MMA atomweight)Kim Kyung Lock vs. Edson Marques (MMA lightweight)

MyMMANews.com We cover everything from MMA, BJJ, Bare Knuckle, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Judo

News, Opinions, Videos, Radio Shows, Photos and more.

Read more:

Tawanchai PK. Saenchai - "There is no gambling here, what we focus on is winning the fight" - My MMA News.com

Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!

Allow Native Hawaiians to run gambling casinos

Illegal gambling once again results in death and disruption (Man arrested in slaying at illegal game room in Kapiolani area, Star-Advertiser, May 20). Where do these machines come from? And even if the police confiscate them, what can be done with them?

Why do these gambling sites keep proliferating? They must be profitable.

Since there is profit from gambling, why not work it out with Native Hawaiians for a legal casino?

If Native Hawaiians dont want this, then the state should have a casino, with the profits dedicated to the rail system. We know the rail will be running at a deficit and sucking up our tax dollars forever. A well-run legal casino would benefit taxpayers.

Judith Pettibone

Makiki

More humane to cull deer than starve them

The state issued an emergency proclamation while we are already in a drought (Gov. David Ige signs emergency proclamation to help Maui deal with rocketing axis deer count, Star-Advertiser, March 25).

Still, large numbers of deer are not being removed from the wild population. Deer will continue to die by starvation. This issue should be viewed like a raging wildfire that is coming fast.

The impacts to habitat and property do not provoke urgent action. Experts on the PBS Hawaii Insights program said solutions will take time.

So let us focus on who we are and our humanity. It is illegal to starve our pet dog, but are we OK with starving Bambi? Aerial hunting by professionals would be more humane than starving game animals. It may be needed anyway, to help control brucellosis.

This is a symptom of a system that is unable to manage invasive mammals and birds. What about feral pigs, goats and chickens?

Michael Nishimoto

Kahului

Most park users wont use Ala Moana bridge

A pedestrian bridge over Ala Moana Boulevard to Ala Moana Regional Park (Ala Moana Boulevard pedestrian bridge construction to begin, Star- Advertiser, May 2). Follow the money.

The vast majority of park users will never use this $17 million bridge at the location it is being built. How will it help traffic flow when vehicles and pedestrians using the park will still need to use signalized intersections?

Ray Yourchek

Waikiki

EXPRESS YOURSELF

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.

>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.

>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210 Honolulu, HI 96813

>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), 529-4750 (fax), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter

View original post here:

Letters: Most park users wont use Ala Moana bridge; More humane to cull deer than starve them; Allow Nat... - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

The results are divided into two parts. First, we considered the justifications and expected outcomes of EGM reduction policies in Italy and Finland using the press material. In the second part, we considered the impacts of the EGM reductions on total consumption using financial figures.

The debate preceding the EGM reduction policy in Italy followed from a disagreement between the state and the regions regarding whether to adopt a state-level EGM reduction policy. As reductions had already been initiated by municipalities, the debate reflects a conflict of interests between the central and local administrations in Italy. The main stakeholders present in the Italian discussion were therefore not gamblers or gambling providers, but political actors at different administrative levels as well as journalists functioning as watchdogs of political decision-making.

The first article in the discussion (CS 6.4.2016a) reported Prime Minister Matteo Renzis announcement to reduce 30% of EGMs, including all non-casino EGMs. The justifications presented by the government were related to the social and health consequences of gambling expansion, as well as the requests of local governments. To reduce the risk of illegal machines, new AWPs would also function on a remote connection. However, on the same date, another article (CS 6.4.2016b) reported a suspicious change in the number of EGMs to be reduced. According to the Italian Stability Law, the calculated reduction of 30% should have been based on the number of machines registered in July 2015 (378,109) instead of the number registered in December 2015 (418,210). This difference was attributed to the lobbying power of the gambling industry. The article also noted that the wide availability of legal gambling does not necessarily prevent illegal gambling one of the most used justifications by the state to expand gambling [27] but it does increase state revenue.

The topic was picked up a few days later (CS 12.05.2016) in an article arguing that industry lobbies are so powerful that they change the course of the law. In a reply (CS 12.05.2016), the ADM (the Italian monopoly administration) clarified that the December 2015 date referred to the prohibition of issuing new permits for slot machines that are not substitutes for those in use. This claim was followed by a rebuttal by two journalists, arguing that this misalignment enabled the industry to pull over 40,000 old EGMs out of the warehouse, increasing the number of EGMs by 10.6% in 4 months. According to the article, this was another example of corruption in gambling policies. The same was argued in later reporting, pointing out that the stability law has not been followed by any implementing ministerial decree and the actual number of EGMs had increased (CS 16.11.2016; CS 08.04.2017).

In May 2017, discussion on EGMs was re-sparked following a new agreement resulting from the Permanent Conference to reduce the number of gambling venues and EGMs as well as to impose minimum distances between EGMs and sensitive places (such as schools or hospitals) (CS 05.05.2017a; b). The president of the national association of municipalities thought it was a good compromise (CS 05.05.2017a). However, in a more critical commentary by a journalist, the agreement is deemed unpresentable and unsatisfactory, as the suggested regulation was less strict than the local regulations already in place. The article also points out that anti-gambling movements were not satisfied with the agreement. Again, this unsatisfactory result was attributed to industry lobbying. The issue of minimum distances raised further discussion throughout the period researched, mainly from the perspective of local representatives demanding tighter restrictions (CS 09.11.2016; CS 07.07.2017).

Overall, items from 2016 are more openly in favour of heavy EGM reductions and critical of the state and industry lobbies. The need to reduce the number of EGMs was justified in terms of reducing poverty and social inequalities (CS 12.05.2016; CS 29.3.2017) but also the risk of corruption was noted (CS 16.11.2016; CS 08.04.2017).

In 2017, the reporting changed. Individual responsibility for gambling harms was highlighted in an interview about gambling treatment services (CS 28.05.2017), a researcher of the Istituto Superiore di Sanit (Italian National Institute of Health) underlining that the problem is not gambling itself but the relationship with it. The previously critical media appears to have accepted the compromise solution concerning EGM reductions. In the last openly critical item of the analysed period (CS 15.11.2017), a journalist noted that no government, either right or left, or even the media was willing to give up gambling proceeds. This may be part of the reason Corriere della Sera did not discuss EGMs further in 2018-2019. Another reason might be the policy decision regarding the extent of national-level reductions, although this is less likely given the important space given to the issue before. Only one press item was retrieved per year during 2018-2019 and neither focused directly on EGMs.

The negative financial outcomes of the reductions appear to have been taken for granted and were not explicitly discussed in the Italian newspaper data. At the same time, other measures, such as tax reform on EGMs winnings to increase state gambling revenue was later introduced (CS 25.10.2018).

Like the Italian case, the developments that led to EGM reductions in Finland followed from a longer discussion on EGM harms, but also from the justification of the Finnish gambling policy [36]. One of the legal justifications for the Finnish gambling monopoly is to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm (Law 2112.2016/1286, section one). However, the aggressive advertising campaigns of the monopoly holder and the placement of EGMs increased critical public discussion during 2018 and 2019 (IL 14.8.2019). In March 2019 (MTV3 20.3.2019), a citizen initiative was launched by experts by experience of gambling harms with the aim to remove EGMs from public spaces. In Finland, citizens can initiate a process for legal change by petition. In August 2019, the Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo also suggested looking into removing EGMs from public spaces (HS 12.8., 2019; MTV3, 12.8.2019).

As in Italy, the Finnish media was also initially critical of EGMs. However, unlike the Italian case, the debate in the Finnish press appeared to consider a wider network of stakeholders in EGM policy while the role of journalists remained marginal. The main proponents of removals were citizen activists (MTV3, 20.3.2019), researchers (HS 14.8.2019; HS 16.8.2019), and a few politicians (HS 25.11.2018). Their main argument was to reduce gambling-related harms particularly amongst lower income groups (MTV3, 12.8.2019; HS 16.8.2019). A citizen opinion poll from 31 August 2019, reported widely across the media (IL; KSML; YLE; MTV3; HS 31.8.2019) showed that 60% of Finns were willing to move EGMs from non-casino locations to separate gambling arcades. Some members of parliament (MPs) also supported removing EGMs from public spaces. Based on an opinion poll amongst MPs, those connected to the gambling monopoly Veikkaus were more likely to be against EGM removals than MPs without any relationship with Veikkaus (IS, 17.8.2019). One-quarter of Finnish MPs disclosed a connection with Veikkaus, either as members of the Veikkaus board or via their positions in associations benefitting from revenue generated by Veikkaus (IS, 17.8.2019).

The most vocal stakeholders against the removal of EGMs were representatives of the redistribution network (IL 15.8.2019; MTV3, 16.8.2019; HS 26.8.2019). In Finland, supermarkets, kiosks, and restaurants receive commissions for providing gambling products, including EGMs (YLE 15.2.2020; IL 15.2.2020). The main argument in support of EGMs was the revenue from machines particularly for smaller shops and restaurants and the ensuing effects on employment (IL 15.8.2019; HS 26.8.2019).

Following from this discussion, Veikkaus announced in September 2019 that it would reduce the number of EGMs during 2020 along with other changes to improve its approach to responsible gambling (HS 5.9.2019 KSML 5.9.2019). In October, Veikkaus specified that it would remove 3500 EGMs during 2020 and up to 8000 machines in total (IS 31.10.2019; KSML, 31.10.2019). The reductions would be conducted mainly by removing some of the machines from locations with a high number of EGMs (YLE 3.12.2019). The suggestion by Veikkaus was much inferior to the initial suggestions. Furthermore, and in contrast to the Italian case, the reductions did not target the number of resale points. This was probably due to the opposition of resellers. One representative of resellers stated that we now have five machines. You take away the two that make the least profit and replace them with one that makes more. The impacts will be minor (IS, 24.2.2020). Some criticism of the limited extent of the proposed reductions emerged from researchers (KSML, 31.10.2019), but reporting on this was limited. The suggestion of the monopoly holder appeared to be accepted in the media without further need for public discussion.

The remaining articles focused on the expected financial outcomes of the reductions. Veikkaus estimated that the planned reductions of EGMs, alongside other changes (reductions in marketing, mandatory identification in 2021) would reduce its annual gross gambling revenue (GGR) by approximately 150-200 million Euros as of 2021 (YLE, 31.10.2019; KSML, 31.10.2019). Reduced total consumption would also impact the revenue of beneficiaries and the redistribution network. Previous research has shown that 60% of Veikkaus GGR is directed to beneficiaries and almost 10% to the resale network [37]. Reductions are estimated to impact almost 2200 resellers (of 6300) (YLE 3.12.2019), some of whom also voiced concern over reduced revenue in media reporting (MTV3, 7.11.2019). Interestingly, impacts on the levels of gambling-related problems or harm were no longer discussed: all discussion on expected outcomes only focused on revenue and beneficiaries.

As discussed above, in both Italy and Finland, EGM reductions were justified in terms of public health concerns, but the amplitude of policies varied. In Italy, the aim was to reduce machines by 35%. In Finland, the initial plan was to reduce 18% of non-casino machines, but the aim later increased to 43%. The Finnish reductions did not reduce the resale points, as opposed to a 31% reduction of gambling locations in Italy.

In the following we present available data on the impacts of the reduction policies on total consumption.

The Italian data on the total consumption of EGMs focus on the reductions targeting non-casino AWP machines during 2016-2019. Figure1 describes the total reduction in machine numbers during the period while Fig.2 describes the reductions in venue numbers.

Total numbers of AWPs and VLTs in Italy 2016-2019

Total numbers of AWP and VLT venues in Italy 2016-2019

As shown in the figures, most reductions took place between 2017 and 2018. Overall, the number of AWPs had decreased by 35% and the number of venues had decreased by 31%, as planned. However, reductions targeting AWPs also translated into a 7% increase in the numbers of VLTs (a structurally more addictive type of EGM confined to gambling arcades). This shift suggests that while the overall numbers of EGMs declined in Italy, some machines were substituted with more addictive modern multigame terminals.

Figure3 shows the impacts of the AWP reductions on total GGR in 2016-2019 as well as the shares of the industry and state revenue as reported in the ADM yearly reports.

GGR, state, and industry revenue in Italy 2016-2019 in MEUR

The figure shows the main outcomes. First, the GGR, or total consumption, of AWPs decreased in the period 2016-2019 by 13%. The GGR of VLTs increased in the same period by 2%. Overall, the total consumption of EGM gambling therefore declined by only 6%, and not proportionately to the reduction of 35% in machine numbers. A possible explanation for this is that the AWPs targeted for removal were already not profitable and the highest producing machines were left in the market. Furthermore, a substitution effect from AWPs to newer VLTs has compensated some of the loss of GGR, although not fully. Substitution between gambling products is rarely complete. New gambling products substitute some consumption of existing ones, but also increase total market (see also [38]).

Second, state revenue (the surplus raised after operating costs) increased by 7% in the case of AWPs despite reductions, and by 44% in the case of VLTs. This observation also supports the substitution hypothesis. A shift towards VLT gambling increased overall state revenue. The increase in revenue is also explained by a pay-out reduction from 2019 lowering the return percentages of AWPs from 70 to 68% and the return percentages of VLTs from 84 to 83%. In the same period, industry revenues from EGMs declined.

The Finnish data obtained from Veikkaus only covers the initial phase of the reductions as the impacts of EGM removals were confounded by the impacts of COVID-19-related EGM closures after March 2020. The data were indexed by the gambling operator. Figure4 presents the indexed number of non-casino EGMs and the indexed GGR produced by non-casino EGMs between 2018 and 2020. The number of EGMs and the total GGR from EGMs in January 2018 are indexed at 100 and subsequent data points are calculated to show trends in the change.

Number and GGR of non-casino EGMs in mainland Finland, January-February 2018-2020

The data show that during the first 2 months of 2020, the number of non-casino EGMs had been reduced by 5%. The starting situation indexed at 100 refers to 18,500 EGMs in non-casino locations. The GGR of EGMs had also declined, but the regression suggests that the decline was connected to a longer-term trend of declining EGM gambling rather than the reduction. However, this was expected due to the limited scope of the reductions during the period of analysis. The impacts of theoverall reductions could not be analysed with thesedata due to the onset of COVID-19.

More here:

Addressing gambling harms by reducing the supply of electronic gambling machines: a comparative study of Italy and Finland - BMC Public Health - BMC...

After six straight weeks of betting action, the UFC is finally set to take a small break before embarking on a 12-week run of events through the summer. But before they go, the worlds premiere MMA organization is offering one final Fight Night card at their home base of the UFC Apex: UFC Vegas 55. In the main event, former bantamweight champion Holly Holm takes on rising contender Ketlen Vieira in a bout with possible title implications. Plus, weve got 10 more competitively matched fights on the docket, with plenty of chances to make your fortune.

As always, all odds are courtesy of our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Ketlen Vieira, +200

In her prime, Holly Holm was a much better fighter than Ketlen Vieira, but it seems a reach to suggest Holm is still in that prime. Shes 40 years old, hasnt fought in 19 months, and is coming off a knee injury and a medical diagnosis (hydronephrosis) which I wont pretend to understand but sounds bad. By contrast, Vieira is 30 years old and seems to be hitting her peak. Add in that shes the superior grappler and it feels like this line should be much closer. Yes, Holm will mostly outbox her at range, but Vieira is going to try and make this ugly, and when she does so, I think that gives her a real chance.

Santiago Ponzinibbio, +115

Ponzinibbio opened as a -150 favorite, but that line has shifted dramatically over the past week and Im not sure why. Yes, Pereira has been on a good run and hes enormous, but Ponzinibbio isnt small and hes a much better technician than Pereira, and has a better gas tank. The question is whether Ponzinibbios chin can hold up to Pereiras gigantic explosions, as weve seen Ponzinibbio get sparked by a big, athletic welterweight before. My belief is that wont happen this time around though, and Ponzinibbio will get the job done.

Tabatha Ricci, -135

Both Ricci and Polyana Viana are accomplished grapplers, but Ricci is the more accomplished of the two, winning a silver medal at Mundials as a brown belt. Ricci is also the better striker, packing more pop in her punches and throwing in combination. Normally, those two things would make her a healthy favorite over Viana, but theres one big issue: Shes small. Ricci is a natural atomweight and will be giving up a clear size advantage to Viana, which could make everything else moot. I doubt it though, as Viana has struggled in the past to impose her will on smaller fighters who could match her skills.

Chidi Njokuani by KO/TKO/DQ, +110

Simply put, Njokuani has a big size advantage and is a much better striker than Dusko Todorovic, and that leads to one inevitable outcome. Todorovic is a BJJ black belt but he prefers to strike, and when he does so, his defense largely relies on head movement, preferring to keep his hands at his waist. Thats a terrible idea against something with the speed, power, and ability of Njokuani, and I suspect its one that will get him punished.

Chase Hooper by Submission, +500

This is probably dumb, but I cant help it. Hooper is a +155 underdog but this prop is at this number, despite Hoopers grappling attacks being his most obvious path to victory. Colares has proven easy to take down but difficult to hold there, and Hooper is not a good wrestler, but hes a tricky grappler and he finds his way into leg entanglements, even in fights he losing. At this number, its worth a flyer to see if Hooper can fish out a heel hook one more time.

Chidi Njokuani -235

As mentioned above, this should be a good night for Njokuani. I dont hate a play on him by himself, but at this price, having him as a parlay piece just makes sense.

Jonathan Martinez, -225

This is the fight I am the most confident of, and for a very simple reason: Jonathan Martinez excels at kicking legs and Vince Morales excels at having his leg kicked. Benito Lopez did it to him and won, and Martinezs teammate, Chris Gutierrez, did also. I see no reason to think things will be any different here. Martinez should chop his way to victory.

Holly Holm/Ketlen Vieira Over 2.5 Rounds, -450

In their last five fights apiece, this over could have cashed in eight of them. Neither woman has won a fight by stoppage since 2017 and Id be shocked if either of them broke that streak now.

Parlay these three bets together for +151 odds

Parker Porter by Decision, +1600

Ill be honest, this is my favorite bet of the week because either its going to be dead almost immediately (if Jailton Almeida can score a takedown early) or its going to be the most exciting 15 minutes of the weekend. Look, theres a reason Almeida is the biggest favorite on the card, and he probably will win. But this line is insane. Almeida is a natural light heavyweight and this move up to the max weight is entirely unnecessary. Yes, he has the more chiseled physique, but Porter is going to have 30 pounds of weight on him and hes actually not a bad fighter! He can wrestle some and he pushes a tremendous pace for the division.

If Almeida comes in trying to force a takedown, he could easily gas himself out and Porter can outpoint him down the stretch. Ill also add that its insane that Porter is a +410 underdog, but this line is high as it is, given that Porter has not finished anyone since joining the UFC.

It was a difficult go for us last week. We looked like we had a good shot at taking home a small profit, before Aleksandar Rakics knee took us down for a small loss instead. Alas, thats the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. And our own inability to hit parlays has proven to be brutal (as always, parlays are for suckers). But we press on.

Good luck yall, and gamble responsibly!

All information in this article is provided to readers of MMA Fighting for entertainment, news, and amusement purposes only. It is the responsibility of the reader to learn and abide by online gambling laws in their region before placing any online sports betting wagers.

See the original post:

UFC Vegas 55 gambling preview: Best bets, parlays, and the long shot of the week - MMA Fighting

Since Antiquity, virtual reality (VR) has been a fantasy humoured by man, with Platos allegory of the cave being considered the first form of the idea by some. The modern version of Virtual Reality as we conceived it these days can be rooted in 1929 with Link Trainer, the first flight simulator. The idea was to immerse the pilots in a real-life situation to prepare them for air combat.

After a resurgence during the early 1990s with entertainment applications like Nintendos Virtual Boy, VR was forgotten by mainstream audiences until a few years back. Oculus Rift helped make VR a more accessible option for gamers and paved the way for the improvement of this technology. Nowadays, this technology can be used in many entertainment sectors, including online casino gaming. You can now play live casino games or online slots with a VR headset and feel like youre actually sitting at the table.

However, it begs the eternal question: What does it bring to the table?

The main aspect targeted by the use of this technology is immersion. Using a VR headset is supposed to help the player feel like hes actually at a casino. Since live casino games are all about emulating the land-based experience, it was only a matter of time before it was incorporated. Evolution, the leader in terms of live casino gaming, was the first software provider to implement VR with Gonzos Treasure Hunt, which blends elements of online slots with a live game show. The player is immersed in the Amazonian forest looking for ancient treasures, and it has quickly become a popular title.

However, its not the only live game to use VR. Many table games of blackjack, craps or roulette have a first-person variant that places the camera in a way that simulates sitting at a table.

Even though the technology has greatly evolved, its still at a stage where its an optional commodity. Not everyone can afford a VR headset, and the current trend is to play on the go, which isnt compatible with such heavy hardware. When technology evolves and gives players the possibility to play in VR everywhere they go, it might become the most popular way to play online.

However, this evolution depends on the willingness and ability of mobile device makers to create smartphones that can implement VR in a convenient way. Moreover, although the visual aspect of VR is now fully functional, developers are still working on the movement aspect of the technology. Motion sickness is still a big issue, and long sessions can leave the player dizzy.

Read more from the original source:

Uses Of VR In Online Gambling Hometown Station - KHTS Radio

Modern entertainment means have transformed significantly along with peoples necessities. This is exactly what happened in the gambling sphere. Today, people play primarily for fun. At the same time, there are other reasons and types of visitors to casino halls.

The experts at the aggregator company 2WinPower have analysed the behaviour of punters in gaming lounges. Some visit casinos for new emotions, others for financial benefit. So, what types of players attend such establishments?

This group is the most populous among the casino audience. Their feeling of obligatory win usually overcomes fun. Yet, a lot of players still enjoy the gambling process itself. These people are not experienced enough to win a lot, so they mainly receive positive emotions from the gaming atmosphere.

Low-stake punters are divided into 2 main groups:

The aim of these people in visiting gambling halls is excitement. They do not expect to win much, so victories often inspire them to play more.

Fun players are characterised with:

Fun punters perceive a casino hall not just as a place with slots and tabletops, but rather as a recreational spot. After watching different movies, featuring huge stakes and strenuous moments, they are eager to feel the same during their visits.

The unique name of the group indicates that these people are ready to devote more time to gambling activities. They have fewer funds to spend, and visit casino establishments to find revelation from their daily routine.

The main features of these players are:

Such punters are not going to impose risk on their gameplay. They come to casinos for stress-free entertainment. The possibility to spend little funds and lose even less motivates them to return to participating establishments.

These visitors passion for casinos is inspired by the target to win, not just receive pleasure from the gameplay. High-stakes punters usually impose more risk while gambling. Sometimes, it even exceeds their financial capabilities.

Main characteristics of high-stakes players:

High-stakes gamblers frequently fluctuate their wagers. Compared to time-on-device punters, they alter bets depending on the situation. Apart from that, their admiration of gambling is explained by the limited time these people have for participation. This is because of the tight working schedule and family.

There are very few punters with such a strong focus on gambling activities. They visit casino lounges to make a living rather than unwind or show off with their big stakes.

Professional participants have peculiar gambling standards:

The top casino professional players are:

These punters have made a fortune on gambling, turning it into their life-long passion and occupation.

Knowing the peculiarities of casino players psychology allows owners of gambling halls and gaming platforms to boost benefits by offering what their audience wants. The launch of such a site with professional aid from 2WinPower guarantees theoretical and practical tutorials for understanding the public and getting an advantage from it.

For more details on cooperation, contact the customer support of the aggregator via official communication means.

Here is the original post:

Typical Casino Visitors and Main Reasons for Their Gambling Passion - Geek Vibes Nation

The UK government has been promising to overhaul the rules around gambling in this country for years. They launched a review in 2020 and the call for evidence concluded over a year ago. We were promised their plans would be laid out before Christmas, but six months on we are still waiting.

The noises in Westminster suggest that plan could be published in as little as a few weeks time. And, if it is truly reforming, people may forgive the wait. Even though, when it comes to the issue of problem gambling in this country, time means lives.

There are at least a third of a million problem gamblers in the UK, of which more than 50,000 are children. The problem is so big that the NHS announced it would set up 15 gambling treatment clinics across England and Wales. It is hoped that getting more people into treatment could reduce the amount of gambling-related suicides in this country, currently estimated at one every single day.

How did we get here, and what effective action are other countries taking that, so far, the UK isnt?

As recently as 2006, the average young Briton would go about their daily life and the only time they might see a gambling logo or an encouragement to bet would be when they walked past a bookies on the high street. Now, according to a Stirling University study, 96 per cent of 11-24 year olds had seen gambling marketing messages in the last month and were more likely to bet as a result.

A House of Lords report found about 1.5 billion is spent on all forms of marketing by gambling operators. TV adverts might be restricted to specific times, but last year 1,200 hours of radio ads aired during the school run times of 8am-9am and 3pm-4pm.

Academic research has shown that a child watching a Premiership football match on television can be exposed to more than 700 gambling logos over the course of a 90-minute game on kits, hoardings, stadium infrastructure and even the clothing of medical staff as they run onto the pitch to help a stricken player.

It wasnt always like this. Seventeen years ago, a change in the countrys gambling laws allowed firms to advertise on British TV for the first time. Advances in smartphone technology over the same period mean everyone has a potential super-casino in their back pocket and, unsurprisingly, the number and variety of bets laid has rocketed. The rules surrounding online betting are much looser than those governing betting shops and the speed of bets and amount of money that can be hazarded in a short space of time is frightening.

Others have grasped the nettle. Last week the Belgian government brought forward bold proposals to ban almost all gambling advertising in a bid to protect the swathes of gamblers showing problematic gambling behaviour in the country. By the end of the year, gambling companies would no longer be allowed to advertise on Belgian television, radio, social media, newspapers, or via personalised messages. The UK should take heed.

In truth, there are half a dozen or more changes which command broad support across all the main political parties, that the Government here would be able to get through Parliament if it had a mind to.

Combined, they would offer real protection to those at risk, without stopping gambling being enjoyed by the many thousands of Brits for whom it is a harmless leisure pursuit.

Affordability checks to stop gamblers being encouraged to bet more they can afford, slowing down the speed of online Casino games and limiting the amounts that can be placed in a single bet would all help end the instances of people losing catastrophic amounts of money in a single night.

Changes to advertising, sponsorship and direct marketing so people are bombarded with logos every time they watch a football match, turn on the television or open their social media account would reduce the number of encouragements people especially young people face to lay a bet. A crackdown on marketing inducements such as free bets or preferential rates for first-timers would limit the gambling companies offer to turn non-gamblers into return customers.

While a statutory levy on gambling firms would help fund research, education and crucially treatment for problem gamblers. Such expanded treatments should be NHS led and the way in which money from such a levy would be spent should be decided independently without the gambling firms attaching strings.

Finally, to make sure everyone abides by the new rules, a gambling Ombudsman should be introduced. This would give customers a trusted place to go if they feel they havent been treated fairly and would be a positive step towards levelling the playing field between the individual and multi-million pound corporations.

Belgium has just shown what governments can do if there is enough political will to protect their own citizens. There is broad political consensus here for the reforms that the UK urgently needs. Time for ministers to get on with the job.

Continued here:

Britain is taking too long to crack down on gambling - we must learn lessons from Belgium - The Telegraph

Dreams of a colossal jackpot

Every gambler dreams of hitting a huge jackpot one day that will forever change his / her life for the better. Even the most pragmatic and skeptical users, deep down, hope to hit a huge jackpot or hit a fantastic white streak that will bring huge payouts.

Probably, such expectations are the main reason that makes people sit for hours in the casino, buy lottery tickets for years, patiently hit the video slot buttons and storm poker tournaments.

For most clients, luck does not smile so widely in a lifetime. Huge winnings are by no means frequent in gambling, otherwise all operators would have gone bankrupt long ago. Nevertheless, every gambler from Ireland online casinos has a chance to become a millionaire overnight , unless, of course, he prefers games that allow him to claim huge payouts.

The most incredible winnings that have entered the history of the gambling business will be discussed later in the article. In each of the cases described below, not only the amount of the payment received is surprising. They also have other funny (sometimes even creepy) details associated with them.

In May 2013, Gloria McKenzie set a record in the Powerball lottery. The 84-year-old woman won $590 million. The chances of winning were 1:175,000,000.

The old woman bought a ticket at a supermarket near her home. Interestingly, in line at the lottery kiosk, she was let forward by an unknown visitor who was standing in front of her. She took the top ticket in the pile. So the prize could well have gone to that kind person, but he was intercepted by a more fortunate grandmother.

By the way, be careful and do not fall for the bait of scammers:

The Gloria Mackenzie Charitable Foundation, which allegedly sends money to all those in need, has nothing to do with the lottery winner.

These are scammers who steal funds from gullible users.

In 2001, fortune played a cruel joke on waitress Cynthia Jay-Brennan. Playing video slots, the girl received thirty-five million dollars. At that time, it was the maximum jackpot received on slot machines.

She immediately quit her job, married a guy she had been dating for a long time, and got ready for a long trip around the world. But Cynthias plans did not materialize. She did not even have time to really enjoy the unexpected wealth.

A few weeks after winning, she was in a car accident. Her sister died in an accident, and Cynthia was left confined to a wheelchair. Her body below the chest is completely paralyzed.

The legendary Megabucks slot machine is perhaps the most famous video slot in the world. Millions of users are chasing its huge jackpots, but only a few manage to succeed.

Elmer Sherwin won it twice. In 1989, playing at the Mirage casino in Las Vegas, he hit $4.6 million on Megabucks. Sixteen years later, Elmer stormed a slot at Cannery and was even luckier. His jackpot was twenty-one million dollars.

By the way, Sherwin proved by personal example that the legends about the curse of Megabucks have no basis. The lucky one, who conquered the insidious slot machine twice, lives quietly after both victories, enjoying the millions received.

One of the most important events for British racing fans is the Cheltenham Festival. It gathers the richest betting fans on the run.

In 2012, the main character of the festival was a young man named Conor Murphy. He won one million pounds, at last years bet.

On Christmas Day 2011, Conor placed an accumulator bet, predicting the winners of five races. All the horses he named came to the finish line first, which allowed him to win a large sum.

People who understand horse racing know that it is very difficult to guess five winners at once a few months before the tournament. Thats why Conor immediately became a local legend.

Everyone who is even slightly interested in the world of gambling has heard about this guy. In 2004, Briton Ashley Revell risked everything he had amassed at roulette.

He sold property, withdrew money from a bank account and raised cash. It turned out a little over $ 135,000. With this amount, Ashley headed to Las Vegas. He chose roulette at the Plaza Casino.

Revell bet all his money on red. The ball stopped at a seven, which meant Ashleys victory. Leaving a tip for the croupier, the guy cashed out the winnings at the cashier and left the casino. He later opened his own online poker room.

Anyone can win a huge amount in the lottery or hit the progressive jackpot on a video slot. It is much more difficult to beat the casino big on blackjack. But it is even harder to defeat several gambling houses one after another.

Don Johnson succeeded. No, this is not about a famous actor, but about a simple guy who is not even a card counter, although he knows blackjack at a professional level.

In 2011, he turned the tables on Atlantic City when he beat Borgota, Tropicana and Casino & Spa in one session. Then he took with him about fifteen million dollars.

In July 2011, Colin and Chris Weir won 161,653,000 in the Euromillions lottery. But the impressive amount was not the only reason that made the world talk about the Scottish couple.

Unlike most of the lucky ones, they did not bathe in luxury. Colin and Chris bought expensive gifts for all their relatives, friends and acquaintances. Some friends got luxury cars and other more than generous gifts.

In addition, they took up philanthropy by establishing The Weir Foundation. The local football club was also lucky. He got several hundred thousand pounds.

With the development of the gambling business on the Internet, you can compete for huge payouts without leaving your home. Plenty of options:

But remember that the chances of winning are minimal. The larger the jackpot, the more players claim it. Realistically evaluate your capabilities.

Continue reading here:

Amazing winnings that have gone down in the history of gambling - FFT.ie

The Asian Racing Federation has expressed its concerns over white-labeling services as the federation states that they make it hard to differentiate between legal and illegal gambling sites. The State of Illegal Betting Report, an analysis by the ARF, claims that the public has particular problems in distinguishing between legal and illegal sites.

Back in 2020, UKs gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission, noted that there are around 700 white-label partners in the gambling industry. The commission added that this model was becoming popular as it helps operators to bring global exposure to their products.

White-labelling is the process of provisioning a part of the operations of a certain online sportsbook. These operations, which include the license in most cases, are then branded and distributed by a separate website. In some cases, through white-labeling, an entire sportsbook can be provisioned and distributed by a different brand.

There are several advantages that websites experience from white-labeling solutions, one of which is the lower cost needed to set up the business. As the Asian Gaming Brief states, thanks to white-labeling, adverts direct players to mirror websites in Asia, and the sole purpose of these arrangements is to promote illegal betting.

Dr. Sally Gainsbury, an ARF council member, stated that customers are more exposed to gambling harm if they wager at offshore sites, rather than domestic sites that are regulated. This shows that offshore sites present a problem as they are breaking the law by not holding an onshore license.

According to the ARF, online gambling platforms that are licensed by one jurisdiction and accept wagers outside of that jurisdiction are not legal. A report found that out of 534 online casinos and online sportsbooks in 61 jurisdictions, less than 40% are actually licensed and regulated.

In the 94-page report, the ARF outlines the fact that a majority of the operators are taking advantage of the so-called grey markets that operate from Brisbane and Beirut. Sites are classified into three categories; the first category includes licensed and regulated operators, the second category includes licensed, but under-regulated operators and the third category features sites that do not possess a license at all.

Moreover, the report found that two-thirds of the sites that operate in other jurisdictions illegally come from Curacao, Malta, and the Philippines. Finally, it outlined the fact that casino junkets helped fuel the rise of illegal gambling in Asia. Junkets have proven to be quite problematic, especially in Macau, which is why they wont be able to accept deposits anymore.

Illegal websites are a major problem to players as they are unable to determine which sites are licensed and regulated and which are not. A 2020 report in Sweden found out that only 5% of the customers know how to check the credibility of a gambling operator.

The USA is also facing a similar problem, which is why the American Gaming Association urged the DoJ to crack down on illegal offshore gambling sites. In a letter sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, AGA stated that it believes that the DoJ is the only entity that can deal with this issue in a proper manner.

See more here:

ARF States That White-Labelling Is a Major Problem to the Gambling Industry - GamblingNews.com

UKs agency that regulates the advertising industry, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has released its 2021 review and states that it received a total of 43,325 complaints connected to around 22,000 cases. In doing so, it doubled down on its tougher restrictions concerning ads in the gambling industry, through which operators wont be able to use reality TV stars or popular sportsmen for advertising purposes.

Online advertisements proved to be the most troubling as the ASA reported that 20,735 complaints were connected to this section. They were also responsible for 14,558 cases, which is around two-thirds of the total number of cases.

Compared to 2020, the number of issues that are connected to online ads rose by 19%, however, case numbers remained level. Online ads were featured on official websites of companies, social media, and video on demand, but the section also includes influencer ads, searches, and games.

When it comes to television ads, the ASA and CAP reported that even though the number of complaints rose by 44% and reached 20,425, the number of cases in 2021 was 4,802, which is a 5% decrease compared to the previous year.

ASA also applauded the use of technology and stated that the use of AI is revolutionizing its monitoring capabilities and hence, it enables it to do a better job. According to the results, ASA is able to take note of dozens of high-risk influencers on a weekly basis and even analyzes around 20,000 Instagram stories on a monthly basis.

The chief executive of ASA, Guy Parker, commented on the use of technology and stated that thanks to its evolution, the ASA is able to regulate misleading and irresponsible ads.

ASAs report concluded that there were shifts in the TV viewing habits of children. The analysis of a decades worth of data showed that the medium exposure dropped from 17.6 hours to 6.9 hours in 2020. Additionally, the number of TV ads that children saw on a weekly basis dropped from 229.3 (2013) to 103.7 (2020).

Since 2013, childrens alcohol exposure dropped by two-thirds, whereas their exposure to gambling ads on TV reduced by a third.

This is when the ASA used the opportunity to elaborate on the tougher restrictions concerning gambling ads. It stated that they will be in effect on October 1, 2022, and with the new restrictions, operators wont be able to use famous sports personalities and other celebrities to promote their brand.

Additionally, the new rules state that lottery and gambling ads mustnt appeal to children or young people.

CAPs director, Shahriar Coupal, shared some words on the new restrictions by noting that the days when operators used celebrities and influential sportspeople to make themselves appealing to under-18s are numbered. Coupal also added that the latest restrictions invite a new era for gambling ads, one that is particular to the adult audience rather than the youth.

Read more here:

ASA Shares Its 2021 Gambling Ads Review, Notes That Youth Exposure Is Down - GamblingNews.com