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Australia vs India test 1 preview & tips

Australia will play India in the First Test in Adelaide under lights for the first time. Australia head into the match with questions remaining over their final line-up. Injuries have forced the home side into some changes to their starting eleven.

The visiting Indian team will be hoping to get the Test Series off to a strong start in Adelaide. Indian superstar Virat Kohli is leaving the tour at the conclusion of the match to return home for the birth of his first child.

The Indian team have named a starting side that includes young batsman Prithvi Shaw. Keeper Wriddhiman Saha was preferred to incumbent Rishabh Pant due to his superior glovework outside of Asia. Veterans Ravi Ashwin and Umesh Yadav have been added to the bowling attack. India will miss the work of Ravindra Jadeja, who is still suffering from a hamstring injury, picked up in the T20 series.

The home side have their own injury concerns, with star batsman Steve Smith under an injury cloud. Star opening batsmen Dave Warner will miss the Adelaide match, with Joe Burns expected to partner Matthew Wade at the top of the order. Burns has come under pressure to retain his spot after a lean run in Shield cricket.

California tribes ready to put sports gambling to a vote in 2022

Trying to introduce sports gambling in California has been a difficult task, but progress is slowly being made. A coalition of native Indian tribes launched an effort last year to try to bring the activity to the state and have now reached their first goal. They needed to drum up enough public support for sports gambling to appear on the state’s ballot in 2022 and have reported that they finally wrapped up the initiative after collecting over 1.4 million signatures for their petition. The next step is to have the signatures verified before a ballot measure can be created. 

Initially, the petition was expected to be turned in earlier this past fall, but the COVID-19 pandemic through a monkey wrench in those plans. A judge approved a request to have the deadline extended to December 14 and, when the day arrived, the tribes presented their results. The final tally was well above the 997,000 that the 20-tribe coalition had hoped to receive, which should be a good indication of sports gambling’s fate in California once it appears on the ballot. That is supported by the VP of Public Affairs of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and spokesperson of the coalition Jacob Mejia. He told CDC Gaming Reports that the turnout reflects “strong support to allow sports wagering in a responsible manner as set forth in the initiative.”

It’s possible, but not guaranteed, that California may not have to wait until 2022 to see the sports gambling measure on the ballot. Like all states, California is suffering economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which might help facilitate a push to have the measure put to a vote next year. With a population larger than that of Canada, the possible windfall from legalized sports gambling would give the Golden State a substantial revenue source. 

However, it’s not going to be that easy. Despite predictions that California’s sports gambling market could be worth around $1.4 billion in just its first year, a couple of items suggested by the tribal coalition are going to face serious resistance and limit the revenue possibilities. The tribes apparently haven’t thought through their plan completely, as they don’t want the state’s legal cardrooms to be allowed to have sportsbooks. That is going to cause a serious amount of friction and lead to endless debates over the merits of legalized sports gambling in the state. 

New Slots Announcements – December 16, 2020

Online casino sights need to stay on top of the hottest slot offerings to keep up with the competition. We’ve got the newest slots released in the past week, so you can check them out and decide if you want them on your site.

Kalamba Games unlocks feature-filled title Goblins and Gemstones

Innovative slot supplier Kalamba Games is inviting players to crack open the treasure vault in pursuit of big wins in its latest title Goblins and Gemstones.

The new 5×4 slot has 1024 payways and features three unique mechanics designed for huge volatility and massive win potential, with a maximum win of over 38800x the bet.

Blaine Graboyes makes predictions for the US gambling industry in 2021

Although 2020 was unfortunate in so many ways, the online gambling industry fared better than expected. We can only expect the industry to keep growing in 2021, and Blaine Graboyes is the founder and CEO of GameCo, has shared some predictions of what to expect.

Graboyes, the inventor of Video Game Gambling, expects the U.S. will continue to warm to regulated online casino gameplay. He cites “the need for states to bolster tax revenues given the shutdowns of physical casinos and the reductions in retail casino revenues as well as the proliferation of sports betting.” Based on that, he expects iGaming regulation will double in 2021.

But for “mobile skill” based games, he expects the taxman is coming. A recent memo from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), building on one issued regarding daily fantasy games, ruled that the “false dichotomy of chance vs. skill as a ‘predominant factor test”’ doesn’t persuade them that DFS transactions should be excluded from a definition of wagering, despite their skill element. Graboyes ads:

“This ruling creates the inevitable basis that ‘mobile skill’ platforms that skirt gambling regulations and certifications, which protect players, will ultimately be taxed and regulated.”

Apollo considers upping the ante in bid to purchase Great Canadian

When Apollo Global Management decided to try to buy Canadian casino operator Great Canadian Gaming (CGC) last month for $2.5 billion, CGC shareholders were stunned. Not because the company could change hands, but because the offer wasn’t high enough. They balked at the idea and asserted that, if Apollo were serious, it would have to come back with a better offer. Apparently, the private equity firm is listening to shareholders and could be prepared to dig deeper in its pockets to pull out some more cash to make the shareholders happy.

The current figure puts the value at about $30.66 (CAD$39) a share. CGC’s board had already tentatively accepted the offer in November, emphasizing Apollo’s “extensive experience in the gaming sector will provide additional strategic benefits to help expand our gaming and hospitality offerings and to secure our position as a long-term market leader.” However, when the shareholders spoke up, things change quickly. 

Bloomberg asserts that Apollo might be willing to bump its offer up to $32.24 a share, which would make the deal worth around $2.68 billion. The suggestion of an increased offer stems from Apollo’s initial interest in CGC this past August when it asserted that it might be willing to go as high as that amount before it ultimately lowered the per-share price to $30.66. However, it’s also likely Apollo could walk away from any arrangement if too much pushback is received. 

That pushback appears to be likely unless cooler heads prevail. It has been reported that some shareholders want to hold out for $55 a share, or $4.58 billion, approaching double the original offer. This past February, GCG was trading at around $31.40 before COVID-19 dropped the stock price to $12.60. It stayed low until November when it began to see a rebound, reaching $24.20 on November 11. However, It currently sits at about $22.60 and, in the past five years, has never come close to $55. Its five-year high occurred in February 2019, when it hit $36.36.

Compare.bet goes live in the Brazilian gaming market

Brazilian gamblers have a new tool available to help them get the biggest bang for their buck. Compare.bet, the gambling comparison site controlled by Seven Star Digital, is now live in the country, giving gamblers the ability to determine where to best spend their sports gambling and online casino money. The entrance marks the latest step in Seven Star’s expansion plans after it found solid ground in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand a few months ago.

Compare.bet boasts of using a team of experts that check all gaming platforms to determine which are the best in the business. They explore the front-line operations of the operators, as well as the behind-the-scenes activity to ensure proper licenses and responsible gaming procedures are in place. They also look at payment types, promotions and more to produce reviews designed to keep gamblers informed before they open an account or deposit funds.

The company said in an announcement about the new launch, “The opportunity in Brazil is an exciting one – the country has a fantastic sporting heritage and huge passion for sports and soccer. We are excited to help our users in Brazil learn more about gambling and sports betting, and to choose appropriate brands to wager with online. To properly cater to the Brazilian market requires deep localization and the creation of content matching the country’s unique preferences and culture. We have long term plans to create a highly authentic user experience to meet the needs of the Brazilian market.”

In addition to serving as a platform to review online casinos and sportsbooks, Compare.bet also offers a comparison tool for odds so gamblers can see which operator might have the best lines available. There are a number of sites that offer similar capabilities, but Compare.bet looks to be more all-inclusive with its gambling data presentation to give gamblers a single source for up-to-date information.

Prague Gaming Summit Hybrid announced for 28 May 2021

Leading conference in the CEE region will be held in a hybrid format on 28 May 2021.

The team at European Gaming (part of Hipther Agency), is excited to announce that the registrations are open for the 5th edition of Prague Gaming Summit which will be held in a hybrid format on the 28th of May 2021.

The hybrid event will take place at the ‘traditional base’ of the conference (Vienna House Andel’s Prague) and will allow local industry shareholders to meet up and connect.

The hybrid format gives the opportunity to all interested parties that are not able to travel to access the conference content and event attend virtual meetings.

Prague Gaming Summit Hybrid announced for 28 May 2021

Leading conference in the CEE region will be held in a hybrid format on 28 May 2021.

The team at European Gaming (part of Hipther Agency), is excited to announce that the registrations are open for the 5th edition of Prague Gaming Summit which will be held in a hybrid format on the 28th of May 2021.

The hybrid event will take place at the ‘traditional base’ of the conference (Vienna House Andel’s Prague) and will allow local industry shareholders to meet up and connect.

The hybrid format gives the opportunity to all interested parties that are not able to travel to access the conference content and event attend virtual meetings.

Sands China confirms February launch for The Londoner

As Macau continues to struggle with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sands China is going to dive into the flames and launch its latest venue in the city. It had been expected that The Londoner would be coming to Cotai sometime in February, perhaps as a way to give everyone a chance to experience the U.K. while not actually able to travel there because of the restrictions. The February launch has now been confirmed, although Sands China is going to give some individuals a chance to check out the newly-refurbished property beginning next month. 

The Londoner was initially expected to open this year, but the coronavirus had other plans. The property, formerly the Sands Cotai, was redesigned to capture the culture and history of Great Britain, and follows a Sands China theme of introducing properties modeled after exotic locations. It already has the Parisian and the Venetian, and The Londoner will come to life starting in just a little more than a month, coinciding with the beginning of the New Year of the Ox in the Chinese calendar. 

Before that, though, a soft launch will be held beginning on January 22. Sands China, the Asian division of Las Vegas Sands (LVS), has spent $2 billion to redesign the new property, but it’s a safe bet that the ongoing pandemic and related travel restrictions are going to make it more difficult to recuperate that investment quickly. Still, LVS President and COO Rob Goldstein is confident that it was money well-spent and asserts, “Our investment in The Londoner Macao is a clear signal that we believe Macau’s future as one of the world’s most important leisure and business destinations remains on course.”

The Londoner is going to offer a completely different environment than did the Sands Cotai property before it. There will now be two new all-suite hotels, additional retail offerings, a 6,000-seat arena and a new MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions) space. It will also feature interior design conceptualized by soccer great David Beckham, the casino operator’s brand ambassador. The Suites by David Beckham arrangement is the first for the former Manchester United star and current president and co-owner of the Inter Miami CF out of Miami, Florida.

Sands China confirms February launch for The Londoner

As Macau continues to struggle with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sands China is going to dive into the flames and launch its latest venue in the city. It had been expected that The Londoner would be coming to Cotai sometime in February, perhaps as a way to give everyone a chance to experience the U.K. while not actually able to travel there because of the restrictions. The February launch has now been confirmed, although Sands China is going to give some individuals a chance to check out the newly-refurbished property beginning next month. 

The Londoner was initially expected to open this year, but the coronavirus had other plans. The property, formerly the Sands Cotai, was redesigned to capture the culture and history of Great Britain, and follows a Sands China theme of introducing properties modeled after exotic locations. It already has the Parisian and the Venetian, and The Londoner will come to life starting in just a little more than a month, coinciding with the beginning of the New Year of the Ox in the Chinese calendar. 

Before that, though, a soft launch will be held beginning on January 22. Sands China, the Asian division of Las Vegas Sands (LVS), has spent $2 billion to redesign the new property, but it’s a safe bet that the ongoing pandemic and related travel restrictions are going to make it more difficult to recuperate that investment quickly. Still, LVS President and COO Rob Goldstein is confident that it was money well-spent and asserts, “Our investment in The Londoner Macao is a clear signal that we believe Macau’s future as one of the world’s most important leisure and business destinations remains on course.”

The Londoner is going to offer a completely different environment than did the Sands Cotai property before it. There will now be two new all-suite hotels, additional retail offerings, a 6,000-seat arena and a new MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions) space. It will also feature interior design conceptualized by soccer great David Beckham, the casino operator’s brand ambassador. The Suites by David Beckham arrangement is the first for the former Manchester United star and current president and co-owner of the Inter Miami CF out of Miami, Florida.

Philippines House OKs online cockfighting tax, Senate to have final say

Online cockfighting continues to gain momentum in the Philippines. The House of Representatives have approved Bill 8065, pushing ahead a measure that would tax offsite betting on locally licensed cockfights and derbies.

By a vote of 215-1, the bill easily passed the house. If it becomes a law, it would amend section 125 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Joey Salceda believes the new e-sabong tax would not be “causing any economic harm.”

“Wagering is a demand inelastic non-essential…The operations of online betting on sabong are authorized by local ordinances. Because of the digital shift, there are now electronic betting operations on such games. But the electronic aspect of it is a gray area, even though the airwaves is national property,” Salceda said.

If the Senate also passes the bill, online cockfighting and derbies would be taxed at 5% of their gross revenue. Local government units can still levy their own taxes, as well as regulators like PAGCOR collecting their regulatory fees and charges.

Philippines House OKs online cockfighting tax, Senate to have final say

Online cockfighting continues to gain momentum in the Philippines. The House of Representatives have approved Bill 8065, pushing ahead a measure that would tax offsite betting on locally licensed cockfights and derbies.

By a vote of 215-1, the bill easily passed the house. If it becomes a law, it would amend section 125 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Joey Salceda believes the new e-sabong tax would not be “causing any economic harm.”

“Wagering is a demand inelastic non-essential…The operations of online betting on sabong are authorized by local ordinances. Because of the digital shift, there are now electronic betting operations on such games. But the electronic aspect of it is a gray area, even though the airwaves is national property,” Salceda said.

If the Senate also passes the bill, online cockfighting and derbies would be taxed at 5% of their gross revenue. Local government units can still levy their own taxes, as well as regulators like PAGCOR collecting their regulatory fees and charges.

Philip Runyan will do skill-based games right with the help of Bitcoin

Hold Gaming CEO Philip Runyan believes that skill-based casino games have a promising future in a regulated U.S. market. Runyan sat down with CalvinAyre.com lead reporter Rebecca Liggero Fontana to talk about the adoption of skilled based casino games in the U.S. and how Bitcoin SV (BSV) can help this transition.

Runyan believes that potential new players will buy-in to the concept of skill-based casino games. “People will play if you give them the proper tools, they will also put money into it,” Runyan said.

There’s proof in Runyan’s secret sauce, as Hold Gaming has developed games that are available across more than 36 U.S. states. Runyan explained that players can now play a competitive card game for cash prized in several markets.

At CoinGeek Live, Runyan was quick to emphasis that Hold Gaming is skill-based, and he is quick to point out with Liggero Fontana that his company’s games have a skill element to them.

Mutant COVID-19 strain forces London casinos to shut down

A new outbreak of COVID-19 has caused London’s casino industry to relapse. This time, however, the outbreak appears to be coming from a “mutant” version of the coronavirus that has caused London Mayor Siddique Khan to describe the new situation as “deeply troubling.” After having been granted permission to reopen their doors on December 2, London’s casinos are now shutting down once again. 

Casinos in London have been on a roller coaster for the past several months. They were shut down in March, just like with many others around the world, and didn’t reopen until August – two to three months after casinos in places like New Jersey and Las Vegas started to see signs of life. However, they were forced to retreat again in November before the all-clear was given to return on December 2.

The new shutdown order comes as a mutated COVID-19 strain is making its way through the streets in the U.K. The country’s health ministry, led by Secretary Matt Hancock, explained that the new strain is able to spread quicker than the previous version, but adds that it is not necessarily more dangerous or more vaccine-resistant. However, starting today, new health measures are going to have to be implemented to ensure the streets are kept safer, and London is now back on Tier 3 restrictions, the strictest level to be implemented in the U.K.’s fight with the virus. 

This is certainly going to be bad news for London, given the time of year. The holidays are here and casinos, restaurants, bars and other public venues are going to be off-limits. However, certain activity will be allowed and bookmaking shops are going to be able to continue to accept customers. They won’t be able to show any live sports broadcasts, though, in an attempt to keep patrons from gathering and will have to adhere to strict capacity limits. 

Former 500.com officers sentenced over Japan IR bribery scandal

Tsukasa Akimoto would probably prefer that the bribery scandal of which he plays a central role would go away, but he’s not going to be that lucky. The Japanese member of the House of Representatives has been accused of accepting bribes from a Chinese company, 500.com, looking to get an edge in Japan’s integrated resort (IR) plans, and the case continues to surface from time to time. Two of those involved in the embarrassing scandal appeared before a judge in Japan in October, receiving suspended sentences for their participation. Now, the case is back in the news after two more received their sentences yesterday.

Masahiko Konno and Katsunori Nakazato had previously been sentenced to 24 months and 22 months, respectively, for helping facilitate the bribes from 500.com to Akimoto. Those sentences were suspended for three years and the two latest accomplices are Akihito Awaji and Fumihiko Sato. Awaji received a sentence of 14 months and Sato was hit with a 12-month sentence, each with a suspended sentence of three years once again.

The two former 500.com executives were found guilty of trying to bribe a witness in the case against Akimoto in order to get him to change his testimony. They reportedly offered to pay him $96,400 if he would alter his course and later tempted him with an offer of $192,800. The prosecution in the case asserted that the pair were only doing what Akimoto asked them to do, but at least Awaji and Sato picked up some bragging rights through the verdict. They became the first two individuals to be prosecuted under updated witness-tampering laws that were implemented in the country a little more than three years ago.

Akimoto singlehandedly set back Japan’s efforts to enter the global gaming space when he decided to make shady deals with 500.com. Arguments against legalized casinos in the country often centered on the relationship between gambling and crime, and the former member of the Liberal Democratic Party who was responsible for helping lead Japan’s growth proved those arguments to be true. It’s been revealed that he received at least $72,000 in bribes from 500.com as IR discussions began in the country, but it’s difficult to believe he would have participated in shady activity only in this instance.

BetConstruct holds the CIS Online Poker tournament

Ahead of the New Year, the award-winning gaming and betting technology provider BetConstruct has announced the launch of its flagship event of the year – CIS Online Poker Championship, December 19, 2020 – January 10, 2021. 

The event is a series of poker tournaments with an unprecedented total guaranteed prize pool of 500,000 EUR and a 30,000 EUR GTD bonus for the main event. To build an added level of entertainment for players and provide them with incredible experience, each week will be highlighted with the ​Grand Cup events​ with buy-ins as low as 0 EUR, resulting in higher competition and bigger winnings. 

During the Championship, tournaments of various types will be offered to players of every skill, level of professionalism and bankroll giving equal chances for taking their share from the GTD to all of them. This will undoubtedly fuel participants’ interest and have a positive effect on operators’ profits. 

With the CIS Tournament, BetConstruct continues its global expansion and connects the whole industry, giving the operators an opportunity to benefit from the events and contribute profits to their business.

Rabbit Entertainment appoints Tal Zamstein as new CEO

iGaming operator Rabbit Entertainment has appointed Löwen Play Managing Director Tal Zamstein as its new chief executive effective immediately.

iGaming operator Rabbit Entertainment has appointed Tal Zamstein as its new chief executive effective immediately

Gambling entertainment company Rabbit Entertainment and its brands Lapalingo and Lord Lucky has appointed Tal Zamstein as its new chief executive. As leader of Rabbit Entertainment and its renowned brands, Tal Zamstein plans to invest in infrastructure, expand in key markets, and continue to focus on achieving operational excellence in a regulated environment.

Zamstein is a gambling industry professional having occupied executive positions at Fortuna Group as Group Head of Gaming, Operations Director at Merkur Interactive, Head of Operations at Intertain, Retention Team Leader at BWIN and Head of Games at WIN United, amongst other senior postings. Zamstein is an economist who speaks 6 languages, with a track-record that is focused on growth.

How COVID-19 has shaped the gaming and betting landscape

When 2020 started, the gaming and betting industries were on track for a great year. ICE London 2020 was showcasing some promising new technology and it looked like the gaming sector would continue its upward trajectory in 2020. Unfortunately, the unexpected arrival of the COVID-19 virus flipped everything on its head. Almost every sector was impacted in some way, and the gaming and betting sectors were no exceptions.

Casinos, especially those located in major, tourist-reliant cities, like Macau, saw the biggest impact, with reported revenue loses by as much as 97% year-on-year due to the impact of COVID-19. However, it wasn’t just casinos that suffered, as the suspension of most sports meant that bookmakers also saw losses. William Hill reported a 57% year-on-year decline in net revenue due to the virus, and in August, Veikkaus, the Finnish monopoly operator in this space, projected a loss of over €300m in profits in 2020.

There’s no escaping the fact that the gaming and betting industry has been hugely impacted by COVID-19 however, in other areas of the sector the story has been very different.

Welcome to the digital world

Kalamba Games sees more than 100% growth in 2020

Malta, 15th December 2020 – Kalamba Games, the innovative slots and casino content supplier, is closing this year in its strongest position yet as it forecasts a 100% business growth in 2020. 

The growth has been primarily driven by the introduction of Kalamba’s proprietary Bullseye remote gaming server, which has made a strong market launch this year despite the disruption caused by COVID-19.

The company has also expanded its global reach over the last 12 months to now supply content to more than 300 online casinos across the world. The supplier’s impressive games portfolio will see the addition of 14 new titles by the end of the year, with Blazing Bull, Sky Hunters and Sadie Swift: Guns ‘n Glyphs ranking as its three most successful launches this year. 

Kalamba has recently increased its focus on developing unique features and promotional tools, many of which will be rolled out in 2021. It has also collaborated extensively with other key industry players such as Kindred and Wildz Casinos, and launched Sadie Swift: Guns ‘n Glyphs, a title co-developed with Twitch streamer CasinoTest24 and the result of the industry’s first collaboration with the streaming community.

Spain sees fewer problem gamblers, more cocaine users

Fewer Spaniards are reporting gambling problems although more of them are drinking alcohol and snorting cocaine. 

On Monday, Spain’s Ministry of Health published the XIII Survey on Alcohol and other Drugs in Spain (EDADES) 2019/2020, as well as the first study of addictions prevalent among residents aged 64 years or older. The survey queried nearly 18,000 respondents aged 15-64 between February and March, plus another 1,443 seniors for the 64+ portion. 

The survey found that some 6.7% of respondents had engaged in real-money online gambling in the previous 12 months, up from 3.5% in the 2017-18 survey and from 2.7% in 2015-16. Males (9.1%) were more than twice as likely to have gambled online than females (4.2%), while the 25-34 age demo had the greatest participation at 9.3%. 

There was much greater participation for land-based gambling (63.6%), which was up marginally from 2017-18 (59.5%) but significantly higher than 2015-16 (37.4%). The gender divide was split far more evenly – 65.9% male, 61.2% female) – while each successive age demo featured greater participation, peaking at 77.1% in the 55-64 group.