THE AMERICAS

Betfair set a May 10 date for the launch of America’s first exchange wagering site; New Jersey said its online gambling licensees could operate in international grey markets; Kentucky became the fourth state to launch online lottery sales; Canada’s Liberal government announced its opposition to single-game sports betting; a Canadian law firm mulled a class action suit against GVC Holdings; a federal judge cleared the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma to launch its PokerTribe.com site; Boyd Gaming paid $380m for the Aliante casino in North Las Vegas; Delaware earned record online gambling revenue in March; Bitcoin online casino site Coinroll suffered a data leak while Soar Payments’ Andrew Egan listed four benefits Bitcoin offered merchant payment processors; Sheldon Adelson upped the allowance of his anti-online gambling coalition; Massachusetts’ first casino failed to spark an expected crime wave; attorney Martin Owens urged customers and businesses to play their role in reforming gambling laws; Amaya Gaming spokesman Eric Hollreiser admitted his firm aren’t strangers to controversy and Rebecca Liggero previewed the top five sessions at the upcoming GiGSE 2016.

EUROPE

Ladbrokes had a stellar Q1 despite a seriously sucky Cheltenham; Betclic Everest announced it was closing its French-facing Everest Poker site; Russia’s finance minister said he wanted to capture ‘grey’ market revenue then hit online bookies with a new 10% tax; another German court said the country’s sports betting treaty was illegal; Bet365 became the first bookie to score headline naming rights on a Premier League stadium; Portugal’s new online gambling regime might not allow poker networks; Oulala Games’ Valery Bollier explained big data’s influence on sports betting and Rebecca Liggero re(handi)capped all the action at the Betting on Football Conference 2016.

THE AMERICAS

Betfair set a May 10 date for the launch of America’s first exchange wagering site; New Jersey said its online gambling licensees could operate in international grey markets; Kentucky became the fourth state to launch online lottery sales; Canada’s Liberal government announced its opposition to single-game sports betting; a Canadian law firm mulled a class action suit against GVC Holdings; a federal judge cleared the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma to launch its PokerTribe.com site; Boyd Gaming paid $380m for the Aliante casino in North Las Vegas; Delaware earned record online gambling revenue in March; Bitcoin online casino site Coinroll suffered a data leak while Soar Payments’ Andrew Egan listed four benefits Bitcoin offered merchant payment processors; Sheldon Adelson upped the allowance of his anti-online gambling coalition; Massachusetts’ first casino failed to spark an expected crime wave; attorney Martin Owens urged customers and businesses to play their role in reforming gambling laws; Amaya Gaming spokesman Eric Hollreiser admitted his firm aren’t strangers to controversy and Rebecca Liggero previewed the top five sessions at the upcoming GiGSE 2016.

EUROPE

Ladbrokes had a stellar Q1 despite a seriously sucky Cheltenham; Betclic Everest announced it was closing its French-facing Everest Poker site; Russia’s finance minister said he wanted to capture ‘grey’ market revenue then hit online bookies with a new 10% tax; another German court said the country’s sports betting treaty was illegal; Bet365 became the first bookie to score headline naming rights on a Premier League stadium; Portugal’s new online gambling regime might not allow poker networks; Oulala Games’ Valery Bollier explained big data’s influence on sports betting and Rebecca Liggero re(handi)capped all the action at the Betting on Football Conference 2016.

Crystal Palace will get the opportunity to avenge their 1990 FA Cup Final defeat at the hands of Manchester United after both sides made it through the Semi-Finals to square off in the final of the world’s most prestigious domestic cup competition.

Both Louis Van Gaal and Alan Pardew have had better seasons. Both could quite easily find themselves in the dole queue come the summer. And yet on May 21 both managers will stand tall and proud as they lead their respective teams onto the Wembley turf as the finalists of the FA Cup.

Man United was the first side to make it to the final after a thrilling encounter against Everton. The blue half of Merseyside haven’t won a trophy since beating United in the FA Cup back in 1995. United haven’t earned any silverware since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club with a Premier League title in their trophy cabinet.

If the record books didn’t show otherwise, you would never know Sir Alex was ever at this great club such has been their inept performances in the past two seasons. And yet, in the past few weeks, there have been signs that the fast flowing lava-like attacks that made his Red Devils the scourge of world football were returning.

Crystal Palace will get the opportunity to avenge their 1990 FA Cup Final defeat at the hands of Manchester United after both sides made it through the Semi-Finals to square off in the final of the world’s most prestigious domestic cup competition.

Both Louis Van Gaal and Alan Pardew have had better seasons. Both could quite easily find themselves in the dole queue come the summer. And yet on May 21 both managers will stand tall and proud as they lead their respective teams onto the Wembley turf as the finalists of the FA Cup.

Man United was the first side to make it to the final after a thrilling encounter against Everton. The blue half of Merseyside haven’t won a trophy since beating United in the FA Cup back in 1995. United haven’t earned any silverware since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club with a Premier League title in their trophy cabinet.

If the record books didn’t show otherwise, you would never know Sir Alex was ever at this great club such has been their inept performances in the past two seasons. And yet, in the past few weeks, there have been signs that the fast flowing lava-like attacks that made his Red Devils the scourge of world football were returning.

Two tales from the bad boys of poker after Chino Rheem becomes only the third person to win three World Poker Tour titles, and Dan Bilzerian secures a book deal with Simon & Schuster.

Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and Diego Maradona.

Sportsmen that possess all of the talents in the world, but can’t seem to quiet the devil within. It’s the primordial soup that flows through the very best veins in the land. It’s the same with superheroes. They all have a bit of wrong in them – even Ant-Man.

Now, I’m not saying Chino Rheem is in that league. Let’s not get carried away. But when I look at the modern tale of poker, I can’t think of a more mercurial talent that seems to walk around the tables with as much devilment as this young man.

Two tales from the bad boys of poker after Chino Rheem becomes only the third person to win three World Poker Tour titles, and Dan Bilzerian secures a book deal with Simon & Schuster.

Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and Diego Maradona.

Sportsmen that possess all of the talents in the world, but can’t seem to quiet the devil within. It’s the primordial soup that flows through the very best veins in the land. It’s the same with superheroes. They all have a bit of wrong in them – even Ant-Man.

Now, I’m not saying Chino Rheem is in that league. Let’s not get carried away. But when I look at the modern tale of poker, I can’t think of a more mercurial talent that seems to walk around the tables with as much devilment as this young man.