Monthly Archives: October 2016

Canadians say online gambling most harmful despite causing fewer problems

More than half of Canadians believe online is the most harmful form of gambling despite the fact that more of their family members have endured problems with other forms of gambling.

A new Angus Reid poll of Canadians’ gambling activities shows 14% of Canadian households contained at least one person who partook in online gambling in the past year.

By far the most popular form of gambling among Canadians was lotteries (82%), followed by charitable gambling (43%), casinos (32%), video lottery terminals at a bar or pub (14%), sports betting (13%) and racetrack betting (10%).

Provinces whose lottery monopolies offer some form of online gambling reported higher online participation. Online gambling provinces like British Columbia (18%), Atlantic Canada (16%) Quebec (15%) and Ontario (14%) scored higher rates than Alberta (12%) and Saskatchewan (10%), which have yet to launch their own online services.

Canadians say online gambling most harmful despite causing fewer problems

More than half of Canadians believe online is the most harmful form of gambling despite the fact that more of their family members have endured problems with other forms of gambling.

A new Angus Reid poll of Canadians’ gambling activities shows 14% of Canadian households contained at least one person who partook in online gambling in the past year.

By far the most popular form of gambling among Canadians was lotteries (82%), followed by charitable gambling (43%), casinos (32%), video lottery terminals at a bar or pub (14%), sports betting (13%) and racetrack betting (10%).

Provinces whose lottery monopolies offer some form of online gambling reported higher online participation. Online gambling provinces like British Columbia (18%), Atlantic Canada (16%) Quebec (15%) and Ontario (14%) scored higher rates than Alberta (12%) and Saskatchewan (10%), which have yet to launch their own online services.

Golden Nugget is New Jersey’s top online gambling earner in September

New Jersey’s regulated online gambling market enjoyed a healthy year-on-year bump in September and crowned a new revenue king.

Figures released Thursday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show the state’s licensed online gambling operators earned $16.2m in September, 35% higher than the same month last year. However, the total is only around $100k more than the sites earned in August.

September’s online casino revenue was up 38.6% year-on-year to $14.2m, while poker rose nearly 14% to $2m. The casino number is up about $300k from August while poker declined by about $150k. For the year-to-date, total online revenue is up 33% to $144.5m, with casino rising 37.2% to $124.5m while poker has gained 11% to just under $20m.

After an impressive run as New Jersey’s unquestioned revenue leader, the Borgata-affiliated sites slipped to number two in September thanks to the Golden Nugget’s casino-only site posting a hefty $3.66m, up only marginally from August’s $3.47m and down from its all-time high of $37m in July but enough to make the Nugget truly golden in September.

Marathonbet launch Manchester United-branded real-money online casino

UK-licensed online betting operator Marathonbet has launched a new live online casino product in partnership with footballers Manchester United.

In August 2015, Marathonbet signed on as the new official global betting partner (excluding China and the United States) of the English Premier League mainstays. The partners have now extended this relationship via the launch of a real-money online casino site adorned with Man U branding.

In what is being described as “a world exclusive for both United and football,” Man U’s latest dive into real-money online gambling is offering live roulette, blackjack and other games to players 18 years of age or older, who will be “immersed in a Manchester United-themed environment” at mufc.marathonbet.co.uk/casino.

The site plans to offer an array of team giveaways, prizes and game offers. Man U icons Gary Pallister (pictured), Jesper Blomqvist and Andrew Cole will be at Old Trafford stadium on Thursday night to celebrate the gambling site’s official launch.

Bitcoin price sails as China’s yuan sinks

The price of bitcoin is on a ten-week high, thanks to increased demand in Asia amid worries over the serious devaluation of the Chinese yuan.

This week, the yuan dropped it its six-year low against the U.S. dollar at 6.72 per dollar, which, according to Reuters, is the weakest rate since September 2010. In comparison, bitcoin saw a 3 percent jump in value—breaking the $630 ceiling. This is the popular digital currency’s strongest since July.

The weakened yuan was partly attributed to the week-long holiday in China, which celebrated the Chinese Golden Week that follows China’s national day. However, this isn’t the first time that the devaluating Chinese yuan has pushed the prices of digital currencies up.

In May, the price of the digital currency surged by as much as 15 percent, which some market participants partly attributed to the devaluation of Chinese yuan. Trades involving Chinese yuan are believed to account for about 95 percent of the current bitcoin trading volume this year, according to a CoinDesk research.

GameCo gets green light to bring skill-based video games to Atlantic City

Atlantic City casinos are about to get their first taste of skill-based slot machines.

On Wednesday night, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement gave New York-based startup GameCo the green light to start deploying its new video game gambling machines (VGM) on the casino floors of Caesars Entertainment’s three AC properties, according to the Associated Press.

GameCo has been planning to install 21 gaming positions in “high-traffic, prominent locations” at each of the three Caesars’ properties. There will be three triple-unit carousels at Caesars Atlantic City, two at Harrah’s Resort and two more at Bally’s. The VGMs will still have to undergo testing, which is expected to be completed in a couple of weeks, before they can be deployed.

The go signal from New Jersey’s gambling regulators marks a shift to a new era of gambling in the United States—one that is aimed at attracting the younger demographics who grew up playing video games. GameCo’s VGMs are “officially the first skill-based video game gambling product approved by any U.S. gaming jurisdiction regulator,” according to CEO and co-founder Blaine Graboyes.

SBTech at EiG Expo 2016

October 13, 2016 – Leading Sportsbetting supplier SBTech will showcase its cutting-edge product portfolio at the EiG Expo in Berlin, October 18th – 20th at stand 505.

A combination of localised offerings, expert legal oversight, versatile tools and unrivalled industry knowledge has positioned SBTech as a world-leading sports betting provider and trusted partner of operators in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Czech Republic, Greece, Denmark, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Bahamas, Malta, and many other regulated markets.

Continuing its commitment to delivering the best all-round player experience, SBTech will demonstrate its semi-managed sports betting product, intelligent Chameleon360 iGaming platform, advanced SSBTs, and omni-channel solution.

The omni-channel solution provides a unified experience for both operators and their customers across all products, channels and devices, through a single online wallet. It includes front end connectivity to retail systems and all interactive channels, all of which share the same central back office system, allowing players to access their accounts, funds and bets, regardless of the channel and product used.

North Jersey casino expansion lobbyists break spending record

Pro-North Jersey casino expansion supporters and opponents have flooded the state of New Jersey with a record sum of nearly $20 million to persuade voters ahead of the November ballot question.

As the campaign goes down the wire, the Associated Press has projected that the groups supporting and opposing the casino expansion will ramp up their spending to ensure their respective victory.

“It’s already set a record for ballot questions, and I’ve been saying we may see $40 million in spending,” Election Law Enforcement Commission executive director Jeff Brindle told the news wire agency.

Base on the records obtained by the news agency, anti-North Jersey casino expansion shelled out more money compared to the group favoring casinos near the giant New York metro area. Casino expansion opponent Trenton’s Bad Bet reportedly spent $11.3 million out of the $11.6 million it raised during the July to September period.

Taiwan President says no to Penghu casino ahead the October 15 vote

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen made a last ditch appeal for residents of Penghu County to say no to casinos ahead of a referendum in the outlying island on October 15.

Focus Taiwan News Channel reported that Tsai, who is also the chair of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), reiterated the party’s opposition to the opening of casinos in Penghu County during the political party’s Central Standing Committee meeting.

Saying that the county should not rely on gambling for local development, Tsai said that Penghu should instead focus on developing its tourism industry. She pointed out that the country is abundant with natural resources which make it a prime location for tourism development.

Tsai vowed that the she and the ruling DPP administration would demonstrate its resolve and ability to promote economic development in Penghu to prove that that gaming is not the only way to boost local development.

NFL Power Rankings Week 6 – The Upside Down

I’ve been around the game for long enough to recognize a bizarre season when I see one. And this season might as well be The Upside Down from Stranger Things. Aside from Pittsburgh, Denver and New England being among the best in the AFC, nothing else about the 2016 season makes any goddamn sense and it’s crushing bettors all over the place.

At some point you just have to take information for granted. Stop trying to figure it out and just say “this team is covering despite having tremendous flaws.” Be brave, my wayward friend. You are not alone.

1. New England Patriots (4-1 SU and ATS)

They’re not close to a perfect team, but in a season like this, they’re more than good enough to be the best team in the league by a country mile. The problem? Tom Brady moves the betting line so much that it’s hard for them to be a pure profit generator against the line. This might be the last time they hold the top spot.

Week 6 Thursday Night Football Betting Preview

The Denver Broncos will try to maintain their mastery of divisional road games without their coach when they visit the San Diego Chargers. The Broncos are listed as the 3.5-point favorite against the host Chargers in the Thursday night matchup. The total is at 45.5 points.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Denver is 15-0 straight-up, and 14-1 against the spread, over its last 15 road games within the AFC West. Coach Gary Kubiak (migraine condition) will be replaced on the sideline by special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. Starting QB Trevor Siemian (sprained left shoulder) is listed as questionable, but has been practicing.

The Broncos, who were shredded by the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, are 14-2 SU in their last 16 games after a loss. Denver will need to better support Siemian (or Paxton Lynch) with a strong rushing game. Both RT Donald Stephenson and TE Virgil Green are returning from three-game absences, which should improve Denver’s run blocking.

Rebooted Betuniq to launch Italian-licensed site by end of October

Italian online betting operator Betuniq has been given clearance to relaunch its Betuniq.it website by the end of October.

On Wednesday, Italian gaming media outlet Agimeg quoted Vincent Saviano, current CEO of Italian online gambling operator Vincitù Group and new Betuniq director, saying Betuniq.it would reopen for business to Italian gamblers “within 15 days.” In addition to betting, Saviano said the revamped Betuniq will also offer online poker and live dealer casino games.

Betuniq made global headlines in July 2015 when Italian police raided 1,500 internet cafes and shut down 82 online gambling sites due to their alleged links with the ‘Ndrangheta organized crime group. Betuniq’s CEO Mario Gennaro was among 41 individuals arrested during the raid.

In late August, an Italian judge authorized Betuniq’s rebooting based on Gennaro’s “decisive contribution” to the authorities’ investigation of the illegal betting operation. Last week, Betuniq’s new commercial director Ugo Cifone issued a statement saying the court’s decision “expressly provides for the possibility for Gennaro to return to work with Betuniq.”