The last month or so has been particularly interesting for cryptocurrency, with more movements registered than had been seen in almost a year. The upward climb recorded has gotten the speculation wheels turning in overdrive, with some people predicting a blowout is imminent. Of course, there are also those who assert that the increases are nothing more than a farce, with an impending bubble burst that will be louder than an F-16’s jets. Only time will tell which way the needle goes, but what we can say without a doubt is that, out of all of the jumps, Bitcoin SV (BSV), saw the biggest.
Bitcoin Core (BTC) is only tenth on the list of price improvements for May, according to data prepared by Messari.io. It registered an increase of 60% over 200 days. During the same period, BSV jumped a massive 231%. Depending on the source, the digital currency has been as high as $252 and still sits at $212.63 on CoinMarketCap. This, after hovering around $62 just about two weeks ago. Messari has it listed at $214.16.
Coincidentally, judging by the current information on Messari, BTC has dropped 2.96% in the past 24 hours. All of the top 15 coins are down at least 2%, with the exception of Ripple (XRP), which is down just 0.20%. That is, except for BSB, which continues to climb and is up 9.76%.
BSV is now number 8 among the top coins on both Messari and CoinMarketCap. Another crypto analytics firm, Longhash, indicates that the coin has jumped 247%. At its lowest point, BSV traded at $53.22 and at its highest, recorded last week, $250. This marks a 360% overall increase.
A wide variety of the latest NOVOMATIC products will be showcased at the forthcoming Peru Gaming Show on June 19-20 in Lima, with a featured line-up of single games and game mixes, linked and standalone progressives, as well as the latest range of cabinets. On Stand #48, the local subsidiary NOVOMATIC Peru will show visitors a new product selection for the market, including game titles being previewed in Latin America for the first time.
Centre stage will be a series of high-impact Links, including the ENCHANTED FORTUNES Linked Jackpot, which has been gaining traction in Peru since its introduction earlier this year. Presented on the sleek PANTHERA Curve 1.43 cabinet in 4K, leading titles Asian Fortunes, Voodoo Fortunes, Goddess Rising and Book of Ra Mystic Fortunes that feature a variety of base and feature games will each connect to four linked progressive jackpot levels.
The new THUNDER CASH Link will be previewed on the twin-screen PANTHERA 2.27 cabinet with the Asian theme Emperor’s China, the Roman theme The Great Conqueror and the Egyptian theme Empress of the Pyramids. Each game brings its own engaging features to the reels with bold graphics and dynamic gameplay. In addition, the CASH CONNECTION Link makes its premiere in Latin America with the Charming Lady theme that introduces the widely recognised Lucky Lady character to the world of linked progressives.
Another first for Latin America is PAY DAY – a 6-level standalone progressive game series – featuring three games that will be presented on the highly popular V.I.P. Lounge 2.32 cabinet. Players search for the PAY DAY symbol with the loveable panda in Prized Panda, in Ancient Egypt with Prizes of the Nile and in the traditional Pay Day theme with classic symbols.
This is a guest contribution by Serge Mukhanov. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you.
Serge Mukhanov, CEO of Connective Games, says that the only way to unlock mobile poker growth is to make the game easier to play on smartphones.
To drive growth in online poker, operators must target the highly lucrative millennial demographic in order to add more players to their pools and boost revenues.
These players are fully connected to their mobile devices, which they use to access all kinds of entertainment options from social networks to video games.
The rubella outbreak in Macau doesn’t appear to be over yet. The most recent case involves a pregnant staff member of StarWorld Casino, reports GGRAsia.
This comes from a June 1 announcement from the Macau Health Bureau. The woman tested positive for rubella, also known as German measles, in a May 31 test. Doctors are closely monitoring the woman’s health, and keeping an eye on those she was in close contact with. She’s currently 14 weeks pregnant.
Galaxy Entertainment Group operates the StarWorld resort where the woman worked. The same resort was one of the hot spots for rubella outbreaks in April, when the outbreak first hit Macau hard with twelve staff infected in total.
Just in the months of April and May, Macau saw a total of 50 rubella cases, with many of them affecting casino staff. Besides StarWorld, staff at the MGM Macau and City of Dreams Cotai has also been impacted.
Despite the number of recent high profile crimes in Macau, security is working better than ever. That’s the message the commissioner-general of the Unitary Police Service, Ma Io Kun, shared on a recent interview on local television station TDM.
The recent cases he’s referring to were stabbing outside the Four Seasons Macau and the high profile robbery at the same resort. Those crimes got a lot of attention in the press, but they aren’t a sign of a greater crime wave in the city. “Although these cases that happened inside a casino—or in its surroundings—are individual cases, it does ring an alarm to us,” Ma said.
He pointed to the positives that each case showed. The local police were quickly able to arrest suspects in each case, and prevented any further activities by the suspected criminals.
One of the panelists on the show openly questioned their confidence. He felt that the casino security might have been relaxed a bit too much in recent years, and more should be done to keep visitors safe. He added:
ISLE OF MAN – Microgaming is pleased to announce the appointment of industry commercial veteran Leon Thomas as Managing Director of Bingo, further strengthening the online gaming supplier’s leadership team and highlighting its commitment to progressing this important and growing product vertical.
With more than 10 years’ experience in the online gaming industry, Leon joins Microgaming from specialist lottery and bingo games developer Instant Win Gaming (IWG), where he served as Chief Commercial Officer.
Based at Microgaming’s headquarters in the Isle of Man, Leon now spearheads the supplier’s bingo vertical, assuming responsibility for maximising the value and success of the product, developing the long-term business strategy, and capitalising on commercial opportunities presented by Microgaming’s wide distribution base and unique market position.
In the online bingo realm, Leon has served as Tombola’s Managing Director, responsible for taking the brand to Spain and Italy and continuing its success in the UK. He’s also held senior positions at The Rank Group, Mecca Digital, Caesars, and NYX Gaming.
When Fasig-Tipton announced a new 2-year-olds in training sale in Southern California to fill the void left by the closing of Barretts Equine Ltd., consignor Tom McCrocklin was one of the first to sign on.
For the first time in history, sports betting fans can legally place online and mobile wagers in Pennsylvania. SugarHouse Casino, which launched Philly’s first land-based sportsbook in December 2018, went live with PlaySugarHouse.com, the Commonwealth’s first licensed online and mobile sportsbook, on Friday, May 31. Today’s formal launch follows the casino’s successful three-day operational test period and approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to officially accept digital wagers.
To celebrate Pennsylvania’s launch of online and mobile sports betting, PlaySugarHouse.com expects to shortly activate no-vig bets on NBA Finals games wagered on in PA, similar to the way this exciting promotion is currently offered in New Jersey. For the entire series, from 10 a.m. ET until tipoff, the main line spread will be priced at +100 on each side, ensuring bettors receive unbeatable value as they try out the site during this busy time in the sports season.
“Since opening, our SugarHouse Sportsbook has been buzzing with sports fans 24/7,” said Rob Long, general manager of SugarHouse Casino. “Whether they’re watching Philly teams on the big screen or following a soccer game or tennis matches live streamed directly from the French Open to PlaySugarHouse.com, the action is round-the-clock, and now with online and mobile sports betting, you can take it with you.”
To get started, online users must visit PlaySugarHouse.com to create an account. Players will receive a match bonus up to $250 on their first deposit.
PlaySugarHouse.com is a proven New Jersey leader as one of the top four performing digital sportsbooks in the state since the market launched in September 2018. In fact, Rush Street Interactive (RSI), the operator of PlaySugarHouse.com, was recently crowned ‘Mobile Operator of the Year in North America’ at the EGR North America Awards 2019. RSI brings the same proven and high quality product, customer service and user experience to Pennsylvania. Due to distinct regulations in the two adjacent jurisdictions, New Jersey players already registered with PlaySugarHouse.com in the Garden State will have to create a new Pennsylvania account to wager in the Commonwealth. Fortunately, players with New Jersey accounts can leverage the personal information already supplied to PlaySugarHouse.com in New Jersey to accelerate their PA account registration.
“Thanks to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s leadership, we are excited to make history in bringing the first online sportsbook to sports fans in the state of Pennsylvania,” said Richard Schwartz, president of Rush Street Interactive. “Rush Street Interactive has grown market share since entering the New Jersey market in 2016, in large part due to the quality of PlaySugarHouse.com user experience and a laser focus on delivering what our players want, a massive range of sports betting options, responsive customer service and fast payouts. We have now brought the same quality, award-winning PlaySugarHouse.com site to players in the state of Pennsylvania.”
On laptops and desktops, players must visit PlaySugarHouse.com to start placing bets. Android users must go to the same PlaySugarHouse.com website to download the new Pennsylvania app to wager on their mobile devices. Apple users can register using their mobile devices, but will need to wager from a desktop or laptop until betting from iPhones and iPads becomes available in the near future. The PlaySugarHouse.com iOS app for Pennsylvania has not been approved yet by the Apple store due to changes in how it enforces policies, but RSI is working diligently to obtain approval.
The expansive selection of sports and all wagers available at SugarHouse Casino’s in-casino sportsbook will also be available via online and mobile; offering millions of betting options on thousands of games, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, and much more. In-game sports betting and prop bets are also available. Bettors familiar with the popular kiosk stations at the land-based sportsbook will find the interface similar, intuitive and easy to use.
PlaySugarHouse.com accepts a market leading variety of deposit options, including credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard), ACH/e-checks, online banking, wire transfers, pre-paid cards signed up for online, and cash deposits either at the SugarHouse Casino cage or at 7-Eleven and other retail stores in the state. The site expects to soon accept Paypal and Discover-branded credit and debit cards as it does in New Jersey.
SugarHouse Casino’s digital and land-based sport wagering operator is Rush Street Interactive PA, LLC, and its affiliates. RSI owns and operates PlaySugarHouse.com, an online casino and sportsbook in New Jersey, and is known for its quality customer care, including fast payouts. RSI-supported land-based sportsbooks at SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia and Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh lead the state, having generated over 50% of all retail sportsbook betting in Pennsylvania since the market opened in November 2018. RSI was also the first U.S. gaming operator to launch sports betting under a gaming license in a legal and regulated market in Colombia, South America.
The paint job on the World Poker Tour’s Season XVII isn’t complete, and yet the team is still firing out the Season XVIII schedule, including four international stops, and five finals in the HyperX Esports Arena.
The Oslo Biennial recently opened with 17 public works of art made available across the Norwegian capital. It’s a sight to behold (apparently), and given that there has been little reason to visit the city since the Vikings died, would you join me in petitioning the World Poker Tour (WPT) to host an event in that neck of the freezing cold woods so we can catch a glimpse of Ed D’Souza’s ‘Migrant Car,’ et al?
We would have to wait until Season XIX to see a WPT event in Scandinavia as Adam Pliska and the mob has already rolled out plans for Season XVIII.
Yobetit has partnered with Allied Rainbow Communities in Malta to sponsor Malta Pride Week ‘From Riots to Rainbows’ in hopes of remembering the past and shaping the future. The Maltese iGaming company Yobetit continues to demonstrate its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and is thrilled to be part of such an important event.
The Yobetit team with brand ambassador Ben Camille, and Malta Pride Coordinator Clayton Micallef.
Malta is fast becoming one of the world’s friendliest LGBTQ+ destinations and continues to encourage equality. Malta even topped the European Rainbow Index as the best destination for LGBTQ+ and holidaymakers for the fourth year in a row. The sunny island has surpassed 48 other countries with just over 90% of the votes confirming that Malta respects human rights, and encourages full equality.
Malta Pride week will take place from 6th – 15th September, with the Pride March scheduled to happen on 14th September. The March will take place in Malta starting at The Granaries, Floriana, and ending in St.George’s Square, Valletta – where a concert will kick off until 11 pm CET. Everyone is welcome to join at any point during the day for the festivities and celebrations.
The first of many reports from the 50th anniversary World Series of Poker covering victories for Brian Green and Nicholas Haynes in the opening two events.
Ali Imsirovic is losing it.
For the third time in succession, the 2018 Global Poker Awards (APA) Breakout Player of the Year and reigning Poker Master has lost a live tournament at the heads-up stage.
Poker loving kids have begun spraying walls with graffiti explaining how the man is all washed up.
Illinois sports bettors are celebrating after their notoriously incapable state pols somehow found the temporary cohesion to pass the necessary legislation.
On Sunday, the Illinois Senate approved SB690 by a vote of 46-10, one day after the state House approved the capital funding bill 87-27. Both chambers had extended their legislative session after failing to come to terms by Friday’s deadline. The bill now heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whose signature is viewed as a sure thing.
The cash-strapped state hopes to realize over $200m in additional funding through its expanded gambling activity, which will include both land-based and online sports betting, slot machine operations at racetracks, and the construction of six new casinos, including the first in downtown Chicago.
Wagering licenses will be available to the state’s casino and track operators, as well as large sports venues such as Wrigley Field. Land-based operators were shown clear favoritism in the bill, as they can launch online wagering along with land-based betting, but online bettors must register in-person at a land-based facility for the first 18 months following the official launch of betting.
Liverpool ends the season on a high after triumphing over Tottenham Hotspur in a tepid affair in Madrid thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi.
The U.K. Government is considering adding species other than elephants to its 2018 Ivory Act, amongst which are rhinos, hippos and mammoths.
It’s a rare thing indeed to find mammoth ivory during a trip down Oxford Street.
It’s also rare to see four teams from the U.K. in the finals of the Europa League and Champions League in the same year. Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 to claim the Europa League earlier in the week, and last night Liverpool faced Tottenham Hotspur for the right to be crowned the Champions of Europe.
The measure, sought for more than a decade by the revenue-starved Illinois racing industry, would also approve sports betting with a role for racetracks and new casinos in Chicago and several other downstate communities.
Racing for the first time as a gelding, Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables’ Bronzed earned a hard-fought first stakes victory, battling through the stretch and to the wire to win the $75,000 Lookin At Lucky Stakes by a nose June 2 at Monmouth Park.
Legislators in New York State are looking to enact a law to reverse a move earlier this year by a state board that requires pulsed electromagnetic field therapy be done by a veterinarian.
Neptune’s Storm captured back-to-back stakes wins at Santa Anita Park June 2 when he held off the competition to win the $150,000 Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
