During 2019, the AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service team helped almost 2000 players recover more than $8.79 million of unpaid, delayed or unfairly confiscated money
The official AGCCS annual report for 2019 is out and the results are quite impressive – the AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service breaks another record by recovering the staggering $8,795,250.89 of unpaid, delayed or unfairly confiscated money, which amounts to a 30% increase in comparison to the 2018 stats.
According to the AGCCS Annual Report 2019, during last year the support team received and reviewed 9,809 new complaints which were submitted by 6,804 players against 725 different online casino brands. What’s more, our team managed to process more than 2,600 cases, resolving 84% of the total amount.
The AskGamblers’ customer support team is doing everything in their power to sort any unfairness out and return money to those who have fairly won it. That said, we are very pleased to announce we broke the previous records, and we are taking this opportunity to thank players for using the AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service and to invite even more iGaming enthusiasts to turn to channel whenever they feel wronged by an online casino.
The NBA started it all. The league would have been happy to allow games to continue while the coronavirus battle was being fought elsewhere, but, when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus earlier this month, it started a chain of events that would lead to all major sports organizations canceling their activities. There’s little doubt that leagues are desperate to get things running again, as they stand to lose more than $12 billion combined, and fans would like to have something to see other than news coverage on COVID-19, as well. Fortunately, if things go well, the wish may be granted sooner than expected.
The NBA is closely monitoring what information is being distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and would like nothing more than to see the agency give the all-clear. This is most likely not going to happen anytime soon, though, especially as some states are reporting an increase – not a decrease – in suspected coronavirus cases. Still, the league is exploring alternatives and would not be opposed to seeing some limited hoops action later next month, but no one should expect fans to be allowed to attend.
The issue is bigger than just the NBA and its desire to put players back on the court, though. Ultimately, neither team owners nor league commissioner Adam Silver can make the final decision. Some jurisdictions across the country have implemented restrictions that limit any type of gathering, in some cases, of ten or more people. This automatically disqualifies any sporting event from being held in that jurisdiction.
At some point, sports activity will pick up again and, according to several sources, May is a more optimistic goal. Realistically, though, regular action that includes basketball fans being able to watch games in person most likely won’t start until June, at the earliest. A more depression notion exists that doesn’t see games getting underway until August or September, but there’s little chance things will have to be delayed so drastically.
On March 23, the Cosmopolitan casino in Las Vegas announced that they would be furloughing both part-time and on-call employees. This move took effect March 24.
There is currently a mandatory 30-day shutdown of casinos throughout the state. This took effect last week, and the Cosmopolitan is acting in accordance with this order.
In a goodwill gesture, the company originally announced that eligible employees will receive full pay and benefits through the end of March, however, they have extended full pay to full-time and eligible employees through April 16. This is when the closure of Nevada casinos is currently expected to conclude. All health benefits will be available to employees through June 30.
Those who are considered not eligible for pay and benefits will be those who averaged less than 30 hours per week over the last six months, as well as full-time employees who were hired after March 1. No mention was provided as to whether they would receive any kind of benefits or pay from the company during the closure.
In order to fully comply with the Québec provincial government’s quarantine orders, Loto-Québec will only be providing online sales for at least the next two weeks. All sales of lottery products at both retailers and kiosks have been suspended, while the operator also deactivated their network of sales terminals.
This move was made to follow measures in place to try to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Québec provincial government ordered that all non-essential businesses close as the total number of cases of the virus reached 628 on March 25. Most businesses within the province, including bars, movie theaters, malls, gyms, libraries, and other businesses deemed as non-essential, will close. All retail betting and gaming facilities also fell into this class of businesses.
As a result, Loto-Québec announced that they would contact the 8,500 retailers and kiosk operators across the province to inform them of the decision. They further explained that they would notify their operators to coordinate with the governments in other provinces in Canada to determine if sales can continue.
Loto-Québec further announced that customers will still be able to purchase tickets using their online platform. They also explained that all physical tickets that had already been purchased will remain valid for upcoming drawings.
Offering online gambling isn’t as simple as registering a domain, getting a few games online and signing up customers. A lot of little pieces have to come together, and getting solid hosting services in a regulated market is a huge piece. Thankfully, firms like Leaseweb exist for that, and Sr. Business Development Manager Greg Behr joined our Becky Liggero Fontana to discuss how they provide a better service than merely self-hosting.
While iGaming businesses might spring up in any place around the world, well located hosting services can help them provide a high level of hosting that they might not have locally. “From our data centers, we offer security services, dedicated service, CDN, cloud solutions, colocation, so it’s a full mix of all infrastructure of solutions that enable our customers to build hybrid solutions,” Behr said. “In Amsterdam, Frankfurt, this is really great positions, spots in Europe, our connectivity is great, our services are great. So we actually want to make it better with the iGaming industry, so we claim that we can improve latency, we can reduce cost, improve security and uptime, and if we can’t, then we’ll pay at least cost for migrating to us, with offer that we will cover the same costs and you’ll have better services for sure than some of the more traditional iGaming jurisdictions. Connectivity costs are really low and we have a great offer now, so we have free colocation for a year, which can really impact the bottom line for a lot of big companies.”
Being from the Netherlands, Leaseweb is looking forward to 2021, when they’re native market is looking to expand gambling. “2021, it’s expected that the Dutch market is opening up, so finally we’re regulating. Moving forward to that, we just want to get the word across that we, as a Dutch founded company are open to iGaming.”
Macau casino operators are facing fresh challenges after the local government imposed new visitor entry limits to minimize further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
On Tuesday, Macau’s government announced that it would bar entry to all non-residents who’d visited foreign countries in the previous 14 days. Similar restrictions were imposed on international arrivals last week, but mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan had been exempted from those rules.
Macau has been forced to act after confirming a handful of new COVID-19 cases brought into the special administrative region of China by individuals who’d contacted the virus outside Macau. Hong Kong announced similar restrictions on foreign arrivals – including those from Macau – that will also take effect Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, returning Macau residents, as well as residents of mainland China, Hong Kong or Taiwan who haven’t traveled abroad in the past two weeks, will need to spend 14 days in quarantine upon their arrival in Macau. Mainland residents who haven’t traveled abroad or visited either Hong Kong or Taiwan will need to undergo medical scrutiny at a government-run facility.
Esports has always been driven by the fans, but with this week’s Dota 2 WeSave! Charity Play Tournament, not only has the action been something to give pleasure to gaming fans all around the world, but money has been raised in the fight against Coronavirus. If the health professionals have the passion and attention of Dota2’s phenomenal fanbase, then COVID-19 will shortly be flamed into the abyss.
You can watch Dota2’s crowning glory as the finals all take place in the next couple of days, with some of the best teams in the world of Esports coming together to play some incredible best-of-five events.
Virtually every great Dota2 team has been present in the charity tournament, but the clash between Team Liquid and Nigma is the match many fans have been looking forward to. These two have massive history.
Australian casino operator The Star Entertainment Group is laying off around 8,100 of its staff after the government ordered all non-essential businesses to close to reduce COVID-19 transmission.
On Wednesday, The Star informed investors of the human cost of the government’s decision earlier in the week to order all bars, restaurants, clubs and casinos to close their doors by noon on Monday. The government warned at the time that the shutdown could last “at least six months” to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The Star said the shutdown would have a “a material impact” on its operations, which include its flagship casino of the same name in Sydney and two other gaming venues in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The company said management is focused on “implementing mitigation strategies to minimize impacts and conserve liquidity,” including “materially lowering operating costs and reducing capital expenditure.”
Accordingly, The Star said it has taken the “very difficult, but necessary decision” to temporarily stand down “over 90% of our approximately 9,000 employees.” The company said it had provided affected staff with two weeks of paid pandemic leave, and staff will have access to any accrued annual and long service leave entitlements.
Live dealer online casino specialists Evolution Gaming have temporarily closed their studio in the Republic of Georgia as the government looks to minimize COVID-19 transmission.
On Monday, the Stockholm-listed Evolution announced that it had “been instructed” by the Georgian government to “temporarily close” its studio in the city of Tbilisi. Evolution assured investors that “a large part” of the studio’s workload would be absorbed by the company’s other European studios. Investors didn’t seem too bothered, as the stock closed up 1.8% for the day.
Evolution said the Tbilisi studio had already been observing the local government’s social distancing guidelines and the company had also implemented an “extensive number of infection prevention measures.” Evolution said it remains in close contact with the government and would “adapt continuously” to any new requirements that will allow the studio to reopen.
The Tbilisi studio underwent some labor unrest last August as workers walked off the job in pursuit of higher wages and better working conditions. Evolution operates a number of studios across Europe, plus two in North America, with a third under development in Pennsylvania.
With poker players now playing from home as the game has moved online, there have been many moves by major poker brands to accommodate players by shifting any planned live tours into the online space.
The World Poker Tour have partnered with partypoker to bring players their first-ever online series. Poker Central have also collaborated with the ‘orange diamond’ site to move the Poker Masters from Las Vegas to a virtual purple felt (though you do still get sent the fabled Purple Jacket in real life if you win!).
While those tournaments provide plenty of entertainment for poker fans, what about players who would like to play online but have been affected by either reduced or cancelled hours at work? There are potentially millions of people out there who could really do with some free-to-play poker that still offers some potential winnings to brighten their current world outlook.
Step in, 888poker, with 10 weeks of guaranteed prize-pool events that are freerolls.
While football is suspended indefinitely, many fans thoughts have started out being focused on those who have contracted Coronavirus, and how quickly they have overcome the virus. From the Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, to Zlatan Ibrahimovich, there are dozens of players who have contracted the virus and the sport has seen every major league now suspended after the Australian leagues closed down today.
It’s got so serious that the World Health Organisation (WHO) have put out a new video showing football fans – and anyone else – which five steps you can take to prevent Coronavirus.
There have already been a great number of touching, humorous and helpful videos featuring footballers arriving in cyberspace during these worrying times. Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti called up reached out to a Toffees fan called Mark who suffers with Motor Neurone Disease and who had been living off Netflix for a few days in isolation until he got a surprise call:
Throughout the world, people are reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, either from its health risks or from its crippling of the global economy. The equine industry, like so many others, has not been spared.
With the Texas Thoroughbred Association 2-Year-Olds in Training sale canceled, most Texas and Louisiana pinhookers will try to sell their stock privately off training centers or at the racetrack. An online marketplace on the TTA website should help.
Churchill Downs announced March 24 that it will delay the reopening of its stable areas at both Churchill Downs and the auxiliary training center, Churchill Downs Trackside, until April 14.
As
professional and amateur sports organizations continue to do their
part in maintaining best practices to combat the spread of the
COVID-19 virus, postponing competitions and events worldwide, there
is a void of original live sports programming on TV. Enter the
Its Pickleball Mania World Pickleball Championship,
set for Thursday at noon ET, streaming exclusively on ESPN3 as the
only live TV sporting event currently available to viewers.
Four
of the world’s top professional pickleball players will vie for the
first Pickleball Mania crown. They will battle it out in semifinals
and finals action at a private residence under strict quarantine
guidelines. The four competitors will be joined by a small production
and event crew of no more than six people as the event complies fully
with present restrictions and social distancing practices.
Fans
can tune in for all three matches live on ESPN3 via their streaming
players, computers and mobile devices. The final match will also be
presented on tape delay on a variety of national and international
networks at a later date.
The
Its
Pickleball Mania World Pickleball Championship
was co-founded by former tennis professional
Ryan Sherry,
NFL
veteran
Brandon Siler
and former professional football player
Peter
“P.J.” Jensen. They
will also serve as Tournament Directors. Harry
Cicma serves
as the event’s executive TV producer through Harry
Cicma Productions LLC, in partnership with ESPN.
“This
is a very special event, as one of the only professional sports being
televised live worldwide during this difficult pandemic,” said
Cicma. “The most important thing is that the event and broadcast
are intimate, in a private secluded residence, and promoting staying
at home in quarantine and social distancing. It’s been a difficult
few weeks for the community and we are grateful to finally bring live
professional world championship excitement to the sports world in a
safe way as we all try to beat COVID-19.”
“Pickleball
is sweeping the world by storm and is currently the fastest growing
sport in the world,” said Jensen. “I promise you this, if you
ever pick up a pickleball paddle and play a game of singles or
doubles you will be hooked! Pickleball is a combination of tennis,
ping pong and requires speed, power, finesse and strategy. If you
think for a second this is an old people’s game, you will be sadly
mistaken and proven wrong! Tune in and watch live for yourself!”
“With
everything that is going on in the world right now, we’re glad to
be able to bring entertainment with safe health practices and the
showcase of a little known sport to the world,” said
Sherry. “Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America for a
reason. It’s easy to learn, easy to improve, any age can play, it’s
social, and incredibly fun and addictive. Pickleball combines sport
and racquet backgrounds in a way no other sport does. Anyone with a
sports background can find parallels between their background and
pickleball.”
“Pickleball
appeals to the old, the young, celebrities, former professionals in
others sports. It has something
for
everyone,”
said
Siler. “And
we’re just happy to be able to showcase this to the world at a time
when people are yearning for something to root for.”
Pickleball
is a paddle sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton
and ping-pong. The fast-growing, fast-paced game is played with a
paddle and plastic ball with holes, as doubles or singles, on a
badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.
UK online sports betting giant Bet365 is in hot water once again for having the audacity to livestream sports matches via its betting app.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s media outlets got their collective shalwar kameezes in a bunch after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) admitted that the UK-based Bet365 had the contractual rights to stream Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches via its global betting app.
Gambling of any form is strictly illegal in Pakistan, leaving the PCB scrambling to explain (a) why its marquee product has any connection whatsoever with one of the world’s most prominent bookmakers, and (b) why the PCB didn’t appear to know this until the media raised the issue.
The digital streaming rights were sold to Bet365 by Bangalore-based agency ITW Consulting Pvt Ltd, an affiliate of Global Sports Commerce that has a deal to manage media rights for the PCB. The PCB stated that “an international company” had been granted the rights to three PSL seasons and had awarded the livestreaming rights to Bet365 “without following the due approval process.”
The necropsy report of War Emblem, who was found deceased at Old Friends March 11, determined that the 2002 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner died from a ruptured small intestine.
America’s commercial casino industry will be at a total standstill as of Wednesday as South Dakota’s laggards belatedly join the COVID-19 shutdown parade.
On Monday, David Ruth Jr., the mayor of Deadwood, South Dakota, penned an open letter to the city’s casino operators, urging them to close their doors to help the state’s overall effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
South Dakota is among the nation’s leaders in terms of most casinos per capita. Some of Deadwood’s casinos had already announced plans this weekend to voluntarily shut down and Ruth urged all casinos to do likewise as soon as possible.
On Monday, Gov. Kristi Noem signed an executive order instructing any “enclosed retail business that promotes public gatherings” to “suspend or modify business practices” that involve ten or more people where physical separation of at least six feet isn’t possible.
There will be no racing in Ireland until at least April 19 after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that all sporting events will be canceled as of midnight March 24, including those behind closed doors.
In a concession to allow veterinarians to treat patients while reducing social contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Food and Drug Administration has eased restrictions on telemedicine.
