mBit Casino Supporting Litecoin, BCH and Dogecoin

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mBit Casino Supporting Litecoin, BCH and Dogecoin

Adding cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin to increase the availability of banking methods has always been a matter of fortitude and mBit Casino is one of the first online venues to have taken serious steps towards alternative digital coins. The platform now supports Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and Dogecoin, simultaneously announcing the integration of Ethereum in mid-January.

The five largest cryptocurrencies on the market will be available to all players who prefer and support gambling with fast withdrawal times and fluent casino experience. Furthermore, members will not be limited to BTC anymore, which went through a series of problems regarding increased fees and slower admission times. Alternative cryptocurrencies and altcoins are gaining more and more popularity, synchronously affecting the overall popularity of the market’s leading medium.

Representatives of the casino have noticed that a large number of unconfirmed transactions due to blockchain issues might affect crypto enthusiasts to play and spend more money than usual. By integrating LTC, DOGE and BCH as payment methods, the brand makes all selling processes easier, as no third party exchange sites are involved in the transaction.

Playing slots, table games or video poker and using your favorite digital currency is what makes gambling at mBit Casino so awesome.The site was established in 2014 and it features an amazing game collection of industry’s top providers, wrapped in a streak of redeemable loyalty points, VIP benefits, tier points with more advantages and extra rewards!

The company is fully registered, regulated and licensed by the Government of Curacao, so sign-up and collect the automatic bonus for your first virtual deposit!

Source:

“mBit Casino Adds Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and Dogecoin”, calvinayre.com, December 27, 2017.

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Japan Looking to Allow Family Members Self-Exclude Their Kin

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Japan Looking to Allow Family Members Self-Exclude Their Kin

With gambling expansion coming to Japan, lawmakers are looking to allow for family members to self-exclude their relatives that they feel may have a gambling addiction problem.

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Some table games at Palace Station now feature smartphone charging outlets

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming

Some table games at Palace Station now feature smartphone charging outlets

With the bevy of major upgrades as part of Palace Station’s multimillion remodeling project, one smaller addition might be easy to overlook. The Station Casinos property rolled out ...

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LCB Sits Down with SYNOT Games

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LCB Sits Down with SYNOT Games

Ever enter the casino lobby and wonder where to begin? With so many game developers in the market, it gives us an abundance of choice. A friendly hand to point us in the right direction would be nice, right? Your friends here at LCB have your back, so we sat down with a fairly new slot studio, SYNOT Games. Video Slots dominate the portfolio and speaking of ‘portfolio’ - that’s exactly where they place the focus. Gain some perspective on the company, its history, products, plans and more in this informative interview. 

Q: We’d like to acquaint our members with SYNOT Games. Please sum up the company's overall vibe including offerings and markets.

A: As a new division of SYNOT Group, SYNOT Games was founded in early 2016 as a unique gaming content provider. Unlike the company headquarters, we are based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Today we have more than 30 people in the team and 20 different slots launched in a little over than 12 months. All our games are developed internally – from the initial idea, design and frontend development, mathematics, testing as well as game integration into the particular platform. The games are using pure HTML5 technology, are available in qHD, HD and FullHD resolution can be played on any device and integrated into any platform using a seamless wallet integration API. We are integrating our games into the particular markets, for now, we are live in 5 countries, soon Romania will follow as well as more markets beyond Europe.

Q: With approximately 20 games in the portfolio, what's your team’s approach to video slots?

A: Our approach is “portfolio focused”. That means we want to offer the players everything they know from the casino and show them the same kind of entertainment can be experienced wherever they are. The point is to provide a new perspective, go the extra mile with detailed graphics, sound, be innovative and even a classic fruity one can impress the crowds.

Q: Can the industry expect to see the portfolio expand its table games selection beyond Roulette?

A: Yes, for sure our table games portfolio will soon expand further. From 2018 on the players can look forward to more table games planned, Back Jack, Poker as well as Baccarat.

Q: There’s an article on your website based on the popularity and relevance of fruity slots. The article points out the “psychologists claim that there is some hidden connection and attraction to fruity slots”. Do you think there’s any truth in this opinion? Which of the fruit-themed games is the most successful and how do they compare to the attention received by the other game types?

A: It’s definitely true. Our portfolio is pretty diverse and we also love creating thematic, adventurous games with funny characters like the Wild Job, Alchemist’s Gold or Hot Africa etc. But somehow, the fruity games are maintaining their strong position among the most played. Blazing Ice, as well as Joker 40, are leading the rankings in several countries. I guess for some people there is some sort of sentiment, it is something they remember from when they were younger - the slot machines were the ones with the cherries, sevens and bars. It is a classic that never disappoints.

Q: Can you share any upcoming game releases or plans for the company

A: By the end of 2017 we are launching a couple more games and they are a very diverse. We don’t want to spoil any surprise but there are several fruity ones, but also an oriental theme and a 256-way vampire-themed slot. Our long-term plan is to launch at least 1 new game every month so there is definitely a lot to look forward to. Follow us on social media or check our website to stay up-to-date J

Q: LCB has discovered a number of operators offering fake versions of games from multiple software providers. How do you feel these rogue practices affect the reputation of reputable providers?

A: The competition in this industry is very stiff and everyone is trying to get a piece of someone else’s cake. So it is no surprise they are trying to do so by copying verified, popular content.
We strongly condemn these practices, it is clearly unethical and in case the players have a negative experience playing the fake versions at untrustworthy platforms, it can badly influence the reputation of the original as well.

Q: What’s the most critical thing for prospective players to know about SYNOT?

A: SYNOT is one of the biggest companies in the Czech Republic, with more than 25 years of experience on the market, employing around 3000 people all over the world. Our core business is gaming and supplying cutting-edge technology, content and solutions, representing a comprehensive entertainment provider for both online and land-based world. However, the company’s scope is much wider, covering various areas of non-profit activities, real estate, tourism, premium vehicles sale and more.

Q: If you had to choose just one game in your portfolio to play for the rest of your life, which would it be and why?

A: Probably the one we’ll be winning at. 

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Macau visitor tally up nearly 10pct in November

GGRAsia

Macau visitor tally up nearly 10pct in November

Macau’s visitor arrivals for November has increased by 9.4 percent year-on-year to over 2.83 million, a growth that has been mainly driven by a double-digit increase in visitors from the city’s most important source of inbound tourists, mainland China, according to data released on Wednesday by the Statistics and Census Service.

In November, the number of overnight and same-day visitors rose by 10 percent and 8.8 percent year-on-year to 1.51 million and 1.32 million respectively, the statistics bureau’s latest data show. The average length of stay of visitors in November was 1.2 days, on a par with the figure in the previous month as well as in the same month last year.

The number of mainland Chinese visitors to Macau in November was slightly above 1.98 million, up by 16.1 percent year-on-year. Among them, 886,093 visitors were travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme, up 12 percent from the prior-year period.

In November, Mainland Chinese visitors came mainly from Guangdong province, Hunan province and Fujian province, according to the statistics bureau. Nearly 1.09 million of the inbound visitors from mainland China last month stayed overnight in the city, an increase of 18.6 percent from a year earlier.

The number of visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan – the second- and third-most important source markets for Macau respectively – dropped by 6.8 percent and slightly increased by 0.7 percent respectively compared to the prior-year period. The tally of visitors from South Korea increased by 16.9 percent year-on-year to 72,500 in November.

In the first 11 months of 2017, the aggregate number of visitor arrivals to Macau stood at nearly 29.56 million, up 5.1 percent in year-on-year terms. Among them, nearly 15.62 million visitors have stayed overnight in the city, representing an increase of 10.4 percent compared to the prior-year period.

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China lottery sales up 12 pct in November

GGRAsia

China lottery sales up 12 pct in November

Mainland China’s total November sales from official lottery products increased by 11.8 percent year-on-year to approximately CNY38.56 billion (US$5.89 billion), according to official data from the country’s Ministry of Finance.

Welfare lottery sales totalled CNY19.40 billion last month, up by 8.6 percent from the prior-year period, while sports lottery sales increased by 15.2 percent year-on-year to CNY19.15 billion.

In November, sales were up in 27 of the 31 provinces and cities of mainland China authorised to sell lottery tickets. Total lottery sales in Beijing declined by 8.0 percent year-on-year in November, according to the ministry’s data. In Guangdong province, sales of lottery tickets grew by 11.5 percent year-on-year to CNY3.92 billion.

Combined sales for the two lottery systems during the first 11 months of 2017 amounted to CNY386.99 billion, a year-on-year increase of 8.1 percent. Welfare lottery sales increased by 5.3 percent to reach about CNY196.33 billion, while sales of sports lottery products rose by 11.1 percent to CNY190.66 billion.

Guangdong remained mainland China’s biggest single-province market for lottery products in the first 11 months of 2017, with total lottery ticket sales reaching CNY38.26 billion in the period, up by 6.5 percent from a year earlier. Guangdong was followed by Jiangsu province, where total lottery ticket sales were CNY31.51 billion, up by 7.1 percent year-on-year.

Shandong province in eastern China placed third, with lottery ticket sales of nearly CNY30.37 billion in the 11 months to November 30, an increase of 4.6 percent from a year earlier, according to official data.

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888 Casino: £888 No Deposit Bonus

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888casino trumps the competition hands down with their up to £888 No Deposit Casino Bonus. Sign up for a new player account to get yours! 888 Casino are one of the largest and longest reigning casino brands online. They’ve got a huge portfolio games, a trophy chest full of awards and one of the biggest […]

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Bitcoin Cash Embassy To be Opened in Cyprus

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Bitcoin Cash Embassy To be Opened in Cyprus

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) adoption is looking rosy. Coinbase and Gdax have all launched their BCH services recently and helped this young cryptocurrency gain further momentum. The time is ripe for the opening of the first BCH Embassy – and this community center will be located in Limassol, Cyprus, the region’s second-largest city.

The embassy opening is due in early 2018 and it will be a get-together venue for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and users where they will be able to exchange their ideas and views, attend seminars and discussions and meet experts of the industry. It will be opened by the same company that inaugurated the first Bitcoin ATM in Limassol one month ago – Hello Group.

There is a one key reason why Cyprus was chosen for this. The island has many financial offshore centers that are used by companies from the larger part of Europe and Middle East as well (being so geographically close to this region) that take this opportunity to quickly transfer their money overseas. Another fun fact also proves that the island is one of the unlikely cryptocurrency centers of the world: University of Nicosia (country's capital) is offering Msc in cryptocurrencies, making it the world's first academic institution to do so.

An increasing number of gambling operators are adopting BCH, businesses are also making it their own on a daily basis, it is more cost-effective and quicker than Bitcoin... these are all just some of the reasons why BCH is stirring excitement in the community. With Bitcoin breaking all the records this year and reaching new peaks in value (then stumbling down a bit again – at the time of this writing, Bitcoin value has dropped from $19000 to $13500, although it is expected to rise), transactions are now reported to be agonizingly slow: Roy Sebag, the founder of Goldmoney, has tweeted that he was waiting for 10 hours for a BTC transaction to complete, while he experienced no issues of such kind with BCH. Even the president and CEO of SBI Holdings, one of the largest financial firms in Japan, has stated that Bitcoin Cash is more true to the philosophy of the cryptocurrency than Bitcoin: “The vision of the original Bitcoin white paper written by Satoshi Nakamoto calls for a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. That is a powerful vision, and SBI Group will devote resources to enable a future world where Bitcoin Cash is used globally for daily payments.”

Source:

“Bitcoin Cash Embassy to Open in Limassol, Cyprus”, Mizrahi Avi, bitcoin.com, December 21, 2017.

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The Shop Brings More Value to BetRebels and LVBet Players

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The Shop Brings More Value to BetRebels and LVBet Players

Do you know which part of LCB gets the most attention? It's the Shop! Sure the portal is loaded with useful info and the people are awesome and helpful, but nothing beats exclusive prizes! Being an LCB member pays off in so many ways, unique rewards among the best perks. Your contributions help strengthen the community, and we give back with extra cash, spins, vouchers and other special items so you can have even more fun playing. We are always committed to expanding our loyalty store to include as many options as possible for the majority of members. This time we added two new chips debuting brands and countries that haven't been featured before.

Extra Rounds at BetRebels

The first on offer is BetRebels with 30 casino spins for new and existing players. This is a fresh European brand launched in 2017, combining sports, slots and table games for ultimate gambling entertainment. Powered by exceptional software from Net Entertainment, BetSoft and Evolution Gaming, the brand awards LCB-exclusive spins on the very best of recent releases: The Legend of Shangri-La, Planet of the Apes, Wolf Cub, Blood Suckers 2 and a player-favorite slot Guns 'N Roses.

The bonus is without a maximum cash-out limit and can be used once daily, as long as a player has made a deposit of at least $25 in the current month. Prior to claiming, make sure your last transaction wasn't a withdrawal. Among the countries eligible for the bonus are Australia, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands and Germany.

A Cash Gift from LVBet

LVBet gives extra winning chances to LCB'ers from Austria, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom on a weekly basis. To grab a €5 cash chip on BF Games, make a bonus-free deposit and you can enjoy slot games developed by an interesting provider whose products are not a common sight in the industry.

As gamblers themselves, the management of the casino shares your passion and understands what gaming is all about. Based in Malta, they emphasize a customer-oriented approach, and to prove it they too have waived cash-out limits!

Though these handy items come with perfect timing just before the holidays, remember they are gifts that keep on giving to all proud LCB'ers! Good luck members.

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GGRAsia wishes all readers a Merry Festive Season

GGRAsia

GGRAsia wishes all readers a Merry Festive Season

Due to the Christmas holiday, the GGRAsia team will be off until December 26. We will be back on December 27. We wish all our readers a happy festive season!

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Deal!: GVC Agreed to Purchase Ladbrokes Coral for £4 Billion

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Deal!: GVC Agreed to Purchase Ladbrokes Coral for £4 Billion

Online betting giant GVC Holdings is closing out the year in style with the announcement of coming to a deal to purchase Ladbrokes Coral for a whopping £4 billion.

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A look inside: Strip’s glamour infuses UNLV’s new $60 million hotel college

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming

A look inside: Strip’s glamour infuses UNLV’s new $60 million hotel college

UNLV’s latest building gives its world-renowned Harrah’s College of Hospitality a world-class facility. The modern-industrial style interior is designed to feel like you are in one of the properties on the Las Vegas Strip because university officials wanted students to feel like they were in the environment they are preparing to ...

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Charity Crypto Xmas – Discover the Celebrity Auction on Blockchain!

Bitcoin Chaser

Charity Crypto Xmas – Discover the Celebrity Auction on Blockchain!

TokenStars, the first celebrity management platform on the blockchain, today announces the launch of the Charity Crypto Xmas Auction. Worldwide famous stars will donate their personal items to one of the first auctions powered by blockchain. Each item is unique and will be sold to the donor who places the highest bid. All money goes directly to the charity picked by each celebrity

The charity event will start on December 20th and will last until January 7th. Participants can bid in BTC, ETH and TokenStars ACE tokens. Blockchain will ensure the transparency of donations and will help increase the volume of proceeds, as well as enable to track every transaction and see what path the donations took. Once the auction is over, TokenStars will publish a report showing all the transactions.

TokenStars is among the first blockchain platforms to be used it for charity purposes. The idea received massive support from the famous athletes and musicians, including:

Lothar Matthäus, Football star, FIFA World Cup champion, UEFA European champion, 7x winner of the German league and champion of Italian Serie A; Martina Hingis, Tennis star, 5x Grand Slam winner and 209-week No. 1 in the WTA ranking; Anastasia Myskina, Tennis star, Roland Garros champion and winner of 2 Federation Cups; Tommy Haas, Tennis star, Olympics Silver winner, No. 2 in ATP rating, Tournament Director at Indian Wells Masters; Nikita Kucherov, NHL star playing for The Tampa Bay Lightning; Pavel Datsyuk, NHL star playing for SKA KHL Club. 2-x Stanley Cup Champion with Detroit Red Wings, World Champion with the Russian National Team; Tarjei Boe, Norwegian Biathlete. Olympics Gold winner, 7x World Cup winner; Valery Karpin, Football manager and former professional football player. Silver medalist in the Spanish La Liga. 3x winner of the Russian football league; Redfoo, an American star, record producer, songwriter and blockchain enthusiast. Won more than 43 music awards. Former LMFAO member.

The items to be sold include the original jerseys, tennis tanks, racquets, balls and high-class professional ski gear from the celebrities with their personal signatures. Each item will go to the participant who places the highest bid. The starting bid for each item is $250.

All the money raised will go to nonprofit organisations all over the world, chosen by the celebrities. The list of charities includes FC Herzogenaurach Youth Development, Downside Up, Right to Play, Laureus Sport for Good and the Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation.

Lothar Matthäus, a German football star, FIFA World Cup winner and the first ever FIFA World Player of the Year said, “Using technology to create positive impact is a wonderful idea. I’m especially excited that proceeds from the auction will be donated to FC Herzogenaurach youth team, a football club where I began my career. I know how it’s important to support young players and help them develop their talent, and I’m honored to be part of it!”

“We at TokenStars truly believe that kindness is the best way to countdown to Christmas. We also understand how transparency and trust are important for the charity. So we came up with an idea of the charity event, powered by blockchain, the most transparent and secured technology,” says Pavel Stukolov, CEO at TokenStars. “We highly appreciate the support from all the celebrities who responded to our initiative. The items they’ve donated are absolutely unique and extremely valuable for anyone who is passionate about sports and music. We are honored to join forces with such established names in order to draw more attention to the charities”.

To learn more about the auction and participate, please visit our website.

About TokenStars

TokenStars is the first celebrity management platform on the blockchain, providing advanced tools and incentives for deeper interaction between stars, fans, and advertisers. Having successfully started with the ​​ACE ​t​oken sale ​f​or ​t​ennis ($4.9M+ raised as of the sale end date!), ​TokenStars has enhanced its team with top-notch experts and stars to launch the TEAM token: Lothar Matthäus, Valery Karpin (football), Tommy Haas, Robin Söderling, Cedric Pioline, Anastasia Myskina (tennis), Nikita Kucherov (hockey), Alexander Anter (poker) and Rico Torres (Hollywood) are among the celebrities supporting TokenStars. Learn more about the project here.

The post Charity Crypto Xmas – Discover the Celebrity Auction on Blockchain! appeared first on Bitcoin Chaser.

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GIG Launches Karjala Kasino In Karelian Dialect

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GIG Launches Karjala Kasino In Karelian Dialect

Gaming Innovation Group Inc, also known as GIG, has launched the first world-wide casino in Karelian dialect, spoken mainly in Finland and Russia. The company aims at Swedish and Norwegian players, as well as genuine Karjal speakers, who now can enjoy localized casino content and appealing gaming performance.

Rebranded and redesigned, Karjala Kasino also features other languages, to both instigate and strengthen international traffic, primarily centered at the Scandinavian Peninsula. Thanks to a completely new look and previously demanded attributes, the platform is open to more markets. Originally launched in the summer of 2017 for Finnish customers, the casino earned an enormous reputation and neighboring countries showed great interest in brand expansion.

Through its campaigns and successful launch, the site became an instant triumph almost overnight, according to its ever-growing community of players and a delightful management team. By offering unique content on a rare dialect, spoken by a relatively small group of people, members have recognized the brand’s true values and sense for innovation.

Finns can identify the dialect spoken by their neighbors and experience something new and funny when they join. Although it has many alphabets and versions, it truly looks astonishing and amusing. Many local brands will try to imitate or at least resemble to the platform, but to reach its level of graphics, ingenuity and originality they will have to be fluent in guess what dialect – Karelian!

Karjala Kasino is owned by fast-developing entertainment provider, GIG. Its cutting-edge and cloud-based services are available via partnering companies, iGaming Cloud and Betting Cloud. In general, it hosts a network of seven popular casino brands with top-notch suppliers and industry leaders. The Group operates out of Malta and has offices in several countries all over Europe.

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China’s ban on group tours to S. Korea back in place: reports

GGRAsia

China’s ban on group tours to S. Korea back in place: reports

China has reportedly brought back a ban on group tours to South Korea. That was after having partially lifted the ban for three weeks.

In a report on Thursday, Korea JoongAng Daily – the English language version of South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo – said that China’s tourism authorities had rejected recent applications for group tour visas to South Korea without providing clear explanation. It cited tourism industry sources in Beijing and the Chinese province of Sangdong.

An employee of a tour agency in Beijing told the South Korean newspaper that the ban on Chinese group tours to South Korea would be reinstated on Friday, with at least five companies in Beijing so far already having their visa requests rejected.

Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday that a travel agent in Beijing said that South Korea-bound group tours “remain unavailable”.

The return of a full ban on group tours to South Korea comes after South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited Beijing last week. Several analysts expected that the relationship between the two countries would improve following the visit.

In a regular press conference on Wednesday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hua Chunying was asked about the media reports on the reinstatement of the ban on group tours to South Korea.

“I haven’t heard of the information mentioned,” she replied. “The Chinese side holds an open and positive attitude towards the exchanges and cooperation conducted by China and the Ropublic of Korea in various areas,” Ms Hua added.

China’s ban on South Korea-bound group tours reportedly started in the autumn of 2016 in retaliation for South Korea’s decision to install the U.S.-supplied Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system close to Chinese territory as a counter to North Korean missile tests.

It was reported that the ban was partially lifted at the end of November this year.

Despite a slump in the number of mainland Chinese visitors to South Korea after the ban was initiated, Paradise Co Ltd, an operator of several foreigner-only casino properties in South Korea, still reported a 5.3 percent year-on-year growth in casino sales in the third quarter of 2017. The firm said casino sales were up due to “recovery in Chinese VIP [play] and solid growth from Japanese VIP [play]”.

Another South Korean foreigner-only-casinos operator, Grand Korea Leisure Co Ltd, also said in its third-quarter earnings announcement that the company had recorded a 3.5 percent year-on-year increase in revenue.

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Wazdan and EveryMatrix Sign a Supply Deal

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Wazdan and EveryMatrix Sign a Supply Deal

Developer of online slot, table and video poker games, Wazdan, has just announced that an agreement has been reached and signed with the EveryMatrix online casino platform. This deal will see the developer supply its entire gaming portfolio which will be integrated onto EveryMatrix’s platform and offered to its customers and players.

At the moment, the platform has well over 5000 titles – it contains casino games as well as sportsbetting solutions. Wazdan’s games, including classic titles like Wild Guns and Valhalla, can be played on all kinds of devices (desktop and mobile) and operating systems. Also part of this deal will be upcoming titles like Mayan Ritual and Captain Flyntover.

David Mann, Wazdan Sales and Development Manager, comments: “Wazdan is always looking for opportunities to grow as a brand and this deal with EveryMatrix will be another systematic step in our growth plan. EveryMatrix hosts some of the industry's biggest names and titles so we are delighted to be peers with them. We have many exciting things happening right now with a flurry of game releases, so this is a great end to the year.”

EveryMatrix CEO, Stian Hornsletten, said: “We are always looking to add the very best slots titles on the market to our casino aggregation platform and we are confident we have achieved that here as well. Wazdan's portfolio hosts an array of beautifully-designed games to suit passionate players. With its wealth of content, the number one thing CasinoEngine does is to allow for completely unique and tailor-made casino offering while providing support to operators in building a universe that best fits their players.”

Source:

“Wazdan signs with EveryMatrix”, everymatrix.com, December 20, 2017.

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Casino Cruise: 55 Free Spins No Deposit Bonus!

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Merkur Gamings Slots To Be Removed For German Players

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Merkur Gamings Slots To Be Removed For German Players

Last week, many online casinos removed all slot machines from Merkur Gaming involving customers located in Germany. Why would online casinos remove games of one of the country's most popular providers and is there any workaround for German players to maintain access to the games online? Read more below...

What Paradise Papers has to do with Merkur Gaming’s online slot machines

When the Paradise Papers were published a few weeks ago, all over the world individuals and companies faced investigations of their business practices. In addition to the "usual" tax fraud of many people, German banks were also denounced for allowing payments to online casinos - and thus supporting what is deemed officially illegal gambling on the net. Even worse: They also seemed to earn from these practices by taking fees for their services. While these accusations remained largely without any direct effect on the online gambler, it was other information that led to rather hectic situations in the industry and towards players. Last week, all games from Merkur Gaming were removed from many online casinos and it seems like it won’t be long until all of the provider's games will be gone from its home country's online market.

The reason for this drastic decision is an announcement of the Gauselmann Group which stands behind Merkur Gaming: All online casinos will be revoked of their license if they do not ensure that their games are no longer accessible to German customers. This step is not officially associated with the Paradise Papers, but is based on a ruling of the German Federal Administrative Court from October 2017 (BVerwG 8 C 14.16 and 8 C 18.16). It confirmed that online gambling is not permitted in Germany. This legal orientation has long been a source of insecurity and resistance in the industry and is legally controversial: The treaty this decision is based on conflicts with EU law. Still, the German government holds on to it, leaving German players in a grey area. While the Gauselmann Group is now referring to this verdict, the Paradise Papers disclose that the company profits from German players who wager real money at (officially illegal) online casinos which offer Merkur Gaming slots.

Effects on online casinos removing Merkur games

Whatever the actual reason for the company's decision is, the announcement has a huge impact on many online casinos. Websites like Sunmaker, Stake7 or PlaySunny used to focus their marketing completely on the offer of games from Merkur. Many players refer to these sites as the online alternative to musty arcades where they can play their beloved slots at home or via mobile. For sites like these, the threat of losing Gauselmann's license altogether is a serious one. Hence, last week they silently started to remove the games for German customers. This also includes casinos which own one of the few German licences that were once issued by the state of Schleswig Holstein. A few years ago, the federal state had broken out of the State Treaty on Gambling and granted a few licenses to some providers to offer online casinos (e.g. the PlayCherry Group), which soon will be revoked. Suppliers with or without German licensing who had built up their complete offer on Merkur games had to reschedule very quickly since the Gauselmann Groupe set a very short deadline to remove the games. In the case of Stake7 for example, a relatively hectic move to EveryMatrix was implemented. From one week to the other, they now provide games from different software’s such as Net Entertainment, Microgaming, Evolution Gaming or NYX and removed all German content from their site.

So, as it seems, all of Merkur's games will soon be unavailable from Germany. But there is still a workaround for some of the most popular games. Since Merkur didn't develop all the games themselves, but had a content deal for a handful of games from Australian developer Reel Time Gaming, these games are not lost. Some online casinos such as Lapalingo still offer such games including Eye of Hours, Fishin Frenzy, Wishing Well and El Torero to German customers - now under the original label “Reel Time Gaming”. So German players can still play them – but without the popular ladder feature to increase winnings – an addition Merkur adds to all their games. The gameplay, graphics and winnings are still all the same though. A small relief for all involved.

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Acquisition of NYX by Sci Games to close in Jan: firms

GGRAsia

Acquisition of NYX by Sci Games to close in Jan: firms

Scientific Games Corp, a specialist in casino and lottery equipment and management, announced on Wednesday that the acquisition of Canada-listed sports betting firm NYX Gaming Group Ltd has been approved “by an overwhelming vote of NYX shareholders”. The company said the acquisition had been approved by more than 99 percent of NYX Gaming shareholders.

Scientific Games said the acquisition is scheduled to close on January 5, 2018, “subject to certain closing conditions”.

“We are thrilled by the strong support from NYX shareholders and we are very excited about our combined companies’ future growth potential,” said Scientific Games chief executive and president, Kevin Sheehan, in a statement included in Wednesday’s press release.

He added: “By bringing together Scientific Games and NYX, we will create a world leader in digital gaming and sports betting, a company with an unrivalled, end-to-end product portfolio and an innovative driving force in the industry”.

Commenting on the deal, NYX Gaming CEO Matt Davey said the acquisition would be “a win-win for both companies and collective shareholders”.

In September, Scientific Games said it wanted to expand its existing digital gaming and online gambling portfolio by acquiring NYX Gaming for approximately CAD775 million (US$604.3 million), including debt. Since then, the casino equipment supplier already acquired a stake – in two separate exercises – of approximately 36.01 percent of NYX Gaming’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares, for a total consideration of approximately CAD114.8 million.

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IQeon – A Project That Will Open New Opportunities for the Game Community

Bitcoin Chaser

IQeon – A Project That Will Open New Opportunities for the Game Community

The inability to transfer winnings into fiat money remains the main problem of game-industry. According to statistics, less than 3% of users manage to monetize their achievements. Sometimes illegally, sometimes affected by fraud. But today we can already talk about the revolution in the intellectual game industry. With the launch of decentralized gaming PvP platform IQeon gamers have the opportunity to earn on their gaming achievements, withdraw wins and dispose them as they want.

What makes IQeon considered to be a breakthrough project with a huge potential? The world market of mobile intellectual games is $ 4.9 billion. It is characterized by a constant increase in the audience. Logical games, according to the results of the survey held by SurveyMonkey Intelligence, occupy a leading position in terms of time spent by users in the game. According to the number of downloads and the number of active users, intellectual games occupy the third place. The huge popularity of intelligent games and the huge number of users who need the ability to withdraw and use the money earned in games are vivid.

IQeon platform was created to offer the users:

safe and effective monetization of gaming achievements possibility to organize competitions with confederates opportunity to buy game items for winnings earn IQN tokens and transfer them into real money

Thanks to the API function, an honest selection of the winner as well as transfer of money to his account are guaranteed.

IQN tokens earned in one game can be used in any other game in the ecosystem. Thus, the user won’t lose the earned money while changing the game!

IQN token will be released on the basis of Ethereum. It will be compatible with third-party services. After the launch of the platform it will be possible to buy and sell IQN token on crypto-exchanges.

The price of the IQN token will grow with the increase in users, developers and the number of games connected to the system. The platform’s own exchange will allow users to exchange IQN for other crypto-currencies. Safety and anonymity of transactions, secureу protection of user’s data, the ability to output tokens on Mastercard — these and other features are the key advantages of the IQeon platform.

Growing the project from a promising idea to a developed and functioning product, promotion, ensuring the reliability and security of IQeon — all of these has been done by a close-knit team of professionals, who constantly make efforts to improve the platform. Our specialists under their belt have many years of successful company management, investments attraction, development and implementation of hundreds of projects for various business areas around the world.

In such reliable hands the IQeon platform can be sure in a successful future, but the help of investors will allow the team to implement everything faster and finally introduce to the game community an access to legal and safe monetization of their achievements. From December, 16 to 25 during the pre-sale of IQeon  you can get tokens with a 50% discount! Invest in IQeon on favorable terms, because when the pre-ICO ends the token price will increase.

For more information visit https://iqeon.io

The post IQeon – A Project That Will Open New Opportunities for the Game Community appeared first on Bitcoin Chaser.

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Uptown Pokies and LetsBet.com On its Way

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Uptown Pokies and LetsBet.com On its Way

It truly is the week of Christmas, and we’ve got two new casinos gifts to announce. One is headed your way soon and the other is totally live for real money play. Let’s start with the one that has officially launched: Uptown Pokies. The new site serves as the Australian version of its popular sister, Uptown Aces. It is operated using RTG software, meaning that you’ll see a wide range of fan favorites from this brand. It supports AUD currency, and is a warm welcome for Aussie players following recent changes to regulations and a number of sites leaving the market as a result.

Its library is made up of more than 150 games, which are accessible for mobile and instant play. The interface is available in English, and along with AUD, it also supports Bitcoin for deposits and withdrawals.

A couple of exciting welcome bonuses are currently up and running and ready for newbies to take full advantage of. Use the code, GDAY10, to score $10 free! In addition to this initial freebie, players can also claim an exclusive $8888 welcome bonus across the first six deposits, by using the codes, POKIES1 through POKIES6.

While one is live, there is another on its way: LetsBet.com! There’s a cool idea behind the site, setting it apart from the rest. Its goal is to recreate the social atmosphere found in land-based casinos via live streaming. Of the idea, Michael Pedersen, representative of the new casino, commented, “So far, people are using it [live streaming] for casino dealings, so there will be some exciting stuff out there. It’s social aspect, social features… there’s so much happening with Twitch. People, let’s say, wanting to socialize. We are trying to take that sort of social atmosphere from land-based and put that into online.”

Though there is no live date just yet, the plan is for it to go live in early 2018. In addition to live streaming, it will also boast qualities of social engagement and player gamification.

Pedersen added, “I think that’s exactly the power that we have. We have seen the last four years with NetEnt in the supplier side and with LeoVegas. We have seen both sides of the coin and we know what works and what doesn’t. We have seen successes and things not working so much as well. So we think that when we combine these together, magic will happen.”

We’ll keep you posted on an official launch date for this one as we learn more details.

Source:

“Michael Pedersen: Live streaming is the next big thing in gambling”, calvinayre.com, December 18, 2017.

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Ezugi Begins Offering Live Dealer Games to Casino Palace

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Ezugi Begins Offering Live Dealer Games to Casino Palace

Internet live dealer software developer Ezugi has announced that it has signed an agreement to provide their games to Romanian casino site Casino Palace.

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Uptown Aces Live and LetsBet.com On its Way

Latest Casino Bonuses

Uptown Aces Live and LetsBet.com On its Way

It truly is the week of Christmas, and we’ve got two new casinos gifts to announce. One is headed your way soon and the other is totally live for real money play. Let’s start with the one that has officially launched: Uptown Pokies. The new site serves as the Australian version of its popular sister, Uptown Aces. It is operated using RTG software, meaning that you’ll see a wide range of fan favorites from this brand. It supports AUD currency, and is a warm welcome for Aussie players following recent changes to regulations and a number of sites leaving the market as a result.

Its library is made up of more than 150 games, which are accessible for mobile and instant play. The interface is available in English, and along with AUD, it also supports Bitcoin for deposits and withdrawals.

A couple of exciting welcome bonuses are currently up and running and ready for newbies to take full advantage of. Use the code, GDAY10, to score $10 free! In addition to this initial freebie, players can also claim an exclusive $8888 welcome bonus across the first six deposits, by using the codes, POKIES1 through POKIES6.

While one is live, there is another on its way: LetsBet.com! There’s a cool idea behind the site, setting it apart from the rest. Its goal is to recreate the social atmosphere found in land-based casinos via live streaming. Of the idea, Michael Pedersen, representative of the new casino, commented, “So far, people are using it [live streaming] for casino dealings, so there will be some exciting stuff out there. It’s social aspect, social features… there’s so much happening with Twitch. People, let’s say, wanting to socialize. We are trying to take that sort of social atmosphere from land-based and put that into online.”

Though there is no live date just yet, the plan is for it to go live in early 2018. In addition to live streaming, it will also boast qualities of social engagement and player gamification.

Pedersen added, “I think that’s exactly the power that we have. We have seen the last four years with NetEnt in the supplier side and with LeoVegas. We have seen both sides of the coin and we know what works and what doesn’t. We have seen successes and things not working so much as well. So we think that when we combine these together, magic will happen.”

We’ll keep you posted on an official launch date for this one as we learn more details.

Source:

“Michael Pedersen: Live streaming is the next big thing in gambling”, calvinayre.com, December 18, 2017.

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21Prive Casino: 60 Free Spins No Deposit Bonus

No Deposit Bonus – New No Deposit Casino

21Prive Casino: 60 Free Spins No Deposit Bonus

21Prive Casino’s New No Deposit Bonus is one of our best yet. Sign up and play any Netent slot of your choice with 60 Free Spins No Deposit! 21Prive Casino are offering one of the best Netent casino bonuses online and a flawless user experience that features some of the biggest game designers in the business. 21Prive […]

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Lawrence Ho honoured by Macau govt for tourism work

GGRAsia

Lawrence Ho honoured by Macau govt for tourism work

Casino entrepreneur Lawrence Ho Yau Lung has been honoured by the Macau government for his contribution to the city’s tourism sector.

Mr Ho (pictured) is chairman of Hong Kong-listed Melco International Development Ltd, the parent of Macau and Philippines casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd.

Tuesday’s announcement – on the eve of the 18th anniversary of the handover of Macau from Portuguese administration to that of China – said that the businessman was among 42 individuals or organisations recognised by Macau for “achievements, outstanding contributions and distinguished services”.

The award of the “Medal of Merit – Tourism” followed a recommendation from a Macau government committee.

Melco Resorts’ majority-owned Cotai gaming resort Studio City opened in October 2015 with a range of non-gaming facilities and without VIP gambling – the latter a move Mr Ho said at the time was a “business decision” and not a political one.

It is the stated policy of the Macau government and China’s central government to broaden the base of Macau’s whole economy beyond its traditional focus on high-stakes – credit-based gambling by VIPs – and to have more non-gaming attractions in the city’s tourism sector.

“We really understood what the government wanted in terms of more diversification in the market,” said Mr Ho in a press conference at the time of Studio City’s opening.

After some market criticism of a slow ramp up of gaming revenue at Studio City, the operator applied for and was given permission to introduce such high roller business with effect from November 2016.

In the first half next year, Melco Resorts’ first and flagship Cotai resort, City of Dreams Macau, is to open a new hotel tower called Morpheus, designed by award-winning architect the late Dame Zaha Hadid.

Mr Ho’s father, Stanley Ho Hung Sun, had a business monopoly in the Macau casino market between 1962 and 2002.

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Hard Rock Hotel agrees to settle Culinary charges

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming

Hard Rock Hotel agrees to settle Culinary charges

Management at the Hard Rock Hotel agreed today to settle with the National Labor Relations Board charges that the company engaged in unfair labor practices to ...

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Macau GGR up at least 19pct in FY2017: analysts

GGRAsia

Macau GGR up at least 19pct in FY2017: analysts

Market-wide casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Macau is likely to go up at least 19.3 percent in full year 2017 compared to 2016, according to estimates by two brokerages. That would mean GGR of at least MOP266.24 billion (US$33.06 billion) for the 12 months ended December 31, 2017, compared to the MOP223.21 billion in the prior-year period.

Brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd said in Monday commentary on Macau’s possible December gaming performance, that average daily revenue for the first 17 days of the month was “flat compared with November average daily revenue (MOP768 million) but up 18 percent over similar period last year.” The estimates were based on unofficial industry returns.

Analysts Vitaly Umansky, Zhen Gong and Cathy Huang added: “Assuming a reduced GGR average daily rate of MOP720 million to MOP750 million for the remaining days of the month, we estimate December GGR to a range of MOP23.2 billion and MOP23.6 billion, an estimated year-on-year increase in December of 17 percent to 19 percent.”

Official data from Macau’s casino regulator shows GGR for the January to November period was MOP243.04 billion, up 19.5 percent in year-on-year terms. Adding Sanford C. Bernstein’s estimates for December would mean GGR of between MOP266.24 billion and MOP266.64 billion for full 2017.

Year-on-year growth in December GGR in the Macau market could be 20 to 25 percent, representing an aggregate for the month of between MOP23.9 billion and MOP24.8 billion, said a Monday note from Japanese brokerage Nomura. That would translate in an even higher GGR tally for full 2017: between MOP266.94 billion and MOP267.84 billion.

Full-year 2017 will be the first time since 2014 that Macau’s casino industry will report full-year GGR year-on-year growth. In 2014, market-wide GGR declined by 2.6 percent, decreasing further by 34.3 percent and 3.3 percent in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

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Net Ent Phases Out Flash

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Net Ent Phases Out Flash

Swedish casino game developer Net Ent has announced that they've ported over the vast majority of their games to HTML5 format, junking out the Flash versions of the game.

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Downtown’s D-finitive personality: Derek Stevens moving full speed ahead

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming

Downtown’s D-finitive personality: Derek Stevens moving full speed ahead

The D owner Derek Stevens sat down with VEGAS INC to discuss his style, his assessment of the Las Vegas economy and what he’s learned about doing business in ...

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G2E Asia 2018 to debut Asia Lottery Expo and Forum

GGRAsia

G2E Asia 2018 to debut Asia Lottery Expo and Forum

The “Asia Lottery Expo and Forum” is set to debut at Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2018, the next edition of a casino industry trade show and exhibition held annually in Macau in May. The new three-day sub-event covering lottery product displays as well as a conference element is being marketed as a “business, learning and networking platform” for lottery industry professionals, according to a press release from G2E Asia’s organisers.

The Asia Lottery Expo and Forum 2018 will feature seminars led by members of China Lottery Industry Salon Experts Committee and other industry representatives.

In some Asian markets regulated lotteries are big business. In mainland China, combined sales for the two lottery systems – the welfare lottery and the sports lottery – during the first 10 months of this year amounted to CNY348.43 billion (US$52.74 billion), a year-on-year increase of 7.7 percent. A number of overseas and regional listed companies have sought to supply technology to China’s lottery sector, with varying degrees of success.

In April 2015, eight Chinese central government agencies issued a joint public announcement that “unauthorised” online sales of lottery tickets would be suspended. The suspension is understood still to be in place. Nonetheless a variety of businesses has prepared to serve that market in the future.

In March 2016 it was announced that Alibaba Group Holding Ltd – an investor in taobao.com, mainland China’s largest online shopping portal – was linking with an affiliate to take a majority stake in AGTech Holdings Ltd, a Hong Kong-listed supplier of equipment, software and services to mainland China’s regulated lottery market.

In 2013, Shenzhen-based 500.com launched an initial public offering on Nasdaq of American Depositary Receipts on the strength of what it said was permission for a pilot scheme agreed by China’s Ministry of Finance to sell tickets for the China sports lottery via an online platform.

At G2E Asia 2018, three topics will be covered by the Asia Lottery Expo and Forum: “Asian Lottery Market Trends and Dynamics”; “Opportunities, Challenges of the Asia Lottery Industry and the Era of Big Data”; and “Accelerating the Asia Lottery Industry – Corporate Social Responsibility and Technology Innovation Development”. G2E Asia 2018 will take place between May 15 and 17, 2018 at the Venetian Macao casino resort.

According to a November statement from the G2E Asia’s organisers, more than 90 percent of the floor space for the 2018 trade show has already been sold. G2E Asia 2018 is also set to feature a Lottery Pavilion, a Parts and Components Pavilion and an area called the Integrated Resorts Experience.

At G2E Asia 2017, a talking shop event called the Asia Lottery Forum was co-hosted by – on one side, China Lottery Salon and the Asian Responsible Gaming Alliance – and on the other, the G2E Asia organisers, the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions.

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Developing A Project After The ICO

Bitcoin Chaser

Developing A Project After The ICO

Patience and a meticulous development process are two features that projects often lack after they complete an ICO. The funding is only the first stage; afterwards, these projects have the dual responsibility of managing the expectations of their communities and developing their products or services meticulously. The list of ICOs that have managed to do this is short, therefore it is worth exploring to see how they are succeeding in keeping their promises while at the same time, they control the greed from some of their token holders.

The Easy Money ICO is Dead

Token holder greed is probably the most difficult aspect to manage here. A promising project generates expectations, and there is a wide-held belief that the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies is full of fast, easy money. This prompts a lot of involvement from speculators who do not really care about the project itself; they are invested in speculation. Interested more in when a token hits the biggest exchanges, these buyers can generate pressure as well as temptation. ICOs that fail to manage those market pressures and that temptation – to take the easy money and put development in the back-burner – often give the industry a bad name.

ICOs Manage Expectations with Clear Communication

The first dynamic of the speculation game that an ICO must manage is misinformation that is used to hype the project and pump the price of the token. Recently, IOTA has been dealing with this kind of hype. The project was thought to have a partnership with Microsoft and other tech giants. This type of misinformation drove the price of IOTA to highs above the $5 USD mark. Nevertheless, the developers of the project came out and clarified that Microsoft was not a partner but rather a participant in the project. IOTA’s price fell soon afterwards, but its development team managed to drive the focus back to development, which will bring prices up in the long run and will keep speculators away.

Preempting by Framing

Other projects are effectively avoiding this kind of miscommunication through a clear effort to frame the conversation and an effort to control the message always. EOS, Ada Cardano and Revain are good examples of projects that have prevented misinformation by taking control of the message. The framing of that message in all three examples is quite similar. The developers of these projects are actively telling the buyers of their tokens and their respective communities that their focus is on development. Their message has 3 main common components:

Focus on development milestones. A concerted effort to tell their communities that their work is all about the product and not the price of the token. Driving people and organizations to try their betas and provide feedback. Positive Feedback Loops

Speculators looking for the quick profit that made ICOs infamous, will be swiftly deterred once they get a hold of this kind of information. Once the speculators are marginalized, project developers will have a further incentive to work on the project because they will not have an instant boost to their net worth from sudden token price surges. The additional benefit from this strategy is that the development team will be able to abandon the focus on the markets altogether, since movement there will be driven by their initial framing. If market actors forget the original message and there are sudden token price surges, the projects will be able to respond quickly by referring back to their message and those 3 main components. These will act as an anchor, a point of reference to tell market actors and speculators “I told you so.”

Deploying Milestone Messages

The deployment of these 3 main components comes in a variety of ways. The milestones message is the foundation for the following two components and the first warning for speculators. Projects deploy this component through social media and their own websites. They reiterate those milestones every time there is a launch or test. Telling the world about those milestones every time they take place also serves to promote the project and manage expectations within its community. Here are some salient examples:

EOS Steemit post about Dawn 2.0. Revain’s PR release about the v0.2 platform and beta testing. Ada Cardano’s roadmap on their official web site. Telling the Markets that it is All About Development

The next framing component builds upon the milestones and is directed at speculators more than at anyone else. Once a project starts achieving its milestones, speculators are drawn in, and they might try to hype the achievements of the project so far or the projected milestones according to the roadmap. ICOs then must reiterate the message to the markets telling them that they do not care about price, only about development. ICOs do this through articles, social media and their own websites. The following are suitable examples of how ICOs deploy this framing component:

IOTA’s sub-Reddit, in which there was a thread telling the community that price is not a concern and people should start focusing on development. An article on Revain published by CoinTelegraph in which project developers explain how their project will interact with IBM’s Watson to deploy an innovative review platform. Ada Cardano’s first message on their official website, telling readers that developers are focused on a research-first driven approach. Sealing the Deal with Beta Testing and Feedback

The final component of this framing triad is driving the focus of community members and market actors to testing and feedback. This helps projects seal the deal, reinforcing their message with a final push that should also deliver on wider adoption. At this point, ICOs have told their audience that they have clear goals; they care more about the value of their project than the price of their token and therefore they are willingly putting it forward for anyone to try, criticize and suggest how to improve it. The clearest example of this is Revain’s recent push to enlist people and organizations to try their product beta. Revain has been actively telling its audience and the markets that their platform is now available for them to try it.

Positive Market Interaction

Although it is still early to declare that this communication and framing strategy can deliver results conclusively, it is possible to see that markets have reacted to it positively. The price of these tokens has been rising lately, but not in a manner that shows heavy speculation or exorbitant expectations. This will allow developers in charge of the projects to focus on development while marginalizing the effect of speculators, which should allow them to have a clearer path towards success.

The post Developing A Project After The ICO appeared first on Bitcoin Chaser.

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A Wise Choice

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A Wise Choice

Those slot machines can be tricky. They can blindside a player in the worst way.

My brother and I were having a family reunion at his home in Sutersville, PA. when we decided to spend a day at the Meadows Casino near Washington, PA.

He had $75 in free play coming to him because of the casino promotion program and I wanted to try my luck at poker.

My experience at the Meadows was disappointing. Although the Internet website stated the Meadows offered Omaha High-Low poker, no such games were available and the poker room supervisor said it was unlikely that any such game would open. The only games available were $1-3 no-limit Texas Hold'em. Two tables were open and I was forced to choose one of them or sit the games out. I didn't like it, but I picked one of the tables, sat down and said, 'Deal me in.'

It was a mistake, of course. Any time a poker player is prohibited from playing his favorite game, he generally will lose.

My brother, Legs, meanwhile went to his favorite slot machines and began using his free play. He played for the minimum, 20 cents a line, and within 15 minutes had won $200. He took the money and hurried to the poker room to tell me the good news.

'If I had played $2 instead of .20 cents, I would have won $2,000,' he said. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. All the players are the table offered him their sympathy.

I have been in Pennsylvania for a week and will be leaving in the morning for Charleston, S.C. where my daughter lives. I am sad to report that the Keystone State is not the greatest poker country. The only games offered in the major casinos are no-limit. I don't plan to return to play poker at the Meadows or the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh unless they add high-low games and limit games to their rooms. The only way that will happen is for the players to insist on it. When that happens I will be back.

One of the players said a casino in Baltimore, MD. called Casino Live spreads Omaha High-Low. Since the casino is less than four hours driving time from Pittsburgh, the next time I am in town, I will try it out.

My brother's experience at the slot machines is this: don't always make the minimum bet. Sometimes invest more money and it just may result in a big payoff.

Years ago I went to Sam's Town in Las Vegas, NV. with my photographer Paul DeGruccio. We both carried out assignments for People Magazine, Country Style, the Star, Enquirer and other publications. His mother accompanied us -- she was a slot machine junkie -- and we decided to play video poker machines. We also agreed to share the jackpot if any of us hit one.

A royal flush paid $1,000 if five quarters were invested. I played for a while and was down to two remaining quarters. I put them into the machine -- and hit the royal. Instead of winning $1,000, my payoff was $187.50. I almost wilted from the dark stares my partners gave me as I counted out their share of the winnings.

My advice to the members of this website is when you enter a casino, don't play any games but your best ones. If they aren't available, complain to management and find something better to do.

It is always a challenge to test your luck in a new casino against new competition, but it is considerably better to play in familiar surroundings. That way you know the dealers and management, you know the perks, and you always appreciate the food.

I was glad being back in my hometown and seeing some of my childhood buddies. My brother is a member of the Gospel Hall of Fame and he and his group, the Steel City Quartet, put on two concerts while I was there. I attended one of them at a senior citizens center six miles from his home.

The turnout was good, we were served lunch, and the quartet did a great job of singing gospel music and Christmas carols. They finished the program by singing a moving version of 'Silent Night.'

Before we left, a man came up to me and said, 'You live in Arizona? Our son lives and works in Tucson. My wife and I are planning to visit him. What's it like?'

The question gave me the opportunity to tell him a story or two. I have always been a storyteller as well as a poker player, and his question definitely made my day.

I want to thank my readers on this website for their emails, comments and questions. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Jackpot Capital to Kick Off Holiday Bonus Ride

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Jackpot Capital to Kick Off Holiday Bonus Ride

Kicking off on Monday, December 18th, is Jackpot Capital Casino’s exclusive Holiday Bonus Ride. On this day, players can look forward to the start of a new gift to unwrap each day until Christmas! Starting things off will be a $500 deposit bonus, along with a generous 20 extra spins to be used on The Naughty List. Use the code, HBRSANTA8, to snag the above offer, valid for use December 18th through the 31st.

Players are invited to take a stroll through the casino’s charming, festive, and beautifully-decorated village. Along the path, there are generous gifts and they can be selected to reveal a bonus. A new gift is added every single day. Be sure to stop by at night to see the village aglow with enchanting Christmas lights.

A wide selection of games is available for play. In fact, members can browse hundreds from software provider, Realtime Gaming (RTG). A series of holiday-inspired titles are also up for grabs, including the most recently launched, Swindle All the Way. If you haven’t played it yet, it’s the perfect addition to your spin habits, especially this holiday season. It’s loaded with nods to the iconic Christmas film, Home Alone, featuring a couple of to comical burglars in an attempt to steal Christmas.

Its bonus game prompts players to catch the burglars in the act, in exchange for a prize of up to 60 extra spins and a 33X multiplier!

Casino manager, Oliver Smith, commented, “We get a new Christmas slot every Christmas so we’re getting quite a collection! Everyone has their favorite. My favorite is usually whatever’s newest so this year that’s be Swindle All the Way!”

Naughty or Nice, the title you’ll get your spins on, features Santa Claus, himself, as an animated wild that expands to cover the whole reel. When three or more of the Naughty List scatters appear on the reels, a bonus game is triggered.

Load up any of your favorite titles on mobile or desktop.

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Champagne and Caviar

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Champagne and Caviar

Zsa Zsa Gabor was born to be beautiful and to attract men.

Her mother groomed her and her two sisters, Eva and Magda, to marry millionaires and they did not disappoint her -- especially Zsa Zsa.

Symbol of the wealthy jet set, Zsa Zsa roamed the world in search of pleasure, diamonds, treasure and excitement. She discovered all of them in many exotic ports of call from Paris to Rome, New York, Las Vegas and Cairo.

She was married nine times, including to hotel billionaire Conrad Hilton and actor George Sanders. She once boasted that she loved cooking for a man and being a housekeeper, adding, 'Every time I marry a man, I keep his house.'

Zsa Zsa was born Sari Gabor on Feb. 6, 1917 in Budapest, Hungary and died on Dec. 18, 2016 at the age of 99.

I met her in Wellington, FL. in the 1990s while working as a newspaper reporter in South Florida. She owned a string of polo horses and was involved in sponsoring some polo matches at a country club. We dined at a restaurant where her beauty, thanks to cosmetic surgery, attracted the admiring glances of every man who passed us.

Zsa was charming, gracious and seductive. Her every other word was 'Darling,' pronounced 'Dahling' with a European accent. We talked about many things -- love, horses, success, champagne, religion, beauty and her many husbands. She flattered me and made promises that she had no intention of keeping. I kidded her about writing a script about her life.

Sipping her champagne, she said, 'Dahling, you could never reduce my life to just two hours on the screen.'

She was named Miss Hungary in 1936. Her professional career began when she sang a song in a movie. She appeared in many films, including 'Moulin Rouge,' 'Lovely To Look At' and 'We're Not Married.'

Television was perfect for her and she was a regular guest on programs hosted by Milton Berle, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, Phil Donahue, David Frost and Joan Rivers.

She admired her favorite husband Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotel chain. Hilton grew up in White Oaks, N.M., a small community that no longer exists. He and his father Gus operated a hardware store there.

In his book, 'Be My Guest,' Hilton said he and his father traveled to Texas during an oil boom to open a bank. Once they arrived there, they could not find a room because all the hotels were packed. Instead of opening a bank, Hilton bought a rundown hotel that he quickly expanded and began renting the extra rooms. It was the beginning of the worldwide Hilton Hotel chain that eventually included the Waldorf Hilton Hotel in New York.

In the book, Hilton writes about traveling the world with Zsa Zsa, sharing champagne, caviar and conversation with celebrities, political leaders and millionaires, After being married to the Hungarian beauty for a while, he announced to Zsa Zsa that he was divorcing her.

'I love you, Zsa Zsa,' he said, 'but I can't afford you.'

During our two-hour interview, I asked Zsa Zsa what she wanted the world to remember about her.

'I am a gambler,' she said. 'I gamble with life, roulette, baccarat and men. For the most part, it paid off. Life is a marvelous journey and I am still a happy traveler.'

She made headlines when she slapped a Beverly Hills, CA. police officer who had pulled her over for a traffic violation. She had to serve three days in jail.

When the interview was over, she said she had to fly to Hollywood to take care of some business.

'Write a good story about me, Dahling, and when I return I will invite you to my home and prepare for you the best dinner you have ever eaten.'

I wrote the story. It was a good one.

We never had the dinner. Darn.

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Room rates, table game prices on the Strip fluctuate widely during holidays

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming

Room rates, table game prices on the Strip fluctuate widely during holidays

Prices for hotel rooms and at casino tables in Las Vegas traditionally surge and recede during the holidays, but at least one pricing expert says technology may eventually allow resorts to attract the best-spending customers and worry less about empty rooms. Anthony Curtis, a consumer blogger and publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor who has tracked room rates on the Las Vegas Strip for 27 years, says ...

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Playtech's Live Dealers Get Festive

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Playtech's Live Dealers Get Festive

Internet betting group Playtech is getting into the Christmas spirit by introducing a holiday theme to their live dealer studio, which can be played through the season.

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