BetOnline have just launched a mobile version of their popular poker client. The company, founded in 2004 as an online sportsbook, first entered the online poker market with the release of BetOnline Poker in 2011. Thanks to a fantastic user interface, consistent promotions and acceptance of Bitcoin, BetOnline Poker quickly became one of the leading online poker rooms in the US. The release of their new mobile app is therefore exciting news for poker players – specifically those living in the US who don’t have many other options.
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One of the biggest tests faced by the mobile gambling industry is its ability to endure through government-imposed regulatory hurdles. It’s an examination currently confronting the industry in Australia, where a government crackdown has changed bettors’ access to various products and services. Yet, in spite of numerous anti-gambling measures, the Australian market continues to display a seemingly insatiable appetite for mobile gambling.
Regulation Comes Thick and Fast The measures designed to curb mobile gambling in Australia have been varied. Earlier in the year, the government pushed new online gaming rules that, if passed into law, would impose a blanket ban on online poker. The move led some offshore poker platforms to withdraw their operations, while other businesses, including major players such as PokerStars, have indicated they will block players in the Australian market if the rules are approved by parliament. It's rare in the gambling industry to have a site that receives very little negative attention. Crypto-currency gambling site DirectBet was one of those rare sites with which there have been little to no issues for players. But none of that matters any longer, because DirectBet has shut down unexpectedly, without any notice to speak of for its players, ending what was an unabashedly positive run in the crypto gambling industry.
What made DirectBet as special as it was is the fact that they did not require full on deposits from their players. All players had to do to be a part of the action on DirectBet was select a game that they wanted to wager on and send the amount of crypto-currency that they wanted to risk on that one event. Once the game was over, winning bets were paid back to the wallet address that the player used to send their funds to DirectBet, and it was as simple as that. Cryptocurrency betting platform DirectBet has suddenly shut down its operations without explanation, leaving an ample amount of Bitcoin gamblers in limbo. Growing Bitcoin transaction fees are being speculated as the reason for the abrupt closure, which came just hours after the company was running promotions on its website. DirectBet has developed a fledgling reputation in the online sports betting space in recent years thanks to its unique service offering, which encompassed a wide-ranging sportsbook that accepted payments in both Bitcoin and altcoins such as Dash, Dogecoin and Litecoin. Like many online gambling companies that accepted cryptocurrency, DirectBet offered complete anonymity for users, allowing customers to gamble via their platform without having to create accounts nor provide sensitive data. The company also offered novel features such as the ability to negotiate odds, whereby users could attempt to try and convince DirectBet to adjust their odds on specified markets. Its reputation was excellent among cryptocurrency bettors, with no reports of a failure to pay out winning bets. That reputation has now been thrown into jeopardy, however, as users have been left in the dark as to the reasons for the sudden shut down, which DirectBet has hitherto failed to explain. The company website is not taking anymore bets, although a statement on the site explains that all pending bets stand and will be settled at the completion of the event. Reports from the United States suggest US Attorney General Jeff Sessions is mulling a federal ban on all state-regulated online gambling. In 2011, much to the delight of betting companies across the United States, the Obama administration amended the Wire Act to hand states control of legalizing internet gaming within their borders. As a result, Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey began regulating online poker, while other states approved businesses such as internet lotteries
PKR has shut down due to “financial issues”. Microgaming, the gaming software company that supports PKR, has stated that they have “suspended gaming on PKR.com” and are awaiting “more information”. PKR has filed an application to the Court of Administration Orders, possibly for bankruptcy. As of this moment, players are unable to withdraw funds they had on the site and, given the history of sites like Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, it seems unlikely that players will be able to retrieve their funds any time soon. PKR players are advised to email the PKR support team at support@pkr.com.
Bovada recently expanded its horse racing betting service through the release of a mobile racebook for U.S. citizens, and there is much to like about the initiative. Available across numerous mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy and Windows Phone, the racebook features a host of betting options on horse racing action from America and around the world. That includes anything from a daily race meet at Santa Anita Park, to world-renowned events such as the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, featuring horses such as Empire Classic Empire, Always Dreaming and Wood Memorial. Internationally, the UK and Ireland are covered in full, including high-calibre races such as the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, and there are also daily meetings across the rest of Europe, Australia and Asia to bet on.
Sports fans are enjoying access to their favorite games like never before. 24 hour sports channels like ESPN were revolutionary when they were introduced but now that access has evolved into the next wave. Each major sport has their own satellite TV package which makes out-of-market games available to fans around the globe. Online streaming sites mean you don't even need a TV to watch these games. At any given time 24/7 a person call pull up a game or a horse race from their phone or tablet. It truly is the best time ever to be a sports nut.
Let's not kid ourselves – one of the major reasons why all these different sports packages thrive isn't just because people like to root on their favorite team, it's because they like to cheer for their wallet as well. Pretty much the only reason viewers are still glued to a 34-10 NFL game late in the fourth quarter is to see if the total of “45” is going to hit. The gambling industry has always embraced innovation and new technology. On the back of the explosive growth of mobile apps across iOS, Android and other devices, gaming operators invested heavily in shifting their businesses online, a move that saw them record exponential growth. Now, mobile betting looks set to further expand its reach thanks to Virtual Reality’s rise to prominence. Already embraced across video gaming, online gambling appears to be the next industry where VR will make its presence felt.
As online gambling purveyors look for new ways to enhance the customer experience, offering more variety in ways to place bets is a top priority. Through VR, operators are now able to place customers in virtual casinos and other gaming areas, putting a completely new spin on playing casino games such as online poker or mobile slots. It’s precisely this type of innovation that has seen numerous online casinos embrace VR, signalling a rapid rise for this mind-bending technology over the next few years. Streaming live sporting events is one of the top priorities on mobile devices for sports fans and sports bettors alike. Going hand in hand with that priority is the priority to avoid exceeding data limits with their mobile carriers while streaming those sporting events. That is why it is important to find opportunities to stream live sports without your data being impacted, something that Telstra is making possible for its customers with an update to their live streaming app.
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