The global outbreak of COVID-19 has seriously damaged the world’s
 economy. Businesses have suffered and people’s lives have changed for the
 worse. During these difficult times, many oddities have risen to change
 the way we live for many months and possibly years. There hasn’t yet been
 news as to when this disease will die down. Even though this is not one of
 the hardest-hitting issues the general public is faced with right now, the
 lack of live sports, and subsequently live sports betting, has come as a
 shock to those who rely on such things as their main form of
 entertainment.
 

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 In lack of football, horse racing, boxing, and other live sporting staples, UK
 citizens are turning to other forms of betting to pass the time during
 lockdown.

<h2>Gamblers move towards traditional online casino games</h2>

 Classic casino games, poker, and online slots are quickly becoming favoured
 alternatives for many. Operator 888 holdings reported a 38% surge in the price
 of their stock the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the
 nationwide lockdown. As you can imagine, this is extremely good news for the
 operator since, like most bookmakers, it had experienced a huge decline in
 revenue during the previous week.

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 The increased marketing efforts put in place by sportsbooks online and on TV
 focusing on their non-sports betting opportunities may have partly caused this
 shift.


 Also expected, is that players will become more familiar with newer forms of
 social betting such as live casino games that allow players to interact with
 the live host and other players as they place bets. This area of the casino
 could prove to be pivotal in helping combat loneliness during this extended
 lockdown period.


 Still, it remains to be seen just how long live casino studios can stay open
 and live on air, since Evolution Gaming, a major player, have already been
 forced to temporarily shut down their Tbilisi studio as a way of slowing and
 preventing the spread of COVID-19.

<h2>From the ashes of sportsbooks, unorthodox betting markets arise</h2>

 Many players have found their way to traditional online casino games, yet some
 unorthodox betting markets have opened to fill the gap left by the lack of
 sports.


 eSports was thought to be the product to fill this immense void left in the
 betting market, a presumption that proved true just days after the loss of
 mainstream sporting events.


 Bookmaker Ladbrokes quickly jumped on board as primary sponsors to a recent
 worldwide 128 knockout-style FIFA tournament organized by Leyton Orient
 Football Club in a bid to help morale amongst football fans and help raise
 money for mental health charity MIND. This sponsorship was perceived by many
 as a stroke of genius.


 Popular eSports markets such as CS:GO, League of Legends, and DOTA have not
 yet been confirmed to have experienced a rise in the number of bets placed
 upon them. Undoubtedly, though, bookmakers and those heavily involved in the
 eSports betting scene will see this as a huge opportunity to strike while the
 iron is hot.

Many players have found their way to traditional online casino games, yet some unorthodox betting markets have opened to fill the gap left by the lack of sports.

How the Coronavirus has changed UK betting habits | WestCasino Blog

How the Coronavirus has changed UK betting habits

Video Slots

New Games

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Tips and Tricks

Unbelievable tales from the world of gambling.

Believe It or Not

There’s not a single person on this earth that enjoys online casinos and hasn’t heard of Gonzo. He’s the cooky explorer everybody loves from NetEnt’s hit 2013 slot game, Gonzo’s Quest. The original slot took the iGaming world by storm and is still a player favorite to this day thanks to the combination of fantastic features, charm and all-around playability. In 2020, Gonzo’s Quest was rebooted by Red Tiger as a Megaways game that acted as a pure adrenaline shot straight to the heart of the franchise. The reboot led to a live casino game titled Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt. 
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Well, now NetEnt has released a long awaited sequel under the name of Gonzo’s Gold. Strangely enough, this new game offers cluster pays without a cascade mechanic. The best payouts occur when hitting the symbol expansion feature during free spins. Stranger still is the fact that Gonzo does not make an appearance. The only times we see the little conquistador is as the most valuable symbol on the 5x5 game grid. However, he’s not the same cheeky and amusing character we know and love. That’s not to say that the game is not good. It’s just different from what we’re used to. 
Gonzo’s Gold is played against a misty Aztec temple background and the soundtrack is actually quite entertaining. When hitting the free spins feature, the music really kicks it up a notch with some mesmerizing Mesoamerican chanting. 
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You can play Gonzo’s Gold on tablets, mobile, and desktops. It provides a wide range of stakes from 10c to $/€200 per spin and features medium volatility. When three premium or four low pay symbols land adjacent to each other horizontally or vertically, winning clusters are formed. Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces are the lower value symbols. The three mask icons and Gonzo are high paying symbols. Landing clusters of 20 matching symbols or more really makes things interesting. You could win between 750 and 5000 times the stake for a full grid of 25 premium symbols. Surprisingly, Gonzo’s Gold does not use wild symbols. 
When 3, 4 or 5 temple scatter symbols land on your reels, you’ll trigger the bonus round and you’ll be awarded 10 free spins plus a payout of 2, 20, or 200 times the bet, respectively. Before starting your free spins bonus round, however, you must pick 1 of 9 question mark symbols to reveal a special expanding symbol. Whenever 2 ore more adjacent expanding symbols land, they cover an entire row or reel. An additional cluster win will be awarded for the cluster of expanded symbols. Since your initial temple scatters remain on the reels during the bonus round, landing 3 or more gives you an additional 10 free spins and an extra payout. 
Gonzo’s Gold is a pretty good game. If you’ve enjoyed the franchise, you’re bound to like this one. Although it lacks some of the key elements of the earlier games such as cascading reels, the cluster pays will definitely make up for it. As far as similarities go, Gonzo’s Gold is more like Play’N Go’s Book of Dead which is most certainly not a bad thing. Another great aspect of this sequel is that you’ll trigger the free spins bonus round quite often. 
The highest win is 5000x your bet on a single spin and while that’s not necessarily something special, we do suggest that you try it out for yourself and see how you like it. Either way, you’re definitely going to have a great time!

Gonzo’s Gold is NetEnt’s brand-new masterpiece! Join WestCasino today to play it for free or for real money. Grab amazing casino bonuses and exclusive offers.

Gonzo’s Gold (NetEnt) Online Slot Review | WestCasino Blog

Gonzo's Gold: Online Slot Review

If you’re looking for excitement, adrenaline and a chance to win big, online roulette might just be the game for you. The wheel is spun, the ball is thrown, the wait is electric. The air is filled with anticipation. Finally, the ball lands and the dealer announces the winning number. What a thrill it is to be the winner! How enticing it is to bet again!
Before playing, however, it’s important to know the rules of roulette. Not only that, but also the tried and true winning strategies and, why not, a bit of the famous game’s history. Buckle up! We’re about to go on an adventure back to when roulette was invented – 1655! 
<h2>THE HISTORY OF ROULETTE</h2>
It might come as a surprise, but the Roulette wheel was actually invented by famed physicist, inventor and mathematician, Blaise Pascal. The French genius was attempting to defy the law of physics and invent a perpetual motion machine. What is a perpetual motion machine you ask? Well, in the simplest of terms, it’s a contraption that can operate without needing to draw energy from an external source. Sadly, the man failed in his quest, but luckily for us, the process gave birth to one of the most popular casino games of all time. 
Gambling that involves spinning a wheel also has its roots in ancient times, starting with the Roman Empire. The lives of Roman soldiers weren’t exactly easy. To relieve the stress of constant battle, they would find ways to entertain themselves. One of the games they’d play was an early form of roulette. They’d paint symbols on the inside of a shield, place it face down and put an arrow next to it. They would then spin the shield and bet on which symbol would stop at the arrow’s head. Ancient Greek soldiers played a similar game which sort of makes it a war game. 
Nonetheless, the country credited with the invention of Roulette is still France. Initially, there were no zeroes on the wheel. Two centuries later, in 1842, Francois and Luis Blanc added a single zero to give King Charles III of Monaco’s casinos a bigger house edge. The monarch was having money troubles which is why he built the casinos in the first place. His fortune quickly replenished once Roulette was introduced. Coincidentally, around that time, France outlawed gambling. Needless to say, Monte Carlo became the place to be for punters. The casinos were so successful that Francois Blanc became the stuff of legend. People began saying that he made a deal with the devil to obtain the secrets of Roulette. They made a strong case seeing as the sum of all the numbers on the wheel is none other than the number of the beast itself, 666. 
In the early 19th century, Roulette made its way into the United States. The game crossed the Atlantic with European settlers and took the Americans by storm. Because casino proprietors were unhappy with the 5.26% house edge, they added the double zero and American Roulette was born. 
The rise of online casinos gave players the possibility of playing their favorite table games from the comfort of their own homes. Roulette fans may now choose any online variant of the game whether it’s European, American, or any other version regardless of geographical location. If you love the land-based casino atmosphere, modern online casinos also provide<a href="https://westcasino.com/live-casino" target="_blank"> Live Roulette</a> which features professional dealers and real-time gameplay. 
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<h2>THE RULES OF ROULETTE</h2>
Before we dive into the actual rules of the game, let’s talk about its setup first.
The Roulette wheel is basically a spinning disk that features red and black slots numbered from 1 to 36. Depending on what version of the game you’re playing, you’ll also notice a green slot containing one zero for European Roulette, or an additional slot containing two zeroes for American Roulette. 
Before the ball is rolled, players place their bets on a betting mat which contains all the numbers on the wheel, as well as spaces for odd and even numbers, and the colors black, red, and green. You could also bet on the ball landing between 1 and 18, 19 and 36, and the first, second, and third sets of 12 numbers in ascending order. 
<h2>Roulette Bets &amp; Payouts</h2>
Understanding betting in Roulette is essential if you want to win at the game. Let’s take a look at all the ways you can bet and what each bet pays. 
1.	Single number bet pays 35 to 1. This is called a “straight up”. Simply place your chips on a number of your choosing. 
2.	Double number bet pays 17 to 1. This is called a “split”. Place your chips on the line between two numbers. 
3.	Three number bet pays 11 to 1. It’s called a “street”. Place your chips on the line next to a row of numbers. 
4.	Four number bet pays 8 to 1. Known as a “corner bet”. Place your chips between four numbers. 
5.	Five number bet pays 5 to 1. Can only be used when betting on numbers 0-00-1-2-3 simultaneously. This bet may only be placed when playing American Roulette!
6.	Six number bet pays 6 to 1. Also known as a “line. Place your chips between two rows of three numbers, on the left. 
7.	Twelve numbers or dozens pay 2 to 1. There’s a special place on the mat for each of the three dozens. 
8.	Column bet pays 2 to 1. Place your chips at the bottom of the desired column. 
9.	18 numbers (1-18) pay even money. 
10.	18 numbers (19-36) pay even money. 
11.	Red or black pay even money. 
12.	Odd or even bets pay even money. 
Now that we know all the bets and their payouts, let’s see some additional rules. Whether you’re playing European Roulette or American Roulette in a land-based or online casino, the following rules are optional since they rely on which type of bet you place. 
The ‘En Prison’ rule can be applied to even-money bets only. If a zero is the outcome of the spin, the player has two options. They can either reclaim half the bet and lose the other half or leave the bet “in prison” for the next spin for an all-or-nothing gamble. If the outcome of the next spin is another zero, the entire bet is lost. However, if the outcome matches the bet, the player’s money is returned. 
The ‘La Partage’ rule is similar to the ‘En Prison’ rule, but the player automatically loses the bet if the outcome of the spin is zero. 
<h2>ROULETTE STRATEGIES</h2>
Let’s get one thing straight. There are no 100% winning strategies. It’s best to know that before playing the game. The element of chance in Roulette is much stronger than in any other casino game. Because of that, it’s impossible the predict the outcome of a spin. However, there are a few methods that will help increase your chances of winning. 
<h2>The Martingale System</h2>
This is the most popular and commonly used roulette strategy. The concept is quite simple – increase your bet after every loss. When you do eventually win, start betting with the initial amount again. The Martingale System is a strategy that anybody can use to win. It’s not foolproof, but you will find some success with it. 
The most effective way to employ this strategy is to only bet on even-money outside bets: 1-18, 19-36, Red, Black, Even and Odd. There’s a simple and logical reason for this. These bets have the maximum odds of winning – close to 50%. However, the payout is the lowest of all – 1:1. You’ll win the same amount of money you bet for the spin. They’re the safest bets you could place in a game of Roulette. 
So, now you know your bets. Let’s see how placing them and doubling down works. First of all, you start with a small amount – the table minimum is recommended – and keep betting that amount until you lose. After your loss, double the size of your initial bet for the next spin. In case you win, you’ll get back your money and a little something on the side. If you keep losing, keep doubling your bet. As soon as you win, start betting the table minimum again. Rinse and repeat. 
<h2>The Reverse Martingale System</h2>
As you can probably guess, this strategy would have you do the exact opposite of the Martingale System – double your bet after each win. Start by wagering the table minimum on an even bet. Keep it up until you win. At that point, double the size of your bet for the next spin. When you lose, restart from the table minimum again. 
The main advantage of the Reverse Martingale system is that you can’t lose a lot on one spin. Since you always wager the minimum amount, losing streaks aren’t a big problem. Plus, in a way, you’re using the casino’s money. Subsequently, your starting money should remain relatively the same until you hit that big win. 
As you maintain your winning streak, your consecutive wins will quickly add up and your profits will increase dramatically. If you’re a beginner, the Reverse Martingale system will be your best friend thanks to its simplicity and safety. 
There are multiple ways to approach this strategy. The riskiest method is playing aggressively and hoping for the best outcome – big consecutive wins. Keep on doubling your bet during your winning streak and win until you’re satisfied enough to stop. There’s always a chance to get a brutal losing streak but that only means that there’s also a chance for the exact opposite to happen!
Another method you could try out is the 3-Step Reverse Martingale. Limit the progression of the bet to three consecutive games, then start playing with the lowest bid possible. This approach works well with enough consecutive win sequences but may fail when there’s a lack of them. Ultimately, you have a higher chance of making a profit by using the 3-Step Reverse Martingale than by playing aggressively. 
<h2>The D’Alembert System</h2>
This system works with bets that have a 50% chance of winning. Those would be the ‘even bets’ we mentioned earlier. Although similar to the Martingale system, D’Alembert’s method is one of the safest and easiest roulette strategies to execute. Gradually increase your bet when losing games and gradually decrease them when winning. Decide on the amount you want to bet, preferably 1% of your total funds, and increase or decrease your bet by the same amount depending on the outcome of the spin. 
The nature of this system’s progression keeps you safe from hitting the table limits and all you need to do to use it is remember the size of your bet and adjust it to how well you are doing. Simple right? 
There’s also a Contre D’Alembert, the reverse version that has you increasing your bet after you win and decreasing it after you lose. 
The downside of the D’Alembert system is that you won’t win more than ever before using it. After all, you’re always decreasing your bet when you win. However, if you’re a casual player, this really is the system for you. 
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
There are a couple more roulette strategies out there, but we’ll save those for another time. For now, we encourage you to try the strategies that we’ve discussed here at our <a href="https://westcasino.com/games/search?n=roulette&amp;c=Table+Games" target="_blank">online Roulette tables</a>. What are you waiting for? Start playing and start winning now!

Learn the history, rules and winning strategies of online roulette! Play a wide variety of roulette games including Live Casino Roulette.

Online Roulette – History, Rules & Winning Strategies | WestCasino Blog

Online Roulette - History, Rules & Winning Strategies

The original Starburst was released back in 2013, and for many avid players, it’s still a hugely popular go-to game. Although it seems a little dated due to the emergence of higher volatility slots with more engaging rewards, Starburst still holds its own against the big titles of today. However, the end of an era is upon us, ladies and gentlemen. Here’s why! 
Swedish game developer NetEnt has recently released Starburst’s highly anticipated sequel under the name Starburst XXXtreme. The software providing juggernaut has waited 8 long years to release this title, but was it worth the wait? Let’s find out! 
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Visually, the game reminds the player of its predecessor and it’s played on a 5x3 grid with 9 fixed paylines instead of 10. Fans looking for major innovation are in for a treat. The paylines are the least of the changes found in Starburst XXXtreme.
Your bets range from €0.10 to €50 per spin and although the first game had low volatility, Starburst XXXtreme’s is set to ‘high’. There’s no more pay-both-ways feature. In this one, winning combinations only appear when at least three identical symbols land from the leftmost reel. Activating the XXXtreme Spins feature will make you forget about that, though, since you’ll be winning a lot anyway. 
As for the pay table, the sequel uses the same 7 pay symbols as the original. You’ll see 5 sparkling gems as the lower value symbol, plus the 7s and Bars. These two last ones are worth 20 to 50 times your stake if you get a combo of five. And of course, wilds are vital to collecting coins. 
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<h2>Starburst XXXtreme Features</h2>
It’s true that NetEnt has removed a bet line and decided that the remaining others will only pay in one direction, but you’d better believe that they’ve added something awesome to justify the ‘XXX’ in the title. The software provider added multipliers. The simplistic approach might not seem like much, but Starburst has always been simple. So, trust us when we say that these multipliers pack quite the punch. 
As you first access the game, you’ll notice 2 XXXtreme Spins betting options:
•	1 guaranteed Starburst Wild on each spin that increases the stake by x10.
•	2 guaranteed Starburst Wilds per spin, leveling up the cost to 95x the base bet. 
Naturally, it’s possible to land as many wilds on regular spins but they won’t come up as often. The RTP is slightly affected by the betting strategy, currently hovering between 96.26% and 96.45%.
Starburst Wilds are still the game’s focus. They appear on reels 2, 3 or 4 and when they land, they expand to cover their reels awarding a respin. Wilds are locked for respins, and if a new one hits, it’s also locked to award another respin. 
In XXXtreme, each Starburst Wild also awards a multiplier of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or x150. During a respin sequence, the multipliers are added together if more than one wild lands. Plus, the value is applied to any bet line wins from the current spin or following respins. 
The Random Wilds feature is another extra. As the name implies, it’s activated randomly after a spin or respin and adds between 1 and 3 Starburst Wild symbols to reels 2, 3 and 4. 
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Although you can’t see it from the beginning, the two Starburst games really are very different. In Starburst XXXtreme, the graphics and soundtrack are pretty much the same as in the good ole Starburst. However, those that said that NetEnt’s gone soft are in for a big surprise! The XXXtreme Spins drastically heighten the tension on every spin, but they’re pricey, so be careful. 
The addition of multipliers provides an incredible experience and the outsized betting options are perfect for high rollers. Starburst Wild respins were already fun but coupled with the total possible multiplier of up to 450x, they make the game absolutely amazing. The win cap set by NetEnt is a whopping 200.000x your bet. It’s possible to get the win with a combination of max multipliers, stacked Bars, and respins. 
Starburst XXXtreme definitely deserves its name since the game is indeed extreme on many levels. We’re happy to see that the spirit of the original slot game remains unaltered and we’re certain that if you give this sequel a try, you’re going to love it!

Starburst XXXtreme Slot Review

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Nonstopbonus.com offers players the best bonuses in the industry from over 1500 gambling platforms. Each casino is rated and reviewed by real gamblers, and they even create special lists that include the best online casinos to help their users make an informed choice when it comes to depositing their money. 
The website uploads new &amp; exclusive bonuses and promotions daily so you’ll always have a wide variety of highly profitable choices. Also, you can play over 9000 free casino games. 
If you’re ever wondering if a casino is legit or not, you may simply browse Nonstopbonus’ casino reviews and you’ll get a genuine overview of the platform before you decide to sign up.
We’ve been working with Nonstopbonus since 2018 and we’re proud to say that we’ve built a strong bond of friendship based on honesty, reliability, and trust. Check out the review they wrote for WestCasino <a href="https://www.nonstopbonus.com/r/west-casino-review" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;
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Explore May 2022’s Casino of the Month and Discover the Best Gambling Sites In The World. The Top Pick for this month is WestCasino!

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As Google continues relaxing its initially strict anti-gambling policies, the tech giant will soon allow real-money gambling apps in its Google Play marketplace in 15 new countries as of March 1st. 
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Google’s updates to its app store policies stipulate that citizens of a large number of nations will be able to download and use real-money gambling apps, daily fantasy sports apps, and view gambling-related ads. Currently, real-money apps are only allowed in the UK, Ireland and France. Brazil is in the same boat but only state lottery operator Caixa Economica Federal’s app is permitted. 
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As of March 1st, real-money gambling apps will also be permitted in the United States, Sweden, Spain, Romania, Norway, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Colombia, Canada, Belgium, and Australia.
Google’s real-money policy refers to lotteries, sports betting, online casino and DFS, but there’s some market-specific restrictions for each aforementioned country. Australian law, for example, does not allow online casinos, and Canada’s real-money apps are restricted to “governmental operators only”.
The U.S. is tricky since each state has a specific online gambling regulatory regime and developers must have licenses for every one of them. 
Also, operators must submit applications to have their apps featured in Google Play. Those that bypass the certification process or commit repeated or serious violations of the rules will have their apps swiftly removed from the marketplace. 
Google Play apps may publish gambling-related advertising, but heavy restrictions will be in place. Fair and responsible gambling is an absolute requirement. In addition, these apps are to ensure that no children under 18 view the ads. 
The loosening of app advertising rules is a result of a 2020 update to Google’s gambling policies that allowed users of both its search engine and Youtube to opt out of seeing gambling advertisements. 
Last September, payment processor Paytm found its app locked out of India’s Google Play Store because of an in-house contest in which players could redeem online stickers for Paytm Cashback. This was a result of confusion over Google’s gambling policies. 
Subsequently, Google has recently declared that it will allow ‘Gamified Loyalty Programs’ that “reward users with real world prizes or monetary equivalent,” if the benefits, perks and rewards are “clearly supplementary and subordinate to any qualifying monetary transaction within the app.”
Apple was recently sued in a California federal court for releasing social casino apps in the App Store (with a 30% cut of the revenue). Allegedly, Apple violated state law which online allows slot machine to land-based tribal casinos.

Google relaxes its gambling policies. The tech giant will allow real-money gambling products in 15 additional countries.

Real-Money Gambling Apps Available in 15 countries on Google Play Starting March 1st | WestCasino Blog

Real-Money Gambling Apps Available In 15 Countries on Google Play Starting March 1st

MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, the Strip’s largest casino
 operators, along with Boyd Gaming, have partnered with the University
 Medical Centre, Culinary Health Fund, and Las Vegas Convention Centre to
 provide coronavirus testing for casino employees.
 

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 They’ve set their goals at 4000 tests per day in the lead-up to Las Vegas
 reopening casinos. After the 48 hours needed to receive the results, those who
 test positive will be referred to the Southern Nevada Health District for
 contact tracing.

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 “The ability to safely reopen our properties has been our singular focus over
 the past several weeks,” said Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts International
 acting CEO and president. “This testing partnership will allow us to provide
 our employees and guests peace of mind that we are taking the greatest
 possible precautions to keep them safe.”


 All Nevada casinos have been closed since mid-March. Nevada remains in Phase
 One of Governor Steve Sisolak’s four-phase “Roadmap to Recovery”. This week,
 the governor hinted that the state could enter Phase Two as early as Saturday.
 However, casinos aren’t expected to reopen until the third or fourth phase.


 Nevada has performed 103,703 tests since it was hit by the coronavirus crisis
 in early March. That’s roughly 1400 people per day. There have been 7,046
 positive teste, and 373 deaths.


 The Culinary Union, which has called on the Nevada Gaming Control Board to
 mandate casinos release their reopening plans to the public and set a uniform
 framework for safely resuming gaming operations, celebrated the COVID-19
 testing plan.


 “COVID-19 testing ensures that Culinary Union members are safe when they
 return to work,” said union Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Argüello-Kline. “The
 health and safety of both workers and casino guests is our top priority.”


 Starting tomorrow, employees who have been called back to work can schedule an
 appointment to be tested at the Convention Center. The program is free to all
 workers.


 Workers will receive additional information from the Culinary Union on how to
 go about scheduling their appointment. MGM, Caesars, and Boyd are all union
 casino properties. The Culinary Union represents 60,000 members in Las Vegas
 and Reno working in casino resorts.


 MGM and Caesars own the majority of the hotel rooms on the Strip. Both
 companies have furloughed some 60,000 employees.

MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, the Strip’s largest casino operators, along with Boyd Gaming, have partnered with the University Medical Centre, Culinary Health Fund, and Las Vegas Convention Centre to provide coronavirus testing for casino employees.

Las Vegas Casinos to test employees for covid-19 before putting them back to work | WestCasino Blog

Las Vegas Casinos to test employees for covid-19 before putting them back to work

In lifetime earnings, Dan Smith has accumulated more than $36 million.
 That’s enough to put him in fifth place on poker’s all-time money list.
 Smith isn’t famous for poker only. He’s also made quite a reputation as a
 charity organizer. Well, the poker pro is carrying on his regular mantra
 of giving back to the community.
 

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 The most successful people in many industries are taking the lead in the fight
 against the global coronavirus pandemic to promote a sense of solidarity to
 people in need during this crisis. Dan Smith has been organizing several
 charities in the last seven years, bringing poker pros and daily fantasy
 sports players together to participate. So far, they’ve helped raise millions!

[getstarted][welcomepack]

 The efforts of Smith and his collaborators came to be known as Double Up Drive
 starting in 2018. Recently, Smith announced the latest Double Up Drive: an
 emergency drive in response to the coronavirus outbreak that is currently
 gripping much of the world.


 “This COVID-19 pandemic is really unprecedented and horrific. There’s really
 nothing we can do other than sit and wait while everyone’s in crisis,” Smith
 told CardPlayer after announcing the drive. “I tend to be someone who really
 likes to be proactive about doing things. So, having to sit and wait is really
 not good for my mental health. I kind of felt like I was waking up without a
 purpose. There’s only so much Sopranos I could watch each day. I decided to
 reach out to some people and it kind of got snowballing pretty quickly until
 now we have $250,000 ready to go to a bunch of families who are really in need
 and these dark times.”


 Double Up Drive has pledged $250,000 in matching funds, thanks to donations
 from the likes of reigning Card Player Player of the Year Stephen Chidwick,
 high-stakes cash game legend Daniel ‘Jungleman’ Cates, and an anonymous donor.
 Up to $500 of every donation made will be matched from those funds until the
 $250,000 fund is exhausted.


 Double Up Drive is partnering with GiveDirectly for this effort. GiveDirectly
 is a nonprofit organization that makes direct cash transfers to those in need.


 “Studies have shown that people in crisis really just need money rather than
 other things that you could give,” said Smith. “GiveDirectly, as an
 organization is one of the highest-rated charities in the world by all of the
 metrics [used to assess charitable organizations]. And they do a great job of
 making sure money goes directly into the hands of people that need it the
 most. For every dollar you donate, they’re expecting that over 90 cents will
 go into somebody’s hands.”


 “[GiveDirectly] were operating in New York, San Francisco and Seattle. Now
 they’re able to launch in Las Vegas, which I’m really proud of and I think is
 great. Some people have criticized me in the past for my drives not doing
 enough for U.S.-focused causes. I think Las Vegas is going to be hit really
 hard, and I think it’s great that this drive is going to hopefully be able to
 do some good for the city.”


 Those interested in participating in this event can find more information on
 the Double Up Drive website. To find out more about how Smith got started
 doing these charity drives, check out Card Player’s interview with him from
 late 2018.

Professional poker player Dan Smith has raised millions for charity and is now fighting against the Coronavirus pandemic.

Poker pro Dan Smith fights the Coronavirus with charity | WestCasino Blog

Poker Pro Dan Smith fights the Coronavirus with charity

Known as the “Gambling capital of the world” or “The Monte Carlo of the
 East”, the former Portuguese colony of Macau is China’s only location
 where gambling is legal. Gambling tourism is Macau’s biggest source of
 revenue, making about 50% of its economy. On February 5th, however,
 following the recent coronavirus outbreak, the majestic city has become a
 near-ghost town during what is typically its busiest time of the year.
 Because the local government has drastically limited visits from mainland
 China, arrivals have suffered a significant 69% drop. Coupled with the
 impact of a slowing Chinese economy and anti-government protests in
 neighboring Hong Kong, the virus is worrying Macau officials deeply.
 

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 The outbreak also coincides with the Lunar New Year holiday during which Macau
 enjoys record visitation. Analysts forecast a decline in gaming revenue of at
 least 30% for as long as health restrictions and strict entry regulations on
 tourists are in place. Casinos say they are losing between US$1.5 million –
 US$2.6 million daily to keep their staff on payroll and maintain contractual
 obligations. Their operators’ share prices have also plunged by as much as 6%
 for MGM China Holdings Ltd., 5.7% for Sands China Ltd, 4.8% for Wynn Macau Ltd
 and 4.7% for Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.

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 Starting with February 20th, the government allowed casinos to reopen after a
 two-week suspension aimed at controlling the virus outbreak. Nonetheless, the
 gaming regulator has imposed strict rules: temperature checks, mask protection
 and health declarations for staff and guests. To ensure adequate distance
 between people, only half the tables on a casino floor are permitted to
 operate. Clients are not permitted to congregate, according to a government
 notice. Baccarat tables, which normally seat seven people and dozens of
 observers, will only allow four players.


 All operators have 30 days to start functioning normally as mandated by the
 government. Analysts and executives predict that despite casinos reopening,
 gaming revenue will drop at least 80% in February and 50% in March. It will
 take weeks to get back to normal even though Macau has only reported 10 cases
 of coronavirus infection and no new cases since February 4th.


 Besides casinos, nearly 30 hotels have been shut down. That includes shows,
 non-gaming attractions, and most restaurants. Authorities have stated that
 until further notice entertainment venues including bars will remain closed.
 According to official figures, hotel occupancy has dropped from 90% last year
 ago to 12%.


 Even though Macau’s government has pledged US$3.4 billion to support domestic
 consumption, many businesses dependent on tourists and casinos have been
 seriously affected.


 The coronavirus has infected more than 70.000 people across China, with close
 to 1.700 deaths reported in the Hubei province alone.

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