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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 <img src="https://assets.westcasino.com/media/article/7abe183c-39c0-4185-a2a0-287f38e84e21.jpg">
 </div>
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. 
[getstarted][welcomepack]
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 <a href="https://westcasino.com/games" target="_blank">slot machines</a> 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

Video Slots

New Games

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Tips and Tricks

Unbelievable tales from the world of gambling.

Believe It or Not

Article written by WestCasino’s Chief Writer 
Making a living out of playing your favorite casino games can definitely become a reality if you use the correct methods. Whether you’re looking to improve your skills, increase your chances of winning on a daily basis, or you just want a fun read, you’ve come to the right place to learn what makes a great casino player great.
<h2>Becoming Great at Table Games</h2>
Well, the first and most important rule of becoming a master of the art of winning is to know the rules of the game you’re playing like the back of your hand. If you know <a href="https://westcasino.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/how-to-play-online-poker" target="_blank">how to play online poker</a>, <a href="https://westcasino.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/how-to-play-blackjack-history-and-strategy-guide" target="_blank">how to win at blackjack</a>, or <a href="https://westcasino.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/online-roulette-history-rules-strategy" target="_blank">winning roulette strategies</a>, gives you an instant advantage over other players and even the dealers in many cases. We’ve got some nifty articles on all of these subjects underlined in the previously mentioned, so be sure to check them out.
 
Secondly, you’ll need a good betting system. Going all in every time you have a decent hand in poker is a surefire way to break your balance in no time. You’ll want to pace yourself. Make small bets, get a feel for the table, and work your way up to bigger winnings.
<div align="justify"> </div>
There are multiple betting systems you can check out and try for yourself, but the best advice is to balance your play style between what your gut tells you to do and what your mind warns you against doing. Keep a level head, and you’ll be fine.

 
Adrenaline rushes are common, especially in high-stakes games, but if you take a few deep breaths and make a good attempt at mastering your emotions, your chances of winning skyrocket. Check out 6x World-Series of Poker champion Daniel Negreanu’s Master Class teachings:<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SPhfOuOWRjQ" class="note-video-clip" allowfullscreen="" style="position:relative; top:0; left: 0" frameborder="0"></iframe> 
<h2>Becoming Great at Slot Games</h2>
This is trickier because your chances of winning at slot games depend on many factors, including each individual game’s RTP (Return to Player). Choosing games with a higher RTP is a good idea if you want to minimize your losses. Naturally, volatility also comes into play. It dictates how often a slot typically pays out. These two concepts are typically independent of each other since the RTP remains the same regardless of a game’s high or low volatility.

Hey, if you’re in the mood to play some awesome high RTP titles right now, WestCasino has the biggest collection of <a href="https://westcasino.com/games" target="_blank">online slots</a> and casino games in the industry. Check it out. [getstarted] [welcomepack]But I digress. The next things you should be looking for if you want to increase your chances of winning at slot games are the features.

Megaways slots have a larger number of pay lines which provide more winning combinations.
Slots with cascading reels make winning symbols disappear, and new ones drop down in their place to award even more wins.

Getting three or more Scatter symbols on the reels generally triggers free spins rounds with bonus features that maximize your winning potential.

Multipliers double, triple, quadruple, or even awards more than ten times the sum you’ve won on a single spin.

Always be on the lookout for those special features. They make the difference between a small amount of cash won and a huge one.
<h2>Becoming Great at Playing with Bonuses</h2>
This usually only applies to online casino games, but you might get some free chips at a land-based establishment to sway you in their direction. In any case, <a href="https://westcasino.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/online-casino-bonuses-explained" target="_blank">all online casino bonuses</a> increase your balance or give you a varying amount of <a href="https://westcasino.com/promotions" target="_blank">free spins</a> on certain slots from some great game developers like Play’N Go, Pragmatic Play, or Yggdrasil.

Some <a href="https://westcasino.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/no-deposit-bonuses-in-online-casinos" target="_blank">bonuses require no cash deposits</a>, but most of them you’ll acquire for a small fee. Although they might come with some wagering requirements, like having to bet the bonus amount 30 times before you can withdraw your winnings, a few select bonuses come with no strings attached, which means you can do with your winnings as you see fit.

Claim a bonus if you’d like to play with the casino’s money instead of your own. You’ll minimize the risk of losing a large amount, and you’ll have more time and resources to play your favorite games.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>
If you headed straight for the conclusion, let’s resume and see what’s the conclusion of what makes a great casino player great. 
<ol>
<li>Learning the rules of every game you like to play,</li>
<li>Establishing a betting system that ensures you minimize your losses,</li>
<li>Choosing slot games with high RTP and plenty of features, and</li>
<li>Relying on bonuses to help extend your playtime.</li>
</ol>
Follow this advice carefully, and you’ll be a great casino player in no time. 

Good luck on your journey to the fortune of your dreams!

Check out what makes a great casino player great or how to improve your gambling skills and make winning at casino games a common occurrence.

What Makes a Great Casino Player Great? | WestCasino Blog

What Makes a Great Casino Player Great?

In recent times, we’ve seen an incredible increase in the presence of no deposit bonuses,
 with many online casinos trying to adopt the same technique to attract more players and, hopefully, retain even
 more. Just like in any other industry or business, free samples are very popular, and for a good reason too. It
 might be a bit too obvious why these bonuses have skyrocketed in the past couple of years, but we’ll make sure
 to delve a little bit deeper into the subject. Of course, there are many different <a href="https://westcasino.com/promotions" target="_blank">no deposit bonuses</a>, and some are going to be
 objectively better than others, while some might be preferred more by ones than others. Let’s talk about why
 this mechanic in the online casino industry has become so popular and why we don’t see it disappearing anytime
 soon. 
 <h2 align="justify">No Deposit Bonuses Don’t Require an Investment </h2>
 First and foremost, we must mention the real reason why people decide to try out no deposit
 bonuses – they don’t require you to spend any real money. All you have to do in order to receive a free bonus on
 certain <a href="https://nodepositcasino.org/" target="_blank">no deposit casinos</a> is to register on their
 website and you’ll be good to go. This is an incredibly tempting offer that a lot of players accept, and we can
 most definitely see why that is. Not being forced to spend money in order to play some of your favorite
 online slots is a very good deal, at least in our books. This is especially great for those who are uncertain
 about whether or not they should be playing a certain game, so they could try without feeling guilty afterward.
 
 
 Even though this is true, we must mention the fact that most of these casinos have different
 policies when it comes to withdrawing your money with no deposit bonuses. These rules are, of course, imposed so
 the people wouldn’t abuse the system and withdraw money without actually playing anything at all. Make
 sure that you read through these policies before you start playing in order to know what to expect from a
 specific <a href="https://westcasino.com/" target="_blank">online casino</a>. 
 <h2 align="justify">Online Casinos Earn Trust with Bonuses</h2>
 Players are sometimes skeptical when it comes to new online live casinos. That’s why no deposit
 bonuses allow them to test out the waters before deciding to deposit some of their hard-earned cash. That’s why
 we believe that casinos that offer these types of services build a lot more trust with their customers in
 comparison to those that don’t offer bonuses. It helps players feel like they are actually welcome to
 stay, and that these casinos aren’t here to just take their money, but to let them enjoy fun and
 engaging games on their website. 
 
 We urge that you always make sure that the site you are about to use isn’t a scam and that they
 are legally operated, so you don’t waste your time with their free no deposit bonuses that won’t pay out. 
 <h2 align="justify">Players Can Win Real Money Without Depositing </h2>
 In general, when it comes to live casino, people need to invest money to get more, but with these
 types of bonuses, this doesn’t have to be the case. Of course, you need to follow withdrawal policies, but at
 the end of the day, it’s more than possible for a player to withdraw money that they’ve earned solely with a no
 deposit bonus. Once we put everything into perspective, this is the number 1 reason why these types of
 bonuses have exploded in popularity. 
 
 Making money without actually having to invest anything is the dream, especially when you can
 make that money by playing some very entertaining online games. We can see why most, if not all, modern online
 casinos offer no deposit bonuses these days. They are an absolute magnet for new players and for those who are
 looking to switch from their main casino. [getstarted] [welcomepack]
 
 <h2 class="">Play The Latest Slot and Casino Games 
 </h2>Before, casino promotions were reserved for those games that not a lot of players used to play.
 The casino promotions were a tool to attract players into trying the said games. Today, no deposit bonuses are
 being offered for the most popular games out there, and that is a very good thing, as players will be
 able to try some of the best <a href="https://westcasino.com/games" target="_blank">online slots</a> out there
 without having to spend money at all. This means that players will be able to play those games that are regarded
 as the best, both for their entertainment and for the potential winnings. 
 <h2 align="justify">Reviewing the Online Casino Games </h2>
 Another great benefit of bonuses with no deposit is the fact that many players can test out
 certain slot games that they’ve never tried before. If you are someone who likes to try out many
 different games without being too interested in your winnings, then no deposit bonuses are a great option for
 you. Reviewing games is also a major part of the industry, and that’s why a lot of reviewers rely on
 these bonuses so they could voice out their opinion on a specific online game or casino. 
 
 This also directly benefits the experience of those players who follow slot reviews online, as
 they will be able to avoid playing any slots that aren’t regarded as the best. 
 <h2 align="justify">Conclusion of No Deposit Bonuses </h2>
 In retrospect, we have nothing but good things to say about no deposit bonuses and the impact
 they’ve had on the online casino industry. In current times, players can choose to deposit real money, <a href="https://westcasino.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/how-to-use-bitcoin-as-a-casino-payment-method" target="_blank">deposit cryptocurrency</a>, or not deposit anything in order to try out some games, and we
 think that is exemplary. We couldn’t draw a single flaw from this system, so we highly recommend that you try
 out no deposit bonuses if you’re interested in trying out a certain online slot or an online casino. There is
 absolutely nothing you can lose if you decide to do so, and that’s the biggest benefit.

Playing online casino games without having to spend a single dime is possible with No Deposit Bonuses, and that's why we're going to talk about their popularity.

Online Casino No Deposit Bonuses | WestCasino Blog

The Popularity of No Deposit Bonuses

<h2 align="justify">The Legality of Online Casinos in South Africa</h2>
Just like anywhere else in the world, people in South Africa enjoy spending their time playing online slots and other forms of online gambling. While having fun during gaming is very important, it’s also pivotal that you, a player of online casinos in South Africa, are met with the laws of the country in regard to this matter. Being knowledgeable on this topic will ensure that you avoid making mistakes and potentially putting yourself in a bad position. 
We’re here to talk about these laws, and we hope that this article will greatly help you understand what is new and what you should pay attention to the most. Safe gambling is something we always advocate for, and this is most definitely a step that you need to take in order to make sure that you are doing just that. 
Here are the most important things that you should know. 
<h2 align="justify">The Gambling Bill for Online Casinos in South Africa </h2>
The Remote Gambling Bill, which was officially presented to Parliament on August 13, sets out new rules for online gambling companies operating in South Africa. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that online gambling is conducted in a fair, transparent, and responsible manner and that the rights of players are protected. It also sets out measures to prevent fraud, money laundering, and other criminal activities.
The bill is designed to create a safe and secure environment in which online gambling can take place, while at the same time protecting vulnerable players from exploitation and addiction. If the bill is passed, online gambling and <a href="https://westcasino.com/games/" target="_blank">online slots</a> will be regulated for the first time in South Africa, with operators required to obtain a license from the National Gambling Board in order to operate. Operators must also adhere to strict rules and regulations, such as age and identity verification, anti-money laundering measures, responsible gambling policies, and payment processing rules. 
The bill also seeks to address the issue of tax evasion by ensuring that operators pay the full amount of tax due on their profits. It also provides for a black economic empowerment scheme that will give preference to South African-owned companies when issuing licenses. The bill has been welcomed by the gaming industry in South Africa, which sees it as a much-needed change.
<h2 align="justify">Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLA) for Gambling in South Africa </h2>
Considering the fact that there are nine provinces in South Africa, there are also nine PLAs. The decision-making process typically involves the Board of Directors and the relevant departments of the PLA and other relevant government agencies. The relevant government agencies are responsible for ensuring that gambling, racing, and wagering activities are conducted in a responsible and safe manner. They are also responsible for monitoring and regulating the activities, and for taking action if any illegal activities are found. [getstarted] [welcomepack]
The PLAs undertake inspections to confirm that operators are compliant with applicable laws and regulations. This includes ensuring that the operator is following national and provincial gambling laws, such as the National Gambling Act 2004 and relevant provincial legislation. This means that the same will be done for online games, <a href="https://westcasino.com/live-casino" target="_blank">live casinos</a>, and other forms of online gambling. Inspections may also include audits of accounts, records, and other documents, as well as on-site inspections. 
<h2 align="justify">South African Online Casino Laws </h2>
Land-based casinos argue that online casinos are a form of unregulated gambling and that they open up opportunities for money laundering and other criminal activities. They are also concerned that it will be challenging to enforce taxes on winnings earned from online gambling. Lastly, they fear that it will take away from the social atmosphere of land-based casinos. 
The Remote Bill of 2014 was meant to create a licensing system for online casino operators and would have required operators to pay taxes on their profits. It would have also provided consumer protection measures to ensure that players were safe when playing online. However, the bill was met with a great deal of opposition from both the online casino industry and the public. As a result, the bill was never passed.
People in South Africa still spend time on <a href="https://westcasino.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/top-10-online-casinos-with-the-fastest-payouts" target="_blank">online casinos with fast payouts</a> even though it is not legal, because they won’t get prosecuted for it given the ambiguity of the 1996 Remote Bill.
<h2 align="justify">Laws for Sports Betting in South Africa </h2>
Although the South African government has not passed any specific laws directly pertaining to online sports betting, it is still legal to place bets online through South African-based sportsbooks and international sportsbooks, as long as they are licensed and regulated by a reputable jurisdiction.
Due to the lack of specific laws, online sports books operating in South Africa must adhere to the country's existing gambling laws. As such, online sports betting operators must have a valid license and ensure they do not accept bets from minors or anyone under 18. Additionally, all winnings must be reported and taxes paid on any income earned through sports betting. 
<h2 align="justify">Online Poker Legality in South Africa </h2>
In a recent ruling by the South African Supreme Court of Appeal, online poker was deemed to be illegal. The court found that poker was a game of chance, and as such, fell under the country's gambling legislation which prohibits online gambling. 
Although playing online poker in South Africa is illegal, many South African gamblers continue to do so on international platforms. This is due to the fact that online gambling is not strictly enforced by the government and the lack of legal online poker sites in the country. 
<h2 align="justify">Conclusion of Laws for Online Casinos in South Africa </h2>
Although the National Gambling Act of 1996 is the main legislative piece of legislation governing gambling activities in the country, it is outdated and doesn’t include any specific provisions for online gambling. This has left the country with a lack of clarity on the legal status of online gambling, and the current lack of legal clarity has resulted in a wide range of different operators offering services to South African players, and that’s why a lot of people are still playing on some of the <a href="https://slotszar.co.za/" target="_blank">top South African online casinos</a>. As such, it is difficult to make a definitive statement about the legal status of online gambling in the country, and players should always exercise caution when gambling online.

With Democratic Alliance introducing the bill to regulate online gambling in South Africa in 2022, we delve into the topic to better understand the future of SA casinos.

Online Casino Laws in South Africa | WestCasino Blog

Online Casino Laws in South Africa

<h1 class=""><a href="https://westcasino.com/faq" target="_blank">WESTCASINO </a>PARTNERING WITH CHIPY ON THEIR 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY</h1><a href="https://chipy.com/" target="_blank">Chipy.com</a> is striving to become the world’s best source of reliable and unbiased <a href="https://takebonus.com/" target="_blank">casino reviews</a>. The website is well-known for always keeping its casino database up-to-date to bring you the information you need to find the best exclusive <a href="https://westcasino.com/promotions" target="_blank">casino bonuses</a> in the industry. Through optimized searches, Chipy helps you find exactly what you’re looking for with quickness and ease. 
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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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 <img src="https://assets.westcasino.com/media/article/09d89537-cdfa-412d-ae1a-40b74cf4fad2.jpg">
</div>

 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.

[getstarted][welcomepack]

 “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.
 

<div>
 <img src="https://assets.westcasino.com/media/article/39480669-1deb-4226-b58c-019d4b7a315c.jpg">
</div>

 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

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.
 

<div>
 <img
 src="https://assets.westcasino.com/media/article/ade50f4b-05e9-423e-92c1-2e92c148434f.jpg"
 />
</div>

 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.

[getstarted][welcomepack]

 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.

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