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

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Unbelievable tales from the world of gambling.

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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.

Macau Casinos closed on account of coronavirus outbreak | WestCasino

Macau casinos hit hard by China’s coronavirus outbreak

Bright lights, loud noises, fluttering images, and a self-made promise
 that the next spin is going to be a big win. This is the appeal of slot
 machines, a global phenomenon that’s taken the world by storm ever since
 its creation back in the late 19th century.
 

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<h2>The Birth of the Slot Machine</h2>

 San Francisco, California, 1895. A young Bavarian mechanic by the name of
 Charles August Fey finally settled after emigrating from Europe and traveling
 across the United States for the better part of 10 years. Although slot
 machines had been invented beforehand, Fey designed the first three-reel unit
 with a revolutionary feature – the automatic payout. It had 5 symbols –
 hearts, diamonds, spades, horseshoes, and a liberty bell. It cost a nickel to
 play and the highest payout was awarded for 3 bell symbols, hence the name
 Liberty Bell. It paid 50 cents which was quite the big win for the time. The
 machine became wildly popular and Fey installed and managed his machines in
 saloons throughout San Francisco.

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 Even though California officially banned slot machines in 1902, the
 manufacturing of the Liberty Bell continued. Since awarding cash prizes had
 become illegal, the initial symbols were replaced with fruit symbols and the
 payout would consist of chewing gum and sweets of the corresponding flavor.
 Five years later in Chicago, Herbert Mills produced a slot machine called the
 Operator Bell. This is the time when the BAR symbol was introduced. It was
 based on the logo of the Bell-Fruit company and replaced the chewing gum
 symbol that had been used up to that point.

<h2>Mid Century Advancements</h2>

 For half a century slot machines had remained mechanical. By pulling down a
 lever, you’d set the reels in motion. This gave players the feeling that they
 could somehow control the outcome. It’s the reason why the machines were so
 popular and it’s how the term “one-armed bandit” came into existence.


 In the ‘60s, Money Honey was invented. It was the first fully
 electromechanical slot machine. Even though the lever was no longer necessary,
 its absence would’ve been entirely too unfamiliar for players at the time. So,
 the lever remained. Money Honey was an instant hit and because of it,
 electromechanical slots came to dominate the market.


 The first-ever video slot was developed in 1976 by a Vegas-based company
 called Fortune Coin. Initially, it was only made available in the Las Vegas
 Hilton Hotel. It soon got approval from the Nevada State Gaming Commission and
 it became wildly popular in the Las Vegas Strip.

<h2>The Online Revolution</h2>

 Following the invention of the World Wide Web in the ‘90s, slot machines made
 the ultimate transition and became available online. It allowed players to get
 their luck tested in the comfort of their own homes. Often, slot games
 couldn’t be fully enjoyed because of all the commotion of the everyday casino.
 However, online gaming changed that. Now, players can become fully immersed in
 their game without the hustle and bustle of a crowded land-based
 establishment. Furthermore, slot games have become more complex and,
 subsequently, more appealing. The Bonus Rounds that the most successful games
 feature are the main contributors to the rise in popularity of online video
 slots. Not to mention the diversity of the games’ themes. Think of any topic
 and there’s a slot game about it. As opposed to common table games such as
 craps, roulette, or blackjack, slots can get creative. Some even follow
 compelling narratives that motivate the player to keep spinning the reels.


 Nowadays hundreds of online casinos offer a large variety of video slots.
 Check out www.westcasino.com, for example. Besides having all the table games
 you could want, we’ve also got over 600 highly creative, insanely entertaining
 slot games, and our Welcome Bonus is absolutely amazing:


 - 100% bonus up to €250 plus 100 free spins on Book of Dead on your first
 deposit

- 50% bonus up to €200 on your second deposit
- 200 free spins on Sahara Nights on your third deposit

 - 70% bonus up to €200 plus 70 free spins on Reactoonz on your fourth deposit


 - Access to WestCasino’s Funtastic Calendar starting with your fifth deposit


 Not only that, but we’ve got a special promotion every month in which we give
 out a ton of bonuses and free spins. Plus, we treat our loyal players like
 royalty, offering them special VIP treatment.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

 Slots have really come a long way and their popularity never seems to dwindle.
 Whether they give out chewing gum or money, they push a special button in
 players’ brains that fill them up with pleasure, excitement, and hope. Keep
 playing, keep going for that big win, and remember – fortune always favors the
 bold!

Slots and How They Were Invented – A Brief History of Slots

A Brief History of Slots

Here at WestCasino, we’ve recently concluded our two weeks long
 Valentine’s Day promotion ingeniously dubbed Wheel of Hearts. Besides
 giving an extremely endearing shout out to romantic love, the spectacular
 event whole-heartedly offered WestCasino players a magnificent myriad of
 amazing bonuses EVERY DAY plus a chance to win the massive Cupid’s Fortune
 prize pool. Continue reading to find out how the heart-warming promotion
 worked, what fabulous prizes we’ve given out, and how many lucky players
 won big at WestCasino!

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<h2>Giving the Wheel of Hearts a Spin to Win</h2>

 The main feature of the Wheel of Hearts promotion was the wheel itself. Every
 day, players could spin the wheel and receive a guaranteed prize such as Free
 Spins, generous deposit bonuses on a great selection of games, and the highly
 coveted Free Cash. Each prize came with its own topical Valentine’s Day
 symbol.


 After the electrifying click of a button, the Wheel began to spin. What an
 adrenaline rush! You never knew what you were going to get – it was entirely
 up to chance – but players knew that there were treasures to be found wherever
 the Wheel stopped. After the edge-of-your-seat spin, players collected their
 prizes and used whatever sensational bonuses they got towards a much more
 beneficial playtime. The first time I spun the Wheel, I got 25 Free Spins on
 NetEnt’s ghastly Ghost Pirates with NO DEPOSIT required. I had a good run that
 even ended with some winnings.


 Prizes aside, the promotion’s page was truly something to behold. Every aspect
 of its design, from Wheel to background, screamed Valentine’s Day but with a
 subtle, almost elegant touch. The combination of pink and purple was easy on
 the eyes and it engulfed the player in a romantic, yet profitable atmosphere.

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<h2>The Fruitful Path to Cupid’s Fortune</h2>

 All players who spun the Wheel of Hearts and deposited 50 were automatically
 eligible to win Cupid’s mind-blowing Fortune. Here’s how it worked – a small
 percentage of each deposit was added to the bewildering prize pool. The
 campaign started on January 29th and as it progressed, the prize pool only got
 bigger and bigger, up to a whopping €140.000! If that’s not a great incentive
 for players, I don’t know what is. Needless to say, all WestCasino players
 dreamt of celebrating 2020’s Valentine’s Day deeply in love and buried in
 cash. However, there would only be ten lucky winners who would share the
 staggering amount between themselves.

The winner of 1st place received 40% of Cupid’s Fortune - €56,000.
The winner of 2nd place received 30% of Cupid’s Fortune - €42,000.
The winner of 3rd place received 20% of Cupid’s Fortune - €28,000.

 The winners of 4th to 10th place received an equal share out of the remaining
 10% of Cupid’s Fortune - €14,000, €2,000 each.


 The competition was extremely tight since over 11.500 players participated in
 the contest. The lucky winners were selected on February 14th, on Valentine’s
 Day, which is, sadly, also the day that our mega-promotion ended.


 Congratulations to all winners! I’d sure like to be in their shoes right now!

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

 Wheel of Hearts was an extremely exciting contest that celebrated love as well
 as big winnings. Even though Valentine’s Day is a special enough day already,
 WestCasino sweetened the deal with our massive €140.000 prize pool and our
 delightful daily prizes.


 It was an absolute blast to give players the opportunity to spin the Wheel
 every day and to get something out of it as well! I’m sure that every one of
 WestCasino’s players enjoyed it as much as we did and that they will keep
 their eyes peeled for the next profit-packed promotion!

WestCasino’s Wheel of Hearts Promotion Retrospective

Wheel of Hearts Retrospective

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

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!

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 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

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.

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Macau casinos hit hard by China’s coronavirus outbreak

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Macau casinos hit hard by China’s coronavirus outbreak

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Wheel of Hearts Retrospective

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

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