The owner of Ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, Washington, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, is considering cutting ties with its casino management partner, the business arm of the Mohegan Tribe, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment.
Sizeable Management Fee
The Cowlitz Tribe opened its Ilani Casino Resort in 2017 and since the first day of operation, the casino management was contracted to Mohegan. The seven-year contract involves a 24% net revenue management fee and the Cowlitz Tribe is considering its options beyond June 2024 when it expires, according to a statement issued by the Cowlitz Tribal Council.
The sizeable management fee of the contract is enough of a motive for tribal leaders to consider going on their own, believes Robert Whelan, a Portland-based economist who tracks the gaming industry. Cited by Oregonlive, Whelan also noted that tribes that initially outsource their casino management usually take it in-house once they gain experience.
The Cowlitz Tribal Council and Cowlitz Tribal Gaming Commission spent the past weekend in a joint executive work session to discuss gaming management agreements.
Cowlitz Tribe statement
“A public vote on the gaming management agreement will take place at an upcoming Tribal Council meeting. No decision on gaming management has been made by Tribal Council at this time,” the statement concluded.
Cutting Ties May Be Risky
When approached by the reporting media, Cowlitz Tribe leaders declined to comment on the story but other tribal members expressed their concerns at the tribe’s ability to go forward managing the casino on its own, pointing to weak leadership and too much dysfunction.
Dumping the Mohegan may prove costly to the tribe as Ilani Casino Resort is one of the most successful casinos in the Northwest, estimated to be generating between $400 million and $500 million in gross gaming revenue annually, allowing the Cowlitz Tribe to continue paying the sizeable management fee.
The 110,000-square-foot casino features nearly 3,000 slot machines, 75 table games, and a sportsbook and is located close to Portland. The construction of a 14-story hotel adjacent to the casino is nearly complete and is expected to drive sales further.
The tribal property which is one of the most popular tourist sites in Clark County, attracting more than 3 million visitors per year, as well as a major employer, providing work for 1,500 people, has been under a federal investigation for a while. For the past six months, the FBI has been probing the resort for possible violations of the antitrust laws for alleged efforts to keep competing casinos away from Ilani.
Rollbit, an online operator that claims to be “crypto’s most innovative casino,” addressed its community’s concerns regarding its license status. The company vowed to continue maintaining transparency regarding the matter.
Rollbit noted that its license is currently in its annual renewal period. The company pointed out that this is a completely standard procedure for all Curaçao-based platforms.
The company added that it is maintaining active communication with its licensor about the renewal. Rollbit also told its users that it will provide more news as soon as possible. While regulatory affairs tend to be an internal process, the company promised to keep its fans updated.
Since Rollbit’s inception, we’ve undergone the same renewal process each year, which ensures that we maintain the standards expected of a licensed casino.
Rollbit statement
As promised, the company did share an update later, saying that its licensor had suggested some changes related to its NFT and crypto offering.
This Is Not an Anomaly
The company also addressed its NFT and Crypto Futures products. It noted that these have never been covered by its casino license. However, Rollbit reminded readers that this has always been the case and that this has always been noted in its site’s footer.
Despite that, the team has not received anything that would suggest that its business is problematic. Rollbit reassured fans that its diligent legal team is always working hard to ensure the legitimacy of its activities.
Rollbit furthermore added that this is not the first time concerns have been raised during a renewal period. The company said that the gaming and crypto industries can benefit a lot from constructive criticism. However, Rollbit advised users to do more research before voicing their concerns.
Rollbit also said that it has implemented minor UI changes based on its licensor’s recommendations. However, nothing else has changed, the company emphasized. It noted that its operations continue to run smoothly, “with fully covered balances and no issues with deposits or withdrawals.”
Rollbit concluded:
Our team continues to build. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on.
Rollbit statement
Rollbit’s statement comes in the wake of customer concerns that saw many traders sell the platform’s RLB token. This reactionary approach caused RLB trading prices to sharply decline.
According to data from CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, a single RLB equals $0.015 USD as of the time of this writing.
The price of RLB tokens has been declining since mid-March when the tokens’ price fluctuated between 0.32 and 0.39.
This article has been updated since it’s original publication.
There are more than 14,000 blackjack sites for real money on the internet
Finding an excellent online blackjack table to start playing isn’t easy
The updated version of this PokerNews classic guide lists the best online blackjack games for money
Online Blackjack Reviews: the 2023 Update
First published in 2018, the PokerNews guide to the best online blackjack sites on the internet is one of the most popular pages of our entire website.
Beginners see it as a starting point to find good casinos to play blackjack online for money or for free. Experienced blackjack players use it as a resource to find their next blackjack bonus and earn some extra bonus money to play.
In this 2023 update, we decided to go the extra mile and add a few steps to our process.
Increasing regulatory changes and new casinos popping up all the time pushed us to reconsider our approach to finding the best blackjack casinos. That’s why this year’s list included:
A thorough review of the real money blackjack games available at 100+ licensed casinos online
An evaluation of the top 25 made by a focus group of blackjack players
A series of Q&A rounds on Reddit to understand what the players’ community think about blackjack sites that offer real money games online.
The sites that claim to be home to the best online blackjack for money are OK-ish at best.
There are more than 14,000 sites that offer real money online blackjack.
Most of them don’t see you as a player. They see you as a cash cow who can give them real money deposit and personal info to resell to other websites.
Data protection regulation or GDPR, anyone?
That’s why it’s important to choose an excellent online blackjack Casino from the start. All the blackjack strategies you have studied are useless if the games are rigged. And it’s devastating to notice that the games aren’t fair only when you try to cash.
You should play any version of blackjack, like all other casino games, only on a real money casino that is:
easy to use
safe
secure
regulated by an international gaming authority
operated by a company you trust with your money
Here you find a list of the top online blackjack real money casino sites where you can play with a dealer to win real money.
Pick any of these sites to play all the recommended blackjack games and have a wide range of deposit options.
This way, you can hit the blackjack table safe in the knowledge that you have easy and fast withdrawals to cash out any amount of money you win online.
If you are looking for a good blackjack casino site to play with real money online or to play blackjack with friends, you won’t find anything better than the ones on this list.
What’s in this article?
This isn’t a short read. Use the list to navigate to the section you need and find the best real money blackjack sites.
Best Blackjack Sites
Tips to Play for Real Money
Top Blackjack Bonuses
Best Live Dealer Games
Mobile Blackjack
Blackjack with PayPall
Start with a free bonus!
Open a FREE casino account and receive your bonus! (T&Cs Apply, 18+, BeGambleAware)
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Best Sites to Play Blackjack for Real Money
After thorough research, I’ve prepared an updated list of the best online casinos to play blackjack for real money.
All the blackjack sites on the list above are safe and secure.
They are audited and licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Government of Curaçao, or other reputable and independent gambling authorities. In the United States, licensing and regulation is provided by the gaming authorities I the specific states where these online casinos operate.
Browsing through the article, you find full details of all the official licenses held by each of the online blackjack casino sites on the list.
If you have doubts, these are two tools you can use to search for any real money online casinos on the authorities’ website.
Don’t play on sites that are not listed on either of them.
The UKGC and MGA licenses guarantee that the games are safe and that you will be able to withdraw the money you win.
If you play online, that matters. Ask yourself two questions:
What’s the point of playing a table game like blackjack at a real money online casino site if you are not able to cash out what you win or you end up playing games that are rigged?
And also: what’s the point of choosing an online blackjack casino where the payment options available and the withdrawals are so complicated that make Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” feel like a walk in a park?
Always make sure you check out a casino’s withdrawal and deposit options before you begin to play blackjack for real money.
Some deposit options might not be available at all blackjack sites. It’s always good to check if your favourite one works on the website you picked.
Some websites let you play real money online blackjack with PayPal while others offer instant bank wires.
Pick the right one for you. Being able to cash out any amounts won is as important as the game’s basic strategy!
Top Online Casinos to Play Blackjack
We’ve crunched the numbers, done our reviews, and researched our list of online casinos to bring you this summary of where you can play online blackjack today.
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at FanDuel Casino
One of the top online casinos around right now, FanDuel Casino is our top choice if you want to play real money blackjack online.
No matter your skill level and whether you’re a novice blackjack player or keen to brush up on your betting strategy, FanDuel Casino offers a vast array of different blackjack games.
❤️ Why beginners like it: the choice on offer is simply unrivaled, and it means that once you’ve mastered the basics, you have more than a few variants to try your hand at. You’ll find Zappit, Platinum Blackjack, Multihand Surrender, and more.
If you want to try the best blackjack site for real money, FanDuel Casino is no.1.
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♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at PokerStars Casino
Being the most popular and biggest online poker site since it launched its online casino in 2016, you can now also play a variety of casino games at PokerStars Casino.
Alongside a range of other popular casino games, blackjack is one of the top picks and favorites on PokerStars Casino. As well as being an incredibly well-known brand, PokerStars provides a variety of blackjack games and a safe, reliable environment in which to play.
❤️ Why beginners like it: the PokerStars Casino platform is second to none, ensuring you gain a high-quality experience so you can concentrate on your playing.
If you want to try a variety of games, from the classic style to the new games – which include variances of blackjack, PokerStars Casino is the perfect choice for blackjack.
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♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at 888Casino
888Casino is a name that needs no introduction on a site like PokerNews. Part of the same group that runs 888poker, this is one of the best gambling sites in the world and a safe and secure platform to play real money online blackjack.
❤️ Why beginners like it: 888Casino is one of the top names in online gambling. It’s considered to be one of the most reliable real money online casino operators in the world. No funny business here.
As an online blackjack casino, it gives you everything you need to explore the ins and outs of the game. There’s a comprehensive tutorial to learn how to play blackjack online, and there’s a free £88 no deposit bonus available to some players. Check if you qualify for it.
Also, 888casino features games of single deck blackjack. These are the best games in terms of winning odds and counting cards in blackjack.
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♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at JackpotCity Casino
Named “the best site to play online blackjack in 2018 and 2019”, JackpotCity is still one of our recommended blackjack sites to play real money games.
This is an excellent online blackjack casino for both beginners and pro players. It features nearly every version of blackjack out there, and you can go from deposit to play in less than three minutes.
❤️ Why beginners like it: the $1,600 massive welcome bonus (claim it here) is a huge advantage. This is the largest amount of free cash available to play online blackjack.
Also, here you find all the most popular blackjack variants like blackjack switch, double exposure blackjack, and Deal or No Deal blackjack.
If you want to try some new games for real money, JackpotCity is a perfect choice.
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♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at Casino.com
Casino.com one of the most famous online casino sites in the world. All the 30 real money blackjack games on the site are of the highest quality.
This site is known to be one of the best in the industry because of its easy deposits and the truly impressive number of payment options available.
The fact they doubled the number of real money blackjack games available is also a significant improvement. They moved from 15 games in 2019 to 30 in 2020. Well done.
❤️ Why beginners like it: Casino.com’s reputation is sound and recognised at an international level. All the top casino forums and Reddit casino-related threads agree this is the best site to get into the world of online gambling.
If you are looking for a site to start with the world of blackjack casinos, this is the one. And if you enjoy online slots as much as table games, this is perfect for you.
Not only you find an exciting collection of real money games, but you also start with a no deposit casino bonus if you sign up via this page.
Casino.com is also a great site to practice blackjack online for free – if a bit of ‘online training’ is all you are looking for.
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♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at PartyCasino
The gambling brother of the widely-celebrated PartyPoker online poker website is another one you should keep under your radar.
An all-new gaming platform and stupendous casino bonus promotions make PartyCasino a top site to play online blackjack games for real money.
❤️ Why beginners like it: All the 14 variants of online blackjack available at PartyCasino are great and top quality, including the blackjack surrender ones.
But there’s more.
What sets this site apart are the promotions they run. Today, for example, you can play to win a real money jackpot every hour.
The combined value of great blackjack variants (including terrific games of online blackjack with live dealers) and spicy promotions will help you enjoy the games even more, especially if you download their mobile app to play mobile blackjack.
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♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at Betway Casino
On Betway Casino you find the most extensive collection of specialty games and versions of blackjack on this list. And some players would argue that these are the best ones, too.
Professional blackjack players use Betway to play every possible version of blackjack in the market.
From the classic games to exploit the best single deck blackjack basic strategy to Double Exposure blackjack, European blackjack, Spanish blackjack, and blackjack Zappit, you are always in for something new.
Traditionally, Betway is known to be home to the most entertaining games of video Poker online. This might not be relevant for this article, but it helps put things into a proper context.
If blackjack is not the only casino game you play, Betway is an excellent option for you.
❤️ Why beginners like it: What makes Betway a unique site for blackjack players is that it’s not only about quantity. The quality of their games is outstanding.
Also, you don’t need to go broke to play with live dealers and enjoy some blackjack games for fun!
Live blackjack games start at £0.50, making Betway one of the most affordable sites for real money blackjack online. Visit this page to see all the games available.
If you are looking for a Vegas Casino experience or you want to feel as if you were on a trip to Atlantic City, have a look at Betway’s Live Dealer section. This way, you won’t need to spend an outrageous amount of money on your next games.
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Tips on How to Play blackjack Online for Real Money
There’s one difference between people who play blackjack online and players who play this popular game at land-based Casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Venice, Macau, and more.
If you play online, you mean business.
Download the PDF blackjack Cheat Sheet, try some free games online, and pick a real money blackjack site to start your adventure.
That’s what smart players do.
If you play online blackjack for real money, you don’t log into a top online casino after the fifth beer or after a long night out with your friends.
When you play at a brick-and-mortar Casino, however…sometimes it happens.
The last time this happened to me was a couple of weeks ago, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
I entered the casino around midnight and I left at 4 a.m. – with far less money than I had when I went in.
The only good part of the evening is that I did not lose as much as the Polish guy sitting next to me. He kept spreading piles of €100 chips over two tables like those were candies.
I only had one pile of €10 chips – and I didn’t multi-table. In other words: I survived.
But — I digress!
Since your goal is to play smart and be wise, I have prepared a few blackjack tips that will help you to get better when you play online.
If you are a beginner and you are about to play your first real money blackjack games online, consider these tips a must.
You need to read them. And you need to follow them.
Before You Play Blackjack Online
Never played online blackjack in your life?
Don’t bet real money on your first hand of blackjack.
blackjack is a table game that requires some research beforehand. Before your first bet, you have to know:
The blackjack rules
The basic terminology of blackjack
The basic blackjack strategy
The different types of blackjack games you can play
This how to play blackjack guide is a great place to start if you start from zero.
Those who are a little more experienced can skip the intro guide to this popular game and move straight to the basics of the best blackjack strategy.
That should be enough to get you a bit more action.
Remember: you can play online blackjack for free at most of the sites on the list above.
Many games are available in demo mode and you can (or should) keep playing new ones until you find your favourite variation of the game.
Getting the basics right helps you to try and defy the house edge and win.
Once you are done with the two articles and you have used the PDF Cheat Sheet to practice your games for at least 100 hands of free blackjack online – then you are ready to play blackjack online for real money.
You can now try to beat the dealer.
Blackjack Bonuses to Play Online
You want to win as many times as possible… and spend as little as possible.
When you play a card game online like blackjack, this isn’t always possible.
Unless you decide to take the bonus route and make finding the best bonuses for blackjack the first step of your gaming experience.
Blackjack bonuses help you build your bankroll and get extra funds for your games. If you don’t have a lot of money to play blackjack, you better look at what are the best bonuses to get you started.
There are two kinds of bonuses to play real money blackjack games:
The deposit bonuses
The no deposit bonuses
With a deposit bonus you get free money when you deposit real money into your account. You get a cash match of a certain percentage and play with more money than you deposited.
Casinos might double, triple, or even quadruple your deposits, giving you a lot of extra cash to play for real money.
Best Blackjack Deposit Bonuses (Updated List)
blackjack Site
blackjack Games
UK Players
New Bonus (Max)
Get Offer
Jackpot City
36
No
$1,600
Get Offer
Casino.com
30
Yes
£100 + 200 Spins
Get Offer
PartyCasino
14
Yes
50 Free Spins
Get Offer
Betway Casino
68
Yes
£1,000
Get Offer
William Hill Casino
14
Yes
£300
Get Offer
Before we move onto the no deposit side of things (aka. the free money we all like), let me spend a few more words on the blackjack bonus available at Betway Casino.
If you plan to play more than just a few hands of blackjack online for real money, you ought to consider this bonus. And not only because Betway is one of the top online blackjack sites at the start of 2023.
Their £1,000 welcome bonus is spread onto your first three deposits, meaning you are in for a long-term deal.
Why is this important?
Playing blackjack online for real money involves a long-term learning process.
You’ll need time and practice to master the art of making money at blackjack online and a long term bonus like Betway’s is perfect for that.
You find more info about the bonus on this page.
You don’t need to spend your own money to get a no deposit bonus. Create an account on the platform that offers one and choose the games to play for free
Keep in mind that deposit bonuses come with a few strings attached.
You can use the free £88 at 888Casino to play online and live blackjack for real money. There’s a 30x wagering required applied to the bonus winnings that are always capped at £500.
Also, the bonus is not available to all countries. Check the 888Casino website to know more about this offer and if you can use it, too.
Best Live Dealer Blackjack Games
Playing blackjack online is nothing like it used to be five or six years ago. That’s when the free and real money versions of the game looked like this:
Today, the best Casino game providers and real money blackjack sites found out how to use the latest technologies (and fast internet connection) to innovate a classic table game like blackjack and give you a lot more.
Because today’s online blackjack games look like this:
In 2023 you can play live dealer blackjack games and bring the real feel of an exciting visit to a Casino right to your screen.
When you play live blackjack online, you interact with professional dealers via live stream.
You chat with them and comment on your hands exactly as you would do if you were playing live at a regular Casino.
Editor’s tip for beginners: Use the chat!
Don’t just study the theory of blackjack — as a beginner, you are bound to make mistakes. Use the chat in the live games to talk to the other players and comment on the hands. You’ll get excellent free tips!
Not all the sites have great live games. The list of the top blackjack sites below tells you more about their strength in the live dealer side of things.
If live dealer blackjack games are what you are after, these are the best sites to play live dealer blackjack games for real money.
Best Live blackjack Site
blackjack Games
UK Players
New Bonus (Max)
Get Offer
Betway Casino
68
Yes
£1,000
Get Offer
Casino.com
15
Yes
£100 + 200 Spins
Get Offer
888Casino
5
Yes
Free £88
Get Offer
Jackpot City
36
No
$1,600
Get Offer
William Hill Casino
14
Yes
£300
Get Offer
PartyCasino
14
Yes
50 Free Spins
Get Offer
If you don’t know where to start, choose a Casino with live dealer games by Evolution Gaming (e.g. Betway Casino or Casino.com).
The games are exceptional, and you can play from as little as £0.50!
Mobile Blackjack: Apps to Play Blackjack Online from Android and iPhone
In 2023, most online Casinos offer great free apps to play real money blackjack games from smartphones and tablets.
You only need to have an Android or an iOS device to treat yourself to some of the best mobile blackjack games for real money the internet has to offer.
So, how to find the best games to play? Easy, you can use my blackjack list.
All the blackjack sites featured on this page work on mobile and let you play amazing real money games from the palm of your hand.
Some Casinos have free apps you can download to play. Others have worked hard to make their web platform so good that it works just fine even if you access it via your mobile browser.
Either way, here is where you find the best mobile blackjack games to play with real money this year:
blackjack Site
blackjack Games
UK Players
New Bonus (Max)
Get Offer
Jackpot City
36
No
$1,600
Get Offer
888Casino
9
Yes
Free £88
Get Offer
Casino.com
30
Yes
£100 + 200 Spins
Get Offer
PartyCasino
14
Yes
50 Free Spins
Get Offer
Betway Casino
68
Yes
£1,000
Get Offer
William Hill Casino
14
Yes
£300
Get Offer
Sites to Play Real Money Blackjack with PayPal
PayPal is probably the most famous and popular e-wallets service available today.
PayPal is not a gambling service. There are many blackjack sites that include this service in the list of payment methods the players can use to upload and withdraw funds.
Not all sites offer PayPal to play real money blackjack. If you use PayPal already and you want to play at a blackjack site that allows you to fund your real money games with this service, just pick one of these operators:
To know more about all the operators that feature this payment method or understand what are the best alternatives to PayPal to gamble online for real money you can visit this article.
Online Blackjack FAQ
Making money playing blackjack online isn’t easy – and I know that online games for real money can be quite intimidating sometimes.
If you don’t know where to start, you want more info about any of the blackjack sites on this article, or you want some tips on more articles (and books) that can help you win playing blackjack online…continue reading!
What is online blackjack?
Online blackjack is the virtual reproduction of the classic card game played at Casinos around the world. When you play online blackjack you can choose between a large number of AI-powered blackjack games or play with other players and live dealers who stream the Casino-like action in real-time.
How to play blackjack online?
The goal of blackjack is to beat the dealer by going as close as possible to 21 points with your cards. You find all the details about the gameplay on this guide titled “How to Play blackjack for beginners.” Use it to learn the rules before you begin to play for real money online.
Which online blackjack is the best?
From a mathematical standpoint, the game of single-deck blackjack is the best one to play. The house edge of this game is 0.3%.
How to win at blackjack online?
While there is no guaranteed way to win at blackjack all the time, you can use many strategy tips to increase your chances to succeed.
The blackjack basic strategy is an excellent starting point — especially if you use a blackjack cheat sheet to remember how to play each hand based on yours and the dealer’s cards.
How to Play blackjack for real money?
The real money version of the game and the free one are entirely identical and follow the same blackjack rules.
Where to play blackjack for real money?
There’s a large number of websites to play real money blackjack online. We recommend you only play on UKGC and MGA licensed blackjack sites.
These sites are authorised to offer real money games and are audited by the most important gambling authorities in the world. To see what are the best legal blackjack sites online, have a look at this list.
How to transfer money in online blackjack?
Different blackjack sites let you use different payment methods to move your money around. These include credit cards, bank wires, and online services like Skrill and Paypal.
The most popular PayPal blackjack sites are all collected on this list.
This article was first published in August 2018. Last updated: January 12, 2023.
The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.
Some 20 days ago, Barca defeated Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga, thus practically taking Los Blancos out of the competition for the league title. Can they knock them out of the cup as well? Let’s find out!
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid Copa del Rey Odds
Moneyline
Odds
Barcelona
+120
Draw
+240
Real Madrid
+225
Goals
Odds
Over 2.5
-108
Under 2.5
-108
*Odds taken from bet365 on Monday, April 3, 2023.
When, Where, and How to Watch?
Place: Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain
Date: Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM ET
How to Watch: ESPN+
Barcelona Looking for 4th Win Over Real Madrid in 2023
In 2023, Barca really looks like Real Madrid’s kryptonite. So far this year, they’ve defeated them three times – 3-1 in the Spanish Super Cup, 2-1 in La Liga, and 1-0 in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey semifinal.
Barca have a 1-0 advantage from the first game, meaning that if they don’t lose on Wednesday, they will advance to the final of the Spanish Cup. That seems like an easy job for them, especially considering the fact that the game is played on their turf.
Spain’s largest stadium, Camp Nou, is where Xavi’s boys are undefeated since October 26, 2026, when Bayern Munich beat them. Most of the home games they’ve played in 2023, they won – they’re 6-1-0 this year at Camp Nou.
Los Blancos Know How to Upset the Odds
Real Madrid are trailing by double-figure points behind Barcelona in Spanish La Liga, meaning that it’s close to impossible that they’re going to retain the domestic title. They do, however, stand a chance to win other competitions. In the Champions League, for example, they’ve reached the quarterfinal stage, where they will play Chelsea.
In the Spanish Cup, they’re still in the game. In fact, if they knock Barcelona out of the competition, Los Blancos will take over the role of the No. 1 favorite for the trophy. This is because their opponent in the final would be either Osasuna or Athletic Bilbao.
So, the big question is whether Real Madrid can beat Barcelona for the first time in 2022? Bookies see Los Blancos are the underdogs in Wednesday’s game, but these guys know how to play when there’s a lot at stake. Just think of their 5-2 win over Liverpool on the road, in which they were 2-0 down at one point in the first half.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid Prediction
If there’s a team that can end Barcelona’s superb run at Camp Nou, it’s Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s boys have everything needed to grab themselves a win on Wednesday. Whether it will be enough to advance to the next stage of Copa del Rey straight away or the game will see extra time, we can’t say for certain.
The Ontario edition of PokerStars’s Spring Championship Of Online Poker (ONSOOP), held its first event at 16:05 ET on Saturday.
Since then, the first 45 tournaments have reached completion, crowning 45 ONSCOOP winners in the process. PokerStars Ontario launched last summer, so these are the first ONSCOOP winners ever.
ONSCOOP borrows its format from PokerStars’s other SCOOP festivals. Each of the tournaments come in three tiers—H for High, M for Medium, and L for Little. As a result, there are games for every bankroll from buy-ins of CA$5.00 to CA$2,000.
Read on for the first week highlights of one of the biggest events in Ontario poker.
Download PokerStars Ontario To Play ONSCOOP
High Stakes Winners
The two most expensive events of the week were the CA$2,000 buy-in ONSCOOP 5-H Sunday Special and ONSCOOP 14-H Thursday Thrill PKO.
The high stakes Sunday Special went to “Ristokat” who beat “Walmart CNXN” heads up for the CA$26,632.61 first prize.
“TeeWee55” Crushes Bounties in $2,000 Thursday Thrill PKO
The high-stakes Thursday Thrill PKO attracted 31 entrants for a prize pool of $59,200 after rake. “TeeWee55” won the event and almost half the prize pool after cutting a deal heads up. “bluetwopac” and “TeeWee55” split the prize pool for $10,624 each with “TeeWee55” taking a few extra pennies.
“TeeWee55’s” real victory came when the bounties were totted up. “TweeWee55” clearly had a winning bounty strategy, because they added $17,437.50 for a total win of $28,062.40. The unfortunate “bluetwopac” had accrued just $500 in bounties.
What are the best Ontario Poker Sites?
The Biggest Events At ONSCOOP
Turnout for ONSCOOP has been good so far on PokerStars. The ONSCOOP 14-H $2,000 Thursday Thrill PKO has the smallest field so far with just 31 players. However, there were six events so far with fields of 500+.
The biggest of these fields was ONSCOOP 5-L $20 Sunday Special Championship. There were 497 runners and 256 re-entries for 753 entries total.
The event went to “Mike_Junction56” who earned CA$2,323.51 for his success.
Prize pools have also been pretty healthy, with just under two-thirds hitting five figures. The biggest prize pool so far was for the momma bear edition of the Sunday Special, ONSCOOP 5-M $200 Sunday Special Championship.
ONSCOOP 5-M just edged out ONSCOOP 5-H for the biggest prize pool. The mid-stakes edition had 335 entries for a prize pool of $62,400 versus the high-stakes event with 32 entries and $61,100.
The 2023 ONSCOOP runs through April 11 and PokerNews will be offering more content and recaps, so stay tuned!
The fast-growing iGaming content provider, Hacksaw Gaming, announced it expanded further its European footprint after securing a new business-to-business (B2B) license. On Monday, the company confirmed that the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA), approved its B2B gaming license.
This license enabled Hacksaw Gaming to deliver its content to gambling operators licensed within the market in the country. As a result, famous games such as Hand of Anubis, Dork Unit, Mines, as well as Wanted Dead or a Wild will be arriving to new operators.
Besides expanding further the company’s presence in Sweden, the new license boosts its European footprint as well. The latest announcement comes after only recently, Hacksaw expanded further its Swedish footprint via a partnership with Glitnor Group.
Last month, the iGaming content provider joined forces with the Group, allowing it to deliver its portfolio of content for players of the brands LuckyCasino and HappyCasino. Now, the new license will enable Hacksaw to continue to grow in the country and reach new audiences.
The Company Is Thrilled to Expand Further in Sweden
Securing the license comes at a strategic time for the market in the country. This is because new regulations were implemented on March 1, 2023, requiring all online casino game suppliers to have a license. Ultimately, the new Swedish regulation seeks to boost the channelization of the legal markets, and protect the integrity of the industry, as well as the consumers.
“We are delighted to be among the first providers to obtain a full Swedish B2B gaming license, allowing us to build from a position of strength in the fast-growing market.“
Marcus Cordes, CEO of Hacksaw Gaming
Marcus Cordes, Hacksaw Gaming’s CEO, shared his excitement saying that the company was able to act quickly within the market which helped it gain a head-start. Additionally, he said that Hacksaw is excited to be one of the first iGaming providers to secure a complete B2B gaming license in Sweden.
Cordes predicted that the collaboration will help the company continue to grow within the market. Finally, he said that thanks to the B2B license, Hacksaw will be able to team up with new gambling operators and engage with new audiences.
“The purpose of the license requirement for gaming software is to discourage illegal gambling.“
Swedish Gambling Authority
The SGA added that the new licenses seek to repeal and combat illegal gambling operators. The Authority also noted that illegal gambling operators must not be able to team up with companies such as suppliers of iGaming content that deliver software or solutions for licensed gambling operators in Sweden.
The gaming giant BetMGM is parting ways with Jason Scott, its vice president of trading, VIP and retail sportsbooks. The experienced employee shared the news on LinkedIn, adding that he will now head back to Australia.
Scott, who has served the Entain/BetMGM family for the last 11 years, said that his time with Entain and BetMGM has been a “fun ride.” He noted that his announcement comes with a mix of sadness and happiness and said that he enjoyed being able to support the rapid growth of the two businesses.
It’s been a fun ride, playing my small part in the growth of two businesses evolving into a couple of fairly substantial entities.
Jason Scott
Scott Applauded CEO Greenblatt’s Leadership Skills
Scott thanked a few of the people whom he worked beside. He said that there are way too many whom he enjoyed working with to mention all of them.
Scott singled out Adam Greenblatt as one of the best colleagues he has ever had and said that he remembers how Greenblatt acquired bookmaker.com.au, a small Australian business that eventually became Ladbrokes and Neds.
The departing VP had worked directly under Greenblatt for the last three and a half years and was impressed by the latter man’s leadership skills. Scott lauded the CEO as a leader that has no par “in any category anywhere on the globe.”
Thanks to Adam and the guidance of the executive team, BetMGM continues to make progress. Scott shared that he is excited to continue watching this growth from afar.
Other News Concerning the Two Businesses
Speaking of BetMGM, the company’s North American business was just honored with the RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council. This is one of the most extensive and strict responsible gambling accreditation programs, attesting to BetMGM’s commitment to protecting its players from harm.
Entain, on the other hand, just agreed to provide Gordon Moody’s Alumni Project with funding. Through its non-profit arm, the Entain Foundation, the gambling company will support the treatment of gambling disorders in the United Kingdom.
The Alumni Project will see Gordon Moody leverage former addicts and people who recently completed treatment to help others overcome their problem gambling.
Around the same time, New Zealand’s single racing and sports betting agency, TAB NZ, picked Entain for a new 25-year strategic racing-oriented partnership. As announced, Entain will help TAB NZ “deliver its wagering and broadcast functions.”
The Victorian government has joined Western Australia in its efforts to minimize gambling harm at the troubled Crown Casino. The Royal Commission recently recommended betting and time limits for Crown Perth in Western Australia, and authorities in Victoria have already mandated similar measures for the operator’s Melbourne branch. Patrons must take mandatory breaks every few hours and face daily and weekly limits.
Daily and Weekly Limits Will Encourage Safer Gambling
The ongoing controversy surrounding The Crown has kickstarted some long-overdue regulatory reforms. The 2021 Royal Commission investigation revealed systemic regulatory violations, tax evasion, severe money laundering, and ties to criminal organizations. The operator’s Australian properties have since felt the ire of the local regulators, paying hundreds of millions in fines and facing ongoing restrictions until they fall back into compliance.
Crown Melbourne now operates under the watchful eye of the Victorian government, which oversees the ongoing reforms. The newest updates aim to combat the rising problem of gambling rates by introducing mandatory breaks and time limits. Patrons will take a non-optional 15-minute break for every three continuous hours of play and a 24-hour break if they have gambled for over 12 hours daily.
Victoria authorities hope that such forced breaks, combined with a 36-hour weekly limit, will help dissuade patrons from overspending. The region’s Casino and Gaming minister Melissa Horne hoped the measures would lay the foundations for a safer gaming environment. A September 2022 legislation also introduced a cash cap of $1000 per 24 hours.
The Royal Commission (evidence) showed incredibly predatory behavior on people… struggling on the casino floor and in the pokie machine rooms in particular.
Melissa Horne, Victoria Casino, and Gaming minister
Anti-Gambling Advocates Find Such Measures Lacking
Despite the authorities’ good intentions, some experts remain skeptical of the practical benefits of time limits. Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO Carol Bennett noted that individuals struggling with gambling addiction would move on to bet at another venue. The proliferation of pokeys across various establishments means a machine is always nearby.
The measures put in place in Crown should also be translated into pubs and clubs because we’re otherwise just shifting the problem.
Carol Bennett, Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO
Bennett tentatively agreed that such measures were a step in the right direction and urged widespread reforms encompassing all venues offering to gamble. However, each Australian region’s high degree of autonomy makes coordination difficult, and powerful lobbying groups ceaselessly fight to maintain the status quo. Even so, attempts to bring order to Australia’s premiere gambling destination should receive recognition.
Wharton’s decision to leave Star leaves the operator leaderless amidst ongoing anti-money laundering reforms, up to $1 billion in fines, several lawsuits, and a potential tax hike on the horizon. As the person responsible for restoring order and compliance to the struggling casino, his departure has caused substantial concern among regulators. However, Star Entertainment CEO Robbie Cooke remained unfazed, promising the group would soon appoint a new Sydney CEO.
The Star Sydney chief executive will officially resign on 28 April to assume a new position as CEO of salary packaging company Smart Group. His departure came out of the blue for the beleaguered operator, as Wharton stepped away from the struggling operator after only eight months in charge.
The Star Sydney CEO was the primary driving force behind the ongoing remedial measures at the Sydney casino, heading the company’s transformation division. The company struggles to rescue its reputation and remain afloat after last year’s regulatory probe revealed severe AML failings and possible ties to terrorist organizations.
As a stopgap measure, Star Entertainment CEO Robbie Cooke plans to split Wharton’s responsibilities, delegating his remediation duties to current general manager of transformation Nicola Burke. She is well-acquainted with the position’s requirements and will be hard-pressed to navigate the ongoing regulatory challenges.
The board and the management team have an unwavering focus on proving our suitability to hold casino licenses in NSW and Queensland.
Robbie Cooke, Star Entertainment CEO
Wharton thanked The Star team for their commitment and hard work, extending special gratitude to the company’s leadership. CEO Cooke remained confident that the group would soon find a new Sydney chief executive and continue its long way toward redemption. However, Wharton’s departure leaves a void during a short but possibly critical period for the operator due to a looming taxation overhaul.
The Star Continues To Struggle With Poor Financials
Wharton was one of the people involved in the discussions regarding a potential new tax increase for poker machines which could significantly impact The Star’s bottom line. NSW Premier Chris Minns did not take a firm stance on the matter, preferring to first get a clearer picture of the tax hike’s implications before committing to a specific course of action.
We’ll be having discussions with the Treasury in the coming days as we get a full picture of the revenue side of the budget and future policy measures.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
With trouble looming on all sides, the company finds itself hard-pressed to find a competent replacement for the departing CEO. Financially, The Star Sydney continues to reel from the ongoing turmoil, as rising competition caused FY22 domestic revenue to lag 14% behind pre-COVID levels. The operator hopes that extra funding, like the recent AUD142 million ($96 million) investment from tycoon Bruce Mathieson, would help it stand back on its feet in the coming months.
On March 30, Red Tiger, an internationally acclaimed developer of HTML5 casino games based in Douglas, Isle of Man, and officially owned by Evolution Gaming, released Wrigley’s World, a dystopian, post-apocalyptic slot that follows Wrigley, a clever goblin with an interest for all things mechanical.
In this game, players get a unique opportunity to be Wrigley’s guests.
Outstanding visual:
True to its title, the main theme of the game is Wrigley and his world, which is equipped with all kinds of gadgets lying around in his workshop, where the goblin can have peace and quiet while rummaging around. The video slot takes place in Wrigley’s garage, where each mechanical thing can come to life. Wrigley can be found on a platform to the left of the reels, with a crane located behind him.
The game is equipped with 243 winning ways.
To win, players must form a combination of 3 or more matching symbols on adjacent reels, beginning with the first reel from the left on a dynamic 5×3 grid.
The basic low-value symbols are 10, J, K, Q and A, while the high-value bonus symbols are the tire lock, wrench, exhaust pipe and trophy. A combination of five-of-a-kind low-value symbols is worth 0.4xand1.2x a player’s bet, rising to 3x and 10x for five-of-a-kind high-value symbols.
The game has high volatility, with an RTP of 95.71% on regular betting and a maximum win of 20.023x a player’s bet. Moreover, there are other versions of RTP, depending on how the game is played, of 90.71%, 92.71% and 94.69%.
This slot can be played on any device, and players’ paid spins can be gambled for 10 p/c up to 4 euro/$ per spin.
Slot features:
Wild Symbols – Wilds can only appear on reels 2,3 and 4, replacing all basic symbols and doubling the payout. Each time they appear, they come with a x2 ways multiplier, meaning they count as 2 symbols and when they appear in Free Spins, each one of them is collected on a meter by Wrigley.
There’s a chance for up to 5 of them to appear in one spin, which doubles the current winning total and rewards the player with 5 additional spins if the player collects them.
Race Spins – a combination of 3, 4 or 5 Scatters, displayed in a car by Wrigley, rewards 5x, 15x and 50x a player’s bet and 10 Free Race Spins and also activates the feature.
This reward is moved into the feature as its starting payout.
Throughout the feature, when a Wild appears, it is collected by a gauge located next to the reels. When the gauge fills up, aka when 5 Wilds are collected, the Double Boost is activated, which doubles the player’s current win and rewards 5 additional spins. However, if a win happens on the same spin as the gauge fills, the reward is first applied to the total amount of the win before it is doubled.
The gauge can be filled many times in the same round.
Moreover, the feature ends, when the maximum number of spins or the maximum win of 20,023x a player’s bet is reached.
Bonus Buy – in this feature, Race Spins can be purchased for 70x of the bet with the same default RTP of 95.71%.
Commenting on the launch, Nicholas Peters, Chief Business Development Officer – Europe at Evolution, said: “The Red Tiger team have once again created an excellent game. In addition to the slot’s thrilling features, Wrigley’s World introduces a novel character, skillful scrapyard goblin engineer Wrigley. The atmospheric graphics and soundtrack of Wrigley’s World will entertain players as they take part in this wild junkyard race with wins of up to 20,023x!”
