Regional traditions and customs are often very special. This is also the case in the Hessian town of Laubach, which belongs to the district of Giessen: here, the locals get into a real dice fever at the turn of the year. Throughout the town, people gamble in cafés, bakeries, restaurants and pubs. Young and old are involved. It's all about gaming tables, croupiers, bets, luck and (often tasty) wins. Real gambling for everyone - or just a nice, fun leisure activity?
In the late summer of this year, amateur football was really shaken up by a documentary by the public broadcasters: Many clubs and DFB officials realised that betting on matches in the lower leagues is an international business worth millions. After weeks of clarification and controversy, calls for concrete and effective laws against such behaviour are now slowly but surely becoming louder.
Gambling is one of the most popular leisure activities in the Southeast Asian country of Singapore. Last year alone, people in Singapore spent the equivalent of over 12 billion euros on casino visits, sports betting, horse racing and lotteries. And this despite the fact that Singapore only has around 5.5 million inhabitants. So does the population of Singapore have a gambling problem?
Things can get heated in poker - and some people don't shy away from using questionable means to implement their own strategy. It was precisely to these people that poker veteran Phil Ivey recently issued a clear warning: You'd better not mess with him, according to the quintessence that could be read in the press. It is interesting to note that Ivey himself actually had to pay back millions in winnings because he allegedly cheated in several casinos.
Recently, the multi-state EuroMillions lottery recorded a fabulous win of 177 million British pounds - the equivalent of around 212 million euros - for a ticket from England. This is the third largest jackpot ever to go to Great Britain. However, the allocation proved difficult due to a particular error. It took several days to find the lucky winner.
As Germany's central gambling regulatory body, the GGL had a lot to do last year. It was therefore a regular topic in our reporting. Whether as an executive force against illicit activities on the local market, a warning voice for more conscious gambling - or even criticized by industry representatives and players: a lot has happened. The authority has now published a review for 2024 - and it is quite positive. However, some shortcomings must be acknowledged.
Professional poker has written heaps of curious, amazing and sometimes unbelievable stories. Most of them involve big winnings. Sometimes, however, as in the case of Vladimir Korzinin, who only started playing a few months ago, it doesn't take a big win to make a truly sensational appearance. The newcomer really made the global poker elite sweat at the Triton Invitational in Monte-Carlo.
The Philippines are known for their beautiful beaches, fascinating underwater worlds, warm hospitality and rich culture. However, it also has a reputation for being a veritable Mecca for offshore gambling providers. Countless companies that market online casinos and digital sports betting internationally - with or without a licence - are based there. The government now wants to put a stop to this by banning Philippine offshore gaming operators. This is a blatant break with previous policy, but there is a catch.
Scratch cards are participation tickets in an instant lottery and have enjoyed great popularity for years, especially in German-speaking countries. Scratching off the boxes always brings a high excitement factor and the prospect of winning a four, five or even six-figure prize makes the player's heart beat faster. We dared to try it out for ourselves and bought 30 scratch cards from a lottery store. With what results?
Loyalty programs and VIP systems (with or without gamification) have long been a tried and tested means of motivating customers in online gaming. A few weeks ago, an industry insider gave the international trade press an insight into how operators can use them particularly effectively to increase player loyalty. This is interesting in that such features are slowly but surely returning to the German market. Users who know how it works play more consciously and ultimately more safely!
An amusement arcade is a business whose opening or management requires many general to-dos and must-haves, but also has some special requirements. In principle, almost anyone can start such a gaming operation. The model may initially appear simple and naturally very lucrative. However, there is ultimately much more to it than simply setting up a few machines and making the cash register ring.
Turkish police have launched an investigation into at least 20 suspects for promoting illegal gambling by publicly advertising sports betting and casino websites. But what punishment can the influencers in Turkey expect if they are convicted of illegal gambling advertising?
For the upcoming New Year, some casinos in the country are once again hosting glamorous New Year's Eve parties. Here, guests can welcome in the New Year in a festive atmosphere and with lots of surprises. The casinos often also offer culinary delights in the form of buffets or other food variations. But which casino offers the most attractive event on New Year's Eve 2024/2025?
Google amended the ‘Gambling and other games’ advertising policy in Germany on 25 September 2024. Since this date, only licensed online casinos with a German licence have been able to advertise via Google Ads. In a recent press release, the Joint Gambling Authority of the German federal states (GGL) states that the new advertising guidelines are already having an effect.
The German Gambling Association (DGGS) has published a study that sheds light on the regional differences in the area of legal online gambling in Germany. The data shows which federal states have an above-average number of legal online gambling centres. But what percentage of the population participates in legal online gambling in the various federal states?
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