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Caesars Entertainment Corporation casinos to debut sportsbooks
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Caesars Entertainment Corporation casinos to debut sportsbooks
Possible Upsets to Target in the Week of July 30th – 5 Upset Picks for Bettors
GamblingSites.com
Possible Upsets to Target in the Week of July 30th – 5 Upset Picks for Bettors
It’s been a while since I dug through the sports betting world to locate some high-level value for my fellow sports betting brethren.
The last time I did, the NBA summer league was just getting going, and the World Cup was still going strong. It was a pretty good period for sports, even despite it happening during that dreaded “dead period” in the sports betting schedule.
We’re still stuck in that ugly limbo, but before you know it, the 2018 NFL preseason will be here, and not too long after, we’re going to be talking about playoff baseball, the NBA, NHL, and meaningful NFL contests again.
That nasty, funky portion of the year for avid sports bettors is slowly being pushed behind us.
I’m coming in fresh, too. I’ve had nearly a month to sit back, relax, and piece together a brand-new collection of sports upset picks that are actually worth your time and money.
Before I let you know what I’m eyeing this week, though, let’s go back a bit and see how my picks panned out at the beginning of July.
Week in Review
I started things off with a bang back on July 3rd, nailing a nice Warriors upset (+150) over the Kings in summer league action. I just felt that was too much value for a game where nobody really had a clue who to favor.
That was one nice win. Here’s how the rest of those upset picks shook out.
Warriors over Kings+150
Braves over Yankees+145 
Sweden over Switzerland+230
Belgium over Brazil+265
As you can see, that was a pretty epic week. I went after the Braves due to a nice price, and they faltered, but I went 3-1 on the week with wins of +150, +230, and +265.
I’m not exactly sure how I nailed two crazy soccer upset picks, but I saw the value, and the games went my way.
If you went hard after these underdog picks, you exited the week a pretty happy camper.
My apologies for the long layoff, but I’m back this week to try to add to my 24-38-1 upset picks record.
Let’s get the ball rolling with the return of pro football in Thursday night’s Hall of Fame game.
Bears (+120) over Ravens (-140) – Hall of Fame Game
First of all, nobody really cares about this game.
I mean, it’s the return of the new NFL season, and everyone absolutely cares about that, but they literally called this game off a couple of years ago because the field was shoddy.
It was just a stupid preseason football game, but real, live football was there, and suddenly it wasn’t. As a die-hard pro football fan, that was pretty darn brutal.
Seeing as how that happened, if things don’t break just right, you know the officials don’t care enough to really give this game the respect it deserves.
This isn’t even a legit NFL preseason game in the eyes of the Bears or Ravens, either.
The HOF game isn’t technically part of a “week” of preseason action, so these teams tend to really lay off their starters and even their top backups.
Needless to say, you’re looking at a really long, boring game with a bunch of former college football players you’ve never even heard of.
You’re scraping the bottom of the barrel in a game where the backup talent is a wash, and nobody cares about winning. If that’s not a ringing endorsement to chase a +120 underdog, I’m not sure what is!
In all seriousness, betting on preseason football assumes major risk in general.
The best players last a handful of drives and often don’t even suit up. The Hall of Fame game is the worst example of this, and you truly have no clue who will play or how much.
If you’re getting even value here, it’s whatever. But the Bears are for some reason the +120 underdogs. I’d understand that if Baltimore were playing their starters all game, but this is preseason football.
I’ll take Chicago all day at this price.
PICKChicago Bears+120
Cody Garbrandt (-110) over T.J. Dillashaw (-120)
The line isn’t staggering, and it’s basically even money, but sometimes taking an underdog doesn’t mean absorbing insane risk or chasing huge piles of cash.
You can still go as hard as you want here, but the point is that you’re getting pretty good value to back Garbrandt in his rematch against the only fighter to make him bleed his own blood.
Well, that’s not exactly true, but you get the point.
Dillashaw certainly took No Love down a peg or two in a TKO win back at UFC 217 on November 4th, and it’s been a long road back for the previously undefeated Garbrandt.
These rematches can be iconic and career-defining, and if Garbrandt is going to be the special fighter many thought he had already become, this is a hill he needs to climb over.
The mashing ability is there for the taking, as Garbrandt tends to leave bodies behind (9 career KOs), and Dillashaw is slowly moving past his prime.
PICKCody Garbrandt-110
Darren Till (+120) over Tyron Woodley (-140)
I like the value in Garbrandt getting some revenge, but I might like Till even more when the lights go up at UFC 228 this coming weekend.
Till is a very exciting (and undefeated) fighter at 17-0, showcasing a brutal ability to crush his opponents quickly (10 career KO wins).
This is partially about the 25-year-old’s talent and rising star, but also about the inevitable end. Tyron Woodley has been a dominant champion, but he had two tough fights with Stephen Thompson and just hasn’t closed out fights like he has in the past.
Till already stood toe-to-toe with Thompson and is chomping at the bit to snag the Welterweight title belt from Woodley. Given the price, I don’t mind aiming high here.
PICKDarren Till+120
Colorado Rockies (-104) over St. Louis Cardinals (-116)
Bovada has some early odds out for Tuesday’s baseball slate, so I’m down for jumping on some value there.
It’s always tough to push out MLB upset picks early in the week, just because most of the top MLB betting sites wait until late at night to release the next day’s odds.
That’s the case here, but I will soak up the Rockies, who put their top arm in Jon Gray on the mound in a pitcher-friendly environment.
For a guy who is used to braving the storm that is Coors Field, this matchup sets up nicely for Gray. St. Louis does have a capable offense, and they’re at their best at home, but it’s not by much.
In fact, the Cards are just a .500 team at Busch Stadium, and they are not in a great groove right now (5-5 over their last 10 games). The Rockies can certainly be suspect on the road, but they’ve actually been solid (30-23) away from Coors in 2018.
Colorado happens to be on fire right now as well, ripping off four straight wins at the time of this writing, to go with an 8-2 stretch over their last 10 games. They’re also fighting for the NL West title (one game back), so you’d better believe they’re taking each game seriously.
I slightly tip the pitching matchup Colorado’s way, and even with the massive park downgrade, I also prefer their bats. It’s a close call, but at -104, the Rockies look like a solid dog to back for Tuesday’s MLB slate.
PICKColorado Rockies-104
Montreal Alouettes (+6.5) over Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-6.5)
The actual betting lines aren’t out yet for this game, which promises to feature Johnny Manziel finally hitting the gridiron up north.
Manziel never got a chance to suit up for meaningful snaps with Hamilton, who jumped at a favorable trade with Montreal. It was a win-win for both sides, and now Johnny Football can dish out some sweet revenge while also trying to help his new team to a win.
There’s no doubt the Tiger-Cats are the better team right now, but Manziel could be playing this one with a chip on his shoulder. Hamilton has been superior to this point, but I think the narrative edge goes to Manziel and Montreal.
I’m game for the straight-up upset pick here (Montreal will be the dogs one way or another), but you can still get dog money by picking them to beat this spread.
PICKMontreal Alouettes+6.5
Final Words
This is really not the most amazing week for big upset picks, but as you can see, there are still a few spots where you can seek out value for the supposed losing side.
I never think upset picks are strictly about trying to score huge cash.
That is one of the goals, and it’s always ideal for it to go that way, but even when you’re grinding out regular picks, you still need to be able to make the right wager on the team that is actually going to convert the bet.
The upside feels a bit limited this week, but as preseason football trickles in, I think the action will heat up a bit more. Hopefully these upset picks suit you well. Either way, happy betting this week!
The post Possible Upsets to Target in the Week of July 30th – 5 Upset Picks for Bettors appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
CHIPS 500th presentation with Anton Du Beke
Casino City Times
CHIPS 500th presentation with Anton Du Beke
The UK gaming industry took center stage as CHIPS presented the 500th powered wheelchair thanks to donations made by Beacon Bingo, Cashino, Clarion Gaming, NRM and The Rank Group.
Gambling Lessons I Learned from Playing Card Games with My Family
GamblingSites.com
Gambling Lessons I Learned from Playing Card Games with My Family
When I was growing up, my family played cards at reunions and other special occasions. It wasn’t something that we did on regular days, but when we all got together, the cards inevitably came out.
I wasn’t allowed to play when I was a young child because I didn’t have the patience to sit through the entire game. But by the time that I was nine or ten years old, I joined the game and learned how to play.
To me, playing cards with the adults was a sign of maturity. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why I was so anxious to grow up, but I always was. When I got tired of arguing with my sister or when I didn’t want to play the game she was playing, I went to play cards with the adults.
It felt like I was special because I was old enough to play, but the reality was probably that the adults were just putting up with me out of pity. But no matter the reason, I started playing cards, and I loved it.
The joy I got from playing cards with my family has carried over to my gambling hobby. Card games like blackjack and baccarat are still my favorite. I learned a lot from our family card games, and those lessons have also influenced my gambling interest.
Some of the things I learned were specific strategies that apply to almost any card game, and I want to share those examples with you. But first, let me give you a little bit of information on my family and our game of choice.
A Little Background Information
My family always played a game that we called Calcutta, especially when we were with my mom’s side of the extended family. Through many card games with friends, I gradually learned that my family was the only one that played this game. Only one of my friends has ever claimed to play anything similar.
As an adult, I have learned that Calcutta doesn’t actually exist, or at the very least, it is called by a different name.
The closest game that I can find is Phase 10, but apparently what my family called Calcutta is, in reality, a different variation of the game rummy. After the cards were dealt, we played ten rounds with a different goal for each round.
In our version of the game, a “set” was three cards of the same number, and a “run” was four cards of the same suit in order (such as eight, nine, ten, jack of clubs). Our definitions were similar to other types of rummy, except that most games only require you to have three cards to make a run, while we expected four. We also allowed jokers and black twos to be used as wild cards.
Each round had a different requirement for the combination of sets and runs that you had to have before you could “go down.” I have since learned that what we called “going down” is called melding in other forms of rummy. Once you were down, you could play on other people’s hand as well. This is called “laying off your cards” in regular rummy.
Every time it was your turn, you had to draw a card, either from the discard pile or the rest of the deck. If you were ready to go down, you could do so on your turn. Otherwise, you had to discard. The card that gets discarded automatically belongs to the person who has the next turn.
But if it wasn’t your turn, you could yell, “I want it,” to claim the card as your own, as long as the person who has the next turn gives you permission.
But you had to be careful because you were never allowed to have more than 17 cards in your hand (we started with eleven), and you had to draw an extra card if you were picking up out of turn. So, you only had three chances to pick up out of turn before you reached your limit.
Rounds ended whenever someone “went out” by laying down all of their cards. Everyone else would count up the total cards still in their hand, not including the ones that had been laid down.
We tried to make the math easy by saying that jokers were worth 50 points, black 2s were worth 25, aces were 20, face cards were 10, and everything else was 5. At the end of the ten rounds, the person with the lowest score was the winner.
We occasionally played other games, like the more traditional form of gin rummy and blackjack. But Calcutta was our go-to game of choice, mostly because we could play with as many players as we wanted.
I have played this game with three players, and with fifteen. The more players that you have, the more exciting the game gets, and all you have to do is add another deck of cards for every few players.
The Joy of Playing
I think that the most important lesson I learned from playing Calcutta with my family was just how much fun it was to play. Some of my greatest family memories come from some of those card games with each other. They always made me smile, laugh, and feel closer to my family.
Winning or Losing
It never mattered if I won or lost, and trust me when I say that I lost a lot! My family was not one of the families who let me win because they felt bad for me. But no matter how many times I lost, I always had fun.
That same spirit of joy has transferred to my gambling hobby. I enjoy playing baccarat and blackjack and many other games just for the sake of playing the game. To me, any money I lose is just an entertainment expense, the same as when I lose money when I buy a movie ticket instead of watching it at home.
Any money that I happen to win is just an added bonus.
The reason that I am willing to be carefree about the money I am losing, while also being smart about managing my bankroll, is because I learned to enjoy games for the sake of the game.
As long as I have fun while I am playing, I don’t worry about the money I am losing. And I find that it is a lot easier to enjoy yourself when you are not worrying about every penny that you lose.
Relationship Building Through Cards
Another lesson that I learned while playing cards with my family, is the joy of building relationships while you play. I remember having a crowd of family members all spread out around a large dining room table, laughing and talking. We teased each other, talked about life, and made memories in between hands of Calcutta.
Whenever I started dating a new guy, I would bring him over to meet my family. But only serious boyfriends were invited to play cards with us.
If a guy could follow along while several of my family members interrupted each other to explain the rules, learn how to play our family game, and participate in the banter around the table during the game, I knew he was good enough to stick around, at least for a while.
We still play card games when we get together as a family today. And now, some of my nieces and nephews are getting to the age where they are old enough to stick around for an entire game of Calcutta.
Teaching them how to play has been one of my favorite ways to bond with them. I don’t think I will ever forget the moment that one of my nieces asked to play that game, instead of Uno, even when the rest of my family wasn’t around.
The relationships that you build while you sit around playing cards is one of the best parts of the game.
Whenever I go to a casino, I bring my family or a friend along with me, and every time, we leave laughing and feeling closer than ever. Of course, I enjoy playing online by myself sometimes, too, but when I have the opportunity to play with a friend, I take it.
I know that the game will be more fun, and I will worry less about the money I am losing if I can see it as an investment in my relationship with that person. Taking a friend to the casino is the same as meeting a friend for dinner at a nice restaurant.
It is true that I will spend some money, but I also know that my friend and I will be closer because of it, so I don’t mind paying the money.
Card Game Strategies
The joy of the game is not the only thing that I learned from playing cards with my family. I also learned how to be a strategic and intelligent player. Even though I never got upset about losing, I did win every once in a while.
It turns out that winning is a lot of fun, especially when you get to tease your dad about his loss for the next couple of days. But you have to know how to win, and that takes some critical strategies.
Long-Term and Short-Term Plays
One of the most controversial aspects of Calcutta was the ability to say no when someone wanted a card that had been discarded. The player with the next turn automatically has the right to pick up the card or to allow someone else to pick it up if they have mentioned that they want it.
If multiple players want it, the one who yells the signal first is the one who gets it, but only if the next person doesn’t want it. When that player doesn’t allow another player to pick up the card, they must take it themselves.
Here is an example of an intense play where this situation comes up. Let’s say that it is my turn, I have already laid down my cards for the round, and my dad only has one card left in his hand.
When I draw, I am lucky enough to pick up a joker, which is a highly-coveted wild card. However, if my dad goes out, I would be stuck with the extra fifty points.
First, I would see if I could play the joker in some way, but for the purposes of this example, let’s assume that is impossible. It is not worth the extra points to me, so I decide to discard the wild card.
My sister is sitting to my left, so she has the next turn, and the joker is rightfully hers to pick up or give to someone else. Next to her is my mom, and my uncle is seated between my mom and my dad.
Of course, my mom and uncle both want the wild card as well, but my mom especially does because she only needs one more card to be able to go down. If she doesn’t get that joker, she may not go down at all.
Not going down before the round is over would mean that she would have eleven to seventeen cards to add to her score, depending on how many times she had picked up a card out of turn. They both yell that they want it, but my mom yelled it just a second earlier than my uncle.
Now my mom’s fate for the round rests in my sister’s hands. She could either take the joker for herself, or she could generously allow my mom to have the card.
Her choice would no doubt depend on the cards in her hand, but for this example, let’s say if she takes the joker, she could lay down all of her cards as a new set and go out, meaning that she would have no points added to her score. If she gives my mom the joker, she would probably end up with a score of ten points, but she would have graciously saved my mom from hundreds of points.
In this case, it may seem like taking the joker for herself is the smart move, but it may only be smart for the short-term. If my sister instead uses this as an opportunity to create an alliance with my mom, she could use that to get ahead in future rounds.
My mom would most definitely remember this hand as either an extension of grace or a betrayal, and that would influence how she treats my sister for the rest of the game.
Learning how to think of some of those long-term consequences is one of the things that has carried over to my gambling.
A good example of what I learned is that, when I play poker, sometimes I have to fold on a decent hand so that the other players don’t begin to notice the patterns I use when I play.
It sucks to forfeit a possibly winning hand, but it is worth it when other players don’t know how to read my habits. Then, I can get away with raising on another hand and win more than I would have on that decent hand.
Figuring Out Other Players’ Cards
When we play Calcutta, the most common strategy is figuring out what cards the other players are holding. You can use that information to be strategic about which cards you do and don’t discard. The best way to discover which cards the other player is going for is by paying attention to what cards they pick up from the discard pile.
For example, if I notice that my mom has picked up two fours, she is most likely working on a set of fours. If she is the player next to me, I will try to hold onto any fours that come to my hand because I know that any time I discard a four, it will be directly playing into her hand.
But it is not ALWAYS this cut and dry.
It gets a lot more complicated when I have to figure out if my mom is going to use that four in a set or a run. When it could be either, I have to try not to discard anything that could work in both possibilities.
It is easy to get confused as well because a player doesn’t need multiple of the same cards when they are working on runs. If my mom is working on a run with a four of clubs in the middle of it, and another player plays a five of clubs, I would expect her to take it.
I would assume that the four was being used in a set because she didn’t take the five. But when there are multiple decks in play, it is possible that she already has a five of clubs. I had to learn not to get fooled because a person doesn’t do what I expect them to.
It is impossible to focus on building your own hand while also worrying about not discarding cards that other players need all of the time.
Sometimes, you have to discard into a player’s hand because otherwise, you would have to let go of something you need for your own hand. But the more I played, the better I got at figuring out the hands that my family members were working on, and I used that information to slow them down whenever possible.
The opposite is also true. My family can figure out the hand that I am working on by paying attention to the cards that I pick up. To make sure that they can’t use this against me, I try to have multiple options as much as possible.
So, I will pick up both a four and a seven to try to build a set out of either one of those. Every once in a while, I will ask to pick up a card that I don’t really want, just to throw them off of my trail, or in hopes that the extra card I have to draw will be something that I need.
Every type of poker includes trying to read your opponent’s actions. When other players call or raise, that tells me something about their hand. Playing Calcutta with my family when I was a child and teenager taught me the skills I needed to be able to read other players when I play poker now.
Conclusion
Playing card games as a family taught me several skills that have carried over to my gambling hobby. We never put any money on the games, so I learned to take pleasure in them for the sake of enjoyment.
And now I can enjoy casino card games, no matter whether I win or lose. But I am also glad that I learned a few strategies that help me to win more often! I am grateful for the techniques that I learned, but I am even more thankful for the memories I have of playing with my family.
I strongly recommend that you make a tradition of playing card games with your family. The memories that you make and the relationships that you build during that time will be priceless. And you will all be better gamblers thanks to the practice.
The post Gambling Lessons I Learned from Playing Card Games with My Family appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Monday, July 30, 2018
Caesars Ent Launches Sports Wagering at Four Casinos, Bally’s Atlantic City Today
CasinoGamesPro.com
Caesars Ent Launches Sports Wagering at Four Casinos, Bally’s Atlantic City Today
The time is now when it comes to sports betting across the states and this could be confirmed by major casino giant Caesars Entertainment which is set to launch sports wagering in two more locations in East Coast gambling hub Atlantic City as well as another two in Mississippi. According to the previously issued information, […]
The post Caesars Ent Launches Sports Wagering at Four Casinos, Bally’s Atlantic City Today appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.
Choctaw Casino & Resort to host WPT
World Casino News
Choctaw Casino & Resort to host WPT
Three Amazing Teams That Came up Short in the FIFA World Cup
GamblingSites.com
Three Amazing Teams That Came up Short in the FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is one of the toughest tournaments to win, as we all saw in the recent 2018 edition in Russia. The ultimate winner, France, had to go through a bunch of strong opponents and some scary moments before lifting the trophy.
The format of the tournament has always included at least a couple of knockout stages throughout the whole World Cup history. As a result, factors like luck and mistakes by the referees sometimes influenced the result.
Some exceptional teams that looked destined to win the World Cup came up short at the end. This is the nature of the tournament, as one bad game could be enough to fail.
Still, it’s not ONLY about being crowned world champions. Some countries have left a mark and won the hearts of the fans all over the globe without lifting the trophy.
Let’s take a look at them and see what prevented them from bringing the World Cup home.
The Netherlands 1974
Coach: Rinus Michels
Best Players: Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Johnny Rep, Ruud Krol, Rob Rensenbrink
I considered sharing this list in chronological order, but I simply can’t help but begin with the Netherlands from 1974. Many believe this is not only the best team to not win the World Cup, but also one of the greatest soccer sides in the history of the sport.
I have a personal example that shows how fascinating this Dutch side was. My father doesn’t like soccer, and as many other people, he only occasionally watches games from big tournaments like the World Cup and the Euros.
I have never heard him talk about the sport, with one exception. Up to this day, he remembers Cruyff and this Netherlands team from 1974.
The “Total Football” of the Orange was one of the most beautiful styles to ever grace the sport of soccer.
The coach, Rinus Michels, adopted a completely new philosophy on the pitch. According to it, all players could play in all positions, thus switching their places constantly. Thanks to the genius of Johan Cruyff, the Dutch team was able to pull this off and dominate its opponents in the World Cup by pressing them all over the pitch.
The following video is a bright example of how Total Football worked.
As you could see, the name is certainly not exaggerated. The Netherlands were able to destroy teams in a way the world had never seen before.
In the first group stage of the 1974 World Cup, the team was in the same group with Sweden, Uruguay, and Bulgaria. The Netherlands beat Bulgaria 4-1 and Uruguay 2-0, while Sweden somehow managed to hold them to a 0-0 draw. Still, the Dutch easily won the group and went to the next stage.
In the 1974 World Cup, the next phase was another round of groups, once again with four teams in each. The winners of both groups would then meet in the final.
The Netherlands had to face the teams of Brazil, East Germany, and Argentina. Many expected the side to struggle against the two South American countries, especially since Brazil was the reigning world champion from 1970.
I think this was the moment people realized how strong this Dutch team really is. Argentina was demolished 4-0, while the other two games were won comfortably with 2-0 each. Cruyff, supported by the likes of Krol, Neeskens, Rensenbrink, and Rep, dominated the rest of the field.
The Netherlands won the group without conceding a single goal and had to face the hosts of West Germany, led by sublime Franz Beckenbauer, in the final. The world believed that nothing could stop the Dutch contenders on the road to the trophy.
And yet, we all know the Germans. You can’t ever underestimate them, and this is what the Netherlands did. The team started the game brightly, and a brilliant passing move resulted in a penalty against Cruyff, so the Dutch were ahead after only two minutes!
They kept playing better for the rest of the half, but they didn’t score again. For some reason, the side mostly passed the ball around, as if they wanted to humiliate their opponent. Instead, the Germans found the net after a penalty in the middle of the half.
The unthinkable happened in the 43rd minute when the ultimate fox in the box, Gerd Muller, put West Germany ahead. The Netherlands dominated possession for the rest of the game and missed a couple of golden chances, but they didn’t manage to score again.
It’s hard to understand what happened on that day. Probably the Dutch were a bit complacent, and the stubborn Germans took full advantage.
The result shocked the world and meant that the Netherlands team of 1974, for all of its brilliance, didn’t win the World Cup.
More than 40 years later, the team is the living proof that soccer is not only about winning. As Cruyff himself once said, maybe the Dutch team was the real winner. After all, it is remembered more after all this time.
The sad part is that that remained the only World Cup of Johan Cruyff. He decided to skip the finals in 1978 out of fear that his family might get kidnapped. In his absence, the Dutch hearts were once again broken in the final of the tournament.
The country went on to lose another title match in 2010 and remains the strongest that is yet to win a World Cup. The Netherlands didn’t qualify for Russia 2018, but maybe the long-awaited success is somewhere in the future?
Hungary 1954
Coach: Gusztav Sebes
Best Players: Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis, Zoltan Czibor
If there is a team in soccer history that can compete with the 1974 Netherlands side for the best that failed to win the World Cup, this is Hungary in 1954. The country’s squad from the 1950s was called the Golden Team because of its domination.
From 1950 to 1956 when the Hungarian revolution broke the team, Hungary had 42 wins, 7 draws, and only 1 loss that I will get back to later on. The side was able to absolutely demolish the superpowers in world soccer at this point.
The likes of England, Uruguay, and the Soviet Union were humiliated by Hungary during this period in time. It seemed like no one could stop the side led by Ferenc Puskas. He was the first complete soccer player and an inspiration to generations after that.
The legendary Johan Cruyff himself said that Puskas was one of his favorites. The Hungarian led Real Madrid to a number of trophies later in his career, but he didn’t win a trophy with his national team.
As you could expect, the Hungarians were the big favorite in the 1954 World Cup. They arrived in Switzerland without having lost a game for the past four years, and many expected this trend to continue.
In the first stage of the tournament, Hungary absolutely demolished South Korea, beating them 9-0, and they did the same with West Germany, this time winning by the “modest” scoreline of 8-3.
Ferenc Puskas was the brain behind the Hungarian performances, while Sandor Kocsis scored a total of SEVEN goals in their opening games.
Imagine what the world was thinking after witnessing the Hungarians score 17 goals in just the first two games of the tournament! They had displayed an attacking power no one has ever seen up to this point, and they created chances for fun.
If someone doubted Hungary before the World Cup started, it was all gone after the group stage. The good performance of the country continued in the knockout stage.
The strong Brazilian team was beaten 4-2 in the quarterfinal, and the reigning world champion, Uruguay, met the same fate in the semis. The impressive part is that Ferenc Puskas watched from the stands, injured.
There was only one game left, and Hungary had to face none other than West Germany, the same team that was destroyed and humiliated in the group stage. The stage was set for a triumph, and it certainly looked that way at the beginning of the match.
Goals by the returned Puskas and Zoltan Czibor gave Hungary a 2-0 lead in the 8th minute of the match. Everyone thought that another crushing victory was on the cards. And yet, the Germans were level only 10 minutes later.
Hungary missed some chances and hit the post, and the German keeper Toni Turek made save after save. There were a total of 16 shots on target, but none of those after the 8th minute found the net. And when everyone expected that the game would go to extra time, Helmut Rahn scored his second goal in the 84th minute, and this was enough for West Germany to win.
The game was called “The Miracle of Bern” and remains one of the biggest upsets in the history of soccer to this day.
How did West Germany succeed after losing 8-3 in the group stage and being clearly second-best? For a start, the weather was terrible. It was raining, and the pitch was in a bad condition, which helped West Germany, as the Hungarians couldn’t pass the ball as they were used to.
Furthermore, the Germans were using revolutionary sports equipment and football boots that helped them stay more balanced throughout the game. Of course, Lady Luck played a part, too. All of these factors contributed to the victory.
Decades later, there are some suspicions that West Germany used doping before the game, and this enhanced their performance. It’s hard to prove that for sure more than 50 years later, and history can’t be changed.
The Golden Team of Hungary didn’t win the World Cup of 1954, but it was one of the most dominant soccer sides the world has ever seen.
Brazil 1982
Coach: Tele Santana
Best Players: Zico, Socrates, Eder
Despite the rather lackluster performance in 2018, Brazil remains the most successful country in the history of the World Cup. The nation has won the trophy 5 times and produced some of the greatest sides in the competition.
It is hard to pick one that stands above all, and yet, there are people who believe that the most exceptional Brazilian World Cup team of all time is actually one that didn’t win the competition!
This alone should tell you something about the Brazilian squad of 1982. If you look at this random YouTube compilation, you will understand why.
The likes of Zico, Socrates, and Eder were among the most technically gifted players to ever grace the game.
Brazil had some absolute magicians with the ball, and their style in 1982 was a feast for any soccer fan. In the first group stage, the South Americans demolished Scotland, New Zealand, and the Soviet Union, scoring 10 goals and conceding only 2 in the process.
The format of the 1982 World Cup was such that the second phase also included groups. This time, the teams were drawn in 4 groups, and each consisted of 3 teams. Unfortunately for Brazil, they were in the “Group of Death” with the exceptional teams of Argentina and Italy. Only one was going to go through and play in the last 4.
The South American rival was first in line and had the legendary Diego Maradona on its side. Despite that, Brazil’s unstoppable attack managed to put 3 goals past Argentina, which was enough for the 3-1 victory. Zico, called the White Pele, scored the first one and was Brazil’s best player in this game and throughout the tournament.
Next in line was Italy, and the Europeans had beaten Argentina as well. And yet, a draw would have been enough for Brazil to go through because of the better goal difference.
Italy went ahead twice in the game, but the stubborn Brazilians came back both times and had their own chances to go ahead. But then came the 74th minute when a mistake in defense gave Paolo Rossi the opportunity to complete his hat-trick.
The Italian striker was simply touched by a higher power in 1982 and created his own legend in this World Cup, at the expense of one of the greatest attacking teams in the history of soccer. His 6 goals helped Italy to go on and win the tournament at the end.
To be fair, Brazil 1982 was probably as not as good as the other two teams on this list. Unlike the Netherlands in 1974 and Hungary in 1954, this side didn’t even reach the final, and the reason was obvious.
Brazil 1982 lacked the BALANCE necessary to win the World Cup.
For all its sublime attacking talent, the Brazilian team was shaky at the back. This was evident against Argentina already, but Italy fully exposed the suspect defense.
And yet, the likes of Zico and Socrates remain in the hearts of many soccer fans up to this date. They provide proof of why Brazil is one of the most popular soccer teams around the globe. They always entertain, and the game is in their blood.
Final Words
I feel that these are the three World Cup teams that never delivered the trophy but have a deserved spot in the history of the tournament. Of course, there are other teams that were great and fell short at the end.
Do you have a favorite one that you believe should’ve been included in this post? If that’s the case, I would love to see your opinion in the comments below.
The post Three Amazing Teams That Came up Short in the FIFA World Cup appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Malaysia Authorities Greenlight Gambling Crackdown with 114 Individuals Detained
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Malaysia Authorities Greenlight Gambling Crackdown with 114 Individuals Detained
Malaysia has been working on improving the state of its gaming industry and the process has been ongoing for many months now. The official start of the crackdown planned for some time now in Rawang came this weekend as the police managed to arrest a total of 114 people who are suspected to be managing […]
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Sunday, July 29, 2018
GVC Holdings in merger talks with MGM Resorts
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GVC Holdings in merger talks with MGM Resorts
Pachinko remains king for Japanese gamblers
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Pachinko remains king for Japanese gamblers
5 Reasons the Chargers Can Win the AFC West
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5 Reasons the Chargers Can Win the AFC West
The Los Angeles Chargers are primed and ready to go. The roster is loaded, and the players are hungry. On paper, it should be a good year for Anthony Lynn’s squad. But you never really know until the games play out.
It still sounds weird calling them the “Los Angeles” Chargers, but I’ll have to start getting used to it. When I was attending San Diego State University between 2005-2010, I lived right next to Qualcomm Stadium, the rugged field that the Chargers played their home games on.
I have witnessed the heartbreak first-hand. I have seen the Bolts’ season go up in flames right before their beloved fans’ eyes. But guess what, Chargers nation?
This year might be different.
The AFC West looks to be a collection of teams who are on the rise, as lots of movement in and around the division has taken place. While there isn’t a new coach or a new quarterback in LA, the Chargers have more than enough talent and leadership in the current locker room to get this thing done and win the division.
I’m going to give you 5 legitimate reasons why I think that’s the case. I plan to keep things clear and organized so that you leave this article with no confusion.
The Chargers will win the AFC West this season, and here’s why.
1) This Defense Is Stacked
There are a few teams in the NFL that probably think they have the best defense in the league. Jacksonville can certainly make a case, as could Philadelphia. But I happen to think that this Chargers defensive unit might top all 31 others in the National Football League.
I’ll start on the outside of this defensive line because the tandem of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram is about as electric of a duo as you’ll find across the entire league. Both men recorded double-digit sacks in 2017, and the scary part is, I can see them being even better in 2018.
They utilized their first 4 picks in the draft to beef up their defense, including adding a stud defensive back in Derwin James.
James figures to immediately step in as the starting free safety, while rookie linebackers Kyzir White and Uchenna Nwosu will look to add depth to the middle level of the defense.
Corners Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward form a formidable pair of shutdown defenders, so I really see no weaknesses amongst this group.
Last season, they were third in the NFL in points allowed (17.0 per game) and were also one of only three teams to hold the opposition to under 200 yards per game through the air.
Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley did a fantastic job in his first year commanding the defense, and I only expect the unit to be even tougher in the second year under his watch.
If this team ends up having the utterly dominant defense I anticipate them having, just remember that you heard it here first.
2) Philip Rivers – His Drive and His Consistency
Chargers QB Philip Rivers will turn 37 the day before his team suits up to face the Bengals in Week 14. The guy has 7 children sitting at home with his lovely wife, Tiffany, and Philip has “millions” stored away in his bank account.
So why is this guy still playing? What is his motivation?
That’s easy. He’s here to continue chasing his dream of winning a Super Bowl title. Take a gander around the division at the other 3 starting QBs, and you’ll see that none of them have the experience that Rivers has.
Quite frankly, as of right now, none of them are as good as Philip is.
Only Tom Brady threw for more yards in 2017, and Rivers was 5th in touchdown passes thrown. What’s even better is that no starting QB was sacked less than Philip was a season ago. While some of that credit goes to the Chargers offensive line, a lot of that has to do with Philip’s uncanny ability to be mobile in the pocket, despite not being the most athletic guy out there.
In order to win this division, you’ll need a quarterback who you can trust. You need someone who can drive the ball down the field in crunch time and put points on the board. As far as the AFC West goes, the Chargers signal-caller is that guy.
Speaking of the other QBs in this division, that’s a nice segue into reason #3!
3) This Division Is Good, but It’s Not Great
The AFC West as a whole had a bit of a down year in 2017. While I think the Broncos and Raiders certainly made strides this offseason towards being relevant again, I’m not convinced that either squad won’t experience some “humps and bumps” throughout 2018.
The Broncos defense is no longer the stout group it was once, and how Case Keenum responds in Mile High remains to be seen. Vance Joseph went 5-11 in his first year, and I think John Elway will have a short leash on his head coach this time around.
Everyone in Oakland has assumed that Jon Gruden has been sent from God to bring this team back to life, but there is still tons of work to be done for the Raiders franchise to get where it wants to go.
The Kansas City Chiefs have handed the keys over to Patrick Mahomes, and while I think the former Texas Tech QB has oodles of talent, I suspect it will take him some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL.
Not to mention that this defense lost their best cornerback (Marcus Peters), and longtime linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson are no longer in KC to provide the young guys with leadership.
Bottom line, when I look around the division, nothing really scares me if I’m a Chargers fan.
I don’t think Los Angeles will be handed this division, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Chiefs or Raiders win 8 or 9 games.
But there is no doubt in my mind that the Chargers should win this division and host a home game in the playoffs. The fact that the other three teams are a work in progress is a big reason why.
4) The Schedule Is Favorable
Here I am, staring at the Chargers’ 16-game regular-season schedule. What is hitting me in the face like a ton of bricks is that I don’t see a single home game that the Chargers won’t be favored in.
Every team in the league gets a home game against the other three teams in their respective division, but what about the other 5?
In the case of the Chargers, they’ll see the 49ers, Titans, Cardinals, Bengals, and Ravens as their other 5 opponents at home. It’s safe to say that these aren’t the most frightening opponents they could have drawn, so I think the Chargers caught a bit of a break with the schedule.
Sure, traveling to Buffalo in Week 2 and flying cross-country to Pittsburgh in Week 13 won’t be “gimmes,” but if those are the toughest two games on their schedule, I kind of like their chances of snatching up at least 10 or 11 wins.
The way I see this division shaking out, that should be more than enough to take the cake.
5) Weapons on Offense
I’ve talked about how tough it’s going to be to score points on this defense. I mentioned that Philip Rivers is the most dependable QB in the division. What I haven’t brought up is the talent and speed around Rivers that will enable him to succeed and perform at a high level.
I hate the fact that tight end Hunter Henry is gone for the season, because he is a promising young player in this league. But let’s not forget that Mike Williams will be back and healthy and playing a decent chunk of the snaps.
The Chargers selected the Clemson wideout with the 7th pick of the draft in 2017, but Williams was unfortunately hampered by a herniated disc in his lower back and appeared in only bits and pieces of 6 games.
Keenan Allen was an absolute stud last year, finishing 4th in receptions (102) and 3rd in receiving yards (1,393). More importantly, the star receiver for the Chargers was able to play in all 16 games after playing a total of just 9 in the previous two seasons combined.
Tyrell “the Gazelle” Williams will be there to stretch the defense and open up the middle of the field, which should help clear some room for #28. Melvin Gordon is coming off a year in which he rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, including 4 of which that were through the air.
Melvin has proven he can be featured on all three downs after the former Wisconsin Badger hauled in 58 balls for 476 yards.
As long as this offensive line can stay healthy and be effective, look for their 22.2 points per game average to rise this coming season.
Closing Thoughts
The Los Angeles Chargers have everything in place to make a run at the Super Bowl this season. I’m not 100% sold that they are ready to supplant the New England Patriots as the class of the AFC, but I do think the Chargers have enough to wind up atop the AFC West.
It’s not just because their defense is stacked or because they have the most reliable QB in the division. Along with the ammunition they have on offense, this roster is one of the more complete and respected groups in all of the league.
I unveiled the fact that their schedule is a little light, and you know about all the work that the Chiefs, Raiders, and Broncos have to do.
When it’s all said and done, it’s looking more and more like the Chargers will capture this division. What happens after that will be totally up in the air, but I could see Chargers fans being pretty excited about the outcome.
The post 5 Reasons the Chargers Can Win the AFC West appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Gamenet Group SpA purchasing rival GoldBet
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Gamenet Group SpA purchasing rival GoldBet
Pennsylvania Family-Run Illegal Video Poker Scheme of 30 Years Comes to an End
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Pennsylvania Family-Run Illegal Video Poker Scheme of 30 Years Comes to an End
Pennsylvania is known as one of the booming centers of development when it comes to its gambling industry and it is not a secret to anyone that this could come with illegal operation taking place as well. The latest court action against an illegal gambling organization involves an entire family participating in the management of […]
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The Most Defining Moments of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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The Most Defining Moments of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is now complete, and France is the worthy champion. This was one of the most exciting tournaments I could remember for so many reasons.
We saw the introduction of new technology that will probably change soccer forever, a new team reached the final for the first time, and England won a penalty shootout. There were plenty of magical moments in Russia, and some of them will remain in our memories forever.
In this post, I will try to collect all of the defining events of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Some of them are related to the success of the teams that did well. Others are simply extraordinary and deserve to be mentioned.
Let’s see what impressed the most.
The Failure of the Big Guns
One of the things that defined the 2018 World Cup in Russia was that many of the favorites underperformed and were dumped early on. Let’s take a look at what happened.
Germany
The curse of the champion or poor team selection?
It’s funny how the reigning champions have gone down in the group stage in the last couple of World Cups. I honestly didn’t see it coming this time around, but the Germans were eliminated in the group stage of the competition for the first time.
The team didn’t show the efficiency of 2014 and looked lost for ideas. I think the key moment that led to this was the team selection of Joachim Low.
The coach was unable to inject much-needed energy and youth into the squad.
The best example was the surprising omission of Leroy Sane. The Manchester City winger had an exceptional season, and in my opinion, he should’ve been a starter in the German team. Instead, he wasn’t even part of the group that went to Russia.
The overall impression is that Low relied too much on players and tactics that worked in 2014. He failed to adjust the team to the new soccer realities and replace some of the older players with new talent that could elevate Germany’s performance.
I would add another example that didn’t affect the team much but was very telling of the approach used by Low. Manuel Neuer was injured for a lot of time and barely played before the World Cup.
And yet, he was Germany’s number 1 despite the presence of the young Ter Stegen who had an incredible season for Barcelona.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not a dig at Neuer, who’s a great player, and I don’t blame him for Germany’s exit. However, his starting spot didn’t make any sense under the circumstances.
At the end of the day, it was a deserved early exit for Germany and a lesson they must learn to return to the top. Fortunately for the country, there is a lot of talent in their ranks, and the road to success shouldn’t be that long.
Argentina
Too broken after three lost finals?
Argentina almost failed to qualify for the World Cup finals, and it took a miraculous hat trick from Lionel Messi in the last round to book a place in Russia.
Still, many expected the team to improve dramatically, as it has reached the finals in each of the last three major tournaments, including the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Everyone thought Messi and the other top players would show up in Russia.
Sadly for the country, this never happened. Argentina was humiliated by Croatia in the group stage and barely made it to the last 16. Despite the unconvincing performance and a poor start against future champs France, the South Americans were suddenly 2-1 up in the first knockout stage after a lucky deflection and one of the goals of the tournament.
I think this was one of the most crucial moments of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina was leading 2-1 with about 40 minutes to go, and this was the first and only time France was behind in the tournament.
Both teams showed their true colors at this moment, as the Europeans absolutely destroyed their opponent and scored three times within less than 15 minutes. This gave France the belief that this could be their tournament, and they dumped a sorry Argentina.
Unfortunately for Lionel Messi, it seems he won’t win a soccer World Cup in his career. I feel this Argentinian squad had all sorts of problems, but most of all, they were mentally broken after losing three big finals in a row.
Spain
Beaten before the tournament had even started?
Similarly to Germany, I believe the big moment for the Spanish team was actually before the FIFA World Cup in Russia had even started. Coach Lopetegui was lured by the opportunity to become the Real Madrid manager and accepted an offer from the club.
He obviously didn’t notify the Spanish Federation and was sacked days before the World Cup. Many believe this was the right decision, but I can’t agree.
Lopetegui was trying to change Spain and move on from their old style. He was trying to add urgency and penetration to a team that was used to have plenty of the ball but struggled to create many chances.
There were many signs he was about to succeed during the qualifications for the finals in Russia. We saw a lot of improvement in the first match against Portugal, too. Unfortunately for Spain, the country returned to the fruitless possession game from the last couple of big tournaments after that.
This was the main reason Spain was beaten by Russia in the last 16.
The former world champs had the ball for the majority of the match against Russia but didn’t make it count at the end. I think they lacked the leadership of Lopetegui, and sacking him was a huge mistake.
New Powers on the Rise
When some of the traditional forces in soccer fail, it’s only natural for other countries to take their place. This is exactly what happened in 2018.
Many nations will be happy about how their teams performed at the World Cup and will be hoping for more of the same in the near future.
Croatia Redefining Expectations
Croatia was one of the teams I selected as a good value bet to win the World Cup and as one of the potential surprises in the tournament. The small Balkan country had a great squad full of talent and hard workers.
I think the moment that gave them strength and helped Croatia reach the final was the win against Argentina. We all knew that Croatia was good, but I don’t think anyone expected them to be that good.
They trashed Messi and his teammates 3-0. After a result like that, the country knew it could go all the way, and that’s exactly what happened.
I would also like to point out that I’ve never seen a team come back so many times in the knockout stages. Croatia went behind in each of their games in the knockout stages from the last 16 to the final. They managed to somehow find a way to equalize and even ended victoriously in the first three clashes.
Unfortunately for Croatia, France was too strong at the end.
Despite falling at the last hurdle, this team deserves our respect and showed the world that the Balkan side is a force to be reckoned with.
The likes of Modric, Rakitic, Perisic, and Mandzukic were among the top players of the 2018 World Cup, and despite losing in the final, they created their own legend for the decades to come.
Belgium Finally Delivers
This generation of Belgian players is probably the best in the country’s history, and it has been like that for years now. And yet, up to 2018, the team has been struggling to do something special in a major tournament.
I think the main missing ingredient was the team spirit. Belgium had a squad full of stars but no cohesion and desire on the pitch. This World Cup was one of the last chances for this group of players to achieve something, as some of them will be out of their prime in a couple of years.
It was hard to know what would happen after the group stage, as both Tunisia and Panama were no match, while the game against England was barely competitive.
This is when the clash against Japan happened. The Asians were the worst team in the last 16, on paper, and everyone expected a spanking. And yet, Belgium was 2-0 down in the second half and on the brink of elimination.
It seemed as if the Golden Generation would once again fail to live up to the expectations.
I think this was the moment that changed everything. With their backs against the wall, the Belgians finally realized they had to push as hard as possible and give everything.
The European side managed to win the game 3-2, and this lifted them. It was this newly-found inspiration that helped them beat Brazil in the next round and then finish 3rd in the World Cup. Sure, Belgium will probably be disappointed, as the title was close, but it was still an honorable performance.
England Wins a Penalty Shootout!
For the first time in years, an English team went to a big tournament without carrying the burden of unrealistic expectations. Many felt this side had no experience and lacked quality in certain areas to compete.
I have to admit, I was part of that group. And yet, Gareth Southgate and his boys reached the last 4 of a World Cup for only the third time in the country’s history. Despite some difficult moments throughout the tournament, this English side performed at the biggest stage and made the nation proud.
Many argue that the team got lucky and played in the easier half of the draw. This might be true, but it shouldn’t wipe out the positives of this English performance.
For a start, it was a completely different mental state. The players were relaxed, and the team spirit was obvious. There were no egos and no expectations to bring the team down.
The credit should go to Gareth Southgate, who made this possible.
The biggest evidence that something was different was the penalty shootout against Colombia. The young English lads kept their composure and won it, which shocked the world. They then went on to reach the last 4, and you can’t take that away from them.
Sure, next time around, the draw won’t be that kind. But this squad will be more experienced and closer to its prime. If the hard work continues, this generation of English players might have another shot at glory somewhere in the future.
Russia Finds Belief
I think one of the most powerful moments in the 2018 FIFA World Cup was the opening game of the tournament. The host country Russia failed to spark the hopes of the nation before the tournament started, and most Russians expected the side to fail.
And yet, it all changed after only one match. The team trashed Saudi Arabia 5-0, and suddenly, everyone was behind the players. It was an example of how whole countries are affected by the World Cup and the game of soccer.
With the full support of the Russian people, the side went on to beat Spain and reach the last 8. They went toe to toe with eventual finalist Croatia at this stage and were heartbroken after a penalty shootout.
And still, a nation that didn’t believe at the start was extremely proud of the men who gave everything on the pitch, and Russia will remember the 2018 World Cup fondly.
The Rest of the Bunch
Of course, many other teams and players had their own special moments during the 2018 World Cup. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.
New Boys Score for the 1st Time
No one expected Panama to qualify for the World Cup, but the guys did that. It was for the first time in their history, which made the achievement monumental.
Of course, the whole nation enjoyed the tournament without expecting anything. This is why their joy was unbelievable when Panama actually managed to score their first goal against England.
The final scoreline of 6-1 didn’t ruin it for the small country, and the team found the net in the next match against Tunisia as well.
Swiss Controversy
There was also a political scandal during this World Cup. It happened in the game between Switzerland and Serbia. Both Swiss goalscorers, Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, made a symbol similar to the Albanian flag while celebrating.
This created a lot of controversy, and both players were investigated by FIFA. However, they escaped a punishment.
Neymar Controversy
There’s no doubt that Neymar is one of the most talented attacking players in the world right now. The guy has insane skills and was among the top performers in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
However, 2018 was very different for Neymar and his country. They were knocked out by Belgium in the quarterfinals, which was a slight underperformance, I think. No one was satisfied with this result, but it wasn’t as bad as Germany, Spain, or Argentina.
Still, one of the most memorable moments from Brazil in this World Cup was Neymar’s antics. He went down easy on so many occasions that people from all over the globe trolled him online after that.
African Hearts Getting Broken
The countries from Africa had a tough World Cup, as none of them managed to go out of the group stage. It all started about a month before the competition even began when Mohamed Salah got injured.
He wasn’t completely fit for the World Cup, and Egypt had no chance to progress without its talismanic striker and one of the best players in the world right now.
The teams of Morocco and Tunisia showed some decent soccer but were unable to find a clinical finish and were far from reaching the next stage of the World Cup.
There were two teams from Africa that almost did it but fell short in the last minute. The young Nigerian squad showed a lot of potential, but lacked the experience to keep it cool at the end and was dumped by Argentina.
Elsewhere, Senegal got 4 points and was 15 minutes away from the last 8. The team was great but played a too passive game against Colombia in the last round and got punished in the second half.
Tough luck for the African representatives, but they will be hoping to bounce back in 4 years.
Ronaldo Hitting Another Record
I’m 100% sure that Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy with this World Cup. After winning the EURO 2016, the Portuguese forward had another major trophy in his sight, but the team didn’t deliver.
Still, the new Juventus forward did break another record by becoming the most prolific international scorer from Europe. He is second worldwide, and there’s a case to be made that he might become first as well.
Final Words
I’m sure you are wondering why some of the most crucial moments of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia are not included in this article. For a start, there’s not much about the champions, France.
I figured they deserve their own post, so feel free to check my thoughts on the main reasons the country won the competition.
Also, there’s a separate post dedicated to the funniest moments in this World Cup. You will find everything from Neymar’s haircut to a certain Belgian forward that had a romance with one of the posts there.
Finally, the soccer world witnessed the introduction of video technologies. I think it was a good thing in the long run, despite some controversial moments.
I’m sure that I might’ve missed some of the exciting moments of this the 2018 FIFA World Cup. If you believe that’s the case, let me know about it in the comments below.
The post The Most Defining Moments of the 2018 FIFA World Cup appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Ocean Resort Casino's upcoming events
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Ocean Resort Casino's upcoming events
The Atlantic City casino features a line-up of events, entertainment and guest amenities cater to a wide-range of interests.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Every Team That Could Actually Challenge the Warriors in 2018
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Every Team That Could Actually Challenge the Warriors in 2018
It’s tough to bet against the Golden State Warriors going into the 2018-19 NBA season.
The defending champs have won two straight championships since Kevin Durant came to town, and it really doesn’t look like they plan on stopping.
Golden State swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals last year and seemed bored at times in doing so. Then they went out and got even better, landing a stud center in DeMarcus Cousins.
Even without Boogie, the Dubs appeared to be daunting and the top team in the Western Conference. With a healthy Cousins in tow, it’s tough to rationalize someone else winning the Finals next summer.
But we have to try.
Golden State offers little value for sports bettors (-150 favorites at Sportsbetting.ag), and so many other teams have NBA Finals odds that demand a wager. Only so many are truly viable wagers, though.
Here are the teams you actually want to consider betting on, should you wager cash on teams outside the Dubs to win it all this year.
All odds that are referenced in this article were taken from Sportsbetting.ag on 7/25/2018. These odds may have changed since the time of this writing.
Philadelphia 76ers (+1400)
The 76ers enjoyed quite the turnaround last year, leaning on the duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to take the league by storm.
Philly turned into a very dangerous and dynamic team that can carve you up on the inside or destroy you from long range. When a healthy Embiid was on the floor, they were even tough defensively at times.
This is a young team, but they’re easily among the most talented rosters in the NBA as they stand. The Sixers did lose some shooting and depth, but their starting five projects as one that can match up with anyone defensively and can also shoot the lights out.
If Markelle Fultz can ever rediscover the form that made him a #1 overall pick, Philly could morph into a champion over the next season.
Either way, they absolutely have the goods to be the best team in an Eastern Conference that gets blown wide open by LeBron James’ departure to La La Land.
Toronto Raptors (+1200)
The Raptors were truly the best team in the Eastern Conference a year ago.
Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan could always cook defenses with their elite isolation scoring, but Dwane Casey finally taught this team how to share the rock, and it led to 59 wins and the best record in the east.
Toronto couldn’t get past LeBron James and the Cavs, though, which led to Casey – the league’s Coach of the Year, mind you – getting canned.
While that was a bit rash, Toronto took it one step further by breaking up their roster with a huge trade involving DeRozan and Kawhi Leonard.
There is a very real chemistry concern here, while you also have to consider that Leonard really didn’t want to go to Canada and played just nine games last year due to injury.
Nobody can project the new NBA season without admitting that, but a healthy and dialed-in Leonard without a doubt makes this version of the Raptors better than the one of a year ago.
DeRozan was an elite isolation scorer, but he didn’t offer a reliable three-point shot and wasn’t a high-level defender. Leonard does and is, while he can also carry an entire offense and create for others.
The Raptors also landed a viable two-way guard in Danny Green with that trade, while they still retain the rest of the roster that won 59 games last season.
This all just comes down to Leonard’s health and mentality.
If Leonard is on the court and actually cares, the Raptors figure to offer insane value at +1200.
Los Angeles Lakers (+850)
Do I really think the Lakers are about to knock off the Dubs? No, but anytime you have LeBron James, you have to be taken somewhat seriously.
James is not going to have it easy in the Western Conference. He will probably have to run into the Houston Rockets or another viable threat before getting/having to face Golden State.
That’s if this marriage even works out swimmingly in year one. Everyone automatically assumes the Lakers will now be in the playoff hunt, but they’ve surrounded James with a litany of non-shooters.
On paper, James does inherit a way more talented supporting cast than he had in his final days in Ohio. However, guys like Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma are all still young and in a lot of ways just not ready for the NBA’s biggest stage.
Perhaps that’s why veterans like Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are here: to close the gap.
I think the Lakers get to the playoffs and sniff a Finals trip, but this may be a two-year process. Still, a LeBron James-led roster has +850 odds to win a title. That’s not a terrible flier bet.
Houston Rockets (+600)
Houston remains Golden State’s stiffest competitor in the Western Conference.
Chris Paul returned to Texas to join James Harden, the Rockets brought in Carmelo Anthony, and I’m sure they’ll hold onto star two-way center Clint Capela.
To me, all of that is more than enough to fend off the Lakers or anyone else out west, while Houston had the Dubs on the ropes last year, up 3-2 in the WCF.
Health is going to be the deciding factor here, as Chris Paul has had really bad luck late in the year. His absence is probably why the Rockets didn’t win a title last season.
That’s how it went down, though, while you also have to look at Melo’s potential impact. If an aging isolation scorer couldn’t help the Thunder, is he really a lock to be a perfect fit for Houston?
I’m not sold, but the Rockets as a whole still have the team capable of competing with and besting the Dubs.
I’ll truly believe it when I see it, but at +600, the Rockets are easily the second-best wager out of the Western Conference.
Boston Celtics (+550)
LeBron James left Ohio, and now the Eastern Conference is officially wide open.
You can say someone in the Western Conference will take down the Dubs, but in all likelihood, the best bet is whoever meets Golden State in the Finals doing so.
While I’m slightly interested in the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers, I think the natural progression of the league gives way to a healthy Celtics team taking that next step.
After all, the Celtics were one game from reaching the Finals last year, and they didn’t even have Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward on the court.
This year, they will. The Celtics will be at full strength and across the board will have more experience, depth, and star power than anyone else in this conference.
If you’re looking for someone to knock off the Dubs, this is it.
Can Anyone Beat Golden State?
When I started to look at the field going into next year, I wanted to eliminate teams like the Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets, and others.
These are competent, dangerous teams, but they’re not really realistic options to dethrone the Dubs.
I think bettors are looking at just five realistic options to take down the Dubs.
The crazy thing here is that you’re betting on next year’s champion. The Rockets or Lakers could end up shocking everyone and taking out Golden State, only to enter the Finals exhausted and bow out to the Celtics, Raptors, or 76ers.
I’m not taking the Lakers really seriously yet. LeBron James changes things, but they really need to prove themselves. As I’ve said, every single team here is worth a flier bet, but if you’re not betting on every team, they’re one I’d probably steer clear of for now.
If it isn’t going to be Golden State coming out of the west, it has to be the Rockets.
Houston has gotten to the Western Conference Finals twice now and seems ready for that next step. I don’t think they’ll get it done, but they’re not a bad bet and right now are 100% the Warriors’ main threat inside the conference.
Where it gets tricky is the other side. The Eastern Conference is wide open, but it’s still probably down to the three teams listed here. I’ll rank them Boston, Toronto, and Philly for now.
All three are extremely dangerous and capable of proving everyone wrong. However, come playoff time, mental strength, experience, coaching, depth, and star power are all pretty huge assets.
Of that crop, the Celtics have everything they need in spades.
If I’m going against the Dubs, Boston at +550 is without a doubt my favorite wager. After that, I’m going to be warming up to the Raptors. Kawhi Leonard is a former champion, and he really could make a huge difference for an already strong Raptors team. At +1200, Toronto is clearly the best overall value on the board.
Noting the top challenger and best value is important, but I still don’t think anyone but the Warriors is winning this year. This is a flat-out dynasty at this point, and winning a third consecutive title will only cement that.
Kevin Durant has found his groove, and this team brought in DeMarcus Cousins to provide an insane upgrade at center. If they’re healthy, I just don’t see how anyone beats them.
PICKGolden State Warriors-150
The post Every Team That Could Actually Challenge the Warriors in 2018 appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Operators reaffirm their interest in coming Japanese casinos
World Casino News
Operators reaffirm their interest in coming Japanese casinos
Golden Entertainment's August player promotions
Casino City Times
Golden Entertainment's August player promotions
There will be promotions at several of the company's hotel-casinos in Nevada, including: Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower, Aquarius Casino Resort, Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Gambling Hall, Arizona Charlie's Boulder and Arizona Charlie's Decatur.
Illinois Racing Board Opens the Door to Historical Horse Racing in State Racetracks
CasinoGamesPro.com
Illinois Racing Board Opens the Door to Historical Horse Racing in State Racetracks
The state of Illinois is well on its way to introduce one of the most preferred gaming offerings across the states to its gaming patrons, as the Illinois Racing Board made it clear that it is going to allow historical horse racing terminals to operate at state race courses. During a specially arranged meeting of […]
The post Illinois Racing Board Opens the Door to Historical Horse Racing in State Racetracks appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
India’s Lawmakers Unlock Gambling Field for Cryptocurrency Transactions
CasinoGamesPro.com
India’s Lawmakers Unlock Gambling Field for Cryptocurrency Transactions
The world of cryptocurrencies and their vast application throughout a wide variety of fields could be defined as groundbreaking, which is something acknowledged by the lawmakers of India as well. It has been confirmed that the Law Commission of India is taking virtual currencies into account and their implementation in the gambling and other industries […]
The post India’s Lawmakers Unlock Gambling Field for Cryptocurrency Transactions appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.
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