Cryptocurrency

Trading Blows: Cloudbet’s expert take on the rebounding NBA season

Published

4 years ago

July 31, 2020

Trading Blows: Cloudbet's expert take on the rebounding NBA season

Reading Time: 4 minutes

As the NBA goes back to work – and hopes for no more Bubble trouble – the trading team at Cloudbet, the leading crypto sportsbook and casino, breaks down the latest market movers, telling you who’s hot and who’s not in the Disney World Laboratory.

1. League leaders reassert their claims over the championship: While they both dropped a game apiece during the scrimmages, the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers showed enough to firm up their respective chances to take the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy home.

a. The long layoff has benefited teams with older or injured star players: For the Lakers, the hiatus allowed Lebron James to give his 35-year-old body a solid rest. The last time he did so, for the All-Star break in February, James then went on a tear to lead his team on a 7-2 run. He certainly bounced back in style during Thursday’s thrilling nightcap win.
b. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo – a clear favourite this season to win his second-straight Most Valuable Player award – was able to rest a sprained knee sustained in a March game against the Lakers.

c. Both teams come to the restart refreshed and recharged. The Lakers are favourites to win the 2019-2020 title, with their line moving to 3.31 (~ 9/4; or +231;), from 3.34 (+234) prior to the scrimmage. Strong showings from their second and third-string players, especially in the third scrimmage game with James and Anthony Davis on the bench.
d. The Bucks are just behind, at 3.45 (~ 5/2; or +245), from 3.53 (+253). Antetokounmpo clearly shone during the practice matches, with more-than-ample support from fellow starters Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez.

2. Los Angeles Clippers lose ground in title race: While still third-favourite to win the championship, the Clips have been big drifters in the market since the scrimmages began.

a. Among the top units, this team has been most impacted by the Covid bubble restrictions, with two key players (Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley) in quarantine after temporary family-related absences.

b. Williams, the Clips’ leader in assists, was pilloried in social media for a much-publicised and ill-advised visit to an Atlanta strip club while on leave.

c. Another player, Montrezl Harrel, has yet to return from family leave.

d. This means a much diminished squad takes on the Lakers in their restart opener on July 30, and they’re unlikely to be back at full strength until at least the second week of the rebooted competition – that’s tough, given that there are only eight seeding match-ups to play.

e. With these travails in mind, bets on the Clips to win it all are currently paying 4.15 (~ 3/1; or +315). Their probability of a championship now stands at 24.1%, roughly a percentage point lower than before the practice scrimmages began.

3. Houston Rockets cement their status among the top four title favourites: Even though they ended the pre-Covid season with the league’s 10th-best win-loss record, the Rockets have worked their way in as fourth-favourites to win the title.

One train of thought has it that they more than others will benefit from the long break: four of their key players, including stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook are 30 or older, and the shorter season will shelter them from the extended wear-and-tear of a normal season.

a. Harden worked out like a fiend during the layoff, coming to Disneyworld with a noticeably slimmer physique. Already the league’s top scorer this season, he unsurprisingly led his team’s point production over the three scrimmage matches.

b. Westbrook was a question mark after testing positive for Covid in mid-July, but emerged from the NBA’s quarantine protocol in time to play solid minutes in all of his team’s three scrimmages.

c. Houston’s odds of a championship this season firmed over the past week to 15.1 (~ 14/1; or +1415) from 15.6 (+1460).

d. One setback emerged this week, with starter Eric Gordon injuring his ankle during H-Town’s victory over Boston. No clear movement in prices yet, as the market awaits test results to determine his immediate playing future.

4. Toronto Raptors gain ground in title race: The defending champions’ performance this season prior to the league’s suspension (72% win rate) shows that they’re still a force to be reckoned with even after losing star player Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers.

The Raps won two out of their three scrimmages, which also saw the return of center Marc Gasol, who spent the hiatus rehabbing his dodgy hamstrings and dropping a significant amount of weight.

a. Clipper odds for a repeat championship have narrowed from 18 to 16.9 (~ 17/1; or +1591).

b. They’ve now displaced the Boston Celtics at fifth in the outright lists to take the title.

5. New Orleans firms up its chances for a playoff spot in the West: The Pelicans won its three practice match-ups, including a 21-point drubbing of the Bucks on July 27, all without its star rookie Zion Williamson, who had been in quarantine following a family-related absence from the bubble.

The big news this week was Williamson resuming practice, an appearance warmly welcomed by teammates: He’s the Pellies’ second-highest scorer and has missed 44 games this season due to knee and ankle injuries.

a. His return plus a solid scrimmage showing has improved the prospects for their performance in the West (see below).

b. Also increases the interest over the tussle for the final play-off spot in that conference. The Memphis Grizzlies are current favourites to take that spot, paying 1.64 (~ 4/6; or -156), with New Orleans next at 3.81 (~ 11/4; or +281).

6. Western Conference outcomes have been reframed, thanks to the above reasons: The Clippers’ personnel issues means they’ve lost the slim edge they previously had over the Lakers as favourites to take the West.

a. Team Lebron is now tops with odds of 2.58 (~ 6/4; or +158) over the Clips at 2.66 (~ 13/8; or +166).

b. The biggest improvement in fortunes belongs to the Rockets, with a line of 7.28 (~ 6/1; or +628) currently giving them a 13.7% chance of winning the conference, or 2.1 percentage points higher than before scrimmages began.

c. The other big move was New Orleans: While they’re still unfancied as conference champs, their line moved from 54.6 into 31.1 (~ 30/1; or +3013).

NBA quarantine protocol:
New NBA protocol implies that players could be tested as often as daily during this resumption. If a player has a confirmed positive test, he must undergo treatment and rest for at least 14 days without exercising. In order to return, the player must pass cardiac exams and also test negative for the coronavirus twice in a 24-hour period.

On July 21, the NBA reported zero cases of the coronavirus following the testing of 346 players, and the league has gone three weeks without a positive result.

Prices are as compiled by Cloudbet and are current as of 8 am GMT on July 30

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Cryptocurrency

SOFTSWISS Survey Q3’24: 58% Cite Crypto as Key Driver in New Markets

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

SOFTSWISS, a tech company and pioneer in crypto gaming with over 15 years of experience, conducted a survey revealing that the majority view crypto as a key driver for growth in new markets. Experts also analysed this year’s crypto bets to share the latest insights.

Bitcoin recently reached a historic high, getting closer to 90,000 euro per coin. However, during the third quarter of 2024, it faced its sharpest drop in several years. SOFTSWISS experts examine how these market shifts have influenced iGaming performance in the quarterly ‘State of Crypto’ analytics.

A Quarter of the World’s Population Engages in iGaming

Global iGaming statistics indicate that approximately 26% of the world’s population were ever engaged in iGaming. By 2028, the iGaming market is projected to reach 243.2 million users, with a market volume nearing 130 billion euro, a substantial portion of which is expected to involve cryptocurrency.

SOFTSWISS data shows that during the 9 months of 2024, the Total Bet Sum, including both fiat and crypto, increased by 43.1% compared to the same period of 2023. Simultaneously, the Total Bet Count showed even more impressive growth, surpassing 44.5%.

An in-depth comparison analysis since 2022 demonstrates fiat bets are rising much more rapidly than crypto. A comparison between the first nine months of 2024 and the same period of the previous year revealed that the Fiat Bet Sum achieved a 50.4% boost. The conservative approach toward payment methods has resulted in Crypto Bet Sum growing at a slower pace compared to fiat and has led to a modest 4-percentage-points (p.p.) decline in the crypto share in 2024.

^[1] Based on data from ongoing projects[

Potential of Crypto in iGaming 2025

According to the SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends 2025 Report, cryptocurrency is set to remain one of the preferred payment methods within the sector. Based on the company’s survey, 58% of respondents identified crypto as the primary driver of growth in new markets, underscoring its essential role in shaping the industry’s future.

Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS, reflects on the possibilities of crypto: “Integrating crypto payments allows iGaming businesses to operate globally, delivering greater speed and convenience. With iGaming’s naturally borderless reach, this expands platforms’ access to a wider international audience, boosting their global growth potential.”

“What is more, crypto transaction fees can be almost three times lower compared to traditional fiat gateways, allowing iGaming businesses to save on processing costs and reinvest that capital”, adds Max Krupyshev, CEO of CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid.

SOFTSWISS data confirms stable interest in crypto. In the first nine months of 2024, the Crypto Bet Sum increased by 15.2% compared to the same period the previous year. A long-term quarter-by-quarter analysis reveals a consistent growth pattern, though the third quarter of 2024 saw a 9 p.p. decline from the previous quarter. The drop aligns with the decline in the exchange rates of major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum, which occurred in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, the Crypto Bet Count rose by 16.2% in Q3 2024, indicating stable interest in crypto gaming. This combination reveals that while engagement in crypto betting remains steady, the total wagered sum is closely correlated to fluctuations in cryptocurrency exchange rates.

Altcoins Share Growth

The top five most popular cryptos in iGaming have remained stable over the years, with some shifts in the ranking order. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, and Dogecoin are the most popular among crypto players. While altcoins accounted for only 25.1% of bets over the first nine months of last year, their share increased significantly to over 47% during the same period in 2024.

Bitcoin’s share dropped by 22 p.p. during the nine months of 2024 compared to the same period of 2023. At the same time, Tether and Litecoin saw the most impressive share growth, with over 8 p.p. and 7.8 p.p., respectively. Ethereum strengthened by 4.9 p.p.

Another impactful trend reveals some casinos, like Rollbit and Shuffle, utilise their own iGaming tokens to boost player engagement. Tokens designed specifically for gaming offer enhanced compatibility across platforms, lower volatility, and exclusive perks for users. Crypto drives the development of new payment methods and business growth.

Vitali Matsukevich summarises: “Crypto offers iGaming operators key advantages beyond lower costs and global reach. Blockchain enhances safety and fairness through transparency and traceability, with each transaction and game result permanently recorded and tamper-proof. Partnering with trusted crypto experts allows operators to harness these benefits, positioning themselves for growth and effectively navigating market shifts.”

The new SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends 2025 Report offers more insights about crypto in the ever-evolving iGaming sector. The visionary report is free to download via the link.

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

Cryptocurrency

Rainbet Launches New Crypto Casino for Both New and Experienced Players

Published

1 week ago

November 12, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Rainbet is excited to announce the launch of its new online crypto casino that has been expertly designed to cater to both new and experienced players. With a range of new and exciting casino games and classics, such as online slots, roulette, and blackjack, Rainbet provides an unforgettable betting experience.

Crypto casinos are online platforms where players can place bets with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Unlike regular casinos, online crypto casinos offer instant transactions that are much faster than conventional banking methods. Rainbet uses blockchain technology to guarantee the highest security for its players and, through its combination of speed, diverse game catalog, and reliable transactions, delivers an engaging gaming platform.

With a commitment to offering the best user experience, Rainbet ensures safe online practices and a fair and transparent gaming experience for all its players. “Rainbet is a safe and legitimate platform, with games created using a provably fair system,” said a spokesperson for the online casino. “This ensures that all games are fair and transparent, reinforcing player trust and confidence in the platform.”

Whether players are searching for classic casino games, such as online slots, blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, or are interested in eSports and live sports betting, Rainbet offers a diverse selection of the latest games with industry-leading technology and graphics.

Rainbet provides a comprehensive gambling experience that places a focus on fairness and legitimacy by adhering to rigorous standards and using advanced technology. This approach is highlighted in the online casinos’ easy and hassle-free deposits that enable players to confidently deposit real money to receive Rainbet currency, as well as the platform’s seamless and secure withdrawals.

Additionally, the crypto casino boasts an extensive array of online promotions and bonuses that are available across the platform’s most popular games. Rainbet also has a weekly 10% rakeback, which rewards players by returning part of their losses, reducing losses, and extending playtime.

“Compared to online Bitcoin casinos, Rainbet has more to offer, such as more games and exclusive promotions to make gambling more exciting. With daily, weekly, and monthly bonuses, players always have something extra to look forward to. These promotions, combined with an easy-to-navigate interface and a wide range of games, make Rainbet a top choice for crypto gamblers,” furthered a spokesperson for Rainbet.

Rainbet invites both new and experienced players to visit its website today to view its full catalog of games and the latest promotions.

Cryptocurrency

Kyrrex to host online panel discussion on MiCA and the future of crypto in Europe

Published

2 weeks ago

November 11, 2024

George Miller

Kyrrex to host online panel discussion on MiCA and the future of crypto in Europe

Reading Time: 2 minutes

As the European crypto community prepares for the implementation of the MiCA, Kyrrex is organizing an online X panel to discuss the potential impact and future trajectory of the industry under this new regulatory framework.

The panel “Is MiCA that Bad? The Future of Crypto in Europe,” will take place on November 14, 2024, at 12:00 CET on X Spaces.

This event aims to offer an in-depth examination of the challenges and opportunities that MiCA presents, drawing on the expertise of industry leaders and stakeholders.

Key speakers for the discussion include Mike Romanenko and Kevin Plumpton from Kyrrex,

Tomer Warschauer Nuni from Kima Network, Andrea Zapparoli Manzoni from H4ckManac, Thanos Tsavlis from Cyberscope, and Anoop Nannra from Trugard Labs. Their insights will help attendees understand how MiCA may reshape the crypto landscape and what this means for different segments of the market.

“As MiCA ushers in a new regulatory era for the crypto industry, open discussions are crucial for navigating this transition effectively. By bringing together voices from various sectors, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and proactive approach to the opportunities and challenges ahead,” said Mike Romanenko, CVO & co-founder of Kyrrex. “Engaging in conversations like these helps ensure that the community is informed and prepared for the future of crypto in Europe.”

The panel will be structured to encourage interaction and participation, allowing attendees to submit questions and engage in a discussion with the panel. Topics are expected to include compliance, innovation, and strategies for navigating the evolving regulatory environment.

This event offers professionals, enthusiasts, and stakeholders an opportunity to gain a clearer perspective on what lies ahead as MiCA begins to take effect. It will also provide a space for dialogue and knowledge-sharing, fostering a greater understanding of the potential impacts on the crypto sector in Europe.

Panel “Is MiCA that Bad? The Future of Crypto in Europe” details:

Date: November 14, 2024
Time: 12:00 CET
Platform: X Spaces

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