Latest News
Is cricket becoming like football? League-style cricket moves away from the traditional cricket

In the past few years, cricket games appear to have become very popular in countries which don’t have a long tradition in the sport or where this sport is not deeply embedded in their culture. That’s basically because cricket is getting worldwide and it’s going global, as a result of the growth of the league-style structure that is now seen in the cricket organizations.
We have most likely moved away from what cricket had once been and we are heading towards – or maybe we have already embarked on- a new version of the sport.
One that departs from its traditional structure and emphasis on international tournaments or competitions and lands on more league-based sports, such as football. It’s no wonder that you can see cricket betting sites in Germany, let’s say being almost equally popular among bettors like football betting sites or any other top sport for that matter.
People around the globe have started to watch cricket with the same passion, enthusiasm and interest that they are watching more mainstream and competitive sports. And this is definitely a result of how cricket is played now.
Some analysts have voiced their concerns, saying that cricket is heading towards ‘footballization’ or that it grows more and more into a sport like football, where leagues are the dominant structures around which the sport unfolds and clubs get to have the final say in cricketers’ moves and decisions.
How is cricket becoming more like football?
Well, cricket seems to be adopting the football-like structure, which is based on leagues’ format. This has been around for nearly two decades now, with the introduction of T20 leagues, but it has been intensified with the franchise of such leagues in the past few years.
At the moment the IPL – the most popular T20 league- has 10 franchises in India and this is not the only case. Franchised T20 leagues are continuously gaining ground, taking up more space in the cricket calendar of nations and slowly shortening the international cricket season year by year.
The growing popularity of T20 leagues resides in their format and the fact that they are more easily watched and followed by fans. They are shorter than the traditional matches, they are more intense and they are quicker.
So they offer condensed experience for the casual sports fans on the one hand, and more chances to get this experience on the other hand. Since there are many such leagues and they are shorter, then there can be more of them during the season. This comes in handy for the sports bettors as well, who want to have more action in cricket, just like they do when they are betting on football.
But what does ‘footballization’ mean in practice?
Having cricket being ‘footballized’ first of all means that there is more cricket going on all year round and so more audiences get to watch the sport. More of the sport and more of the audiences, also mean more revenues for the different leagues.
More revenues for the leagues, mean that the leagues’ clubs have more money to give for the contracts of players and thus more revenues for the cricketers. And this ultimately changes everything, because players get to be more tied to and consumed with the leagues and “less” available for international cricketing – which after all is the fundamental base value of cricket as a sport.
So, having cricket being ‘footballized’ simply means that leagues get to be on the top of priorities of all players and when this happens, by definition, international cricket games come second.
Leagues are getting stronger and they acquire more power in managing their players. When the cricket calendar is filled with league matches in between the international tournaments, then the leagues – and in fact the clubs – have a say in the players’ appearance in the national teams. They can release their players and make them available for the national teams, but they can also hinder their participation. It all becomes a matter of leagues and in this way, cricket is gradually losing its essence – which is deeply embedded in international competitions and bilateral series.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 27-December 3

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new appointments. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Rush Street Interactive announced that a woman from Cumberland County, NJ hit the IGT MegaJackpot at BetRivers.com. The 33-year-old woman hit the jackpot with a $0.60 bet, winning $662,000 while playing at home on her mobile phone.
betJACK has received a top ranking among the nation’s largest online sports betting brands. In a comprehensive evaluation conducted by research firm Eilers and Krejcik, betJACK emerged as a top performer, securing its place alongside the nation’s best online sports betting products.
On 26 June 2024, the starting pistol will be fired in São Paulo for the first gamescom latam, the new gamescom satellite event for all of South America. This was announced at an event in Brazil by the involved partners: game – The German Games Industry Association, Koelnmesse, BIG Festival and Omelete Company.
The Global Esports Federation’s pro-series – Global Esports Tour (GET) – will kick off its next season in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in April 2024. Staged by the Brazilian Confederation of Games and Esports (CBGE) and strongly supported by Brazil’s National, State and Local partners. The event promises intense competition and a boost for economic and tourism development in the vibrant city.
As part of its strategic review, Kindred Group will exit the North American market with the expectations to have fully exited operations in the market by the end of Q2 2024, subject to the regulatory process. The Group also announced decisive actions to drive growth on core markets and dedicated cost reduction initiatives, which includes a reduction of over 300 employees and consultants during 2024.
Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi was one of several Coast casinos where the buffet didn’t return after the pandemic, and now that space is about to be repurposed. Golden Nugget and DraftKings announced last Tuesday the addition of a high-tech retail sportsbook area that will open in January.
iGaming Ontario (iGO)’s vision is to lead the world’s best gaming market, which includes building a safer and more enjoyable experience for all igaming players in Ontario. To support players who decide to stop or take a break from gambling, iGO is going to issue a request for proposals (RFP) in early 2024 for a centralised self-exclusion solution that will enable a player to self-exclude from all Ontario regulated igaming operators in a single registration process.
Jackpot Digital announced that it has received licensing approval from the Jackson Rancheria Tribal Gaming Agency, the regulator for Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort located in Jackson, California.
New Appointments
Aruze Gaming Global has appointed Betty Zhao as its SVP of International Operations. Formerly the Chief Operating Officer at LT Game since 2007, Betty Zhao demonstrated a unique blend of strategic vision and operational excellence in overseeing LT Game’s operations, including marketing, sales, product development and casino operations.
Betsul has appointed Fernando Garita as its new CEO. With more than two decades of expertise in the gaming industry sector, Garita served as regional director and director of business development at Betcris, in addition to having an extensive portfolio of projects throughout Latin America, as well as Asia.
Latest News
EFL Becoming a Popular Betting Market

The Premier League will, of course, take precedence when it comes to English football and its connection to the betting industry, but the English Football League (EFL) is beginning to catch up due to its competitive divisions and unpredictable nature.
What Does The EFL Consist Of?
The EFL consists of three divisions, the Championship, League 1, and League 2. The Championship, which lies directly below the Premier League, consists of 24 teams hoping to reach the promised land of England’s top league, whilst League 1 and League 2 also consist of 24 teams.
The three divisions are considered to be among the most competitive in world football, giving those interested in having Championship bets, or those that prefer getting involved in League 1 betting markets, a plethora of interesting options on each match day.
Some of the EFL markets that are popular include promotion and relegation, outright winners, top goalscorers, and match betting.
Teams To Look Out For This Season
Championship
Leicester City – Only relegated from the Premier League last season, Leicester are the team to beat in this year’s Championship. They have a talented young manager and a strong mix of experienced players and exciting youngsters that make them a very tough team to beat.
Ipswich – The Championship has a habit of throwing up surprise performers, and this year’s mantle goes to Ipswich Town. Having gained promotion from League 1 last season, they are more than holding their own against the better opposition in the Championship, and they have given themselves a great chance of achieving back-to-back promotions.
League 1
Bolton – Bolton were once a Premier League mainstay, but the past few years haven’t been kind, and they now find themselves in the third tier. Thankfully for their fans, things seem to have taken a turn for the better this season.
Portsmouth – Another team that were once highflyers in the Premier League, Portsmouth have been stuck in League 1 for a few seasons now, and the heady days of European Football qualification are well and truly in the rearview mirror. This season, things are going well, but it could turn out to be a case of close but not close enough in such a difficult division.
League 2
Wrexham – Now one of the most famous clubs around the world, Wrexham’s rise from the ashes continues unabated. Their world-famous Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, as well as their hugely popular documentary, have seen Wrexham gain fans from all over the globe, and having finally achieved promotion into League 2 last season, back-to-back promotions are very much on the cards.
Notts County – Having been involved in an epic battle with Wrexham last season in Non-League, Notts County are once again going head to head with their rivals in League 2. One of the oldest clubs in English football, they may just be ready to start climbing their way back towards the top of the game again.
Latest News
Nailed It! Games Blends Retro Iconography with Contemporary Mechanics in Cosmic Coins

Nailed It! Games, an independent Krakow-based games studio, has launched Cosmic Coins, a slot that will see players utilising the Epic Strike mechanic to climb an incrementally increasing prize ladder.
Played across 5×3 reels and 20 paylines, the slot pays homage to AWP machines of the past with symbols depicting a variety of sevens, bars and fruit icons. These are joined by wilds that substitute for all base game symbols, making it easier for players to form a win.
Additionally, the titular cosmic coin symbols are present on the reels with at least three needed anywhere on the matrix to award an instant cash prize. Landing more of these symbols will progress players up the incrementally increasing prize ladder with the Epic Strike mechanic with nine coins needed to award up to 2,000x.
Three scatters are required to enter the free spins round, which begins with players spinning a wheel with numerous spins and multiplier values attached. This can grant players up to 30 free spins with a 3x multiplier. This bonus can also be retriggered by landing three additional scatters during the free spins round.
Marrying classic aesthetics with modern features, Cosmic Coins continues Nailed It! Games’ ethos it has developed all of its hit games from, including recent titles like Grim Reaper Supermatch, Rainbow Burst and CatPurry.
“Cosmic Coins’ blend of retro and contemporary elements will appeal to a wide demographic,” the co-founder of Nailed It! Games, Pawel Piotrowski, said. “Many players will be drawn to the game’s classic design elements while others will be attracted to its varied innovative features.
“The base game’s coin collection mechanic builds anticipation for a big win every spin and the bonus round’s multiplier further increases the game’s winning potential. With so much excitement on offer, we are confident that the slot will be popular with players of all types.”
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