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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.
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Pirate Multi Coins – Feature-rich New Title from Fantasma Games
Slots players are taken on a swashbuckling adventure as they seek to unlock the Golden Chest in latest release from Fantasma Games
Pirate Multi Coins, a 6 reel, 5 position slot, is the latest title to hit the market from the Stockholm-based developer, Fantasma Games.
Golden Multi Coins are the key to unlocking big wins and features, with a random number of Coins appearing on each spin. Coins can hold either a monetary or multiplier value, and landing five on a spin awards all values shown.
In a break from standard slots, Pirate Multi Coins features no set paylines, with wins achieved when eight or more matching pay-symbols appear anywhere on the thirty-position matrix. Each win combines those symbols into another Coin, helping trigger the Multi Coin feature. The remaining spaces are filled by an Avalanche, which is Fantasma’s proprietary take on cascading reels.
Another air of suspense comes in the form of the Golden Chest at the top of the playing area. Any Coins landed during a spin which does not trigger the Multi Coin feature are added to the Golden Chest. The Golden Chest can trigger during any base-game spin where a coin is added to the chest, which rains more coins down upon the reels, guaranteeing a Multi Coin feature.
Finally, there is also a Free Spins feature, where landing four or more Scatter symbols awards fifteen free spins. Retriggers are also available during the feature, with three Scatters awarding five more free spins, and four Scatters awarding an additional fifteen spins!
Pirate Multi Coins comes with RTP options of 86%, 94.35% and 96.08%, sits at the medium range of the volatility scale and has a max win potential of 4999.x. It features a Scatter Boost option as well as a Bonus Buy for jurisdictions where this is applicable.
Fredrik Johansson, Founder and CEO of Fantasma Games, said: “In our first venture into the quintessential Pirate slot theme, Pirate Multi Coins brings a host of great features to all types of players.
“With multiple ways to trigger our various features as well as a medium level of volatility, we hope that it really appeals to every type of slots’ fan looking to find some buried treasure.
“Pirate Multi Coins takes to the high seas in thirty-four languages across our network of amazing operator partners on April 30th.”
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BetMGM is launched in the Netherlands, bringing an authentic Vegas experience to the Dutch market
The golden Vegas offerings and entertainment of BetMGM is coming to the Netherlands, following a successful launch in the UK. BetMGM will offer a best-in-class Las Vegas experience to deliver a new golden era of online casino and sports betting in the Netherlands. Leveraging LeoVegas Group’s proprietary technology and platform, the launch marks a significant step in the brand’s international expansion.
BetMGM, the entertainment and sports brand known for its golden offerings and authentic Vegas experience, is launching in the Netherlands. The new brand is set to provide customers with exciting new product features, including large-scale jackpots, loyalty rewards, exclusive slots, as well as unique and compelling sports promotions. Utilising LeoVegas Group’s proprietary technology and platform, this expansion into the Dutch market represents the second European launch, succeeding a well-received rollout in the United Kingdom.
Gary Fritz, President of MGM Resorts International Interactive, said “We are thrilled to launch BetMGM in the Netherlands and build on BetMGM’s successful expansion into global markets. The Dutch market offers an exciting opportunity and will be an important part of our international expansion efforts and strategy to become a global gaming leader.”
Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO at LeoVegas Group, said “Our launch in the UK was tremendously successful, and we eagerly anticipate bringing the golden Vegas experience to the Netherlands. This launch in the Dutch market is an important step in our international expansion, but we have much more in store.”
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New focus for safer gambling as Clarion confirms launch of Sustainable Gambling Zone
The Consumer Protection Zone (CPZ), which since its launch at ICE 2018 has developed to become the highest profile feature on the ICE show floor has been re-branded to become the Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ).
The strategic decision has been taken following extensive stakeholder consultation and is set against the heightened importance placed on proactive customer interventions at earlier stages of the player journey.
The SGZ will be debuted at July’s iGB L!VE prior to its official launch at ICE 2025, the first edition of the industry’s most influential b2b gaming show to be held at its new home in Barcelona
Clarion Gaming’s Director of Industry Insight and Engagement, Ewa Bakun, who has seen the CPZ develop to become the key platform for the industry to advance its understanding and implementation of safer gambling measures and raise standards said: “I must stress that this is much more than just a cosmetic exercise. Instead, the Sustainable Gambling Zone, with its refreshed focus, will engage with the broader stakeholder group of operators who are focused on long-term sustainability, something which goes way beyond simply meeting the regulatory mandate.
“The overarching objective of the Sustainable Gambling Zone is to be at the vanguard of initiatives to help develop healthy play from the outset which includes the incorporation of safer gambling considerations from the very start rather than as a compliance requirement.
“While not yet standard across the whole of the industry, this more holistic approach underpins the safer gambling dynamic. Its goal is to create a more sustainable business in which players continue to enjoy their gambling entertainment experience with the small proportion who are at risk of developing problems pro-actively identified and assisted by operators.”
Clarion Gaming Managing Director, Stuart Hunter added: “The relocation to Barcelona will enable us to expand the ICE and iGB Affiliate offerings but also raise the bar in terms of what we already deliver on behalf of the international industry.
“The intended broader appeal of the Sustainable Gambling Zone dovetails with our relocation and will bring the SGZ closer geographically to continental Europe and closer culturally to the Latin American markets that we serve.
“Barcelona will open a new chapter for ICE/iGB Affiliate and their respective features, not least the Sustainable Gambling Zone.”
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