Latest News
Why do big-star football players end up in the Gulf’s rich leagues?
What do players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr, Karim Benzema, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Sadio Mane and Ruben Neves – to name a few – have in common? They are all big-star footballers who have recently moved to the Middle East to unfold their talents and on-field capabilities in the aspiring Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr made the headlines of all sports news media and surprised everyone who expected that the Portuguese phenomenon would somehow continue to play for the marquee European leagues. Ronaldo’s ‘next club” became a hot betting market in global betting platforms, including every top best online casino in France, attracting the guesses and predictions of sports fans and bettors like, who were more likely to pick one of the renowned clubs of the region.
But Ronaldo stunned everyone when he announced that he would leave the Premier League to join the Saudi Pro League, after signing with Al Nassr. To the surprise of his hard-core fans, followers, and bettors, Ronaldo told everybody that he would move to Saudi Arabia for at least two and a half years, helping football gain popularity and mainstream character in the region.
Since Ronaldo’s decision to move to the Middle East grounds, many more have followed. Benzema and Neymar Jr -being the next two high-profile signings – actually applauded their fellow football player’s choice and rushed in to express their positive views on doing the same thing. Six months after Ronaldo, Karim Benzema exited Real Madrid and went to Al-Ittihad while three months after Benzema, Neymar also left PSG for Al-Hilal.
The list of European football players who are moving to Gulf countries is expanding, as the Middle-East leagues exhibit a mounting interest in getting football to become the most popular sport in the region. And with the hope of getting more popular, leagues such as the Saudi Pro League are reaching out top, marque leagues like the EPL, La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, etc.
For Saudi Arabia and Qatar -which are the main countries with an explicit interest in football players from Europe- the reasons for signing these players is rather evident. They want to come to the spotlight, obtain widespread attention and increase the leagues’ global visibility.
But what’s in it for the footballers themselves?
The short answer to that is money. But it’s also the “long” answer to it as well. Gulf countries are willing to invest enormous amounts of money to get big star footballers to their own fields. Ronaldo’s contract gave him a total of more than $500 million for less than three years, Benzema signed a contract securing nearly $300 million for the time he will spend at Al-Ittihad, while Neymar Jr agreed on an amount of nearly $81million per year. That’s really a lot of money. And if we consider that this kind of money is given to these players at the twilight of their professional football career, then it becomes rather obvious why big stars like Ronaldo, Benzema, Neymar and others of course, opt for rich leagues.
But there’s more to it. Playing for a rising league is not the same as playing for the world’s most popular leagues. Being part of a league that is now going to write its own history and climb up the ladder of success on a global level, is much more worthy for players who have been accustomed to being in the spotlight for their entire professional lives. As they are moving down the road of exiting their career in football – mostly because this sport is an early-age-retirement sport – they want to be part of something bigger than them where they can also make a difference. And what’s bigger than a filthy-rich league aspiring to become one of the world’s top football leagues?
Latest News
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.”
Casino Games
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.”
Latest News
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.”
-
Australia7 days ago
Tabcorp Partners with OpenBet’s Sportsbook Technology to Propel Growth and Enhance User Experience
-
Interviews6 days ago
Tom Galanis: giving a First Look at the Top of the Slots
-
Asia6 days ago
Onlyplay Enters into Strategic Partnership with Ritchie Rabbit
-
Baltics5 days ago
Evoplay bolsters presence in Lithuania with Betsafe deal
-
Australia6 days ago
Crown Reinstated at Sydney Casino
-
eSports7 days ago
GIANTX Promotes LVP Superliga Toplaner Th3Antonio to the League of Legends EMEA Championship Roster
-
Interviews5 days ago
The Full Spectrum Strategy: How Betting on Both Popular and Lesser-Known Sports Pays Off
-
Compliance Updates5 days ago
EGBA Welcomes European Parliament’s Approval Of New EU Anti-Money Laundering Framework