Cryptocurrency

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

Published

3 years ago

December 18, 2020

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

Reading Time: 4 minutes

As the NBA prepares to go back to work, the trading team at Cloudbet, the leading crypto sportsbook and casino, assesses the latest market movers and shakers

The wait is almost over: The NBA is ready to go again, just two months after Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers trounced the Miami Heat in last season’s finals. The victory put an emphatic exclamation mark on the Covid-19 iteration of America’s premier basketball competition, which played out its final months in the league’s Disney World bubble in Florida.

Since then, there have been a flurry of draft and free-agency dealings, along with a few superstars returning to injury, which promise yet another humdinger of a season – all with the spectre of Covid looming in the background.

Cloudbet takes this opportunity to preview the action, with the first games tipping off on December 22. Buckle up, folks!

The West – A Lakers dynasty in the making

Champs get stronger

If last season made just one thing clear, it’s that the Lakers are back for good – and ominously, they’ve had probably the best off-season in the league, making all the right moves to improve in all positions over last year.

First of all, they re-signed Anthony Davis to a five-year, $190 million contract, a move that confirms that nothing less than a repeat this year is acceptable.

Trading Dennis Schroder from the Oklahoma City Thunder, while adding depth to the Center position through free agents Marc Gasol and reigning sixth man Montrezl Harrell has stacked the roster even further. Wesley Matthews taking Danny Green’s spot is the last piece of the puzzle.

They remain the team to beat in 2021 and are deservedly the No.1 title favourites. Cloudbet is offering odds of 2.88/+188 on the Lakers lifting the title and 1.85/-177 to take the Western Conference.

Clippers to contend

The Lakers’ cross-town rivals are looking to reboot their fortunes after their huge summer letdown, giving up a 3-1 series lead in the Western semifinals against the Denver Nuggets.

The Clips have a new head coach in Tyronn Lue and the team has locked in Paul George until 2025 with a contract extension. Meanwhile, the gap at center created by Harrell’s departure has been filled with Serge Ibaka – who has now been reunited with Kawhi Leonard: The two both shared a championship title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

The Clips will be looking for Ibaka’s defensive game to better contain players like Anthony Davis and the Nugget’s Nikola Jokic more effectively, especially in the post-season.

The Clips are currently at 8.18/+718 to take the title and you can get odds of 2.12/+112 that they end the regular season with a greater than 67% win percentage.

A nod to the Nuggets

While the hunt for the six remaining Western Conference playoff spots includes several teams in the mix-up, one looks to stand out from that group.

The Denver Nuggets seem to be a few steps (or years) away from going all the way, with a great young core by way of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Under the guidance of Head Coach Mike Malone, the Nuggets have built on strong foundations and will be a force to be reckoned for the foreseeable future. Denver is 20.9/+1996 to win it all this season.

The East – up for grabs

In the Eastern Conference, things look a bit more fluid.

The Milwaukee Bucks seem to have found a way of killing it during the regular season – and played some great basketball before the March shutdown – but still lack the knack of transforming these home-court advantages into deeper postseason quests for glory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the elite company of only Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon by winning both MVP (his second in a row) and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season last year. The Greek Freak looks hungry as ever to make the leap into the finals.

The most notable move made by the front office saw Jrue Holiday join from the New Orleans Pelicans in the off-season, while the waiting game around Giannis is over – on Wednesday he signed the full five-year, $228 million supermax contract. He’s committed to Milwaukee now for a long time.

Milwaukee’s title odds are currently 6.36/+536.

It was the Miami Heat (23.0/+2201 for the title) that knocked Milwaukee out in the bubble. The Bucks had no answer for the Heat’s physical and tactical approach, led by alpha dogs Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Butler’s unquestionable fighter mentality and work ethic is paired by a unique two-way talent. Bam was dominant in the paint while young sharpshooters Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson set the tone for a balanced offence that sets the bar high for 2021.

This season’s Brooklyn Nets (7.55/+655 for the crown) are perhaps the most intriguing entity in the East. The return of Kevin Durant (10.5/+959 for regular season MVP) and Kyrie Irving (92.9/+9192 for the same) at full strength automatically flips the switch on the Nets to contender status, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert should again play integral roles having had their best professional seasons in 2020.

The arrival of Steve Nash as head coach was the story of the off-season. The hiring of the former Suns two-time MVP has been met with some skepticism though, mainly due to his lack of experience in the position. No doubt both fans and pundits will be watching closely.

The Covid elephant in the room

We can’t end any major competition preview without a generous nod of the head to the bogeyman du jour. The NBA’s solution to covid last season – the Disney World bubble – was an enormous undertaking and an undeniable success. Building on that experience, the league now has strict protocols and a slightly rejigged playing schedule in place this season.

Perhaps the biggest change for players, aside from the relative isolation, will be road-trip restrictions and playing matches back-to-back while visiting. It’ll be interesting to see how teams (and betting odds) respond to sudden line-up and venue adjustments if Covid rears its ugly head.

Cryptocurrency

Payhound empowers LSports with a seamless solution to receive payments

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

George Miller

Payhound empowers LSports with a seamless solution to receive payments

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Fintech crypto company Payhound has been facilitating leading data provider LSports to accept payments from its clients.

As the premier data provider, LSports offers real-time sports data, providing operators with a competitive edge in the sports betting saturated market. By using Payhound’s solution, LSports can conveniently receive payments from its clients, significantly enhancing operational efficiency.

Established in 2018, Payhound’s mission is to enable businesses to handle cryptocurrencies with the same ease, security, and transparency as dealing with fiat currency. Through crypto, Payhound offers fast and efficient international payments, with security being a fundamental principle in all its operations.

Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for LSports stated: “Partnering with Payhound to optimize our payment solutions signifies a significant advancement in our global business strategy. This collaboration enables us to conduct transactions swiftly and securely, further bolstering our position as a premier data provider in the industry.”

Elton Dimech, Managing Director at Payhound, added: “We are delighted to service LSports.Through our platform, clients like LSports can easily receive payments, have such funds instantly converted into fiat, and as a result, greatly improve their operations and availability of funds. We look forward to continuing to be their reliable crypto partner in the future.”

Payhound is licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and is a holder of a Class 3 VFA License under the Virtual Financial Assets Act of 2018. The company has recently revealed its achievement of ISO 27001 certification for the second consecutive year.

Cryptocurrency

SOFTSWISS Named Crypto Company 2024

Published

3 months ago

February 7, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Crypto Company of the Year was announced at the International Gaming Awards in London. SOFTSWISS, a leading technology company with 15+ years of experience in the industry, gets this title for the second year in a row.

Marking the beginning of ICE London, the awards ceremony has brought together top names in the iGaming industry to honour their achievements. The International Gaming Awards not only unites experts and gaming enthusiasts worldwide but also serves as the pinnacle charity event of the year.

The Crypto Company of the Year category recognises companies that create innovative experiences for clients in the gambling sector with a focus on crypto. The winner is determined by evidence showcasing the company’s standout performance in the crypto space compared to competitors. Reconfirming the previous year’s success, SOFTSWISS emerged as the Crypto Company of the Year for the second time in a row.

Securing the title of Crypto Company of the Year comes naturally to SOFTSWISS, the trailblazer in introducing crypto-friendly solutions for online gaming. Beginning with Bitcoin, SOFTSWISS has expanded its cryptocurrency offering to nearly 20 digital coins since 2013.

In its dedication to improving player experience, SOFTSWISS introduced the In-Game Currency Conversion feature. The innovation allowed players with crypto holdings to engage seamlessly in games originally tailored for fiat only. One year post-launch, 85% of all bets in crypto casinos powered by the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform were made via the feature.

As an expert in crypto-friendly solutions, the company shares its expertise through the quarterly State of Crypto reports and topical podcasts. This helps raise awareness among all stakeholders, offering essential insights for strategic decision-making.

Andrey Starovoitov, Co-CEO at SOFTSWISS, shares: “We are delighted to receive this award, and it signifies more than just recognition for our recent achievements. The title of Crypto Company of the Year holds deep meaning for those who led the way in integrating digital currencies into iGaming, actively advocate for crypto solutions, and generously share expertise in this field.”

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.

Cryptocurrency

Casino Market Industry Forecast Reveals Surge to $165.72 Billion by 2028 with Digital Transformation and Cryptocurrency Integration

Published

3 months ago

January 24, 2024

Hunor Pal

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The “Casino Global Market Report 2024” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets .com’s offering.

The latest report on the global casino market highlights significant growth, with expectations for the industry to swell from $131.42 billion in 2023 to an impressive $165.72 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of current market dynamics, future trends, and potential opportunities, positioning it as an essential resource for stakeholders in the casino sector.

The casino industry, experiencing a renaissance through digitization and a shift towards online gambling, is witnessing the rising popularity of cryptocurrency casinos. Innovations, alongside a deepened focus on responsible gambling, are propelling market growth, drawing attention from both established players and new entrants.

Key Market Dynamics Influencing Growth

Online Gambling Expansion
Smartphone Proliferation
Innovative Casino Products
Strategic Industry Partnerships

The report underscores the growing dominance of the Asia-Pacific region in the global casino market, bolstered by evolving consumer behaviors and burgeoning tourism sectors. The detailed geographic assessment provides strategic insights into the vitality of various regions within the industry.
Gambling machines, gaming tables, and novel casino experiences are discussed in the report. The document leverages industry-specific metrics to provide a nuanced understanding of segment performance, addressing both offline and online modalities.

Industry Leaders Making Strategic Moves

With major corporations like 888 Holdings PLC and Caesars Entertainment Corporation, the casino market is rife with tactical mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships aiming to solidify market positioning and leverage collective strengths.

The global casino market research report presents in-depth market analysis, reflecting cutting-edge industry trends such as the integration of advanced gaming technologies. It also spotlights operational strategies and expansion plans of front-runners in the gambling domain.

This comprehensive research report is poised to be an indispensable tool for industry investors, strategists, and stakeholders planning to navigate the complex terrain of the casino industry with data-driven confidence.

The casino market research report is devised to serve a diversity of informational needs, offering a meticulous examination of the interplay between market forces, technological advancements, and consumer preferences shaping the future of gambling worldwide.

Please note, the market value detailed in the report represents the actualized revenues recognized by entities within the industry over the specified period and geography.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes