Casino Guru and BetBlocker Announce Strategic Partnership to Enhance Player Protection

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Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading B2B provider of gaming content, systems, and solutions, is delighted to announce the launch of Re-Play eSports™ featuring Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (“CS:GO”) with premium online sports betting and gaming brand, Betano.

Betano is owned by Kaizen Gaming, one of the biggest GameTech companies in the world, that is active with the Betano brand in multiple markets in Europe, South & North America and Africa and operates the Stoiximan brand in Greece and Cyprus.

Betano is the first brand to launch Re-Play eSports™. The innovative launch marks a major leap into the evolving landscape of sports betting. The game blends traditional Virtual Sports with fixed odds eSports, offering continuous 24/7 eSports events through Inspired’s certified Virtual Sports platforms.

Re-Play eSports™ showcases footage taken exclusively from CS:GO’s global tournament, the Champion of Champions Tour, which includes professional teams from across the globe. The official in-game data and video feeds that power Re-Play eSports™ are provided by GRID, a game data platform that specializes in providing in-game data solutions for the eSports and gaming industry.

CS:GO is a well-known and popular tactical multiplayer first-person shooter video game. In Re-Play eSports™, two teams go head-to-head to battle it out. Bets are offered on a variety of possible outcomes including which team will win, which team will get the first kill and total number of survivors.

“eSports is a rapidly evolving recreational activity with a global audience now exceeding 500 million.      Kaizen Gaming one of the industry’s leading operators, continues to recognize the incremental revenue potential that our products can generate, in both Virtual Sports and eSports betting,” said Ian Freeman, Chief Commercial Officer of Virtual Sports at Inspired. “By integrating Virtual Sports with eSports, we are tapping into an entirely new market, offering a wealth of game-changing opportunities. This not only attracts new players, but also provides our current players with an exhilarating new gaming experience.”

“We are the first operator to launch Re-Play eSports™ with Inspired, a company known for their innovative content production,” said Vangelis Kalloudis, Gaming Senior Product Manager at Kaizen Gaming. “Re-Play eSports complements our existing collection of Virtual Sports and opens up a whole new category of sports betting that allows us to expand our reach beyond the traditional realm of Virtual Sports, ensuring we are constantly enriching our customers experience.”

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Excitement in the global Counter-Strike community is reaching fever pitch as fans gear up for the BLAST Premier Fall Groups 2024.
Sixteen teams will compete in groups of four to claim six spots in the Fall Final. Those who fail to qualify will be entered into the 2024 BLAST Premier Fall Showdown in August.
There have been plenty of changes in the build-up as teams finalise their rosters. One move that stands out as a potential game-changer is Justin ‘jks’ Savage’s addition to Team Liquid.
Roster changes can easily be the difference between glory and despair, and Savage’s move to Team Liquid is undeniably a statement of intent.

Savage Ready to Make an Impact

Savage is widely regarded as one of the best players on the Counter-Strike scene. He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of performing at the highest level.
The Australian eSports star is renowned for his exceptional aim, versatility, tactical brilliance and clutch potential.
His addition to a team already boasting the firepower of Keith ‘NAF’ Markovic, Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dulken, and Mareks ‘YEKINDAR’ Gaļinskis is an exciting prospect for Team Liquid.
Savage has been a key player for several top-tier teams, including Renegades, 100 Thieves, FaZe Clan, and Complexities.
His experience, ability to adapt to different roles and composure under pressure make him a valuable asset for Team Liquid, bolstering their lofty ambitions ahead of the tournament.
The 28-year-old finished in the top three in six of his last nine S-Tier Counter-Strike Global Offensive tournaments. He claimed the top spot in four of those six podium finishes, emphasising his exceptional skill and consistency at the highest level of competition.
While it remains to be seen if he can translate those performances into Counter-Strike 2, all eyes will be on the Australian as he bids to cement his position as a powerhouse in the gaming scene.
Savage’s addition to Team Liquid will attract the attention of the gambling community in his homeland, with eSports enthusiasts keen to see if he will live up to expectations at the Fall Groups.
With betting agencies in Australia expanding their offerings to encompass eSports competitions, Savage will likely be a popular option for punters over the next few months.
Team Liquid could also be the perfect platform for Savage to remind the eSports scene of his remarkable abilities as a Counter-Strike star.
The world-renowned gaming organisation has won five LCS titles, and their Counter-Strike Global Offensive team was awarded the Intel Grand Slam prize in 2019 after winning four tournaments in just 63 days.
Team Liquid will fancy their chances of claiming glory at the Fall Group 2024, and Savage is poised to play a key role in their lofty ambitions.

Roster Changes Galore as Teams Prepare for Fall Groups

There has been a whirlwind of activity during the off-season, with teams making changes in preparation for the upcoming BLAST Premier Fall Groups.
Liquid were one of the biggest movers in the off-season as they were forced to make two changes after benching ‘cadiaN’ and ‘skullz’.
The latter subsequently joined FURIA, with Liquid recruiting Polish gamer Roland ‘ultimate’ Tomkowiak as a replacement. Danish Counter Strike 2 coach Torbjorn ‘mithR’ Nyborg has also joined.
It will be interesting to see how Liquid performs on the big stage, especially Tomkowiak, who was a relatively unknown quantity before joining the team.
While Liquid’s shake-up was a major talking point, German organisation G2 eSports made a move poised to send shivers down the spines of old-school Counter-Strike fans.
G2 has brought back the legendary duo of ‘Snax’ and ‘TaZ’. Both players haven’t played together since ‘TaZ’ left Virtus.pro in 2018, making their reunion a major headline for the upcoming season.
Cloud9 made the most changes during the off-season. After a disappointing run, they have recruited three new players in a massive rebuild for the organisation.
After a one-year hiatus, ‘Interz’ returns to the team and will be joined by fresh firepower in ‘ICY’ and ‘HeavyGod’. Cloud9 will hope their revamped roster can halt their recent barren streak.
Continuing their recent trend of utilising international talent, BIG has recruited ‘rigoN’ to strengthen their line-up. The organisation traditionally favours an all-German line-up, but their recent move suggests a commitment to building a roster capable of landing the championship this season.
The departure of ‘HeavyGod’ left a big hole in OG’s line-up. Instead of replacing him directly, they freed up ‘k1to’ for fragging duties.
With ‘Snax’ departing for G2, GamerLegion wasted no time naming a new leader with the addition of highly-rated Swedish player ‘ztr’.
The final off-season reshuffle saw HEROIC replace ‘nicoodoz’ with ‘degster’ after an extended break. He could provide the firepower needed to propel the team to the top of the charts.

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The world of online gaming is constantly evolving, offering players an increased array of entertainment options as new innovations develop. One such innovation is the rise of Sweepstakes casinos. Sweepstakes casinos such as Zula Casino have emerged as a fun alternative to traditional online casinos and are becoming quite popular among players. 

Overview of Sweepstakes Casinos 

A sweepstake casino is not much different from a traditional online casino. Like in any other online casino, players enjoy casino games such as slots, roulette, blackjack, and many others without spending a dime. In a sweepstakes casino, only virtual currencies are permitted to be spent, which differentiates sweepstakes casinos from standard online casinos. Sweepstakes casinos have two forms of virtual currencies, oftentimes called gold coins and sweeps coins. Gold coins are free playable coins used to play casino games for fun. This currency cannot be used to claim gifts and is only to play games. 

Legal Framework and Compliance  

Sweepstakes casinos avoid the legal restrictions of traditional online gaming in the US by operating under a promotional sweepstakes model. They are legal in most states except Idaho, Washington, and Michigan. These casinos follow sweepstakes laws, including the “no-purchase” rule, allowing players to win gifts without needing to make a deposit. Unlike traditional online casinos that are heavily regulated by gaming commissions, sweepstakes casinos are overseen by consumer protection agencies. 

How Players Participate

Participating in an online sweepstakes casino is as simple as providing basic personal details such as username, password, and email address. More Know Your Customer (KYC) information will be required at the point of claiming wins. Most sweepstakes casinos offer welcome bonuses, giving players the chance to earn in-game coins. Aside from welcome bonuses, players can earn sweeps coins and gold coins through a direct purchase of a gold coins bundle or through daily bonuses and promotional events. An extra means of earning sweeps coins is by directly sending in a request by email. 

In a sweepstakes casino, players have the option to play with either gold coins or sweep coins. Gold coins are for recreational play and cannot be redeemed, while sweep coins can be collected and then used to claim real gifts. 

How to Play 

Sweepstakes casinos allow players to win gifts by participating in games or accumulating sweep coins. There are a few steps to winning prizes through sweepstakes entries: 

Accumulate sweeps coins: To claim gifts, players have to accumulate enough sweeps coins to meet the required amount. They can acquire them by claiming welcome bonuses, daily login bonuses, or sending mail-in requests. 

Play games with sweep coins: players have to use their sweeps coins to play their desired casino game to qualify for a sweepstakes entry. Players can even get more sweeps coins as they play. Meanwhile, every game played with sweeps coins counts as an entry into sweepstakes draws. The number of sweeps coins won will determine the kind of gift that can be obtained. 

Claim gifts: Players can claim gifts once they’ve met the playthrough requirements. Most casinos have different playthrough requirements based on gifts to be won. 

Popular Games and Features 

A reputable sweepstakes casino, like Zula Casino, offers a variety of online casino games. From slots to fish games and jackpots, players get access to titles from reputable game studios like NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. Some of the special features that enhance gameplay in a sweepstakes casino include daily bonuses, social media contests, VIP programs, and progressive jackpots.