A former massage therapist filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against disgraced and departed casino mogul Steve Wynn, alleging that he frequently used “his immense power to coerce (her) to perform sexual favors.”

Convention attendance was off 16.7 percent and January visitor volume was down 3.3 percent, but the average daily room rate soared for the month to the highest level in history, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported Wednesday.

The Nevada gaming win cracked the $1 billion barrier for the first time in a year, but the Las Vegas Strip showed the steepest monthly decline among 20 markets monitored in Nevada, the Gaming Control Board reported Wednesday.

A judge on Tuesday threw out a Czech casino owner’s counterclaims against the Aria and an Australian poker player over a multi-million dollar poker game. Lawyers for Leon Tsoukernik had alleged that he lost $3 million to a professional poker player because the casino plied him with alcohol.

The continued ongoing disruption of two Station Casinos’ properties dampened fourth-quarter earnings for Las Vegas-based Red Rock Resorts, company officials said Tuesday.

Remember 2WinPower? Members who follow LCB rogue reports know all about this infamous company. Providers of pirated software, they've been banished from the industry once before, by the joint effort of LCB and Aristocrat Gaming. Though the online community was ecstatic to see them gone and their criminal business closed, we had a feeling that wasn't the last we'll see from 2WinPower. Sure enough, they are back! Not to be confused - this is not a casino! They are a third party supplier of fake, turnkey gaming products including counterfeits of Novomatic, Net Entertainment, Realtime Gaming, EGT and Aristocrat video slots.

Considering they've shown great tenacity and fought tooth and nail to keep their piracy network alive and well, it is not at all surprising to see the company reemerging on a wholly different domain: https://2wpower.com/. We first encountered their fake games in 2016, when investigating two very suspicious casinos: BetsTower and BetMaxValue. To our dismay, we realized this was a large and complicated network involving at least one other company: Desoft Gaming. One shocking fact after another, not only was their entire offering falsified, but they advertised openly via an official website and social channels, apparently undaunted by legal repercussions for plagiarism.

Thinking themselves untouchable (and why wouldn't they, when so little has been done to prevent such frauds), they were shocked to realize they've been busted when LCB exposed their products on another client brand, Burnbet Casino, in 2017. A struggle ensued when employees and associates of 2WinPower and Desoft Gaming started pestering our team via emails and official LCB channels, in a futile attempt of damage control, resorting even to death threats. We, of course, never thought of removing any evidence of their illegal trade from our portal.

After contacting Aristocrat representatives, together we forced the piracy network to remove the falsified versions of the popular provider's software from their website in August 2017. Victory achieved! Having no genuine games of their own, we had hoped it would damage their business enough to shut down eventually.

As faith would have it, they have returned and it means we must again be very cautious not to fall for their fakes. No doubt they will instruct clients to conceal the origin of supplied slots as much as possible. Previously, it was possible to spot some of their games thanks to a loader with the 2WinPower logo, without having to inspect source codes or other details. There's no telling how this might have changed. We will keep our eyes open for any sign of the all too familiar foul play, but for now, let's stay away from the above-mentioned sites. Keep up with LCB Rogue reports for new information regarding this criminal network!

NetEnt is showing no signs of slowing down as the iGaming industry giant keeps releasing new titles at an incredible pace. Apparently, tales of Vikings and their mythology are in great demand because the world is ripe to be taken over and conquered by yet another onslaught of these Nordic warriors in Asgardian Stones.

The new title presents a game of stunning beauty and outrageously epic quality (as you will see in the demo video below). It features a 5-reel, 3-row configuration and 20 paylines. Set in a mythical land of Gods, it is surrounded by a mystical lake, surrounded by misty mountains and rocks. Its symbols and reels are one of the most beautifully designed we've seen in quite while. Each symbol is represented by a stone carving of a specific Nordic God, with glowing crystals in distinctive colors. The backdrops change to a spacey, nocturnal ambiance once the extra spins mode is hit. The cascading symbols fall on top of one another, and when the win is created, the symbols get smashed to make way for a new set of symbols replacing them, potentially making more than one win per spin.

What you will notice immediately playing the game is the Colossal Crush feature – it's when enormous symbols appear from above and crush little ones beneath them and release enough energy to yield win multipliers. There will even be an occasional Wheel of Fortune making an appearance on the reels, rewarding you with a random amount of extra spins! How cool is that? The Colossal Crush feature is making its premiere appearance here in Asgardian Stones and will surely be yet another cornerstone by which NetEnt will be recognized as the industry's leading innovator.

NetEnt's Chief Product Officer was reasonably overexcited about this release: “Our team has worked tirelessly during the process of designing and creating Asgardian Stones™ and really look forward to see the game finally out with players all over the world. The Colossal Crush feature is an industry first and only adds to the excitement this game offers, so we can’t wait to see the reaction from the gaming world as we continue our positive start to 2018.”

Check out the preview:

Source:

“NetEnt’s Asgardian Stones™ to immerse players in mythical quest”, netent.com, February 22, 2018.

After another successful year, we look back at memorable events and noteworthy brands that made us happy and proud to be part of the gaming community in 2017. Having summarized the performances of inferior casinos, along with their adverse effects in the past 12 months, it is time to move these unpleasantries aside and give credit to whom credit is due - to all the great operators who made a commendable effort to achieve and maintain high-quality services. This is not a small group, mind you. Distinguished brands were numerous and we hope their number signalizes a new direction in the growth and development of the iGaming industry, where we can show that honesty, integrity and professionalism are very much present in this unique field of entertainment.

As one of LCB's oldest most reliable partners, Slotland did not disappoint, and continued in the same manner that has made many of our members happy throughout the years. Jack the rep repsresented the casino admirably, and did a fantastic job managing exclusive deals. Boasting a high 4.5 stars rating and over 270, mostly positive, player comments, what they're especially good at are bonuses: the cashback offer alone is a testament to the quality of this operator, it has been active and immensely popular since 2012!

''Slotland is one casino I have played at for years. They are very honest and a quick paying casino. Their games are their own and one of the best in my opinion. Pay out if you pay the top bid can be very high. Most games have progressive payout for top hit. Slotland large payout are a little slim compared to other top casinos. I still would suggest you try this casino. Good game and really fun.''

Sister sites Red Stag and Sloto'Cash reaffirmed strong positions in the LCB list with treats of their own. Thanks to these great brands, LCB'ers enjoy exclusive freeroll slot tournaments, playing for high prizes on the great WSG games, and a quick and efficient customer service both from the official rep and on-site support agents.

''I love Red Stag Casino. The games re fun and so are the tournaments. They have penny tournaments! The customer service staff is very friendly. I love WGS software. I love I can play at Red Stag in mobile version too.''

Held in high regard, the US-friendly Liberty Slots left a lasting impression on our members with a series of amazing tournaments, hosted every month exclusively for players from LCB. There are few WGS-powered casinos, but this former English Harbor site gives a good name to this small group.

''I love this casino along with the other handful of WGS casinos. Liberty slots has some of the best customer support team around. They have very fast payouts and it is all so simple to make deposits. I love there tournaments and how they are ran as well. This is my go to casino.''

Ignition and Casino Extreme do not need a special introduction - they are well known to American gamblers, who uniformly praise timely payments, fast and reliable support, and overal good quality services and games.

Let's see what we thought of the good old Intertops Classic, a trusted site and a highpoint of online gaming in the region and beyond:

'Intertops is by far my favorite online casino. Absolutely the quickest payout I have had from any online casino. Their live chat is 2nd to none and I have yet to wait longer than 60 seconds before I am greeted and questions answered through the live chat service. I would recommend this casino to anyone and everyone as it has been my best online casino experience by leaps and bounds''

Cryptocurrencies made a boom in the gambling industry and paved way to faster, safer and anonymous transactions, just the thing we desired. Having in mind the advantages of digital money and the possibilities this new way of banking has in our field of entertainment, casinos that have embraced Bitcoin as the most popular and globally used crytpocurrency, deserve an Honorable mention and a place on this list:

If you're looking for the best bonuses around, contemporary look and fair games, go with Oshi; interesting slot combat tournaments, wide selection of games and promotions topped off with an elaborate VIP program are among the attractive features of Wild Tornado; one of the most successful casinos operating on the SoftSwiss platform, Bitstarz stays on top as an all-around dependable site that keeps a high standard in every respect; Gunsbet is the force of innovation, continually improving the platform and its many gaming options. Lucky Star is a proud bearer of LCB Seal of Approval - this means they are more than able to compete for the best Bitcoin-friendly site of 2017. Joo Casino is on good terms with players and affiliates alike, their grand compilation of slots is a sight to see for every fan of the fast-spinning reels.

In the gaming world, there are good and there are bad guys, but than there are those who represent a standard. Always consistent and reliable, these operators never failed our expectations. Players are fortunate to have brands they can count on to deliver top software, fair terms of service, multiple payment options, meaningful incentives and finally, timely cash-outs to all lucky winners.

An experienced operator, Mr Green launched in 2007 and has stayed with us ever since, offering a large platform, popular bonuses and close-to-instant withdrawals to UK markets and the rest of Europe.

''Trustworthy casino, first casino where I have cashed out bigger sum. No problems ever with MrGreen.''

32 Red is a veteran of gambling, a massive website dating back to 2002, with loyal players and great ratings across the industry. Their ''trophy cabinet'' is filled with accolades awarded by eminent industry experts.

A pioneer of player-friendly tools and features automatically preventing misuse of bonuses and games, SlotsMillion is at the forefront of groundbreaking gameplay systems with Max Bet, Withdrawal Lock and Table Bet features!

''Another Casino to add to my favorites: Only really active since recent, but i must say their list of Games is simply amazing. As a veteran gambler, and one that has also worked as slot reviewer, i was amazed by the amount of Games that i still hadn't tired :) A lot of providers you'll find almost nowhere else, at least not in that volume, or together with other cool providers, and that alone makes this Casino worthwhile in my opinion. Also very good support, and great bonuses, from what i've seen. so far: there are fixed match ups on a few days of the week, or free Spins on deposit, and i've been getting a few decent offers aside from those too. I only deposited a few 100, but still received a generous comp without asking!''

Launched by the established Fortune Lounge group, Royal Vegas stands proud with certified software, multitudes of banking options, and a long history of rock-solid business moves.

Casino Adrenaline, founded in 2014, tells us loud and clear why the site should be the top choice of every aspiring punter: wins are credited fair and square, funds and data are kept safe by strong encryption protocols, support is at your disposal every minute of every day.

''I like this casino they have a wide range of games. verification is slow takes up to 72h. but when you are verified they have Fast withdrawal. Live support is helpful and overall an excellent casino. I recommend this casino.''

Retro on the outside, next-gen on the inside, Golden Euro combines best of both worlds pursuing a simple goal: customer satisfaction. Over 300 LCB'ers voted for an average rating of 4.2 stars. Support services and bonus program are deemed are considered the best among RTG powered brands.

''This is the rare case when a casino from an RTG provider is excellent! The minimum deposit is only 5 euros and the minimum withdrawal is 10 euros! I have never seen anything like this in RTG. There is a bonus without a deposit for registration of 15 euros. Excellent casino!''

Kudos to GreenZorro, a 2017 arrival daring to be different. Not everyone is comfortable with changes, but gamblers benefit when the mold is broken. Debuting a system of investment returns, allowing players to recoup losses through investing in a variety of products. Never thought we'd hear the words interest earning and gambling in the same sentence!

Best Newcomer of 2017

Stakes is new, bu they're advancing quickly beating competition left and right. First impressions count, and what we saw was a capable operator with a clear goal and the means to achieve it. Players liked the smooth performance of the platform, games, design and friendly support, but most of all the free bonus awarded on sign up! We'd like to see higher cash-out limits, but we're optimistic improvements are in the pipeline for this promising brand.

Active since 2006, Superior Casino finally decided to live up to their name, making a series of noteworthy and much-needed changes to multiple aspects of the platform. LCB'ers were pleasantly surprised seeing numerous and varied bonus offers and engaging tournaments. Adding Bitcoin payments opened doors for new members, and improving the tangible aspects of customer support was among the most significant changes.

''Definitely the best place if you want frequent bonuses, new slots are getting promotions most of the time!They also do btc transactions so thats a plus.''

Looks like positive events were the dominant force of 2017. Good guys were in the lead and there were very few disappointments. Big changes are in the works for legal, technological and, yes, ethical aspects of the iGaming world. These great brands are the harbingers of better times to come for our growing community!

We have great news for all our cryptocurrency-loving members. As Bitcoin transaction fees hit an all time low in February 2018, Bitcoin voucher makes a comeback to the Shop! This time, the most popular digital form of money is not the only such item to redeem - we also added Litecoin, an alternative peer-to-peer currency sharing many of its technical features.

When the increased demand and volatility of the value of Bitcoin led to insufferably high transaction fees in 2017, we were regretfully forced to suspend the item, which was at that time among the most popular Shop perks. Back then, the network couldn't cope with the growing demand for the currency, causing fees to skyrocket, which meant the cost of sending and receiving small payments was much too high. But now that the fees are once again reaching acceptable values, the time is right to reintroduce these highly requested items.

Both vouchers function as cash items, and will be sent straight to your digital wallets. Once you have accumulated $25 by contributing to the LCB community, the chips will be available to claim and use at gaming sites that accept cryptocurrency deposits. Nowadays, there are many reputable brands with excellent software and features to choose from - take a look at our list of Bitcoin-friendly casinos and pick the one best suited to your needs.

Our Shop is a way to give back to our members for their continued loyalty and dedication to the gaming community. Your posts, comments and ratings of casinos and games result in LCB virtual cash awarded to you at a rate which depends on your current status. Every action counts and will get you closer to claiming any of the Shop's many free gifts. Good luck!

While the Southern Nevada casino industry enjoys a burst of prosperity and development, it also may be facing a tide of negative sentiment from loyal casino customers regarding high resort fees and paid parking policies at Strip casinos.

Owners of top-ranked casinos and aggregators of online gaming, Fair Play Bets, have officially announced the launch of Microgaming’s suite of slots via the renowned Quickfire platform. The company’s two most reputable betting sites, VegasPlay and DiamondWorldCasino will ramp-up their offerings with award-winning titles and popular releases like Jungle Jim El Dorado, Jurassic World, Bridesmaids, Playboy and more.

By boasting impeccable player experience and unrivalled gaming performance, the Quickfire platform has secured a strong reputation in the industry, particularly in regulated gambling markets UK and Malta. Due to a large number of prestigious awards for innovation and technology, many operators opt for extensive game offerings from this genuine supplier of engaging bingo, poker and casino software. Popular releases from Microgaming are a proven strategy, as they provide a lot of entertainment to players, says Andrew Clucas, director of Quickfire.

The company has announced a stronger engagement on the slot market and confirmed partnerships with new, independent studios. At the same time, an array of exclusive titles has been revealed at ICE a couple of weeks back, when visitors had a chance to see stunning presentations of Fortunium and Cash of Kingdoms. Jeremy Fall, head of marketing at Fair Play Bets welcomed the agreement and said that the group’s offerings are now multiply enhanced, thanks to a range of smart promotional tools with exciting features and innovative mechanics.

In 2018, Fair Play Bets will continue its expansion strategy with a number of leading casino operators, added Malcolm Ferrante, director. Partnering with Microgaming is one of the most important decisions for the group, as further developments are coming very soon, added Ferrante.

Source:

“Following ICE Fair Play Bets agreement created stronger entertainment destinations with Quickfire, powered by Microgaming“, microgaming.co.uk, February 22, 2018.

Being a Sloto Cash Casino punter may be rewarding in many ways – and one of those ways is that you get to enjoy their official quarterly publication – Sloto Magazine! All of the players registered with them and who make a deposit within a semester will be receiving the issue by mail, for free.

Anyhow, it's a very informative magazine that focuses on the experience and benefits of being a member at the casino. As such, it contains a plethora of bonuses, new games, current and future promotions and other novelties related to the iGaming industry. The spring issue is on its way to casino's players and it will include a calendar of bonus promotions and bonus coupons valid in March, April and May.

Within the pages, you will also find game reviews, with Realtime Gaming's Viking-themed Asgard slot featured. The casino’s updated Android app is also reviewed for your reading pleasure.

This spring, several featured slot games are giving away Double Comp Points – in the issue, you will find out which ones. Another article will reveal the highest RPTs per game in recent times, while the magazine's Lifestyle feature is looking at new apps whose key purpose is to enhance people's wellbeing. Finally, there is a detailed schedule for all slot tournaments that will take place during the season as well as a Horoscope section for all players who are looking at zodiacal harbingers to guide them through their gambling day.

Don’t miss the Trivia Contest, which lets players win a $33 coupon.

Casino Manager, Stephen Vaughn, comments: “This issue marks the second anniversary of our player magazine. I imagine most players go straight to the Bonus Coupons and Bonus Calendar, but I there’s lots more in this issue to help them enjoy their games – and their lives – more!”

Former clients of Bettor Investments, one of the first sports betting mutual funds in Nevada, are accusing the company’s founder of going “radio silent” and not responding to requests to return their money.

This week's cautionary tale for the operators who take things too lightly comes from the good ol’ UK, where even the biggest of names get slapped on the wrist for not playing by the book.

One of the world's leading gambling brands, William Hill, made a few severe omissions that will cost them dearly - £6,2 million is the value of the fine determined by the UK Gambling Commission! The supplier will have to pay for breaching the rules catering for social responsibility and money laundering.

The UKGC revealed that, between November 2014 and August 2016, William Hill's upper management committed a series of violations leading to the breach of social responsibility and money laundering regulations. Part of the reason why this occurred, according to UKGC, is because William Hill did not appoint enough staff members who would monitor the proceedings of regulations in an effective manner. As a result, ten different players deposited money linked with criminal offences which generated a £1.2 million revenue for the operator who did not look for the source of the money – a fatal mistake!

One client- who lives in a rented flat earning £30,000 per year in the accounts department - deposited £654,000 over a period of nine months. Another one, who is accused for stealing from their employer, deposited £541,000 over 14 months. In both instances, William Hill management didn't carry out any checks.

For violating this regulation, the brand will need to return the £1.2 million they earned and pay the additional fine of £5 million.

Neil McArthur, UKGC's Executive Director, commented this breaching of the rules: “We will use the full range of our enforcement powers to make gambling fairer and safer. This was a systemic failing at William Hill which went on for nearly two years and today's penalty package - which could exceed £6.2m - reflects the seriousness of the breaches. Gambling businesses have a responsibility to ensure that they keep crime out of gambling and tackle problem gambling - and as part of that they must be constantly curious about where the money they are taking is coming from.”

Source:

“William Hill to pay £6.2m penalty package for systemic social responsibility and money laundering failures”, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, February 20, 2018.

Former clients of Bettor Investments, one of the first sports betting mutual funds in Nevada, are accusing the company’s founder of going “radio silent” and not responding to requests to return their money.

The Clark County Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved waivers of development standards, including a reduction in the number of required parking spaces, for the planned 18,000-seat Madison Square Garden Sphere Las Vegas performance venue.

It never occurred to Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox that what he thought was a prank telephone call in 2002 would ultimately lead to a possible appearances before regulators to answer questions about his boss and mentor, Steve Wynn.

A massive one-time income tax break enabled MGM Resorts International to escape a fourth-quarter decline in earnings, the Las Vegas-based casino company reported Tuesday.

Days before an upcoming foreclosure sale, the Lucky Dragon is now in bankruptcy.

A writer develops a special relationship with his readers, especially the regular ones who really get immersed in his topics and what he is trying to say.

The members of this website come from many parts of the world and many different backgrounds. Some gamble online while others frequent brick and mortar casinos.

I read all of the comments they post my articles. Their comments range from critical to humorous. They are incisive. And some startle and amaze me with their insight into what I am trying to get across.

I respond to all the emails that are posted on this site. And while I appreciate all of the people who write, there is one who is just a little more special than the rest.

She calls herself Jade.

Now I don't know where Jade calls home, or what she does for a living, or what she looks like. But over the past year or so I am coming up with an image of how she thinks. What I see moves me greatly.

I write about strategies, people living and dead who have been gamblers, and I write about places I have visited like Costa Rica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Dominica, Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman.

I try to share my experiences, my wins and losses and write about the beauty of the Caribbean islands, the white-sand beaches, the jungles, the green monkeys, and the cruises I have taken.

Jade reads my stories, absorbs them, drinks them in and shares the beauty of my experiences.

You can read some of her comments at the bottom of the stories published by latestpokerbonuses.com and latestcasinobonuses.com. They are insightful and penetrating. Sometimes I find them more interesting the article she is commenting about.

Writing brings out more beauty from a person than he or she would ever share with a friend or relative or a stranger. Some of the most beautiful poetry is often written by people who are serving life terms in prison.

A gambler lives on the edge of adventure. To a gambler, it is the journey that is even more important than the results. Jade and many of my other readers share that journey with me.

Everyone should have a friend like Jade. Sometimes I find myself thinking of how I would react if I would ever be fortunate enough to meet her in person. Would I like her? Would she like me? Would we be able to communicate on the same level that we reach through these pages?

Jade recently made some lovely comments on my article, 'The Beauty of Dominica.' The article told of a cruise two poker-playing friends and I took to the island of Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean and our adventurous trek through a jungle to the island's capital city.

I responded to her email by saying much of my writing was selfish. I was simply enjoying the reliving of my favorite experiences and sharing them with others.

I know I thoroughly enjoy this experience of writing and reliving my experiences of this thing called life. And people like Jade give that experience an extra special glow.

BitStarz Casino really is on an expansion roll. They proudly announced the “killing of two birds with one stone” when they began accepting Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin and now they’ve replicated the feat in an almost identical manner: on Thursday, February 15th it was officially proclaimed that Dogecoin (DOGE) and Ethereum (ETH) are now also a part of casino’s currency availability.

BitStarz has, thus, cemented their reputation of being one of the leading online casinos in the world when it comes to adoption of cryptocurrencies. Right now, they are supporting Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin. Another trait that separates them from the rest are their lightning-quick withdrawal methods that punters can use to cashout their winnings on one of more than 1000 games they have in their library. As a reward for their continuous efforts and thriving in excellence, the casino caught the attention of numerous instances within the business and, most notably, quickly became a player-favorite.

The cryptocurrency market was going through a very turbulent period in recent months, with Bitcoin taking hard punches in particular. However, overall it’s been positive for smaller cryptocurrencies who have gained more stability and recognition - and, consequently, a higher demand for their inclusion was voiced by online gamblers everywhere.

Ethereum is widely regarded as the world’s prime alt-coin – meaning, it is only second in ranks to the undisputed ruler of the cryptocurrency world that is Bitcoin. ETHs strengths lie in its blockchain technology use and decentralization principles, as well as its unique programming that introduces new ICOs.

Dogecoin is an open-source currency that originally began its course as an internet joke and a BTC parody, but has since turned into a serious force to be reckoned with.

Casino Marketing Manager, Srdjan Kapor, comments on the site’s recent surge in cryptocurrency adoption: “We here at BitStarz take a huge amount of pride in being one of the most adaptive and inclusive online casinos in the world. For that reason, the list of deposit and withdrawal options just keeps growing, as we continue to expand our player base. Just recently we added LTC and BCH support to great success, so we’ve now decided to add ETH and DOGE to our cashier options as well. We are sure that with the increased number of payment options at hand moving forward, players are going to be able to enjoy BitStarz bonuses, promotions, and games that much more.”

Acclaimed boutique-style gaming event in Prague will be held for the second time on March 29th, to provide insights about important regulatory updates and topics in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia and Poland. The organizers have already confirmed attendance of highly regarded industry professionals, Tal Zamstein from Fortuna and Jakub Kolomicenko from Endorphina.

The newly-established conference will feature workshops with top gaming experts and active players of online and land-based casino games. Participants, local operators and software providers will be provided with information about what to expect in 2018, including news for acquiring licenses in various jurisdictions.

A round table discussion with the Czech regulators and government officials will also occur to address demanding gambling regulations in the emerging markets. Hot topics will be based on, but not limited to innovation trends, successful gaming income, responsible gaming programs and regulations. The country’s Prime Minister, Andrej Babis, has recently stated that approximately 30 million crowns will be needed to fight gambling addiction in 2018, after which the number of event registrations has increased.­

Currently, there are 7 active centers of gambling prevention in the Czech Republic, and the government will likely use EU money to open new centers and cover all 14 regions of the country. The highlight of the Summit will be held between 10:30 and 11:30 AM and it will feature a “Focus on Czech Republic” panel discussion with special attention towards profitability and optimal market potentials.

Numerous active companies in the online and land based gambling industry of the region are invited, as potential investment ideas will also be presented to financiers, suppliers and operators in the demographic. Prague Gaming Summit 2018 carries an enormous variety of networking possibilities with leading companies such as PS Legal, WH Partners, Melchers Law Germany, ROMBET, Bird&Bird and other, whose representatives have also confirmed participation.

Cryptocurrency miners and enthusiasts alike might have pushed things too hard in Iceland when it comes to achieving their annual cryptocurrency profit growth. Due to an increase in Bitcoin mining opportunities, the country will likely have to double its electricity supplies to avoid a complete meltdown. The Nordic island has a population of about 340,000 people, whose yearly energy consumption amounts to 700 gigawatt hours. An ever-growing popularity of various cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, has led many miners precisely here, due to cheap electricity and low tax bills.

The officials are concerned with energy consumption, as it’s estimated that mining tools such as computers, servers, motherboards and cooling devices might use an additional 840 gigawatt hours in 2018! According to Johann Snorri Sigurbergsson, spokesman for Icelandic energy firm HS Orka, new mining centers and companies that are interested in investing could face power outage in particular areas.

Nearly all of the country’s utilities come from renewable energy sources, and that is why the price per KWH holds steady. However, the government officials are considering certain changes in regards to mining operations, as many of them do not require staff, infrastructure or further investments – resulting in low taxes, fast profit and high energy consumption.

Companies with huge incomes in Iceland pay a hefty price to the government, and mining groups are trying to avoid their obligations to the state – says a member of Iceland’s Pirate Party, Smari McCarthy. Comparing Bitcoin mining with gold digging represents a unique opportunity for many energy companies to invest, but large-scale mining operations demand great environmental costs, which should be appropriately compensated, adds McCarthy.

Source:

"Energy riches fuel bitcoin craze for speculation-shy Iceland", Egill Bjarnason, apnews.com, February 12, 2018.