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Sergio Aguero: The history of the FA Cup meant it was always a special competition to play in

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Stake’s global representative, Sergio Aguero, reveals his memories of playing in the FA Cup, why it was a special competition for him to win, how Pep Guardiola will keep his players motivated against Peterborough in their fifth round tie, and what this side could achieve this season.

The FA Cup has an amazing history and I am proud to have won the competition 

The FA Cup was always one of my favourite competitions to play in because of its history and because of the many famous players and teams to have won it.

When I was living in Spain and here in Argentina, everyone knew about the competition and its history.

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We came so close to winning the FA Cup in 2013 but were beaten by Wigan in the final. It was hard for us because we had a very good team, Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta all started that game.

But we were all very new to the club and it was only the start of our journey. I think we did okay in the end!

We were back at Wembley for my second FA Cup final in 2019 and that day went much better for us when we beat Watford.

We were so happy to win it and to be a part of FA Cup history was a very proud moment for me.

The tradition of the FA Cup is one of my favourite things about the competition, it was fun to meet Prince William to get my medal after the game and the celebrations with the fans afterwards was so special.

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Everyone says that the FA Cup is magical and it is true, it was always really fun to play in and you felt proud to represent your team in the competition.

The day we played in the FA Cup was

always special because there was so much excitement in the team and the fans were always extra happy to see us play well.

Playing teams in lower divisions in the FA Cup is harder than you think, so Pep will have the City players focused ahead of the Peterborough match 

Not many people know how hard it is to play in the FA Cup. In England, you play a lot of matches and a lot of competitions, but as a player, it’s really exciting because you have the chance to try and win lots of different competitions, and winning finals is something that you are always proud of as a footballer, which means every game is important.

To get to the final you have to play against lots of different teams and some new ones that you might not have ever played against before. Playing against new teams and new players and at new stadiums is always hard because you don’t know 100% what you’re going to be playing against. We watch the teams in the Premier League and Champions League a lot and we all have friends and international teammates that play for them, but when you draw a team in the FA Cup that you don’t regularly get to play against or know too much about, it’s always a difficult experience.

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When we played against a new team or a side in a different division, we were always expected to win, but it’s not as easy as that. Every manager always made sure the preparation for an FA Cup game was exactly the same. The training was the same, we worked hard on our jobs for the match and we went into the game knowing what we had to do, it made no difference if it was the final or first round.

This is exactly what Pep Guardiola will be doing with the team this week. Pep is a winner and he hates to lose, you don’t win the number of trophies he has without this attitude. He will be making sure the Manchester City players are ready for the game against Peterborough in the same way as if it was any other match.

There’s added pressure on Manchester City to win in the FA Cup and Peterborough will look to familiar tactics to beat them 

When you are the team in a higher league and you have to travel to a team in a league below you it is difficult because the crowd are always so excited that their team might cause an upset and get to beat a Premier League team! When you get to the ground you are quickly aware that everyone really wants you to lose – the fans let you know when you arrive. It’s not just the

home crowd that are extra excited to see you lose, but it is everyone watching at home also, we know this and try not to think about it and focus on our job for the day.

We played against Wigan, again, in 2018 in the Cup at their stadium and it was one of the hardest matches. They defended so well and frustrated us, we had all of the possession and so many chances, but they scored late and knocked us out, that’s how it is in knockout football. If Peterborough think that they can win then they should watch that game and do the same as Wigan did.

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Peterborough will be tough for Manchester City because the team has just travelled to Portugal in the Champions League, had a tough game against Tottenham, then they’ll play away in the Premier League threes days before the match and then they have to play Manchester United after the FA Cup game, but the team has so many good players in every position and everyone is used to this way of playing now.

Manchester City are hungry to win every competition 

At Manchester City, we wanted to win everything, every match and every trophy, and that will always be the case at the club now. I think Manchester City are in a great place to win the Premier League again, they also have a good chance in the FA Cup and in the Champions League too, but this might be competitive, but I think it is possible that they win all three. Winning a treble like this would be a huge achievement and they have a team and manager that can do it this season.

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ACR POKER’S FLAGSHIP ONLINE SUPER SERIES LAUNCHES THIS MARCH WITH $25 MILLION IN GUARANTEED PRIZE POOLS

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Climb the OSS Leaderboard to win a share of $35,000 in cash and tournament tickets

Building on the momentum of its revamped tournament schedule, which features expanded events, bigger guarantees, and faster gameplay, ACR Poker is rolling out its flagship Online Super Series (OSS) with $25 million in guaranteed prize pools from March 16th to 31st.

“Playing in the Online Super Series is always a great experience, and this time, it’s back with $25 million in guarantees across a diverse range of tournaments and buy-ins, ensuring there’s something for every player to enjoy,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker.

Players can get ready for an action-packed OSS, headlined by two Main Events starting on Sunday, March 23rd: the $1.5 million guaranteed ($1,050 buy-in) and the $750,000 guaranteed ($215 buy-in). Adding to the excitement, the $1 million guaranteed ($630 buy-in) Main Multiflight Event kicks off on Sunday, March 16th.

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In addition, this year’s OSS lineup features three Mystery Bounty Multiflight events, including a supersized $500,000 guaranteed tournament with a $109 buy-in. For players seeking more budget-friendly options, the $200,000 guaranteed ($33 buy-in) and the $75,000 guaranteed ($5.50 buy-in) events are also on offer. Day 1 flights for these events begin this Sunday.

What’s more, ACR Poker is bringing back its OSS Leaderboard Contest. Players can compete for a share of over $35,000 in cash and tournament tickets, spread across two separate leaderboards with high ($44 and over) and low ($33 and under) buy-in levels.

Players can keep track and add their favorite OSS events to their calendar easily with ACR Poker’s online tournament schedule.

Online Super Series highlights:

  • $25 million in guaranteed prize pools
  • $35,000 Leaderboard Contest
  • Small, medium and large buy-ins
  • $1.5 million guaranteed Main Event, $1 million guaranteed Main Multiflight Event
  • Three Mystery Bounty tournaments (including $500,000 guaranteed)

Beyond the OSS, ACR Poker is just getting started with its turbocharged poker offerings. Players can jump into the revamped tournament schedule, take their shot in the Punta del Este Satellites on March 9th and 16th to win one of 16 packages ($5,500 value each) to the Enjoy Poker Tour in Uruguay, and prepare for a massive April lineup featuring two Venom tournaments.

For more information on the $25 million guaranteed Online Super Series, read the ACR Poker blog or visit ACRPoker.eu.

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The post ACR POKER’S FLAGSHIP ONLINE SUPER SERIES LAUNCHES THIS MARCH WITH $25 MILLION IN GUARANTEED PRIZE POOLS appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Bitline and Everi Announce Crypto Liquidity for Choctaw Casinos & Resorts in Industry First Development

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Bitline, the only provider for casino chip access directly from cryptocurrency, has announced its first major collaboration in the U.S. casino market, teaming up with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts through its collaboration with Everi’s CashClub, the leading financial access services suit for casino payments. This collaboration introduces cryptocurrency and digital assets as a new source of liquidity for casino patrons and marks the first time that such a functionality has been enabled within the American gaming industry.

Leveraging Everi’s CashClub’s comprehensive payment infrastructure, Bitline’s solution is able to efficiently board, screen and verify patrons looking to leverage their digital assets whilst also allowing patrons to move screened assets into custody within minutes. Bitline’s integration with Everi’s CashClub, will enable the technology for the benefit of Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, and is the first time that such a functionality has been possible in the U.S. regulated casino market.

The collaboration works to cater to the growing demand for greater cryptocurrency and digital asset integration within the casino industry. The collaboration between Bitline and Everi’s CashClub forms a transferable blueprint that offers casino operators and their patrons an alternative way to manage funds, access liquidity, and leverage the benefits of cryptocurrency and other digital assets.

This milestone reflects a strategic shift in how casino operators view and manage financial interactions with their guests. The introduction of cryptocurrency as a liquidity solution provides additional options for guests and lays the foundation for  Choctaw Casinos & Resorts as it looks to the future of gaming sector finance, setting a new standard in financial accessibility and convenience.

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“Working with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts and Everi’s CashClub to make this a reality is a historical moment for both the casino and blockchain industries. Bitline was conceptualized to advance the gaming sector and offer a wider variety of financial options for the casino industry,” said Richard Jones, CEO at Bitline. “We’re entering an era where digital assets can fundamentally enhance the gaming experience, providing casino operators with a future-ready financial framework that can expand and evolve as the industry does. This collaboration is just the beginning of our vision to modernize casino payment capabilities on a global scale.”

“We are excited to be the first casino in North America to offer our guests another way to play,” said Thomas McDonald, Senior Director of Cage and Credit at Choctaw Casinos & Resorts. “Through our long-term relationship with Everi, a leader in fintech solutions, we will continue to invest in innovative offerings that provide the discerning gaming VIP access to funds in a safe and secure manner.”

 The Choctaw Casinos & Resorts integration represents only the first phase of Bitline’s broader mission to bring cryptocurrency solutions to casinos and casino patrons worldwide. As cryptocurrency and digital assets continue to gain traction in the gaming sector, Bitline’s easy to integrate and patented payment model stands poised to become a key player in transforming gaming finance. Future plans include expanding  services across other major casinos and gaming markets, both domestically and internationally, establishing cryptocurrency as a new standard feature of the gaming experience.

The solution is to be formally rolled out on March 7, 2025, with the first transaction taking place at Choctaw’s Durant, Oklahoma, location.

The post Bitline and Everi Announce Crypto Liquidity for Choctaw Casinos & Resorts in Industry First Development appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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DATA.BET Joins BiS SiGMA Americas 2025

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Another step in expanding into this dynamic market

DATA.BET strengthens its foothold in the Latin American market with its presence at BiS SiGMA Americas 2025. This marks the provider’s debut with the booth at Brazilian’s show, highlighting its ambitious plans to present its premium esports betting and virtual content solutions.

At the stand E140, DATA.BET’s team will connect with current and potential clients and partners to introduce esports betting and data products enhancements. Visitors can explore technically upgraded Single Page Application (SPA) and interactive widgets designed to optimize the betting experience, especially for mobile devices, and operational efficiency. In addition, the company offers extensive esports coverage with 35+ disciplines and over 12,500 live events monthly. Together with its virtual sports lineup that features 600,000 events yearly, DATA.BET provides a broad spectrum of betting content.

“As the industry evolves, we remain focused on equipping operators with comprehensive solutions needed to succeed,” said Otto Bonning, Head of Sales at DATA.BET. “LatAm represents a key market for many betting companies. Our presence at BiS SiGMA Americas 2025 underscores the  dedication to this region and businesses that aim to develop it, and we can’t wait to connect with leading professionals and partners.”

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The post DATA.BET Joins BiS SiGMA Americas 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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