Latest News
Football is back: Man City are hot EPL favorites, but look to the Saudi Pro League for betting value
- Cloudbet data analysis identifies surprises in Saudi league title odds
- Saudi Pro League bolstered over summer transfer season by top international talent
August 9, 2023 — Manchester City are the overwhelming favorites to win a fourth straight EPL title, but for value, analysis from leading crypto casino and sportsbook Cloudbet suggests football fans should look further afield – to Saudi Arabia.
Thanks to the influx of top names from the EPL and other European leagues, the Saudi Pro League has emerged as a competitive space for bettors, according to research by Cloudbet traders. The four teams recently bought by the state’s Public Investment Fund are all in with a chance of the title, according to the study, which looked at positive or negative changes from the transfers to team ratings.
Newly promoted Al Ahli have made the most impactful moves, with an expected addition of more than 2.5 goals per game, the most of any team in the league. Allan Saint-Maximin will add the equivalent of 0.65 of a goal per game, supported by strong contributions from fellow transfers Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Franck Kessie, according to Cloudbet.
Even though they’re new to the top division, Cloudbet’s analysis has given Al Ahli Saudi the fourth-highest team rating in the league, belying the squad’s title odds (18.5/+1754). That’s not the only surprise: Cloudbet’s team ratings have current league third-favorites Al Hilal ahead of second favorites Al Nassr FC.
Saudi Pro League Team Rating Changes
| Ranking | Team | 2022/23 rating* | 2023/24 rating* | Title odds |
| 1. | Al Ittihad | 0.20 | 0.0 (top) | 2.87 (+187) |
| 2. | Al Hilal | 0.35 | 0.10 | 3.81 (+281) |
| 3. | Al Nassr | 0.00 (top) | 0.15 | 3.63 (+263) |
| 4. | Al Ahli | 1.10 | 0.30 | 18.5 (+1754) |
| 5. | Al Ettifaq | 1.20 | 1.65 | 18.5 (+1754) |
Data analysis and odds courtesy of Cloudbet (current as of Aug. 9, 2023)
* Cloudbet’s team rating: The top team’s rank is denoted by 0.0 with the other team scores reflecting their goal per game handicap
“Taking last season’s team ratings as a starting point, we added on to each club the positive impact of this summer’s transfers,” a spokesperson from Cloudbet said. “The team ratings that we’ve devised do cast a different light on what the odds indicate. There’s plenty of value for the savvy bettor to unlock this season.”
Cloudbet’s ratings and odds do agree on the main title contender: Last year’s champion, Al Ittihad from Jeddah. This summer, Al Ittihad added Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho, who are expected to add 1.7 goals per game to a squad that already boasts Abderrazak Hamdallah, the Golden Boot winner in three of the last five years.
“We decided that the addition of Karim Benzema was the single most impactful transfer of the summer,” the Cloudbet spokesperson said. “One thing to be taken into consideration, though, is whether this will destabilize a settled, winning team.”
Title contenders
Last year’s runners up Al Nassr have made good signings in Marcelo Brozovic and Sadio Mane (0.8 goal per game, between the pair), but a lot will depend on whether Cristiano Ronaldo has regained his fitness over the summer. The Portuguese star looked out of shape and decidedly off pace towards the end of last season.
Al Hilal may see an increase in yellow cards as a result of Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic joining, but their midfield can now hold its own against almost any club in world football. Neves, Milinikovic-Savic, and Malcom are worth a 1.4 goal uplift to the team, according to Cloudbet research. With Odion Ighalo bolstering the supply lines up front, the club should run close to last year’s winners.
“We expect to see Saudi Arabia’s famous old rivalry between its two most-storied clubs, Riyadh’s Al Hilal and Jeddah’s Al Ittihad, play out once again,” the Cloudet spokesperson said.
Al Ahli is the fourth team to benefit from the Saudi Public Investment Fund millions. The addition of Mahrez, Saint-Maximin, Firmino, and Kessie plus Edouard Mendy in goal, and Matthias Jaissle as coach, has bolstered their team by close to 3 extra goals.
Looking at the rest of the field – Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq FC may struggle beyond mid table. They were defensively weak last season and now need to face sides with the likes of Benzema, Firmino, Jota, and Saint-Maximin up top.
In fact, odds on the non PIF teams have lengthened versus those teams, so while there’s definitely value in the betting, it does look like a four-way contest.
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Two of Alabama’s leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry — Wind Creek Hospitality, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and the McGregor family, owners of Birmingham Racecourse and Casino and Victoryland Casino — announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Wind Creek will acquire the Birmingham Racecourse. The sale is expected to be finalised by early 2025.
Kaizen Gaming Colombia, owner of the Betano.co brand, was authorised by Coljuegos to operate online betting in the country. With this new operator, there are now 16 web platforms that have the approval of the entity to market games of chance online. The entity is also in the process of authorising an additional operator called Bingo Casino, which is expected to begin offering bets in the coming weeks.
Gaming Laboratories International has become the first laboratory to achieve accreditation in Maranhão, Brazil. The accreditation allows GLI to perform tests and certification for the gambling and lottery industry interested in working with lottery and fixed-odds betting operators in the state of Maranhão. The milestone is the latest in a series of regulatory achievements for GLI in Brazil.
BetConstruct has announced their participation at this year’s GAT Caribbean Cancún that takes place in Mexico from November 26-28. Taking place at the Cancún International Centre, the GAT Caribe Cancú is a prestigious event that gathers manufacturers, operators and marketers to broaden the horizons of the online and land-based markets in Mexico, the Caribbean region and Central America.
Legendz Social Casino & Sportsbook announced its highly anticipated launch, offering players an unparalleled social gaming experience across 43 states in English and Spanish language. With a vast array of games, innovative features and a player-first philosophy, Legendz is set to redefine the online social and sweepstakes gaming landscape.
Partnerships
International Game Technology PLC has announced that it has launched its first wide-area progressive (WAP) compatible game in Colombia with the all-new Condor Link. Players across the country now have the opportunity to spin for large-scale WAP jackpots at nine properties operated by Winner Group Cirsa, one of Colombia’s largest gaming operators. Delivering a highly engaging entertainment experience to the gaming floor, IGT’s Condor Link game features four jackpot levels and a reset value of 75,000,000 Colombian Pesos (COP).
Cisco and MGM Resorts International announced that the companies have signed a Whole Portfolio Agreement (WPA), empowering MGM Resorts with the majority of Cisco’s software portfolio. This includes cybersecurity, software defined networking, software defined-WAN, digital experience assurance, full-stack observability, data centre and services. This agreement spans 5.5 years, benefiting guests and employees across all of MGM Resorts’ properties.
Endorphina has entered into a partnership with Luckia, a leading company in the gaming sector. Combining Endorphina’s passion for slots with Luckia’s innovative spirit, this partnership is set to provide incredible gaming experiences to all iGaming enthusiasts. Luckia is a commercial brand of Luckia Gaming Group that combines offline and online gaming, including traditional businesses such as gaming machines in bars and restaurants and gaming arcades, new online gaming activities and land-based sports betting.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 18-24 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
ELA Games Signs Exciting Partnership with Rootz to Introduce Its Portfolio to New Audiences
Ela Games signs strategic partnership with Rootz
ELA Games is excited to announce its new strategic partnership with Rootz, an iGaming platform that focuses on exciting tech and automation.
Rootz is an all-encompassing iGaming solution built to help operators manage all aspects of their online casinos and power the brands of the future. Some innovative brands in the Rootz portfolio include Wildz, Chipz Casino and many more.
This strategic partnership will see ELA Games’ catalogue being hosted on many of Rootz’s brands. As a result, more players can experience ELA Games’ unique and innovative games like Cash Crab, Joker Cashpot and more. With many of the studio’s games implementing engaging gamification engines, Rootz’s brands can experience increased player acquisition, retention and engagement.
David Fall, ELA Games’ Business Development Manager and spokesperson, commented on the partnership, “We’re proud to announce this significant strategic partnership and are excited about the positive implications it will have on our growth. ELA Games will increase its market presence by being hosted on Rootz’s various platforms, and Rootz will experience increased player engagement from our innovative games. This partnership will prove to be a mutually beneficial one and a meaningful development for our studio.”
Sam Brown, Rootz’s CEO, added, “At Rootz, our players come first, so we’re always thrilled to augment our lobbies with top-quality casino content, like the titles in ELA Games’ catalogue. We’re sure our players will enjoy them, and we look forward to this mutually beneficial collaboration.”
ELA Games continues to experience expansive yet sustainable growth, as evidenced by this recent significant partnership. The studio continues its commitment to producing games with attractive UI and design that enhances the player experience.
The post ELA Games Signs Exciting Partnership with Rootz to Introduce Its Portfolio to New Audiences appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Wyoming Gaming Commission has approved Wyoming’s first mile-long horse racing track for 16 live race dates in 2025, as well as simulcasting and related activities. While the first racing season at Thunder Plains Park will feature temporary structures, the essential components, including barns, racing officials’ tower, video patrol towers, and spectator areas, will be in place.
The track, located 10 miles east of Cheyenne at Thunder Plains Park, will host its inaugural race day on Friday, August 1, 2025, with additional race days to follow on August 2, 3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31 and September 1. Dates are subject to change per the Wyoming Gaming Commission.
With its convenient location along I-80, the track is set to draw racing fans from neighboring states in the mountain west region, as well as local fans from Cheyenne and surrounding areas.
“As a fifth-generation Wyomingite, being able to bring this track to our state carries a lot of meaning,” said Ryan Clement, managing partner at Thunder Plains. “Thunder Plains sees an incredible opportunity to create a positive impact not only on the Wyoming horse racing industry but also the area’s economy, in terms of new job opportunities and tourism revenue.”
Through partnerships with elite industry veterans and horsemen, Thunder Plains looks forward to bringing high-quality, high-caliber racing to Laramie County.
“We’ve established a strong partnership with 1/ST, North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing, entertainment and pari-mutuel wagering company,” said Clement. “They’ve set the standard for horse safety across the nation, and we’re looking forward to bringing that strong emphasis on safety and track protocols to Wyoming.”
Of the partnership with Thunder Plains, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY’s Senior Vice President Jeff True said he sees exciting opportunities ahead.
“1/ST has a long history of operating premier racetracks and premier racing events across the country. We are thrilled to be entering the Wyoming horse racing market together with our local Wyoming partners, and we look forward to lending our expertise to help grow Wyoming horse racing.”
For all simulcasting operations, 1/ST will leverage the expertise of its affiliates at Monarch Content Management, AmTote International, and PariMAX.
“Our racetrack will be operated with numerous horse safety and welfare protocols in place,” Clement said. “The track itself, being a mile long and eighty feet wide, dramatically improves horse and rider safety. Throughout track design and construction, we collaborated with Dennis Moore, a renowned track surface specialist, to ensure the safest, most high-quality racing surface.”
Moore’s professional history includes designing and building world-class racetracks across the county, as well as consulting on track safety projects at racetracks across the country and around the world. Moore’s projects have included the racing surfaces at Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Lone Star Park, Remington Park and in Dubai, among others.
Future plans at Thunder Plains Park include building a regional equestrian center and establishing a high-altitude horse training and breeding program.
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 18-24
ELA Games Signs Exciting Partnership with Rootz to Introduce Its Portfolio to New Audiences
Wyoming’s First Mile-Long Racetrack Set to Launch in the Mountain West
CryptoWins Celebrates One-Year Milestone with Birthday Month Bonuses and New Slot Launch: Wild Alaska
BetMGM Debuts 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Original Bets Sweepstakes
MGM Resorts Teams with USO and American Airlines for 14th Annual Salute to the Troops at Mandalay Bay
Evoplay enters Czech market with exclusive Fortuna collaboration
Spinomenal celebrates Halloween with Book of the Cursed release
EveryMatrix launches EveryMatrix Effect campaign
ComeOn Group adds sportsbook to its offering in Ontario
-
gaming2 years agoODIN by 4Players: Immersive, state-of-the-art in-game audio launches into the next generation of gaming
-
EEG iGaming Directory8 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News7 years ago
Softbroke collaborates with Asia Live Tech for the expansion of the service line in the igaming market
-
News6 years ago
Super Bowl LIII: NFL Fans Can Bet on the #1 Sportsbook Review Site Betting-Super-Bowl.com, Providing Free Unbiased and Trusted News, Picks and Predictions
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
Rick Meitzler appointed to the Indian Gaming Magazine Advisory Board for 2018
-
News6 years ago
REVEALED: Top eSports players set to earn $3.2 million in 2019
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
French Senator raises Loot Boxes to France’s Gambling Regulator
-
News7 years ago
Exclusive Interview with Miklos Handa (Founder of the email marketing solutions, “MailMike.net”), speaker at Vienna International Gaming Expo 2018
