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Sports betting: Saul Alvarez v Dmitry Bivol preview

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Pound for pound boxing superstar Saul Alvarez returns to the ring on Saturday 7th May when taking on Dmitry Bivol at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. This is another step up in weight for the famous fighting Mexican who continues to defy logic as he aims to take the WBA light heavyweight world title. This is a fighter that won his first title at welterweight and has been a success in every weight category he has entered since. But has he bitten off more than he can chew at the third-highest division? Fight fans can’t wait to find out.

If Canelo is to add another world championship belt to his already sizeable haul, he must defeat a naturally bigger and stronger opponent who is used to trading blows with light heavyweights. Bivol knows he enters as the underdog to win this contest, but the current keeper of the WBA belt is confident he has the physical attributes to silence his doubters. Is Bivol the man to finally halt the Canelo express train?

The top sportsbooks certainly don’t think so, and traders in Las Vegas have Alvarez priced as the most likely winner of this bout. Followers of professional boxing can make their predictions at VIP sports betting sites, and there are more options available than you may think. You can keep it simple and pick the fight result – Alvarez, Bivol or the draw. There are also specials, such as the method of victory, total rounds, number of knockdowns, the bout to be won in an odd or even number of rounds or a fighter to be knocked down but go on to win.

Where does the smart money go? You’ll find out in this big fight preview, and we have enlisted the help of former professional boxer and current fight-game betting writer Frankie Monkhouse who makes his predictions. Let’s get ready to rumble.

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Alvarez is creating a legacy

Canelo will duck between the ropes at the sold-out Las Vegas arena on fight night with a stunning professional record detailing 57 wins against one defeat and two draws. The only loss on his card was inflicted by the self-proclaimed “Best Ever” Floyd Mayweather, who collected a convincing points victory in Sin City. That was back in 2013, and much has changed for the beaten man since. Alvarez hasn’t lost a bout since, despite ranking among the most active fighter at championship level in the world. He is a gladiator that simply loves to compete, test himself against top-level opponents and win world titles.

Saul isn’t happy simply keeping busy and winning fights. He is determined to create a lasting legacy that will take many years to better, if possible. Since losing to Mayweather, the hit-list of Canelo includes Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Gennady Goloivkin, Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders. Both Smith and Saunders were unbeaten world champions before running into the Mexican, and he dispatched both in the kind of fashion that left followers suggesting neither will return to the top level of the sport, such was the savage beating they received.,

We last saw Alvarez in action against Caleb Plant in a bout he was expected to win, and one, he got the desired result without too much fuss. There was no lack of needle between Alvarez and Plant, but when the bell went, there was only ever going to be one winner. Canelo dominated the fight before finishing it in round 11. Caleb was dropped to the canvas twice before referee Russell Mora stepped in to save him from any further punishment.

Bivol is unbeaten

All the talk and hype pre-fight focuses on Canelo and his strengths, but what about Bivol. Who is the champion, and what does he bring to the table? The Californian-based fighter brings a perfect 19-fight record, with 11 of those wins coming inside the distance to create a 58% KO average.

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He scored a stunning 12-round points decision over Craig Richards in Manchester, England, on the undercard of Derek Chisora v Joe Parker and followed that with another win on the scorecards in Russia last time out, beating Umar Salamov. He is a hard-hitting fighter, but each of his last six wins have come on points, and he’ll aim to take Canelo into the later rounds in Vegas.

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Canada

Relax Gaming joins forces with PointsBet to strengthen footprint in Ontario

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Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has significantly enhanced its presence in the Ontario market through an agreement with leading Canadian operator, PointsBet.

This partnership reinforces Relax Gaming’s aim to become a standout provider across North America, having already gained early success in Ontario. Relax became one of the first suppliers to deliver content to the region’s players in March 2022, debuting with over 120 games across multiple operators.

PointsBet pride themselves as one of Canada’s leading operators offering unmatched speed, ease of use, and a comprehensive array of pre-game and in-play sports betting options. This is complemented by a top-tier online casino which will now be boosted with the integration of Relax’s portfolio of slots and live dealer options.

With its authentic Canadian approach, PointsBet prioritises technology that minimises external dependencies to maintain control over its platform and has a commitment to responsible gambling best practices, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all players.

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Martin Stålros, CEO at Relax Gaming, said: “Since we launched in Ontario we have enjoyed tremendous success, with our content hitting the sweet spot for the broad range of players in the Canadian province. This partnership with PointsBet will strengthen our presence in the market as the region’s leading operator integrates our rich content portfolio which will engage its player base.”

Scott Vanderwel, Chief Executive Officer at PointsBet, added: “Relax Gaming has established a strong reputation across North America and in Ontario in particular. The impressive range of content that will be integrated into our platform will increase engagement within our online platform and we are delighted to be able to provide more immersive experiences to our audiences.”

Established as one of the industry’s leading B2B suppliers, Relax Gaming was awarded GGA’s Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots. Money Train 3 names the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards amongst its 6 Slot of the Year titles, while the brand also won the award for Skill Games Supplier at the 2023 EGR B2B Awards along with the Innovation in Mobile award at the 2023 SBC Awards.

Relax Gaming provides more than 4,000 online casino games, from its high-performing proprietary slots to a significant, varied library of content from hand-picked third-party studios via its partnership programmes.

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Canada

Jackpot Digital Receives Approval from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority

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Jackpot Digital, a leading manufacturer of electronic multiplayer dealerless poker tables, has announced that it has received approval from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) to act as a registered supplier of gaming supplies and services to regulated casinos in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

The approval follows the Company’s news release dated February 6, 2024, announcing the signing of a licensing agreement with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) to install the Company’s Jackpot Blitz dealerless poker ETGs into SIGA casinos.

SIGA operates seven casinos and Playnow.com in Saskatchewan. At the outset, SIGA proposes to install Jackpot Blitz machines at its Dakota Dunes and Gold Horse Casino properties, located in Saskatoon and Lloydminster, respectively.

Jackpot CEO Jake Kalpakian said: “We are excited to receive approval as a gaming equipment supplier in Saskatchewan. This represents the first major jurisdictional, non-tribal license received by Jackpot during our continuing expansion into the land-based casino market. We have many more license applications underway in the US and other Canadian provinces, which will dramatically impact our ability to accelerate the rollout of Jackpot Blitz across North America.”

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Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation

Play Alberta, CSEC Extend Partnership

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Teams under the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) banner have expanded their long-term partnership with Play Alberta, the province’s premier iGaming destination. As part of the agreement, the Flames will feature AGLC’s responsible gambling program, GameSense, on their home helmets and a Play Alberta insignia displayed on their home jerseys. The Stampeders, Wranglers, and Roughnecks will integrate the Play Alberta logo onto their uniforms.

“There’s significant importance now to showcase meaningful responsible gambling efforts in the iGaming industry. I’m proud of our initiatives to provide GameSense with such a visible platform. GameSense promotes healthy gambling habits online and in person and including AGLC’s responsible gambling platform over the course of this partnership is a huge accomplishment,” Kandice Machado, Chief Executive Officer at AGLC.

The agreement makes Play Alberta the exclusive sports betting and online gaming partner of the Flames, Wranglers, Stampeders, and Roughnecks. Through the partnership, Play Alberta and CSEC will develop unique partnerships and in-arena giveaways during the season.

“Through GameSense, our partnership with Play Alberta equips our fans with the knowledge required if they wish to participate in gaming while they support their home team. We are both proud and excited to extend our relationship with Play Alberta that makes cheering for our teams that much more fun while also generating revenue to support the quality of life for Albertans,” said CSEC President and CEO Robert Hayes.

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Alberta is the first jurisdiction in North America to partner with professional sports franchises and integrate PlayAlberta.ca and social responsibility branding onto uniforms. It upholds AGLC’s commitment to responsible play, raising awareness of GameSense and Self-Exclusion, resources that give bettors the tools they need to make healthy gambling choices.

In addition, proceeds generated through the website go toward the province’s General Revenue Fund. In 2023–24, $235 million was generated for programs and services that Albertans rely on every day through Play Alberta, an increase of more than $42 million from the previous year.

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