Online gambling, its rise and fall.

I recently discussed an incident that happened regarding an online gambling site. We will get to that shortly… I have found that the government have had a strange interest in gambling and the alleged taking more than the person can afford to gamble toward betting shops, but not so much toward betting sites! Have we taken a bad thing and made it worse? By that I mean, have we gotten to a stage of where the need to make money is far more important than the consequence? The funny thing about this is that everyone can argue their point and we would not be any closer to an answer. The whole process is fairly tight and multiple accounts cannot be used to take advantage of the offers from gambling company. The information is stored, even if you manage to delete your account and not used it for a while… Well that seems to be not true either, as the need to take your money may be actually greater than the rules set in place! I spoke to Paul Higham from Brighton and he had a situation from Paddy Power!

Stephen Hawking and Paddy Power

Stephen Hawking and Paddy Power

According to a Diamond Reels report, he had placed a bet with them and won £110, but after having won, he was denied the winnings due to the fact he had already opened an account previously! Mr Higham had used the Paddy Power offer which was allegedly for new customers only, but they had already taken his details, allowed to bet his own money with the offer and then told he was unable to claim his winnings due to having been a customer in the past! I am sure had Mr Higham lost, it would have not been a case that they would have liked to refund his money, but since that never happened, I am just speculating. When I contacted Paddy Power for their stance on the subject they looked into it and came back with, “We have looked into the case and are happy it has been dealt with in line with our policies. We aren’t commenting beyond that.”

 

I checked the revenue for online gambling in the UK for the last 5 years and the numbers are astounding. On Facebook alone the gambling sites supported took £1.3 billion in 2010 and almost reflectively in 2014 £3.1 billion. On reflection, it seems as though Mr Higham’s £110 win is not even equitable as a fraction, or a percentage. Initially, I thought that maybe Paddy Power were going to put it down to some miscommunication, or some error they could gladly sort out with a few emails and I could write a happy ending, but unfortunately it took them the best part of a week to even give me the quote, which for one week’s work is pretty underwhelming. However, I digress… As Paddy Power is only one incident that doesn’t pose online gambling in a very good light, could the honeymoon period be over for them and are they looking to just take everything from the customer until the customers finally just give up on them completely? To tell you the truth, I don’t really know! All indications say that online slot machines are starting to get better and better results and customers! Will an odd flutter here and there be able to sustain them and will modern technology be their demise? I wish I had that crystal ball, as I would put the mother of all bets on it! Like most people, I am not against gambling, as we all do it in some form, or another.

 

What I do find disturbing is that in 2014, when technology and business are almost fused together that they thrive off each other. Thus, one must make sure to get into good online gaming sites such as https://www.slotsformoney.com which is legit and offers you the best games out there. Human intervention comes into play and makes the action seem totally illogical. It shows that the computer can make a decision using all the information given and yet still a human can come along and make it seem as though the machine has no ability to do exactly what it was designed to do. So my conclusion for online gambling isn’t that the program is designed to fail from the beginning with the programming it has, but the rules are constantly changing. Something that you can’t program a computer to do and requires actual human intervention. And we all know, “To err is to be human”!

 

 

Online Betting With William Hill

Betting used to just be on the high street, with William Hill standing tall above the competition, now this national favourite is just as popular online. There well-designed and easy-to-use website is perfect for accumulator bets at william hill. It is an eye-catching site in William Hill’s brand colours of dark blue, gold and white. The William Hill logo is iconic.

With the categories put into different sections, you just need to choose whether you want Sport or Casino, Poker or Bingo and then you are given even more choice. You can even bet on your mobile from the site with ease just by clicking on the mobile tab.

If sport is your thing, click on the Sport Tab and then choose your favourite sport. Everything from Football to Cricket is there and easy to navigate. It has a Daily Match List and Team A-Z. The amount of choice is vast, every team from every country seems to be here, and every sport that can be bet on, is there for you to have a flutter.

William Hill has some great deals as well. If you place an accumulator of 6 or more results and miss by one result William Hill will refund your stake. Amazingly its available on every game in every league online and on mobile. There are a few terms and conditions of course as always see the William Hill website for more details.

William Hill has always been a great site to play poker as well. There software is easy to use and the security is good. William Hills good name ensures you don’t need to worry about the safety of your money as you have to with some sites. They’ve also got some great deals at the moment. Like deposit £50 and get £100 and a new player bonus of up to £1200.

If you love betting on sport, or anything else, this site is for you. It makes online betting fun and easy. We give it full marks.

 

 

Betting on The BAFTAs or Grammys? Here’s The Latest Odds.

If you are having a flutter on the BAFTAs or Grammys read the latest odds from Frost and Paddy Power first.

BAFTA:

Best Film

Argo is still the film to catch and is a massive 1/4 odds on to scoop best film at Sunday’s BAFTAs. Paddy Power is also offering 1/2 that it does the double and wins Best Picture at the Oscars as well. As for the others:

Lincoln – 9/2

– Les Miserables – 6/1

– Life Of Pi – 25/1

– Zero Dark Thirty – 40/1


Leading Actress

Leading Actress category is dominated by three main contenders – 8/11 Jennifer Lawrence, 9/4 Jessica Chastain and 11/4 Emmanuella Riva. The also rans include 33/1 Marion Cotillard and 40/1 Dame Helen Mirren

Leading Actor

And the winner goes to ‘Daniel Day-Lewis’ – never before have the bookmakers been so sure about the outcome of best actor setting unbackable odds of 1/40 – meaning for every £40 staked, you will win £1. For what it’s worth, Hugh Jackman is 10/1, Joaquin Phoenix 25/1 Bradley Cooper 50/1 and Ben Affleck 50/1

Best Director

Another category that’s all but said and done – Ben Affleck is miles ahead in the betting at 1/7, while second favourite Kathryn Bigelow is 7/1 and Ang Lee 15/2.

*GRAMMY:

Bring on the bling, but no buttocks of boobs please. Grammy performers have been warned to avoid ‘see through’ clothes and ensure all wobbly bits are ‘adequately’ covered. Yeah right.

Paddy Power is offering 4/1 for at least one pair of female nipples to be visible during the ceremony and have installed Rihanna at 13/8 as the most likely culprit to ‘to have missed the memo’.

Meanwhile ‘Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra is the even money favourite to win record of the year, ahead of 3/1 We Are Young by Fun, featuring Janelle Monae.

Mumford & Sons are the odds on favourites to scoop album of the year for Babel, while Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess look to have one hand each on the song of the year category for We Are Young.

Last but not least, The Black Keys are tipped to land Rock Album of the year:

Record of the Year

11/10 Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye Featuring Kimbra

3/1 We Are Young – Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe

4/1 Lonely Boy – The Black Keys

8/1 Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson

15/1 We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift

20/1 Thinkin Bout You – Frank Ocean

Album of the Year

4/9 Babel – Mumford & Sons

3/1 El Camino – The Black Keys

5/1 Channel Orange – Frank Ocean

10/1 Some Nights – Fun

12/1 Blunderbuss – Jack White

Song of the Year

8/15 We Are Young – Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)

5/2 Call Me Maybe – Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)

5/1 Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)

10/1 The A Team – Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)

12/1 Adorn – Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)

Best New Artist

6/4 FuN

13/8 Frank Ocean

11/4 Hunter Hayes

8/1 The Lumineers

18/1 Alabama Shakes

Best Rock Album

1/2 El Camino – The Black Keys

3/1 Blunderbuss – Jack White

5/1 Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen

8/1 Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay

12/1 The 2nd Law – Muse

CBS Wardrobe ‘Obscenity’ Specials

4/1 Any onstage performer or award winner to wear see-through clothing that could possibly expose female breast nipples

6/1 Any onstage performer or award winner to have an organized cause visibly spelled out his T-Shirt

12/1 Any Foreign language to appear on performer or award winners outfits

First to Break the CBS Wardrobe Advise onstage

13/8 Rihanna

2/1 Beyonce

4/1 Katy Perry

5/1 Taylor Swift

10/1 Jennifer Lopez

15/1 Alicia Keys

33/1 Kelly Clarkson

What To Bet On In 2013

FANCY A FLUTTER IN 2013? LOOK NO FURTHER  

 

Now that we know the world did not end and we are post the potential apocalypse, the prospect of a new year brings a satisfying dollop of uncertainty and mystery surrounding life’s important matters. Who will judge next year’s X-Factor? Will there even be an X-Factor next year? What colour hat will the queen wear at Ascot? What colour hair will the new royal be blessed with?

 

While 2013 is somewhat lacking in the trouser department compared to the major sporting, political and cultural events we’ve been spoilt with recently, there’s still plenty of going-on’s to get your knickers in a twist.

 

Whether you fancy a flutter, or just have lots of space to fill in between Christmas and New Year,  Paddy Power has given Frost a guide to nearly everything and anything that may or may not happen in 2013.

 

 

ROYAL BABY

Forget 2012 and the Olympics, Ryder Cup and Jubilee, 2013 is all about Kate, Wills and the little‘en. If you can think of it, we’ll take bets on it.  Victoria is the current joint 5/1 favourite name having started life at a lofty 20/1. George leads the way for boys ahead of 50/1 Paddy.

 

Royal Baby Name5/1 Elizabeth

5/1 Victoria

8/1 George

9/1 Diana

 

10/1 Mary

16/1 David

50/1 Paddy

500/1 Britney

 

Hair colour 13/8 Brown

2/1 Blond

2/1 Black

6/1 Ginger

 

Multiple birth 6/1 Twins

50/1 Triplets

1000/1 Quads or more

 

 

 

OSCARS

The Oscars race is well and truly on. For about five minutes it looked like ‘Argo’ had Best Picture all sewn up, cruising to the finish on strong reviews and decent box office. However, with a lap still to go, Affleck’s thriller looks to have peaked too soon and run out of puff with ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Lincoln’ and ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ now looking unbeatable for Best Motion Picture. Meanwhile staying on planet movie, Paddy Power has tipped the Hobbit to be the highest grossing movie of 2013.

 

Best Picture 5/4 Lincoln

2/1 Les Miserables

3/1 Zero Dark Thirty

9/2 Argo

14/1 Silver Linings Playbook

 

Best Actress4/9 Jennifer Lawrence

9/4 Jessica Chastain

12/1 Emmanuelle Riva

20/1 Helen Mirren

40/1 Judi Dench

Best Actor 2/7 Daniel Day Lewis

6/1 Denzel Washington

7/1 Hugh Jackman

40/1 Anthony Hopkins

100/1 Daniel Craig

Best Director13/10 Steven Spielberg

15/8 Argo

5/2 Kathryn Bigelow

8/1 Tom Hooper

33/1 Peter Jackson

Top grossing Movie of 20132/5       The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

9/4       Man Of Steel

12/1      Iron Man 3

16/1      Jack The Giant Slayer

20/1      The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

 

SOLAR FLARE

Maybe the Mayans were onto something after all. Forget a plague of cancers, super volcanoes or dark comets laying waste to everything on earth, 2013 could be the year in which we’re paralysed by a catastrophic solar flare causing blackouts and global chaos. The once-in-a-century disaster could see power grids crash, communication systems collapse, planes grounded, food supplies hit and the internet shut down.

 

1/25 UK national grid to blackout for a day or more

5/6 UK citizens to see a bright red haze

5/1 cost of solar flare damage to exceed $1 trillion

16/1 that we will see the biggest solar flare / geomagnetic storm on record

33/1 World debt to be wiped out

 

 

UK POLITICS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Cameron’s coalition looks to be weakening by the day. With a general election to start thinking about and the Lib Dems languishing behind UKIP in the polls, Paddy Power’s 4/1 for the coalition to split in 2013 could prove a juicy punt.  Meanwhile money continues to trickle in on whether 2013 will be the year for Julian Assange to have a change of scenery, 11/8 says he’ll still be holed up at the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2014 and it’s 100/1 for him to escape via jetpack.

 

UK Politics – 201310/3 Any of the main three leaders to leave their post

4/1 Coalition to break up

4/1 General Election to be held

8/1 UK Referendum on EU Membership

Negative growth in Q1 or Q22/7 Yes

9/4 No

 

EU – 20139/4 Any country to leave the Euro

9/4 Any country to leave the EU

16/1 Euro to cease to be a currency

Julian Assange – Method to leave Embassy11/8 UK police car

4/1 helicopter

6/1 Diplomatic bag

25/1 Hot air balloon

 

US POLITICS

US politics poses two big questions for 2013. Will the economy suffer negative growth? Help yourself to odds of 2/1 for yes and a safer 1/3 for no. And will Wintour descend upon the UK in 2013? She is just edging behind favourite Matthew Barzun in the betting for the next US Ambassador to the UK.

 

Fiscal CliffWill there be a quarter of negative growth in 2013?

2/1       Yes

1/3       No

 

Next US Ambassador to UK10/11    Matthew Barzun

3/2       Anna Wintour

6/1       Marc Lasry

 

2014 Mid Term Elections: Control of House of Representatives

2/5       Republican

7/4       Democrat

 

 Control of Senate

5/6       Republican

5/6       Democrat

 

 

COMMODITIES

Given world events in 2012 – continued tensions across the Middle East, financial crisis in the Eurozone and economic stagnation in the West – you can bet your bottom dollar the price of gold will continue to rise as investors seek a safe haven for their hard earned cash. How high is anyone’s guess. Paddy Power is offering 5/6 the price of gold will exceed $1750 by the end of 2013. Meanwhile we’re offering 9/2 for the price of gold to hit the magic mark of $2000 any time throughout the year.

 

Price of gold at year end 5/6 Under $1750

5/6 Over $1750

Golden Year 9/2 Price of gold to hit $2000 any time in 2013 Price of oil at year end 4/5 Under $105

10/11 $105 or over (Brent Crude)

 

 

HATCHES, MATCHES & DISPATCHES

Whilst England fight the Aussies to retain the Ashes urn next summer, another national treasure may be lost to the convicts as Liz Hurley and Shane Warne head up the betting for our ‘First to get married’ market at evens.

 

First to get married1/1       Liz Hurley & Shane Warne

7/4       Kate Winslet & Ned Rocknroll

6/1       Eva Mendes & Ryan Gosling

8/1       Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson

10/1      Nicole Scherzinger & Lewis Hamilton

40/1      Taylor Swift & Harry Styles

 

First to announce they are having a baby11/10    Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall

7/1       Kate Moss & Jamie Hince

7/1       Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel

9/1       Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

10/1      Frank Lampard & Christine Bleakley

10/1      Holly Willoughby & Dan Baldwin

 

First to split3/1       Kim Kardashian & Kanye West

4/1       Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux

5/1       Liz Hurley & Shane Warne

6/1       Kate Winslet & Ned Rocknroll

6/1       Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson

10/1      Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel

 

UK WEATHER

The UK is renowned for its unpredictable weather, and 2013 is set to be no different. Strangely, next summer is as likely to be the wettest on record as it is the driest, with both available to back at 6/1. Those dreaming of soaking up the rays on their local beach rather than the water on their kitchen floor can take 8/1 that next summer will be the hottest on record.

 

8/1       Hottest on record in UK

6/1       Driest on record in UK

6/1       Wettest on record in UK

9/1       Coldest on record in UK

 

FHM SEXIEST WOMAN

Having inexplicably voted for Tulisa Contostavlos in 2012, the FHM readers are once again being entrusted to choose the magazine’s Sexist Woman for 2013. Mila Kunis is the strong favourite at 5/2 whilst you can get 16/1 that Helen Flanagan’s ball-chewing jungle experience earns her the crown.

 

5/2       Mila Kunis

8/1       Kate Upton

8/1       Jennifer Lawrence

14/1      Nicole Scherzinger

 

 

ON THE BOX

In the fickle world of TV, Simon Cowell may bring himself back into the UK X Factor fold in 2013. The race to be the next host of Strictly Come Dancing appears to be a two-way battle between Anton Du Beke at 13/8 and Vernon Kay at 15/8.

 

Next Host Of Strictly Come Dancing13/8      Anton Du Beke

15/8      Vernon Kay

9/2       John Barrowman

7/1       Graham Norton

16/1      Ben Shepherd

 

Who will be on the 2013 X-Factor judges’ panel?1/3       Louis Walsh

2/5       Tulisa Contostavlos

2/5       Nicole Scherzinger

2/3       Gary Barlow

8/11     Simon Cowell

8/1       Cheryl Cole