Before we whip out our stretchy pants and gobble down some turkey, there’s one more thing to add to our gratitude list: the iconic Canadian celebrities and sports teams that fill our hearts with maple leaf pride. Whether it’s the charm of Ryan Reynolds or the on-court hustle of the Toronto Raptors, Canada isn’t short of national treasures to be thankful for.  

In the true Thanksgiving spirit, we surveyed 3,000 Canadians to reveal which homegrown celebrities and sports teams they’re feeling the most grateful for this holiday. From stars like Keanu Reeves and Shania Twain, to powerhouses like the Edmonton Oilers – fresh off their recent Stanley Cup Playoffs run – the results are definitely something to feast your eyes on.  

Here’s a taste of the results:  

• Stars: Keanu Reeves ranks 1^st as the celebrity Canadians are the most thankful for  

• Stars: Ryan Reynolds brings home 2^nd place, with Jim Carrey following in 3^rd place  

• Sports: The Toronto Raptors ranks 1^st as the sports team Canadians are the most grateful for 

• Sports: The Toronto Maple Leafs glide into 2^nd place, with the Toronto Blue Jays following in 3^rd place  

These are the celebrities Canadians are the most grateful for 

Keanu Reeves carves out the #1 spot as the celebrity Canadians are the most thankful for nationwide. Raised in Toronto and gracing our screens since the age of 9, he’s starred in over 80 films while building a true Canadian reputation – the embodiment of kindness and generosity. Beyond the silver screen, he’s quietly made a huge impact – establishing a fund for children’s cancer, gifting 7-figure Christmas bonuses to struggling Matrix set workers, and handing out Rolex watches to his stunt teams. Known for treating everyone around him with respect, Keanu Reeves rightfully earned the title of ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ in both Hollywood and Canada. No wonder the nation is grateful for him!  

British Columbia’s very own ‘rizz’ master, Ryan Reynolds, swoops into #2 spot with Canadians feeling thankful for this West Coast treasure. With over 67 movies under his belt – ‘Deadpool’, ‘The Proposal’, and ‘Green Lantern’ to name a few – he’s charmed his way into everyone’s hearts on and off the screen. However, it’s not just his wit and charm that has Canadians feeling grateful this Thanksgiving. His generosity has been shown through his countless charitable causes – such as $1M to Food Banks Canada. He’s even been awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2021 as a recognition to his philanthropic work and contributions to the culture life of Canada. Now that’s something to raise a toast to.  

‘Somebody stop me!’ Laughing his way into the #3 spot, Jim Carrey takes his place in the national rankings with a comedic legacy, leaving us all saying ‘alrighty then’! Starting his stand-up career in Toronto at 15, Jim Carrey quickly became famous for his rubber-face expressions and energetic slapstick humour. From ‘The Truman Show’ to ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and ‘The Mask’, he’s left Canadians – and the rest of the world – chuckling for decades. You can find Canadians, or Newfoundlanders more specially, giving thanks to the man who never fails to make us laugh. 

Rounding out the top 5 national rankings, Edmonton’s very own Michael J. Fox lands in the #4 spot. With a longstanding career, he’s captured hearts worldwide through his film roles and advocacy for Parkinson’s research. Meanwhile, back in London, Ontario, Justin Bieber slides into the #5, proving that ‘Bieber Fever’ still runs strong across the country.  

Canada’s MVPs: Sports teams Canadians are grateful for 

Slam-dunking their way into #1 spot nationwide, the Toronto Raptors are the MVPs this Thanksgiving. As Canada’s only NBA team, they’ve built a massive, dedicated fan base – even cheered on by A-listers like Drake, The Weeknd, and Snoop Dogg. When they took home the 2019 NBA Championship, the city threw their biggest celebration in history – with 2 million people attending. The Raptors are truly the ‘toast of the court’ this Thanksgiving. 

Gliding into #2 spot, the Toronto Maple Leafs are skating into the grateful hearts of Canadians this Thanksgiving. Despite the Edmonton Oilers’ recent Stanley Cup Playoff run, it seems Canadians are showing more gratitude for the Leafs. As one of the oldest and most iconic franchises in the NHL, with 13 Stanley Cup championships under their belts (the #2 most in the league), they’ve earned their seat at the Thanksgiving table.  

Staying in the 6ix, the Toronto Blue Jays slide into third base as the most appreciated Canadian sports team this Thanksgiving. Just like the Raptors, they hold the honour of being Canada’s only MLB team, making them a true national treasure. They’ve knocked it out of the ballpark with two AL pennants and two World Series titles, cementing their place in MLB history. Whether it’s a grand slam or a diving catch, the Blue Jays continue to give Canadians something to cheer for each season.  

Rounding out the top five national rankings, the Montreal Canadiens take the #4 spot. With a record-setting 24 Stanley Cup championships, they stand as the most successful franchise in NHL history – a true reason for Canadians to be thankful for. Also skating into #5 spot, the Vancouver Canucks follow, capturing the hearts of fans with their grit and determination. With three Canadian NHL teams earning their spot in Canada’s top five gratitude list, it’s clear that hockey truly flows through the veins of the nation’s spirit.  

Conclusion 

As we gather to celebrate our loved ones and the essence of what makes Canada special this Thanksgiving, it’s clear that cultural icons like Keanu Reeves and powerhouse teams add a little extra flavour to what makes Canada special. These stars and sports teams remind us of the pride and gratitude that makes Canada what it is today.  

Methodology 

In September 2024, we surveyed 3,000 Canadian residents which Canadian celebrities and major sports teams they’re the most thankful for. The average age of respondents was 35 years old. The representative sample size comprised of 54.3% female, 43% male, 2.1% non-binary, and 0.5% transgender. 

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.    

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

The Brazilian Finance Ministry has set a new deadline for operators to apply for a license. Are you ready?

Discussions regarding Brazil’s online gambling market have been ongoing since 2018, when the National Congress tasked the federal government with regulating the industry.

Back then, it was hoped that new regulations would create a safer and more transparent gambling environment, which would increase government revenue through taxation, protect players from fraud and promote responsible gambling practices. Many believed that such changes would also attract both local and international operators and transform Brazil into a major hub for the gambling industry in Latin America.

There have been numerous twists and turns since then, but in July 2024, Brazil’s regulatory process for online gambling, which included 10 detailed ordinances, was finally completed.

The new rules impose strict requirements on both local and international operators, including financial thresholds and rigorous background checks to ensure transparency and prevent money laundering. A mandatory fee structure for license applications was also established, ensuring that only financially stable and well-regulated companies could enter the market.

Read more about the other regulatory requirements, along with the multitude of challenges and opportunities facing gambling operators in Brazil in an interview with Ronaldo Kos, LATAM Gaming here.

Initially, companies had until August 2024 to apply for a license; those that were successful would be able to operate under the new bet.br domain from January 1, 2025; other gambling domains, including .com, would be blocked. It was announced that other licensing application windows would be announced in due time.

However, in mid-September, Brazil’s Finance Ministry announced that operators that had not applied for a license by midnight on September 30 would have to cease operations from October 1 until they had applied and received their permits. Any that continued to operate would be subject to having their websites blocked and fines of up to R$2 billion (US$354 million).

All bets are off. Why the rush?

Ensuring all operators meet strict legal and ethical standards will strengthen the integrity of the sector and so is an admirable, yet sudden, step for the Ministry to take. Many, however, are left wondering the same thing: Why the change of dates? The cynical may think it is just to gather additional revenue as soon as possible, but according to Finance Minister, Fernando Haddad, this has nothing to do with it.

Many, including Fernando, believe Brazil is suffering from a ‘gambling epidemic,’ citing the nearly 25 million people who placed sports bets in the first seven months of 2024, averaging around 3.5 million new users per month.

Read more about the dangers of using grey market platforms in our blog, ‘Before Brazilian regulation: The dangers of gambling without KYC.’

Gambling has become a serious social problem and one the Finance Minister has vowed to crack down on stating, “It has nothing to do with tax collection. This has to do with the pandemic that is taking hold in the country and that we have to start addressing, which is the issue of psychological addiction to gambling.”

It is for this reason, among many others, that underscore the importance, and appetite, of the Brazilian sports betting market becoming regulated as soon as possible.

How many Brazilian operators have applied for a license?

So far, 132 companies have submitted their applications to continue operations, and that number is constantly increasing as the deadline approaches.

All active operators who submit an application before the October 1 deadline will be allowed to continue operating, providing they are granted a license. Companies that applied before August 20 have been assured that they will receive a decision from the government regarding the status of their license application in time to be able to start operating from January 1. Those that applied after this date can continue to operate as usual until the end of the year but may not be able to continue ‘business as usual’ once regulated betting begins from January 1. Those that operate without a license run the risk of a fine and being banned for up to 10 years.

After the October 1 deadline, the government will process the pool of applicants and issue licenses. The government has until November 17 to give companies an answer and as of right now there has been no mention of a limit on the number of licenses being given. Once an operator has been approved, they then have 15 days to pay the fee of 30 million reais ($5.45 million) in order to continue doing business.

Playing by the rules: What are the guidelines going forward?

Once the official ordinances go into effect at the beginning of January, all authorized gambling operators must use the bet.br domain in order to be distinguished from unauthorized platforms, including .com.

Credit cards will no longer be a valid form of payment and instead only debit cards or Pix (the Brazilian instant payment system ecosystem) will be accepted.

Operators will also be required to perform a robust identification process during onboarding. It is therefore of utmost importance to choose an identity verification provider that can meet the very specific challenges of the Brazil market:

• Be able to process a wide range of different Brazilian identity documents.
• Perform KYC and gather customer information, such as full name, date of birth and valid identification documents.
• Verify citizens’ CPF numbers and ensure that they do not appear on any of the various government-mandated restriction lists.
• Facial biometric verification is now mandatory for registration, with regular facial re-verifications a requirement.

Operators must also monitor transactions for suspicious activity to prevent money laundering, fraud and underage gambling. The goal of these KYC measures is to enhance consumer protection, promote responsible gambling and ensure compliance with Brazil’s broader efforts to create a transparent and secure gambling environment. Non-compliance with these requirements can result in severe penalties, including the loss of the operator’s license.

Play on with IDnow.

At IDnow, we offer advanced Know Your Customer (KYC) services to assist with existing and upcoming regulations, in Brazil and beyond.

Our automated and secure identity verification solutions enable operators to quickly and accurately verify player identities, ensuring compliance with Brazil’s stringent KYC requirements.

We support real-time document verification, biometric checks and fraud detection, which helps operators prevent money laundering and underage gambling while maintaining a seamless user experience.

Read more about our Brazil-ready identity verification services.

By

Kristen Walter
Jr. Content Marketing Manager
Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn

Many sponsored poker players have become household names thanks to their poker skills at the felt, but over the last decade, appearing on podcasts has kept poker legends in the public consciousness. Listening to favorite players speak about the game we all love is fascinating. Many iconic names share anecdotes from poker’s colorful past, while passing on their experiences at the modern-day felt too.

Here are five of the best recent podcasts featuring legends of the felt:

• Jonathan Little on the Table 1 Podcast
• Jennifer Tilly is Locked In on The Chip Race
• Phil Hellmuth on The Tim Ferriss Show
• Daniel Negreanu on DAT Poker Podcast
• Doyle Brunson Tells Poker Stories with CardPlayer

5. Jonathan Little on the Table 1 Podcast

PokerGO Cup winner, poker coach extraordinaire and bestselling poker author Jonathan Little has had huge success in poker and his chat with Art Parmann and Little’s fellow high stakes crusher Justin Young on the Table 1 Podcast was an incredible listen. From discussing Little’s humble beginnings and amazing work ethic when he was young to his latter-day scores in some nosebleed events, this is a Little story that feels way bigger.

Little is extremely candid here, drinking red wine from his PokerGO Cup – literally! – as he tackles hearty subjects such as online poker trolls, managing a live poker bankroll and how to break into the game if you’re a live player in terms of networking with other players. Some of his takes are so hot the hosts almost need asbestos gloves and he faces the Twitter/X drama head-on, as well as discussing how he became a successful poker author and coach, a ‘side hustle’ that has turned into a lucrative and highly satisfying business.

Young and Parmann are great hosts and while the show is almost 80 minutes long, you’d never know it. The antics race through books, business, the elusive poker/life balance and how one of the game’s most humble heroes deals with the dreaded poker ‘ego’ that all players must conquer in order to win.

Insightful, inspiring and downright hilarious at times, it’s an unmissable slice of poker life on a podcast episode from February 2024:

4. Jennifer Tilly is Locked In on The Chip Race

Winning a Global Poker Award for Best Poker Podcast in both 2018 and 2023, The Chip Race is a superb show hosted by Unibet Poker professionals David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney. Also nominated in 2021 and 2022, The Chip Race’s offshoot podcast The Lock In features some of the biggest names in the game over more long-form discussions that take on the hilarious and hard-hitting subjects alike.

This classic episode from 2022 featured the super-talented Hollywood movie actress and High Stakes Poker legend Jennifer Tilly. Discussing the impact of COVID-19 on poker and wider society, there’s a terrific blend of hi-jinks and hyperbole from all three as Tilly – the better half of Phil Laak – discusses subjects like near-death experiences, spectral beings and what its really like to play in nosebleed games as a film actress and absolute crusher.

Tilly is a poker author too, so the trio touch on her piece in the short story collection He Played for His Wife & Other Stories, as well as talking about some of the biggest players she’s taken on at the felt herself. Tilly is a superb guest and both Lappin and O’Kearney master the art of letting the talent speak and nudging along with intelligent, well-researched questions at just the right time.

At 85 minutes, there are Hollywood movies that are almost the same length, but few as entertaining.

3. Phil Hellmuth on The Tim Ferriss Show

Originally broadcast in 2017, Phil Hellmuth’s hour-long appearance on The Tim Ferriss Show is a revelation. The Poker Brat is a walking, talking headline maker at the slowest of times but here he is on rude form. Discussing coping mechanisms at the felt and away from it, Hellmuth is devastatingly honest about people like Vince Vaughn, Daniel Negreanu and himself (!) while exploring topics close to his heart.

Hellmuth is not the record-holder of WSOP bracelets for nothing and he goes into great detail about his victory in the 1989 WSOP Main Event as he defeated the legendary Johnny Chan. Hellmuth’s candour about what he was really thinking at pivotal points in poker history make for fascinating listening and while this is a show that you could enjoy while going for a run or doing household chores, it’s too involving at times to be anything other than a complete focus.

With the Poker Brat dishing the dirt on his marriage, his wins – and losses! – at the poker felt and the industry as a whole, it’s addictive stuff from the master of the controversial one liner.

2. Daniel Negreanu on DAT Poker Podcast

There is no-one in poker quite like Danie Negreanu. Often known by his moniker ‘Kid Poker’ the Canadian seven-time WSOP bracelet winner and Poker Hall of Famer digs deep on this recent foray into the world of poker.

Having been a PokerStars Team Pro and now a GGPoker Global Ambassador, Negreanu is the perfect person to discuss the seismic news that broke when the poker brand he represents bought out the World Series of Poker. Talking about the integration of GGPoker’s online software into the WSOP structure is fascinating and when Kid Poker speaks about the changes WSOP players can expect from future series, people listen.

As well as talking about topical subjects such as those, Negreanu also touches on Allen ‘Chainsaw’ Kessler’s incredible $1m plus win on the slot machines, poker commentators and the tantalising possibility of their being a Rounders 2 movie.

Does Kid Poker want there to be a return to action for Matt Damon and Ed Norton? You bet he does and he’s got an idea about exactly how the makers can ensure that it happens.

Check out the exclusive podcast episode right here.

1. Doyle Brunson Tells Poker Stories with CardPlayer

There is one poker player whose words will live on forever, and that person is Doyle ‘Texas Dolly’ Brunson. The 10-time WSOP champion won back-to-back world championships in 1976 and 1977 and ‘The Godfather of Poker’, who passed in 2023, was perhaps the most influential player in the game’s history. Present in the formative years of the game’s development, Brunson is a legend who will live on forever through his words.

Exploring topics such as the accident that ended his hopes of playing professional basketball in the NBA, Brunson’s life story is one that will constantly leave you stunned over the course of just under an hour. The Texan Christian, who battled ill health early in his life, survived well into his eighties and was a regular in high stakes cash game Bobby’s Room at The Bellagio for almost 30 years.

As well as discussing his phenomenal poker career, he also dives into difficult topics such as players dying at the same table as him, names his top five poker players, talks million-dollar prop bets and even tells listeners who he thinks should play him in the movie of his life.

If you love poker, you’ll treasure this priceless hour of Doyle Brunson’s thoughts as ‘Texas Dolly’ talks through a life in poker that is unrivalled by anyone in the game.

Conclusion

In a world where poker and podcasts continue to merge, each episode offers unique insights and stories from the felt, shared by some of the game’s most iconic players. Whether it’s poker legends like Doyle Brunson or modern stars like Daniel Negreanu, these episodes capture the essence of the game and the personalities behind it. Now, we want to hear from you! What podcast episodes featuring poker players have you loved? Drop your recommendations in the comments and let us know which ones you think are a must-listen for poker fans.

Artikel ini membahas dua bandar judi: QQ288 dan W88. Keduanya merupakan situs yang mapan dan terkenal di Indonesia. Meskipun, jika kita bicara tentang mutu layanan yang mereka sediakan, tidaklah sama. Mari kita lihat lebih dekat mengapa Anda harus membuat taruhan di W88 daripada QQ288 dan karenanya bisa menghemat uang.

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QQ288 kurang bisa dipercaya dibandingkan W88

Saat Anda menjelajah web, Anda dapat menemukan banyak topik dan posting di forum tentang QQ288 yang menulis bahwa QQ288 bukan operator yang paling transparan. Kelihatannya banyak kejadian di mana pemain belum menerima uang tunai yang menjadi hak mereka.

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Jika itu belum cukup menjadi alasan memilih W88 daripada QQ288, maka perlu saya sebutkan bahwa W88 adalah juga sponsor kaos Aston Villa yang merupakan salah satu klub di Liga Premier Inggris. Itu menunjukkan betapa besar dan terhormatnya W88 dan bahwa ambisi mereka jauh lebih dari sekadar menjadi bandar judi atau kasino terbesar di Asia.

W88 memiliki lebih banyak permainan kasino daripada QQ288

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QQ288 kurang menguasai pasar olahraga

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W88 menawarkan odds yang lebih baik daripada para pesaingnya

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QQ288 tidak menampilkan promosi terbaik

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Kesimpulan

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The poker brain is a double-edged sword. It’s smart enough to have you pulling off an epic triple-barrel bluff but equally likely to give you advice that will set your bankroll on fire. Thanks to the way we’re wired, poker is never just about the cards we’re dealt, but about the ability to analyze and assess the endless stream of thoughts that flood our minds in-game.

Over time, I’ve been able to identify a few such thoughts that, no matter how much my brain tried to convince me otherwise, have been nothing but a money pit, or should I say burial ground.

Here are the 3 most common poker thoughts that will do nothing but set your chips ablaze.

This would be a really intelligent spot for my opponent to bluff.

Let’s keep it honest, if your opponent was that intelligent, they probably wouldn’t be grinding 50nl. That’s no disrespect to low stake grinders, but without proof to the contrary, we have to assume players will conform to population tendencies, meaning that they’ll play like the average player. And so, by definition alone, an average player is unlikely to be pulling off a high level, read-your-soul type of bluff. To assume otherwise is to fall prey to fancy play syndrome. Meaning that until you get to limits where the norm is to be a highly intelligent poker player with skilled hand reading and balanced bluffing ranges, stop leveling yourself and just fold to that darn river raise.

I’ll just see a flop

One of the biggest traps for amateur poker players who watch televised high stakes cash games is the thought that seeing a lot of flops with speculative holdings is a harmless strategy. However, for most players at the low to mid stakes, that’s not only untrue but also a surefire way to punt off some stacks with vulnerable hands.

This is because, generally speaking, your online opponents are playing much tighter ranges today than they used to, both due to the ability to multi-table and to instantly get another hand via high-speed games such as Blitz poker. Meaning that playing a significantly weaker range against them is like trying to win a pillow fight against an opponent swinging a bag of rocks. Sure, you may get a couple of licks in before they connect, but once they do, you’re going to be the only one in real pain. So, until your results prove you can join the big boys on TV, stick to the basics preflop and let your postflop skills dictate the action.

I’ll just play until I get even

Perhaps the most infamous of poker’s famous last words, this thought has buried more bankrolls than Phil Ivey. Although chasing your losses will sometimes work as intended, it is usually indicative of tilt setting in, and will more often than not, lead to even greater losses.

Wise players know that on a long enough timeline, the hourly rate they earn at their chosen limits will stay relatively constant. Knowing that to be the case, the next time you feel like playing longer than optimal, ask yourself whether you would continue playing if you knew for a fact that you would only make that same baseline rate, which, it’s important to note, you could just as easily make any other time.

So, make this the golden rule: the moment I hear my mind telling me “just until I get even,” or any other poker thought that has historically proven to get me killed, I will immediately step away from the table, preserve my bankroll and live to fight another day.

Remember, sometimes the most intelligent thing we can do is recognize what a dumdum our mind can actually be.

As we delve deeper into the Virgo moon’s influence, several distinct traits emerge that paint a vivid picture of this lunar archetype.

Analytical Prowess

One of the hallmarks of the Virgo moon is its analytical prowess. Virgo Moons possess a remarkable ability to dissect complex situations, identify underlying patterns, and devise practical solutions. Their critical thinking skills are honed to a fine edge, allowing them to approach problems with a systematic and logical mindset.

Attention to Detail

Virgo Moons are renowned for their exceptional attention to detail. They possess a keen eye that can spot even the most minute of discrepancies or areas for improvement. This innate attention to detail manifests in their personal and professional lives, where they strive for precision and excellence in all they do.

Service-Oriented Mindset

At the core of the Virgo moon lies a deep-seated desire to be of service to others. Virgo Moons find immense fulfillment in contributing to the betterment of their communities, whether through their chosen professions or their personal relationships. They are often drawn to roles that allow them to make a tangible difference in the lives of those around them.

Organizational Prowess

Virgo Moons thrive in environments that are well-organized and structured. They possess an innate ability to create and maintain efficient systems, ensuring that their personal and professional lives operate with a seamless flow. Their organizational skills are often envied by those around them, as they effortlessly juggle multiple tasks and responsibilities.

Health-Conscious Mindset

Virgo Moons tend to be highly attuned to their physical and mental well-being. They often have a deep interest in nutrition, holistic health practices, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Their analytical nature drives them to research and incorporate natural remedies and alternative health approaches into their daily routines.

Modesty and Humility

Despite their significant talents and contributions, Virgo Moons are often characterized by their modesty and humility. They prefer to work behind the scenes, letting their achievements and the quality of their work speak for themselves. This innate humility, however, should not be mistaken for a lack of confidence; it reflects their intrinsic values, where the satisfaction of a job well done is more rewarding than external praise.

Slot fans who are seasoned poker players may already be familiar with the concept of bankroll management, but the term is just as important when you play slots online. Within this guide, we’ll provide some useful money management slot tips to help you select the right slot titles for your budget, based on a range of factors such as volatility, RTP percentages and more.

Although these bankroll management tips won’t improve your odds of winning – because all slots are games of chance – it is possible to use these slot tips to spread your risk, minimise losses and have a more enjoyable slot gaming experience.

Tip 1: Set A Budget

Before you spin a single slot reel, you should take some time to calculate how much you can afford to play with. Any money you do spend on the reels should be funds you know you can afford to lose.

Set aside a slot budget that doesn’t limit any of your essential monthly outgoings. You could label it as part of your monthly entertainment expenses. When you spend money going to the cinema, you wouldn’t expect a return on your cinema ticket at the end of the movie. You should adopt the same mindset with your slot gaming budget.

When you make a deposit into your LiveRoulette account for the first time, you can claim a deposit bonus up to a maximum of €50. All winnings from this bonus money must be played through 40 times and cannot be withdrawn until play through conditions are met. Through careful game selection, it’s possible to find games that have greater winning probabilities than others to help make your bonus funds last longer. However, some games may not be eligible for bonus offers, so read the terms and conditions carefully. You’ll learn more about this as you advance through this guide.

18+ | begambleaware.org | Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Terms & Conditions apply.

Tip 2: Choose The Right Slot Game

Ultimately, you will want to choose slot games that you can engage with. Whether it’s a themed slot based on one of your favourite hobbies or pastimes or a slot with the kind of bonus features that you enjoy – such as free spins or pick-me bonuses – the right slot for you is ultimately the one you enjoy the most.

However, it’s a good idea to be more selective with your slot titles if you want to make sure your slot budget goes further. All slot games are different – they come with different volatilities and return to player percentages, which means that some are more likely to pay out more frequently than others.

Understanding Return To Player (RTP) Percentages

When you search through lists of available slot games, most games will also have their RTP percentage displayed within the game’s help pages. RTP is an important factor for experienced slot players. Those slot players determined to manage their bankroll properly will use RTP percentages to determine the slots they should and shouldn’t play. RTP is short for return to player, which means the amount a slot player could expect returned to them over a high number of spins.

Let’s say for example that a slot game displays an RTP of 96.5%. This means that for every €100 spent on its reels, the slot is programmed to return €96.50 over the long-term. Because of variance and the fact that all online slot titles are powered by decentralised random number generators (RNGs), there will be variations when you play short-term, but the RTP is what you can expect to be paid out over an infinite number of spins.

Each slot will also be programmed with a hit frequency in tandem with an RTP percentage. The hit frequency is best described as the number of times you can expect to land a winning combination on the reels within 100 spins. If a slot has a hit frequency of 20, that means there is a 20% possibility of landing a winning combination on any spin. However, this is an average over an infinite number of spins, so there can be variance with the hit frequency over the short-term, just like the RTP percentage.

What Does Slot Volatility Mean?

Slot volatility is often confused for RTP. The RTP of a slot game does not set the volatility of a slot, although they are closely related. The opposing ends of the slot volatility spectrum are:

• Low Volatility
  A low volatility slot is programmed to pay out more frequent wins of a smaller size. By design, low volatility slots give you a chance to keep your bankroll going for longer, with smaller maximum payouts or jackpots.
• High Volatility
  As for high volatility slots, these games tend to feature multiple bonus games and larger fixed prizes or progressive jackpots. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find that these slots will tend to trigger these features less frequently than a low volatility game. However, when the jackpots do land, it’s possible to win big.

Select The Right Number Of Paylines

Sensible bankroll management for slot gaming also involves choosing the right number of paylines to play with per spin. The higher volatility slots that are linked to progressive jackpots may only qualify players for the biggest jackpot prizes displayed when they bet the maximum number of paylines per spin. The probability of triggering these progressives is slim. You must therefore weigh up whether your slot budget can absorb betting the maximum or if you should find slots with lower maximum bets and reduced volatility instead.

It’s also important to take into consideration the coin values available for each payline. Most slots will allow you to wager multiple credits on each active payline. For instance, if you play all available lines in a ten-payline slot at a cost of €0.10 per line, you’re spending €1 per spin. If you are just starting out with slots online, it’s a good idea to start playing with the smallest coin denominations per payline while you learn the game’s dynamics.

Choose Between New And Classic Slot Games

If you have looked at the portfolio of slot games at LiveRoulette, you may have recognised slot titles tend to fall in two different categories – classic slots and newer, state-of-the-art video slots.

Classic slots are built to celebrate the purity of old-school slot machine gaming. Think of the original fruit machine games with cherries, watermelons, lemons and a healthy selection of lucky sevens on the reels. There are still plenty of classic slots online. Most of these can be played with modest budgets as they offer fewer paylines – sometimes as few as three.

At the other end of the spectrum, newer video slots are popular for their more advanced gameplay. These are often packed with paylines, features and high volatility which may make them more expensive to play. Of course, some new slot releases will have lower volatility than others, so it’s a case of doing your research.

Tip 3: Setting Aside Your Winnings

Always put your winnings aside. If you sit down with €20 to play your favourite slots and you win €15, you could withdraw the €15 from your balance and play on with your remaining funds. If you know you could be tempted to spend your winnings and put them back into your slot game, this could be an option for you.

However, a better way might be to set a winning target and a stop-loss for each gaming session. Once your balance hits your win goal or stop-loss limit, you simply walk away, win or lose. There will be winning sessions and losing sessions this way, but ultimately you’ll protect your bankroll through the ups and downs.

Tip 4: Control Your Emotions

Keeping your emotions in check is an vital when playing slots online. Seasoned slot players would agree that it’s good to be consistent and accept your losses and wins as part and parcel of the game. That may sound easier said than done, but sensible management of your slot bankroll will also ensure that you are prepared to handle the peaks and troughs of wins and losses. If you feel like your emotions are getting ahead of you, stop playing immediately.

Tip 5: Play Slots Online Responsibly

The bottom line is that playing should be fun. Spending beyond your means and chasing jackpots you can’t afford to chase is anything but fun. 

Dividing your daily, weekly or monthly slot budget into units based on your minimum wager is one way to budget and keep your gaming going week on week. You can then divide those units into equal amounts depending on the number of gaming sessions you plan to have throughout the month.

By treating your slot bankroll with respect, you can be safer with your slot gaming, which is the only way we recommend at LiveRoulette.

How Much Time Should You Spend Playing One Slot?

Take control of the length of time you spend playing slots using our Reality Check function. By switching on the Reality Check feature in your LiveRoulette account you will receive prompts reminding you how long you’ve been playing.

Each time the prompt appears on-screen, you will be asked whether you wish to continue playing or to leave the game, with your win/loss rate also visible to help you make your mind up. It’s an effective way of monitoring your gaming sessions and ensuring you don’t exceed your maximum losses and wins.

Tip 6: Set Yourself Daily, Weekly Or Monthly Betting Limits

At LiveRoulette, we always promote responsible gaming behaviour. That’s why we give all our players the flexibility to set their own gaming limits and boundaries. Within your LiveRoulette account it’s possible to set daily, weekly and monthly limits on how much you can deposit.

These limitations are there for your own good and to prevent you from chasing losses during losing slot sessions. Our friendly customer support team is available 24/7 should you need any guidance with setting your deposit limits.

Hopefully this article has helped to reinforce the importance of managing your bankroll when you play slots online at LiveRoulette. With these slot tips for money management, you can be sure to save your winnings and limit your losses when either scenario occurs.

With so many different video slots and slot genres ready and waiting to be explored at LiveRoulette our Canadian online casino, we hope this guide helps you to pick slot titles that are right for you.

Hosting an engagement party? An engagement party can be a super fun time if planned correctly. While you are celebrating the couple, why not amp up the party with some engagement party games so that all the guests have fun? If you’re not sure what kind of games will be a hoot at the party, these are the best 30 engagement party games and activities you should consider.

Are you hosting a bridal shower as well? Here are 40 perfect bridal shower games.

1. THE SHOE GAME

Let’s start off with a classic, the Shoe Game. In this game, the couple sits back to back, facing away from one another, holding one of each other’s shoes. This game will test the couple’s knowledge of each other in the most hilarious of ways! The host of the game must ask questions such as:

• Who is most likely to wake up first in the morning?
• Who dresses better?
• Who made the first move?
• Who is cleaner?

Once the host asks a question, the couple must raise the hand that is holding the shoe of the person they believe best corresponds to the question!

2. ENGAGEMENT TRIVIA

What’s a party without some trivia? Before the party, prepare a list of trivia questions and answers. Try to have at least 3 or 4 categories of 10 questions each. Categories can be as varied as you want, but try to tie them down to something wedding or engagement-related. For example, if you have a history category, some of the questions could be:

• In what year did Princess Diana and Prince Charles get married?
• Who started the trend of wearing a white wedding gown?

Divide the party into small groups of 3 to 4 people to play this trivia game. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

If you’d like some ideas of what sort of questions to write, here is our master list of 400+ trivia questions and answers to choose from.

3. THE NEARLY WED GAME

The Nearly Wed Game is a version of the Newlywed Game. In this game, give the couple a dry-erase board each. Then, start asking them questions about each other, and the couple must write down their best guess on their board. Examples of questions include:

• If your partner could have just one meal for the rest of their life, what would it be?
• What song is your partner most likely to request from a DJ?
• Roughly how many cups of water does your partner drink per day?

The couple must write down their answer as well as their best guess for what they think their partner would answer. Whoever gets the most correct answers wins!

4. WHO SAID IT?

Before the party, collect a bunch of phrases and quotes said by the bride and groom. Then, at the engagement party, read these quotes and phrases out loud one by one and have the guests guess who said which! You might be surprised by some of the answers!

5. RING TOSS

Of course, when at an engagement party, one of the most classic games you can play is Ring Toss. But instead of playing a classic game of Ring Toss, make sure to decorate the rings with sparkles to make them look more like rings! Then, simply create two small teams who must play against each other to win the most points by tossing their rings onto the stakes. If you don’t have any stakes, use bottles instead.

6. MEMORY LANE

Set up some index cards and pens on a table. To play this engagement party game or activity, ask the guests to write a memory regarding the couple or one-half of the couple, fold it, and put it in a bowl. When everyone has written down their memory, mix the bowl and read out the index cards one by one. Everyone must try to guess who the index card belongs to! This is a great way to break the ice at the party.

7. TIE THE KNOT

Who knew a party trick of tying cherry stems could come in handy? Set out a bowl of cherries and see who can eat a cherry and “tie the knot” the fastest! The fastest wins.

8. ENGAGEMENT MAD LIBS

We think Mad Libs is one of the best party games! But turn Mad Libs into an engagement party game by having guests complete love stories or stories of the couple. As with a standard game of Mad Libs, have someone ask the other players for random nouns, verbs, adverbs, numbers, or adjectives for an incomplete story that must be completed with the given words. Then, read the ridiculous story out loud for some laughs!

9. WEDDING SONG REQUEST

One of the most popular follow-up questions, when you RSVP to a wedding is a wedding song request. So, why not turn this into an engagement party activity by asking the guests to write down their wedding song requests on a small slip of paper and into a bowl to be collected by the couple at the end of the night? And who knows? You just might hear your wedding song request at the wedding!

10. ENGAGEMENT JEOPARDY

Everyone loves to play some Jeopardy! This super fun engagement party game gets everybody involved! Decorate a large board as a Jeopardy board and trivia questions and answers. Of course, in true Jeopardy-style, the answer must be phrased as a question.

Make 6 categories, with each category having 5 questions and answers ranging from easy to difficult. Categories can include:

• Facts about the bride
• Facts about the groom
• Facts about the couple
• Wedding traditions

The player who wins the most “money” wins the game!

Jeopardy is a super fun game you can make yourself. Here are other creative DIY board game ideas if you want to check out more games like this!

11. ENGAGEMENT BINGO

Everyone loves to play some bingo! Create unique bingo cards for each player, with bingo cards including words, phrases, or pictures related to engagement or the couple themselves, such as “first date,” “proposal,” and each of the couple’s names. Then, have players cross out each item that the host reads out. The first player to cross out a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line on their 5×5 bingo card wins!

12. THREE-LEGGED RACE DOWN THE AISLE

A Three-Legged Race is a great game to play if you are hosting an engagement party outdoors, especially if you’ve got some kids running around! The great thing about this game is that even though it’s a simple game, you can easily turn it more engagement party-worthy by laying out a white carpet that racers must run down to get down the aisle and back!

13. DON’T SAY “ENGAGED”

When guests arrive at the party, hand everybody 5 plastic rings each. Then, at the beginning of the party, tell everyone that the words “engaged” or “engagement” are not allowed. If anyone catches someone saying the taboo word, they may steal one of the other person’s plastic rings! At the end of the night, the player with the most rings wins.

14. ENGAGEMENT CHARADES

Charades is a classic game that everyone enjoys. Put an engagement twist on this game by playing words or phrases that are related to love, weddings, or even the couple themselves. Players then take turns acting out one of these words or phrases, and everyone else must try to guess!

15. KARAOKE

We are HUGE fans of karaoke. If you and your guests are as well, set aside some time to sing some of your favorite love songs to serenade the happy couple! This is best if you have a karaoke setup with microphones and speakers, but if you don’t, you can simply fire up the TV and play karaoke versions of popular love songs via YouTube.

16. ENGAGEMENT QUILT

This is a great activity that will end up a priceless keepsake for the happy couple. For this engagement party activity, give each guest a patch of fabric and lay out some beads, string, fabric paint, and fabric markers. Each guest can then decorate their patch however they want to honor the engagement. Sew these patches together to create a quilt that the couple can keep forever.

Hand out patches of fabric to each guest, along with fabric paint, beads, and string. Then, have each person create their own patch in honor of your forthcoming union. After the party, collect all of the patches and have them sewn together into a quilt to commemorate the engagement.

17. PHOTO BOOTH

A photo booth is a hit at any party. If you want to entertain the guests in between games and as everyone is mingling, provide some props and a cute backdrop for guests to take fun pictures with to commemorate the party.

18. LOVE STORY TIMELINE

On a poster board, create a timeline of the couple’s relationship, starting with when the couple met all the way to their engagement. But instead of a completed timeline, leave some blanks that guests will have to work together to complete!

19. WISH JAR

Another fun passive activity you can do at an engagement party is a Wish Jar. For this activity, all you need is some cards and a jar. Guests will write their wishes and advice for the happy couple and pop them into the jar for the couple to read after the party!

20. FIND THE GUEST

One of the best ways to get the engagement party guests mixing and mingling is by playing Find the Guest. You’ll need to prep for this game beforehand by making a list of random facts about each guest. Give this list to each guest, who must then try to match the fact with the correct guest! The player to finish their list first wins!

21. COUPLE’S CROSSWORD PUZZLE

If you’re a big lover of crossword puzzles, one of the best activities you can set up at an engagement party is a crossword puzzle. Print out a poster board of a crossword puzzle filled with clues regarding the couple’s life and relationship that the guests will have to work together to solve.

22. BUCKET LIST

This engagement party activity is similar to a Wish Jar. But instead of writing wishes and advice for the couple, guests write down bucket list ideas for the couple to consider. Perhaps even some date night ideas like these date night games! This Bucket List jar will come in handy if the couple is looking for something to spice up their lives a little bit.

23. HOW MANY KISSES?

In this classic game, fill a large jar with Hershey’s Kisses. Then, have guests guess how many kisses are in the jar. The guest with the closest answer wins!

24. FAMOUS MATCHMAKER

This is another great ice-breaker game to get the engagement party started. As guests enter, give each guest a famous name. They must then go around the room looking for their “match.” For example, Queen Elizabeth II will need to find their Prince Philip. The first couple to find their match wins a prize.

25. PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT

A scavenger hunt is always a hit, but have you ever played a photo scavenger hunt? In a photo scavenger hunt, guests will be given a list of photos they must take. Examples include:

• The engaged couple kissing
• The bride’s engagement ring
• A selfie with the couple
• A selfie with someone you met today

The first guest to complete every item on the scavenger wins!

26. CASINO TABLE

If you’re having an adults-only party, why not set up a casino table where everyone can bet a little bit of money while playing some games? Set up a casino table where you can play any of your favorite casino games, including:

27. CARD GAMES

If you want to play some card games with your guests without resorting to gambling, you can play card games like:

If you’d like more games like this, you should check out our list of the best card games for adults and card games for kids.

28. BOARD GAMES

Not a huge fan of card games? No worries! Why not play some board games instead? Of course, board games are better suited for smaller engagement parties, but there are also some games you can play with larger groups as well!

Here are some of our favorite board games to play at an engagement party:

29. DRINKING GAMES

At an adults-only engagement party, no party is complete without some drinking games to get the party going! Here are some of the best drinking games to play at an engagement party:

30. YARD GAMES

Yard games are a must if you are hosting an engagement party outdoors on a beautiful day. But even better if you play giant outdoor games! Here are some of our favorite yard games to play that will go down a treat at any engagement party:

I am a digital nomad and traveler with a passion for board games. I’ve been a big board game nerd all my life, and I’m a particular fan of word games like Scrabble, Boggle, and, yes, Wordle, too!

Let’s face it. Improving at poker in 2024 can be tough.

A lot of modern poker study methods come down to little more than memorizing solver-generated strategies and charts. This has proven effective for many, but it’s undeniably boring for most players.

But poker coach Uri Peleg* has come up with a different approach that emphasizes creativity and flexibility.

*Uri has coached numerous players who went on to win millions on the felt, including current top pro Barak Wisbrod.

This new approach is meant for players who want to win, but don’t want to spend countless hours studying solvers.

For today’s article, I have pulled 3 unique insights from Uri’s latest strategy video. He plays a short session of online poker, demonstrating the Poker Blueprint approach.

Each takeaway will be centered around a hand history from his session.

Note: World-class coach Uri Peleg is back with a brand-new course for players who want to get better at poker, but have no interest in solvers. “The Poker Blueprint” teaches a holistic, intuitive approach to poker that cuts through all the noise. Pre-register to get a free bonus during launch week!

Important Background

Before getting into the hands and takeaways, you should understand the main principle of Uri’s Poker Blueprint strategy.

Always start by considering what pot size your hand wants. Then, try to navigate to that pot size as the hand progresses.

Uri will refer to “the pot size your hand wants” throughout these hands and the Poker Blueprint course. 

Takeaway #1: Take people out of their comfort zone with creative lines

Your opponents might be well-studied in the most common situations in poker. So a key way to beat them can be to take them out of their comfort zone with creative lines and bet sizings. Take a look at this hand that Uri played at 200NL:

Preflop: Uri is dealt Ac 7c in the Cutoff
Uri raises 2bb. Big Blind calls.

Flop (4.5bb): Kh Jc 8d
Big Blind checks. Uri checks.

Turn (4.5bb): 9s
Big Blind checks. Uri bets 3.4bb. Big Blind calls.

River (11.3bb): Jh
Big Blind checks. Uri bets 16.9bb. Big Blind folds.

Uri checks the flop because his hand is pretty weak and doesn’t want to play a large pot.

He then turns his hand into a bluff on the turn since the opponent showed weakness by checking. Now check out Uri’s thoughts on his decision to bet the river with a 150% pot sizing:

The Jh river is not the most intuitive card to keep blasting on. And this is a spot where his ability to read the story is very, very important.

So generally speaking, when the pot is too big for your hand, it’s a potential bluff candidate. And you can choose to bluff in all sorts of routes. If I start by going bet-bet-bet, the pressure on him is just to not overfold to direct aggression. And that’s one of the things that people are most practiced at, even if they probably still do overfold.

By going check-bet-bet, I’m putting pressure on him to defend correctly with a range that he’s much less practiced in playing. And when people are in these spots where they’re winging it, a lot of the time, they kind of give their hand away. So by checking twice, a lot of people will not have enough strong hands in their range.

He had a chance to be aggressive once I checked back and he didn’t go for it. So I can attack. That’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull. This is a spot that many, many people are messing up consistently.

But given that I bet big on the turn, how can I still bet big on the Jh river? Would I bet a Jx on the turn this big? Am I saying that I have a straight or Pocket Nines? Would I still bet Pocket Aces on the river or a good Kx? All these questions should have been in your head. Also how often does he donk bet his Jx on the river? Because if he donk bets all his Jx, I can keep betting my Kx.

The truth is, to me, until someone proves themselves at these lower limits, I’m like: You look weak. I’m putting on pressure.

Takeaway #2: When you bet the river, know what you are representing

Learning to tell a consistent story is extremely important, especially when bluffing. Take a look at this hand and accompanying analysis from Uri at 200NL:

Preflop: Uri is dealt 8s 7d in the Big Blind
Lojack raises 2bb. Uri calls.

Flop (4.5bb): Js 9d 2h
Uri checks. Lojack bets 1.8bb. Uri calls.

Turn (8.1bb): Ad
Uri checks. Lojack checks.

River (8.1bb): 4d
Uri bets 22bb. Lojack folds.

It’s worth noting that Uri’s call preflop is probably a bit too loose depending on the rake (though he’s probably playing a bit looser to generate examples for the video).

He check-calls the flop with his gutshot straight draw and then faces a check-back on the turn. Here is how Uri decides to approach this river:

So like we said, we want to attack these discontinued aggression spots. You could go for all sorts of sizes here, but we want to tell a coherent story. And the story I’m going to tell is I have something really, really strong.

The thing with this spot is that there are a lot of hands that missed. It’s not easy for me to have an Ax. I can’t bet big with a Jx. So if I make a normal-sized bet, it’s very easy to call.

The thing you want to be thinking about here is the narrative of the hand. When you bet the river, which hand are you telling the other guy you have? You could tell him you have a Jx. But then the bet would need to be very small. And you could tell him you have an Ax and then the bet would be medium. But there are not many Ax hands you can have. And then the last option is you could tell him you have a flush or two pair.

In theory, your opponent should check-back some draws and strong Ax to make your life kind of tough. But unless they show you they can do that, this is a very tough bet to call. It puts a lot more pressure on people to know what’s going on. So just a way of attacking this discontinued aggression combined with thinking about the narrative and what hand I’m repping.

Takeaway #3: There are multiple ways to keep the pot size small with a mediocre hand

Just check-calling is not the only way to get to a cheap showdown with a marginal hand.

Preflop: Uri is dealt Ah Jd on the Button
Hijack raises 2bb. Uri calls.

Flop (5.5bb): Kh Jc 8d
Hijack bets 1.4bb. Uri raises 3.9bb. Hijack folds.

Take a look at Uri’s thoughts on his decision to check-raise small as a method to keep the pot size small:

How big a pot does Ace-Jack offsuit want? When my opponent bets 1.4bb, the answer is that I want a little bit more in the pot, but not very much. There are all sorts of ways you can accomplish that. One would be to call and one would actually be to raise small.

3.9bb is roughly the pot size my Ace-Jack is aiming at. So let’s see if they are capable of reacting to this ridiculously small raise. It doesn’t make sense. Why would I raise a flopped set so small? It’s a very weird size. But it’s very tough to react to this. Imagine you’re him. You have Pocket Tens, Pocket Nines, Pocket Queens, or Ace-Five suited. It’s very, very hard.

Did you catch part 1 of this series about the $74K+ Doug vs Mariano hand?

Check it out here if you haven’t.

Don’t Do This in Poker! Doug Polk vs Mariano High Stakes Analysis

Note: Want to win, but don’t want to spend countless hours becoming one with a solver? Pre-register for Uri Peleg’s Blueprint now! 

Sycuan Casino Resort supports St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center For 20 years!

Sycuan Casino Resort Donated $10,000 to
St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center on Monday, August 14.

Sycuan Casino Resort Donates to St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

During the check presentation, Tribal Council members from Sycuan Casino Resort donated $10,000 to St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center. The donation will continue to support the nonprofit’s mission and sponsor their 2024 Haute with Heart Fashion Show & Luncheon.

“We have had a partnership with Sycuan for over 20 years, which has cultivated a supportive environment that contributes to the success of our programs and has helped us be recognized in the greater community as a local non-profit which serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” St. Madeline Sophie’s Center CEO Debra Emmerson said.

St. Madeline Sophie’s Center is a nonprofit offering educational and recreational programs to adults with down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other cognitive disorders. With the help from Sycuan Casino Resort, the nonprofit helps individuals achieve their potential with personalized support, skill development and community engagement.

Sycuan Casino Resort’s Dedication to St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

With over two decades of support, Sycuan Casino Resort partners with St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center to sponsor multiple events, helping the nonprofit raise funds for its vital programs and services. Together, the collaboration showcases a strong partnership in community development that positively impacts lives in San Diego.

Swing With Santa Golf Tournament

One of the hallmark events is the annual Swing with Santa Golf Tournament. The annual event lets participants enjoy a day of golf, a silent auction, and a happy hour reception, helping raise funds for the student’s holiday celebrations.

Haute with Heart Fashion Show & Luncheon

Sycuan Casino Resort proudly sponsors the Haute with Heart Fashion Show for St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center by providing financial support. The annual event boosts the students’ confidence by allowing them to showcase their creativity and talents while raising funds for the center’s programs. The event consists of a fashion show, live music, silent auction, and a luncheon.

Morning Glory Brunch

The annual brunch event features a fun afternoon of bites from local restaurants, live music, art made by students and a frog race with cash prizes. The event is a great way for students to show their talents and advance their social skills. Proceeds from the event go towards funding the nonprofit two-acre garden and aquatic program, enhancing the quality of life for students in the programs.

Tea by the Sea

Sycuan Casino Resort supports St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center’s annual Tea by the Sea at the Marine Room, offering delicious food and a stunning oceanfront view. At the event, guests enjoy complimentary Champagne, signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while bidding in a silent auction. Live music sets the mood, and a special visit from Marine Room Executive Chef Bernard Guillas adds a memorable touch. All proceeds help the nonprofit continue filling its mission.

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

Founded in 1966, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon, California, started as a preschool for children with developmental disabilities. In 1972, the nonprofit shifted to serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering vocational training, skills development and social experiences. The nonprofit aims to help individuals with cognitive disorders reach their personal and professional potential through its innovative programs.

For more information about St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, visit their official website here

It’s time to fire up the engine and get behind the wheel — Costa Rica-based studio Headless Chicken Games has just launched NeoSprint—a love letter to Atari’s beloved Sprint series. To learn more about the latest expansion in this high-octane racing anthology, I recently caught up with HCG founder Jose Pablo Monge.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us! Could you kindly tell us a bit about yourself and your position at Headless Chicken Games? How did it all start for you?

Jose: The pleasure is all mine, thanks for having me. I am the director of NeoSprint and founder of Headless Chicken Games. We’ve been making games for over 11 years now, [and] the reason we started with this is because we love games, we love playing them, we love making them!

Tell us a bit about your upcoming isometric racing game, NeoSprint. What is it, and what can players expect to find in this latest reincarnation of the Sprint Series?

Jose: NeoSprint is a love letter to the original Sprint game. When Atari approached us, they had this idea of doing something with the IP, so we tried taking a hard look at what made the original stand out while also bringing a modern look and feel to it.

NeoSprint is a homage to Atari’s arcade-centric Sprint Series, which dates way back to the 1970s. What was it like returning to the roots of this fan favorite?

Jose: It was extremely fun! Studying the classic Sprint games was such a blast from the past, we looked at the track designs, how the cars felt, even how they approached to movement on the game.

Are we right in thinking that the upcoming entry may also feature a few Easter eggs for returning fans?

Jose: We’ve got dozens of Easter eggs in the game, some of them are hidden in plain sight! On a previous podcast, we got complimented because it‘s one of the most elegant Easter egg designs the host had seen, so we hope players like them too!

Aside from its core gameplay modes, NeoSprint will also feature a track-building feature, right? Could you tell us a bit about that?

Jose: We live in a time when user-generated content is king, so we wanted to make sure that our players could see our game as a playground to create things! Thus, the track builder was born as a way for players to show us their ideas and creations while also having the possibility to share them with the world!

Could, say, someone who’s never experienced a Sprint Series game before jump right in with this one? Are there any valuable tips for beginners that you wouldn’t mind sharing?

Jose: Haha, it’s a silly tip, but we’ve seen a lot of folks struggle a little with the perspective of the car, so my little tip is when starting the game, imagine yourself in the car cockpit and always play as if you were there!

🔴 LINK IN BIO

Our mailing list will keep you up to date with all the news related to our studio. We’ll send you relevant news, product updates and any important changes you may need to know about.
You can also participate in raffles and many more surprises pic.twitter.com/nJNCjRkBHh

— 🕹️HeadlessChickenGames (@HeadlessCG) February 5, 2024

What’s the best way to support the team ahead of NeoSprint’s arrival on consoles and PC? Are there any newsletters or social feeds that we should be aware of?

Jose: Follow Headless Chicken Games on our social media channels, join the Headless Chicken Games newsletter, and wishlist the game!

What’s next for Headless Chicken Games, if you don’t mind me asking? Are there any important dates that we should be chalking up in our calendars?

Jose: Right up next, we have a really cool VR game coming in October. There’s also our little animal heist game called Night Raid, where players join a team of misfit animals that steal human things!

Any final words for our readers?

Jose: Thank you so much for being interested in NeoSprint, show us your love by reviewing the game on Steam after purchase, and show Atari that you want more from us, there’s a ton of IPs that we would love to work with so having your support will make it a reality!

Thanks for your time, Jose!

For more information on Headless Chicken Games’ NeoSprint, be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here. Alternatively, you can swing by the website for additional updates here.

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews the ITV Racing action on Saturday from across Beverley, Sandown and Chester.

Beverley, Saturday

WALTER HARTRIGHT is the pick in a small field TV opener at Beverley on Saturday (1.30), William Hill’s Top Price Guarantee race on the day. Both he and Quietness have had excellent seasons, but the selection arguably showed he was open to even more progress on his recent start despite defeat. He ran into subsequent York runner up Lieber Power that day, and in receipt of a chunk of weight from the filly, who herself has been bunged up 6 pounds for winning a thin race, he can pick up the winning thread.

COMMANCHE FALLS is my idea of the William Hill Beverley Bullet winner (2.05). He hasn’t won for a bit, but there has been significant encouragement in his last two starts and he’s well worth a try at a stiff, well run five furlongs. With Democracy Dilemma drawn next door, he should get a suitably blistering tempo to run at, and I loved the way he finished off at York last Saturday.

Sandown, Saturday

ACCIDENTAL AGENT is more than a sentimental pick to roll back the years in the first TV race at Sandown (1.50). This is the lowest grade he’s contested on turf for an absolute age, and he ran a perfectly respectable race on his comeback. Even a repeat of that puts him somewhere in the mix against this lot, while you can expect the rider to know him better in a race, too.

NAOMI LAPAGLIA is undoubtedly big each way value in the Atalanta Stakes (2.25). She’s a half sister to Group One performer Rogue Millennium, and – like her – she’ll be seen at her best coming late off a swinging tempo at a mile. She’ll likely get that here, where she didn’t at Ascot behind the very smart Friendly Soul and the reopposing Doom (who is inexplicably half her price). Clearly Tamfana will be tough, but the standard is not as stiff as the marker suggests.

BALMACARA still has more to offer in the ten furlong handicap (3.00). Although the handicapper was severe after last time, the front pair were a mile clear, and the third ran well enough in a competitive race next time. That was Balmacara’s first effort over anything like this trip, and slightly better ground will place a little less emphasis on stamina.

ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT can remain unbeaten in a warm looking edition of the Solario (3.35). Field of Gold was impressive at the July Festival, but he’d had the benefit of experience, while the selection was making his debut when creating a very strong impression at Salisbury. This stable’s horses are normally well above average if they win on debut and, as a half sibling to smart York winner Sea the Fire out of Group One winner Arabian Queen, he should be at least up to this level.

Chester, Saturday

CARRYTHEONE might have another day in him at Chester in what has been a really productive season (2.40). He’s meeting some out of form horses and a few that are less exposed but not obviously well handicapped. I’d rather play the straight bat here with a welcome drop in grade.

SAMUI is the suggestion in the Listed event at Chester (3.15). There are plenty wanting a hold-up ride and my suspicion is that Samui will revert to forcing tactics back at this trip after his creditable second off a big weight at York last Wednesday. He may not need cheekpieces, but they won’t hurt if that’s the plan.