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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The day we played in the FA Cup was

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manchester City are hungry to win every competition 

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

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GGPoker Announces Ocean Rewards – A New Industry-Leading Loyalty Program Launching January 30

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GGPoker players to earn up to 80% cashback

GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, is proud to announce the upcoming launch of Ocean Rewards, a brand-new player loyalty program set to premiere on January 30, 2026. Ocean Rewards will replace the existing Fish Buffet program, ushering in a new era of rewards with a focus on simplicity, long-term stability, and significantly higher value for players.

Designed to be the most rewarding loyalty scheme in the online poker industry, Ocean Rewards offers players the chance to earn up to 80% cashback, a substantial increase from the previous 60% cap. The new program is built to streamline the player experience, moving away from complex short-term goals to a model that rewards consistent play over the long term.

Key Benefits of Ocean Rewards

  • Higher Cashback: Players can now receive up to 80% cashback, with improved rates available across all tiers

  • Guaranteed Yearly Status: Unlike the previous program, which focused on shorter timeframes, Ocean Rewards allows players to lock in their tier status until the end of the following year, providing greater peace of mind and stability

  • Simplified Earning: Players earn Tide Points and Gems through play. As players reach higher tiers – ranging from Fish to Shark – the rate at which Gems are earned increases, following the simple motto: “Collect more, Earn more”

Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker, commented on the upcoming launch: “With Ocean Rewards, we are taking our commitment to players to the next level. We wanted to move away from the short-term grind and create a program that truly honors loyalty with long-term security. By offering guaranteed yearly status and raising the cashback ceiling to an industry-leading 80%, we ensure that every player – whether a casual enthusiast or a dedicated professional – gets more value than ever before. This is the evolution of rewards our community deserves.”

Transition for Existing Players 

The transition on January 30 will be automatic. Players do not need to take any action to opt in. Existing Fish Buffet rewards will be automatically cashed out to player balances, and accounts will be instantly upgraded to their new Ocean Rewards tier.

To learn more about Ocean Rewards, please visit: ggpoker.com/monthly-rewards/ocean-rewards/

The post GGPoker Announces Ocean Rewards – A New Industry-Leading Loyalty Program Launching January 30 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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MONOPOLY Table Games Progressive from Galaxy Gaming debuts at the Plaza Hotel & Casino

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MONOPOLY Table Games Progressive brings the beloved classic to life in the casino pit, transforming every round into a dynamic and rewarding experience. Mr. Monopoly is the star of the show, randomly selecting hands and providing exciting multipliers up to 10x, keeping players engaged and on the edge of their seats.

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The post MONOPOLY Table Games Progressive from Galaxy Gaming debuts at the Plaza Hotel & Casino appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Welsh great-grandfather wins £291,000 with The Pools

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Liverpool fan Peter celebrating bumper payout thanks to Man Utd’s late 4-4 draw with Bournemouth

A Welsh great-grandfather is celebrating a life-changing £291,000 win with The Pools, after selecting eight score draws, including Manchester United’s 4-4 Premier League December classic with Bournemouth.

Peter, 77 from Pontypridd, has played The Pools for over 40 years and enjoyed a magical Christmas and New Year to remember after securing the lucrative jackpot via his Classic Pools selections last month.

Seven correct selections from a rollercoaster weekend of European football in December saw Peter go into the Monday evening fixture at Old Trafford needing a score draw to land a life-changing sum. A topsy-turvy affair saw eight goals scored, including Eli Junior Kroupi’s 84th-minute equaliser, which brought home the eight-fold coupon.

Peter’s win was the biggest on Classic Pools since September 2024 when a lucky player took home £318,292.

Peter said: “I had selected the eight fixtures, but wasn’t watching the Manchester United game – it wasn’t until I received the phone call the next morning that I realised I’d won! I was shocked, happy, crying – all those emotions at once!

“I’m actually a Liverpool fan, so it’s fair to say we had a good 2025 – lifting the Premier League trophy and then winning on The Pools the week before Christmas. There was certainly plenty of celebrating across the festive period!

“This would be special at any time of year, but especially around Christmas and New Year, it was amazing, it couldn’t be better.”

‘This money means security and happiness for my family’

Peter was diagnosed with a rare spinal disability around 20 years ago, meaning most of his time is spent at his home in South Wales. But having always looked forward to playing The Pools each week, his win now offers his family a bright future.

He added: “The Pools has always been a hobby for me and I look forward to playing every weekend. I was diagnosed with syringomyelia in my 50s, a neurological disorder of the spine, so spend most of my time at home.

“I haven’t been able to travel for a long time, we haven’t been on holiday for a number of years, but I’m hoping we can maybe now book a trip to Spain with all the family.

“I’ve won small amounts with The Pools before, but nothing quite like this! It’s an amazing amount of money for my wife Janet, the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren too.

“We live in a house, but we can now hope to move into a bungalow, all on one floor, which will help me a lot. This money means happiness and security for my family, which will allow us to plan for the future.”

James Arnold, CEO of The Pools, said: “We’re all about celebrating all wins at The Pools, both big and small, but it’s fair to say one of our customers in Wales pulled off quite the coup with this Classic Pools selection last month.

“Landing eight correct score draws, ending in Manchester United’s memorable 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, has given Peter a life-changing sum, and we’re delighted to see the positive impact the winnings can have both for Peter, his wife Janet and all his family.

“Peter has played with The Pools for more than 40 years, so to see his success one week before Christmas, the same year his beloved Liverpool won the Premier League… it’s fair to say you couldn’t write the script for this one!”


Peter’s winning coupon

Saturday 13th December

  • Telstar v NEC – 2-2
  • Waregem v RAAL La Louviere – 2-2


Sunday 14th December

  • AC Milan v Sassuolo – 2-2
  • Bayern Munich v Mainz – 2-2
  • Freiburg v Borussia Dortmund – 1-1
  • NAC Breda v Utrecht – 1-1
  • Genk v Westerlo – 1-1


Monday 15th December

  • Man Utd v Bournemouth – 4-4

 

The post Welsh great-grandfather wins £291,000 with The Pools appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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