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Sergio Aguero: The history of the FA Cup meant it was always a special competition to play in
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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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Caesars Entertainment announced a major upgrade to its mobile sports betting platform with the launch of a universal digital wallet on the Caesars Sportsbook app in Nevada. This enhancement streamlines the wagering experience for sports bettors who visit Nevada, enabling them to manage funds and Caesars Rewards credits in one place, with seamless access across 19 jurisdictions where Caesars Sportsbook offers mobile sports wagering. With this update, users in Nevada can experience added convenience, with all funds and rewards immediately visible and available after logging in. Caesars plans to add universal wallet functionality to more North American jurisdictions where it offers mobile sports wagering in the future.
Comanche Nation Entertainment is set to expand both Comanche Red River Hotel Casino and Comanche Nation Casino, setting the stage for a multi-phase expansion that will strengthen its entertainment offerings, boost economic opportunity and extend its reach across Southwest Oklahoma. The new expansion will allow for long-term growth of both properties. Construction will begin first at Comanche Red River with a new event centre that expands the gaming floor, adds non-gaming amenities and creates new space to host concerts, conferences and community events.
Partnerships
Quick Custom Intelligence and Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos announced their strategic partnership that is set to transform the gaming and hospitality landscape in the Minnesota market. This dynamic collaboration represents an exciting fusion of advanced technology and exceptional guest experiences, with Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos leading the charge. By leveraging QCI’s cutting-edge data analytics platform, the partnership aims to redefine how casinos operate, providing unparalleled insights into player behaviour, enhancing operational efficiency and delivering personalised guest experiences like never before. This move positions Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos at the forefront of innovation, setting a new standard in how technology can drive the future of gaming and hospitality.
BetMGM announced a multiyear partnership with baseball legend Derek Jeter. As BetMGM’s brand ambassador, Jeter will appear in national marketing campaigns. BetMGM Casino also plans to launch an exclusive Jeter-themed slot game. Currently, there are no other online casino games featuring a current or former professional baseball player. The Hall of Fame shortstop joins BetMGM’s prestigious roster of sports legends, which includes Barry Sanders, Tim Howard and Wayne Gretzky, among others. Jeter will be featured prominently across advertising campaigns and digital platforms, make appearances at exclusive VIP events and play a key role in promoting BetMGM’s responsible gambling initiatives in both the US and Canada.
Red Earth Casino has chosen QCI’s Chatalytics platform to revolutionise its casino operations and elevate guest engagement. This AI-powered suite—which includes Slot Copilot, Player Copilot, the Dashboard and the Robot Button—leverages OpenAI technology to deliver real-time intelligence and streamline decision-making across the gaming floor. Built to enhance both slot performance and player service, QCI Chatalytics offers a powerful blend of automation and data analytics. Slot Copilot enables real-time slot machine monitoring, predictive performance analytics and intelligent task assignment. Player Copilot uses behavioural insights to support personalised guest engagement strategies and optimise rewards.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – July 14-20 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Promatic Group, a Polish manufacturer of slot machines and system solutions for the gaming industry, is launching a new collection of slots dedicated to casino customers – the Pro Selection multigame. The first devices have already been certified in Poland and stood in casinos in Warsaw and Krakow.
One platform, up to 55 games
Pro Selection is software with a collection of as many as 55 different titles, covering the full functional and stylistic range of games from the Polish company’s portfolio. Players will find both classic “fruits” games – traditional and simple in form – and modern adventure games, based on an elaborate narrative and unique logics. Branded productions that stand out for their original creations and high graphic quality are also worthy of special attention.
“In Pro Selection, we wanted to include our best titles and those that have proven themselves in both the land-based and online slot segments. That’s why players will find classics such as Miss Joker, one of the most popular games at Poland’s only legal online casino, or 81 Show, a popular hat game. There are also online hits of recent months such as Pixel Fruits and Ale Cool Bober. On top of that, we have added titles that have so far only been available in land-based slot machines and have been great in them, namely Golden Train, Aladdin or Magic Ladybird Mega,” says Piotr Fedak, CEO of Promatic. – “As for branded productions, games with Mariusz Pudzianowski remain a hit, and not only in Poland”, he adds.
Variability and mathematics for every player
One of the important features of Multigame Pro Selection is the mathematical diversity of the games available in it. The collection offers games with varying levels of volatility – from low to very high (on a scale of 1 to 5 stars). As a result, the package meets the needs of both enthusiasts of long session play with frequent, smaller wins, and players looking for higher risk and high wins.
Also new to Pro Selection is a revamped user interface. An intuitive lobby, it provides quick access to all titles, convenient filtering and easy navigation – both from the touch screen and traditional buttons. This is part of software that meets the highest industry technical standards and has been certified by a Polish testing laboratory accredited by the Minister of Finance as authorized to test gaming machines.
“As a product dedicated to casinos, i.e. the most demanding B2B customers, Pro Selection is designed to be fully integrated with the SAS protocol, which is standard in this market, giving compatibility with various casino management systems and providing full operational and billing transparency. It’s a product that is ready for deployment in casino environments where reliability and control are key,” explains Piotr Fedak. – We strive to ensure that Pro Selection’s multigame always goes hand in hand with our proprietary Royal Sevens Jackpot progressive jackpot system, which in itself is a huge asset and player magnet, Fedak adds.
Ease of maintenance and energy efficiency
Pro Selection software is available exclusively on the latest casino-class slot machines from Promatic Group – that is, the Casino 27 and PRO VIP 27 and 32 cabinets These are top-quality terminals equipped with HD monitors, state-of-the-art sound systems and RGB lighting to enhance the gaming atmosphere.
“Thanks to their modular design and intuitive service menus, our multigames are virtually maintenance-free – that is, technical service friendly. Interestingly also, our energy efficiency studies have shown that compared to the competition, Promatic machines consume significantly less energy,” says Piotr Fedak. – At the moment Pro Selection is fully certified for the Polish market, and work is already underway to obtain licenses for the Czech Republic, Slovakia where our goal is to implement this 100% Polish product in those very markets, says Piotr Fedak.
About Promatic Group
Promatic Group is a Polish company with more than 28 years of experience in the gambling industry, specializing in the production of gaming machines and providing dedicated software for gaming rooms and casinos, both land-based and online. The company’s headquarters and factory are located in Warsaw and Jelenia Gora.
In Poland, Promatic’s devices can be found in Totalizator Sportowy’s legal gaming salons, casinos of the WinCasino chain and selected Casinos Poland locations. The company also operates in Latin American and African markets.
Promatic Group is certified to ISO 27001 for information security and ISO 9001 for slot machine manufacturing quality.
Since 2021, the company has also been developing its online gaming segment under the Promatic Games brand, offering online slots in regulated markets in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It also holds B2B licenses issued by regulators in Romania (ONJN) and Malta (MGA) and plans to enter more than a dozen new markets in the next few months.
The post Pro Selection – next generation casino multigame from Promatic Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Local talent looking to break into the iGaming industry can now apply for a potentially life-changing scholarship by VentureMax.
The Sliema-based investment company is funding an iGaming Foundations education course in full, which will be delivered by ICE Campus, one of Malta’s leading educational institutes.
This scholarship will offer crucial support for people in Malta who want to enter the iGaming industry but lack the skills or knowledge.
The course is an introduction to iGaming and covers such topics as the industry’s eco-system, products such as games/sportsbooks, fraud prevention, anti-money laundering and working in iGaming, among other aspects.
Delivery is via four live online sessions of three hours each, and applicants for the 30 spaces will have to submit a short entry video explaining why they want to take the course and why they should be chosen for the scholarship.
This course is accredited as EQF/MQF Level 5, and the scholarship will be launched in the autumn of 2025 via a publicity drive. It will be open to anyone living in Malta aged 18 or older.
VentureMax CEO Justin Anastasi said: “I want to support local people who have ambition, drive and a desire to make it big in the iGaming world.
“That’s why I wanted VentureMax to sponsor this scholarship, because I believe education is the way to improve your career, your outlook on the world and eventually your life.
“I’m delighted to be teaming up with ICE Campus, which will deliver a first-class course that has the potential to generate real success stories among Malta’s workforce.”
Matthew Sammut, director and co-founder of ICE Campus, said: “We believe education is the most powerful engine for industry transformation.
“Partnering with VentureMax to offer full scholarships for our iGaming Foundations course is a strategic investment in the future talent of this thriving sector.
“We’re proud to work with forward-thinking organisations like VentureMax, who are committed to creating real, lasting impact by opening doors for the next generation of iGaming professionals.”
VentureMax’s scholarship is part of its ongoing CSR efforts, which have already seen donations made to Malta-based causes such as Dar Merħba Bik women’s shelter, Little Sisters of the Poor care home, the MSPCA animal shelter, and FIDEM women’s charity.
The post VentureMax Supports Talent Through iGaming Scholarship appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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