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Man City are the Hottest UCL favourites for Years

Published

3 years ago

June 13, 2023

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

The 2023 UEFA Champions League campaign comes to a head on June 10th and you would struggle to find someone willing to stake their house on a Manchester City loss this weekend. With Inter Milan currently 7.03 to win, Manchester City [1.46] are the most dominant favourite in the betting market since way before Cloudbet launched in 2013. The only time in the last decade there was anything approaching this kind of imbalance in the odds in a Champions League final was back in 2015, when Barcelona were 1.66 to beat Juventus at 5.00 and their dominant performance resulted in a convincing 3-1 win.

This year, City are way hotter favourites. 12 successive wins saw them clinch the Premier League for a third year in a row, they just won an FA cup against bitter rivals Man United, and in the Champions League they’ve made light work of their competition. The Citizens annihilated European giants – and reigning champions – Real Madrid in the semi-final, winning 5-1 on aggregate.

However, while their form might tempt some punters to back a Mancunian romp in Istanbul, recent statistics suggest it might be a slightly more cautious and conservative game than most are expecting.

Crypto betting specialists Cloudbet have been taking European soccer bets since 2013, and for this UCL Final have been poring over the stats and crunching the numbers to predict what might happen.

Historically, the pre-match favourite has lifted the trophy eight out of the last 10 years – however – the exceptions to this were both in the last two years, both EPL teams, and, in 2021, Man City itself.

It’s true that these ties were much more closely paired, with Chelsea winning at odds of 3.75 and Real Madrid at 3.50, but It’s got to be remembered that this season opponents Inter are very much cup specialists, running out recent winners of the Coppa Italia against a Fiorentina side whose style of play is not unlike Man City.

Inter Milan will be looking to ensure City cannot play their expansive football on Saturday. As a team, Inter have committed the second highest amount of fouls in the competition so far with 150, and breaking up the play with a few tactical fouls may be one way for Inzaghi’s men to stop City’s free-flowing attack. In three of the last five years no side has managed to break the deadlock in the first half, and City themselves have failed to score in the first half in six of their 12 games this Champions League campaign, so the game could start out an altogether cagier affair than Man City aficionados might expect. Albeit they are playing straight off the back of last weekend’s FA Cup Final in which they scored an opening goal in a tournament record 14 seconds.

In four of the last five Champions League finals, the game has ended with fewer than 2.75 goals being scored and those goals coming from one team only. On only two occasions in the past decade has extra time been needed too – with one of these (Bayern Munich vs Chelsea) heading to a penalty shootout.

Only what happens in the match Saturday will, of course, count but statistics seem to point to a Manchester City win in 90 minutes by one or two goals.

Betting with crypto at Cloudbet allows for speedy, secure wagering, with lower fees and enhanced privacy thanks to blockchain’s decentralized system, and Cloudbet’s sophisticated platform. The UEFA Champions League Final averages around 400m viewers worldwide, fans are spread far and wide across the globe so Cloudbet’s localized offering – in 17 languages, including German, French, Spanish and Japanese – really comes into its own on betting events like this.

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Alea

Alea returns to NEXT.io Valletta with Alexandre Tomic joining key industry discussions

Published

13 minutes ago

May 20, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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Alea is returning to NEXT.io Valletta from May 26th to 28th, with Founder Alexandre Tomic taking part in several sessions focused on leadership, regulation, and the future direction of the iGaming industry.

The week begins on May 26th during NEXT Focus: Start-Up & Investor Day, where Alexandre will join the panel “Founders Anonymous – The Conversations That Don’t Make the Press Release.” The discussion will focus on the realities behind building companies, from fundraising and acquisitions to the difficult decisions founders face as businesses grow.

On May 27th, Alexandre will also moderate “The Day the Lights Go Out,” an interactive keynote built around a simulated regulatory crisis scenario, challenging industry leaders to react live to the sudden shutdown of major markets.

Later that day, he will present “The World Under One Lens,” a keynote exploring how behavioural data at an aggregator scale is reshaping the industry’s understanding of player behaviour, game performance, and global market trends.

Beyond the conference stage

Alongside the conference agenda, Alea will once again sponsor the Ice Bath & Yoga/Breathwork session on the morning of May 26th, led by world-record open water swimmer Neil Agius.

The session has become one of the more unique traditions surrounding the event week, giving attendees a slower start before the pace of the conference takes over.

That same evening, Alea and NEXT.io will host an exclusive CXO dinner at Contessa Restaurant inside The Phoenicia Malta, where selected industry leaders will meet for an evening of conversation, vegetarian dining, cocktails, and live music ahead of the conference opening.

Supporting the Malta community

To close the week, Alea will also attend the BGaming Charity Gala on May 29th in support of DAR Bjorn, the Maltese neurological home founded by ALS advocate Bjorn FormMosa.

“I came to the DAR Bjorn gala last year not knowing very much about Bjorn or the foundation. And then I saw him there, in his bed, while we were all standing on our two legs having a good time. That changes you.

You can’t unsee it. We take so much for granted, the body working, getting up in the morning, walking across the room. Bjorn is fighting for all of that and still showing up. I’m coming back because I believe I have to. If you’re in Malta that week and you’re on the fence, come. There’s something about that room that stays with you,” said Alexandre Tomic, Founder of Alea.

Representing Alea in Malta will be Alexandre Tomic alongside members of the company’s Business Development, Partnerships, Account Management, and Marketing teams.

Event Schedule

NEXT Focus: Start-Up & Investor Day – May 26
NEXT.io Valletta – May 27 & 28
BGaming Charity Gala – May 29

About Alea

Alea is a leading iGaming aggregator, offering a customizable platform that provides operators worldwide with seamless access to over 23,000 games from 170+ top-tier providers through a single API integration.

Known for its innovative technology, Alea simplifies the integration journey and delivers a flexible, scalable solution designed to enhance game variety, player experience, and operational efficiency.

Alea is highly committed to a security-first infrastructure, ensuring reliability and trust at every level. In 2024, the company strengthened its cybersecurity framework through a strategic partnership with Continent 8 and achieved VAPT certification.

In addition to game aggregation, Alea has introduced Alea Pay, an exclusive payment gateway that further optimizes financial transactions. With a strong focus on security, compliance, and ongoing support, Alea continues to empower operators with cutting-edge tools to thrive in the evolving iGaming market.

For more information, visit www.alea.com.

The post Alea returns to NEXT.io Valletta with Alexandre Tomic joining key industry discussions appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

AI

Isle of Man secures Royal Assent for Data Asset Foundations law

Published

1 hour ago

May 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

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The Isle of Man’s Data Asset Foundations legislation has received Royal Assent, bringing into law what the government and partners describe as the world’s first statutory framework for recognising and managing governed data assets.

With Royal Assent granted, the programme moves into implementation. Digital Isle of Man said the next phase includes developing a Data Asset Register, drafting supporting regulations, and building the operational systems needed to run the framework.

A central element is a statutory Data Asset Register intended to record, classify and oversee recognised data assets. Digital Isle of Man said consultation on the register and registrar model has already taken place and industry feedback is being used to shape regulations and operational guidance.

Tim Johnston MHK, Minister for Enterprise, said:

‘Receiving Royal Assent marks a proud and historic moment for the Isle of Man and reflects years of dedicated work to develop a concept that did not previously exist anywhere in the world and bring it fully into law.

‘As the first jurisdiction in the world to fully establish a framework of this kind, the Isle of Man is demonstrating what becomes possible when innovation, collaboration and regulatory agility come together with clear long-term ambition.’

Aga Strandskov, Head of Data Strategy at Digital Isle of Man, said:

‘Many organisations already recognise data as a major business asset but have lacked the legal certainty needed to use it with confidence. That’s exactly what this new legislation enables.

‘The focus now turns to building the wider ecosystem, operational capability and practical implementation needed to support the next phase of the programme. The Register, supporting regulations and operational infrastructure are all active workstreams already progressing at pace.

‘For businesses, this creates real commercial opportunities that have previously been difficult to support within existing legal and operational models, from governed AI training datasets and trusted cross-organisational collaboration through to new approaches around data-sharing, financing and value creation.’

John Bottega, President at EDM Association, said:

‘Globally, organisations are increasingly looking for clearer structures around how valuable data can be governed, shared and used responsibly.

‘The Isle of Man taking this step reflects a growing shift towards more mature and scalable approaches to trusted data governance that support both innovation and accountability.’

The post Isle of Man secures Royal Assent for Data Asset Foundations law appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

bcgame

BC.GAME rolls out Football Cup 2026 campaign with $2m-plus rewards

Published

1 hour ago

May 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

bc.game-rolls-out-football-cup-2026-campaign-with-$2m-plus-rewards

BC.GAME has launched its Football Cup 2026 campaign, advertising more than $2 million in total rewards across sportsbook promotions, betting events and tournament activities.

The operator said the campaign will run throughout the Football Cup season, spanning early “warm-up” activity, tournament leaderboard events, sportsbook promotions and post-tournament reward events. Rewards listed include a Ferrari 296 GTB, WC2026 final ticket packages (including flights and hotel), Apple product bundles, 999.9 gold bars, BTC rewards, cash prizes, free bets, free spins and lottery tickets.

Initial promotions already live on BC.GAME Sportsbook include “Kick Off Leaderboard”, built around eSoccer (Virtual Sports) and ranking participants by total wagering volume. BC.GAME said the leaderboard carries a $20,000 cash prize pool, paid across the top 100 participants.

A “Welcome Pack” for new users requires registration, a first deposit of at least $10, and a Football Cup sports bet to unlock a first-bet insurance mechanic, according to the company. BC.GAME also flagged upcoming activity including a “Football Cup Tournament Leaderboard” with a $500,000 prize pool, streak rewards with up to 650 free bets, daily odds boosts and bet builder bonuses.

BC.GAME CEO Kar Kheng Giam (KK) said:

“The World Cup is one of the biggest moments in global sport, and we want to make this season more interactive for our users. This campaign brings together major prizes, football rewards and ongoing sportsbook activities throughout the tournament.”

BC.GAME said the campaign is independently organised and “is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or in any way officially connected with FIFA, the FIFA Football Cup 2026, or any associated entities.”