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Check Before You Bet – Play Responsibly Ahead of March Madness

Published

1 year ago

March 17, 2025

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On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the 2025 March Madness tournament begins with Selection Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. March Madness is the coined name for the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams that compete in seven rounds for the national championship. The penultimate (second to last) round is known as the Final Four, where only 4 teams remain.

Check out the full schedule below:

Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET Sunday, March 16 on CBS
First Four: March 18-19
First round: March 20-21
Second round: March 22-23
Sweet 16: March 27-28
Elite Eight: March 29-30
Final Four: April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
NCAA championship game: April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas

With March Madness being one of the most anticipated, watched, and wagered-on events in all of sports, the Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) is reminding Arizona residents and visitors to remember to play smart and bet responsibly, remaining within the bounds of the law.

“Every year, March Madness continues to rank among the top sporting events to wager on nationally, as excitement and anxiety builds as fans watch to see if their team will make it to the Final Four,” said Jackie Johnson, ADG Director. “The Department wants to use this opportunity as a chance to remind and encourage Arizona residents, as well as our springtime visitors, to make sure they are enjoying the games responsibly. Protect your bet and ensure your wagers are placed legally and thoughtfully this March.”

Sports Pools – Know What Rules to Follow

In the United States, it is common to see friends, families, and colleagues participate in sports pools for March Madness. These pools are legal as long as the state’s social gambling rules are followed. According to Arizona Law (A.R.S. § 13-3301(9)), social gambling requires:

That gambling cannot be conducted as business, which means that hosts cannot receive financial benefit, unless they are participating in the game;
Hosts pay out all pool money to the winner(s);
Only participants can win; and
Players compete on equal terms with each other.

A few things to be on the lookout for that indicate illegal gambling:

Paying a fee to participate, including “suggested” or “voluntary” donations.
A host who keeps a percentage of the pool for administering the game.
A required minimum purchase to participate (food or beverage, etc.).
Unequal odds.
Underage participants (under 21 years of age).

ADG takes complaints about illegal gambling seriously. To report suspected illegal gambling activity, visit our website at gaming.az.gov/about/contact-us, call (602) 255-3886, or email [email protected]. You can remain anonymous.

Responsible Betting – What to Keep in Mind

With sports betting legal in the state, it has become increasingly important to educate yourself on how you can bet responsibly. Listed below are some helpful tips as part of the American Gaming Association’s (AGA)

Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly. campaign:

Set a Budget – It is crucial to keep in mind that everyone will have different budgets; never bet beyond your own means. Be cautious and make sure you set a limit – and stick to it – if you plan on wagering. More information on how to responsibly set a budget for wagering can be found on the AGA’s Have A Game Plan website: How Much Should I Wager?
Know the Odds – There are plenty of key terms everyone should know when making a sports bet. What’s a parlay? Over/under? Moneyline? If you decide to wager, make sure you are briefed on The Basics of Sports Betting.
Keep it Social – Whenever gambling, be mindful that all forms of gambling are for the purpose of entertainment. This is not a way to make money. By gaming with friends, family, and colleagues, you can keep playing responsibly and have fun.
Keep Your Cool – No one’s perfect, and in sports, winning and losing are all part of the game. Whether you’re wagering from the sidelines or watching from home, remember to keep your cool. Good sportsmanship isn’t just for the players on the field; it’s for everyone.
Play Legally – Legal operators provide important player protections that are not found in the illegal market. Whether you are placing a wager on your phone or at a physical sportsbook, make sure you are using a legal operator in the state. Visit the ADG website to view a full list of the state’s approved operators and retail locations: Approved Operators.

You can view more information on how to bet responsibly by visiting haveagameplan.org. In recognition of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (“PGAM”), the Department wants to remind Arizonans that if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, the Division of Problem Gambling (“DPG”) urges you to get help now by calling 1-800-NEXT STEP (1.800.639.8783), DPG’s confidential helpline, texting “NEXTSTEP” to 53342, or utilizing a chat feature on the DPG website. DPG’s helpline provides confidentiality and connects callers with a master’s level counselor who can connect them with available resources, including statewide treatment providers who specialize in problem gambling.

The helpline is available 24/7 to everyone facing a problem with gambling – individuals and affected family members, friends, or co-workers. Learn more and access resources at problemgambling.az.gov. Additionally, the ADG published a press release on March 3 recognizing PGAM.

Please view the press release by visiting our website’s Media Room, as well as DPG’s PGAM toolkit for more information.

The post Check Before You Bet – Play Responsibly Ahead of March Madness appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Incentive Games and bet365 refresh Tournament Challenge for the 2026 World Cup

Published

4 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

incentive-games-and-bet365-refresh-tournament-challenge-for-the-2026-world-cup

Incentive Games has refreshed its Tournament Challenge free-to-play football predictor in partnership with bet365 ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The game sits in bet365’s free games portfolio and will be accessible via the operator’s website and app.

Tournament Challenge lets players predict match outcomes (win, lose or draw) across Group Stage match days and the Knockout Rounds. Players allocate a 10-point stake to each prediction, with returns based on the odds of the selected outcome, and can double points on one prediction per round. Match days and rounds are released individually during the tournament.

New for 2026, the product adds “Your Leagues”, a private league feature that lets players create and join groups using league codes, compare predictions and track performance. Incentive Games said further updates are planned during the tournament.

Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games said, “The World Cup is one of the biggest sporting moments on the planet, and Tournament Challenge is designed to bring fans even closer to it. We wanted to create something competitive, social and easy to jump into throughout the tournament. The addition of ‘Your Leagues’ adds a whole new dimension this year, giving players the chance to compete directly with friends and share the experience together. We’re incredibly proud to continue working alongside the fantastic team at bet365 to bring this to life.”

Rhead Hilton, bet365 Software Product Development Manager said, “With the World Cup bringing together fans from all over the world, Tournament Challenge gives bet365 customers a valuable opportunity to get closer to the action.

We are pleased to offer a free-to-play experience that is straightforward, engaging and built around competition, with our Your Leagues feature adding a social dimension that allows players to challenge one another directly and compare predictions. We are also proud to continue our partnership with Incentive Games and deliver another strong product for our customers.”

According to the companies, Tournament Challenge will be available across key global territories, alongside dedicated standalone versions for Brazil, Spain, Italy and Greece. bet365’s terms state the promotion is “only available to new and eligible bet365 customers”, is limited to one entry per person, and closes “at kick-off of the last scheduled tournament game on 19th July 2026.”

The post Incentive Games and bet365 refresh Tournament Challenge for the 2026 World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

EGT Digital

EGT Digital Brings Operators the Ultimate Advantage Ahead of the World Cup

Published

5 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

egt-digital-brings-operators-the-ultimate-advantage-ahead-of-the-world-cup

Having the World Cup on the horizon, sportsbook operators are once again preparing for the intense demands that come with peak sporting activity, including surging traffic, increased betting volume, and sustained operational pressure.

EGT Digital’s Sportsbook enables Operators to navigate high-demand periods with stability, flexibility, and control.

Major sports events do not introduce new challenges. They amplify existing ones. Platform performance is tested, trading teams operate under pressure, and retention becomes just as critical as acquisition.

Performance When It Matters Most

EGT Digital’s Sportsbook is designed to perform when expectations are the highest. Built on cloud-native best practices and out-of-the-box scalability, our solution empowers operators to manage peak traffic and continuous activity while ensuring stability and reliability.

Turning Traffic into Long-Term Value

While major events drive player acquisition, long-term value depends on retention. Sportsbook equips operators with a fully configurable set of promotional tools designed to sustain engagement during high-activity periods without adding operational complexity.

Features such as Adjustable Margins, Boosted Bet Builders, Dynamic Parlays, Progressive Jackpot, Early Payouts, Acca Insurance, Price Boosts, and Free Bets give operators the flexibility to tailor campaigns in real time according to player behavior and market dynamics.

Built with automation in mind, the system allows precise control across player segments, sports, and events – helping operators transform traffic spikes into sustained player loyalty.

Flexible Trading, Controlled Risk

High-volume events place trading operations under constant pressure. EGT Digital’s Sportsbook supports both managed and hybrid trading models, giving Operators the flexibility to choose the level of control and support that best fits their business.

Teams are able to manage risk effectively, protect margins, and stay focused without sacrificing the players experience and expectations even during the most demanding schedules and fixtures.

Your Brand, Your Rules.

With EGT Digital’s Next Gen AI CMS, operators can seamlessly manage every aspect of their Sportsbook’s look and behavior, tailoring the experience to specific markets without relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.

One Platform Across Channels

Player behaviour during major events is fluid, with customers moving between Online and Retail environments. EGT Digital’s Sportsbook provides a unified experience across channels, delivering one platform and one operational view.

The post EGT Digital Brings Operators the Ultimate Advantage Ahead of the World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

FIRST.bet

FIRST.bet Launches UltraCup: A Player-Engagement Engine for the World Cup

Published

5 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

first.bet-launches-ultracup:-a-player-engagement-engine-for-the-world-cup

FIRST.bet introduces UltraCup: a single destination that keeps players engaged across the entire World Cup – live group standings, knockout brackets, tournament Outrights, Blind Bets on matchups before they’re even drawn, and automatic Bet Builder boosts in the slip. Everything fans need to follow and bet the tournament in one place, from the first whistle to the last.

FIRST.bet, the Tier 1 sportsbook technology provider, today launched UltraCup, a World Cup-focused sportsbook engine built to help operators own the biggest betting event in football.

The next World Cup is not a short tournament spike. It is 48 teams, 104 matches and one continuous peak with no recovery window. UltraCup is built for that reality, giving operators a complete tournament destination that keeps players engaged from the opening group match through to the final.

UltraCup connects the full World Cup betting journey in one place: live group standings, tournament-context match listings, bracket navigation from R32 to the final, dynamic outrights, Blind Bets on future matchups and automatic Bet Builder boosts inside the bet slip.

Tom Light, Founder and CEO of FIRST.bet, said:
“The World Cup is the one moment when every football fan is watching, betting and hunting for somewhere to follow it all – and most sportsbooks lose that player to a dozen rival apps. UltraCup keeps the entire tournament in one place: live standings, knockout brackets, Outrights, automatic boosts and Blind Bets on matchups that haven’t even been drawn yet. Operators capture that attention from the opening whistle and hold it all the way to the final.”

At the heart of UltraCup is a dedicated World Cup hub that mirrors how fans follow the competition. Players can track group tables, move through the knockout bracket, bet on tournament-wide markets such as Champion and Top Scorer, and engage with odds that shift dynamically as the tournament unfolds.

The product also introduces Blind Bets, allowing players to bet on future World Cup matches before the final matchup is confirmed. This turns tournament progression into the betting mechanic itself, creating suspense and repeat engagement across every stage.

UltraCup also includes Auto Boost Builder, which applies automatic odds boosts to qualifying Bet Builders directly inside the bet slip. Operators can configure boosts by sport, tournament, or league, and customer segment, with instant enable or disable controls and boost tiers of any percentage desired.

UltraCup also introduces the Welcome Bonus Boost, a new feature that allows operators to create boosted odds promotions exclusively for new customers who have not yet placed a bet. The mechanic targets the critical first-bet moment, giving operators a targeted tool to convert new registrations into active players during the tournament.

While UltraCup is being launched with a clear World Cup focus, the framework is built to live beyond one tournament. FIRST will extend the same journey into major league and tournament formats across football and other sports, giving operators a reusable engagement engine for the biggest moments on the calendar.

FIRST.bet powers 75+ live operators, 100+ partners and millions of daily transactions across LatAm, Europe and Africa. The company was named ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ at the SBC Awards 2025 and EGR LATAM Awards 2025, and ‘Best Sportsbook Provider’ at BiS SiGMA South America 2026.

About FIRST.bet

FIRST – Best in Sports is a Tier 1 sportsbook technology provider powering 75+ operators globally, including leading brands among Brazil’s top 20 by GGR. Founded by former SBTech leaders, FIRST delivers a fully managed, high-performance sportsbook engineered for speed, scale and precision across LatAm, Europe and Africa. The company holds licences from the Malta Gaming Authority and the Swedish Gambling Authority, and is GLI-33 certified and ISO-audited. FIRST was named ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ at the SBC Awards 2025 and EGR LATAM Awards 2025, ‘Best Sportsbook Provider’ at BiS SiGMA South America 2026, and received the ‘Individual Achievement Award’ at the EGR Awards 2026.

The post FIRST.bet Launches UltraCup: A Player-Engagement Engine for the World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.