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Cloudbet’s Top 5 Most Valuable Players in the Premier League

Published

5 years ago

July 28, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Odds analysts from the pioneering crypto sportsbook have run the algorithms on players’ comparative significance to each top-flight team with some surprising results

The Ballon D’Or might be binned and the Footballer of the Year prizes a shutout by the top teams, but who really was the most valuable player in the league this season?

Analysts from leading crypto sportsbook and casino Cloudbet have tracked the season trends to bring you the definitive list. Whose appearance – or omission – causes the betting markets to move the most. Quite simply, who is irreplaceable?

Here’s the Top Five. And it’s probably not who you think.

The top five most valuable players to their own teams in Premier League:

Allison
Allan Saint-Maximin
Jack Grealish
Bruno Fernandes
Wilfried Zaha

Allison – Liverpool

The players most valuable to their team are not necessarily the best players in the league, but Liverpool’s goalkeeper could make a case to be on both lists. Yet his position at number one here is due as much to who Liverpool have to replace him as to his own talents.

Allison is ranked no 1 in Premier League shot stoppers (84%), while Adrian languishes in 22nd place (62%). When Allison is replaced by Adrian confidence in the betting markets tumbles, a lack of confidence seemingly shared by manager Jurgen Klopp’s determination that the club sign at least a mildly competent reserve goalkeeper for the next season.

e.g. Allison’s appearance on a team sheet drops Liverpool’s odds by 15% – no mean feat at the Champion’s already short odds.

Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United

This is NUFC’s PL record this season when Allan has played

Played 19 Won 10 Drawn 4 Lost 5 – Points 34

Goals For 25 Goals Against 20

This is NUFC’s PL record this season when he hasn’t

Played 14 Won 1 Drawn 5 Lost 8 – Points 8

Goals For 9 Goals Against 26

Newcastle’s per game rate when Saint-Maximin has started this season (1.89) would earn 72 points over a 38-game season – all but guaranteeing a spot in the Champions League. On the flip side, an average points per game rate of just 0.73 when the winger does NOT start means the Toon would be left on 28 points over a 38-game season and relegated. A top-six club player in a bottom-three standard outfit. The Magpies could’ve gone down but for the Frenchman.

Jack Grealish – Aston Villa

Grealish broke the record this year for being the most fouled player in one Premier League season, with an incredible nine games to go. Premier League players are obviously pretty aware of this list already.

The Brummie has played in all but two Premier League games this season and played a central part in Villa’s own rendition of the Great Escape. As an eloquent case in point, ahead of the match against Liverpool in November for which Grealish was injured, Villa’s odds lengthened by +15%, highlighting his impact as the club talisman.

Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United

The Portuguese midfielder may have only played half a season for United, but he improved the Red Devils’ in the betting markets by an average of 12% since. One look at the markets proves the Bruno Factor. Early in February when United played Chelsea, there was zero difference in how the teams were perceived compared to the first game of the season.

By the time Man Utd played Brighton this month the change compared to the teams’ first meeting back in November suggested Fernandes was worth an extra 0.7xG per game to United.

Wifried Zaha – Crystal Palace

Zaha’s effect on Crystal Palace is reflected by a 10% odds shift when he’s absent. The last Premier League game Zaha didn’t start for Crystal Palace was the first game of the season at home to Everton. Palace were clear favourites to win the match before the game, but with Zaha only on the bench, Everton’s odds tumbled.

And more recently, with Zaha subbed off after 15 minutes in the Liverpool game in June, Palace’s win odds instantly lengthened. Quite simply, punters only have confidence in Palace when Zaha’s on the pitch – despite his woeful form, only having one goal and one assist in his last 20 games.

Harry Kane is next at number six, but just misses out on the top five thanks to the scoring form over the last two seasons of his regular replacement, Tottenham Hotspur’s newly-crowned player of the season, Son Heung-Min.

As for, in gambling terms, the most valuable player in Premier League history? That honour goes to Gareth Bale, in his last season at Tottenham. The Asian betting markets moved at least 25% against Spurs in every match Bale didn’t play. This equates to e.g. 4/5 moving to 11/8 or 1.80 to 2.40.

Now that’s a bias that’s not been seen before or since.

A Cloudbet spokesman commented:

“While all fans recognise Raheem Sterling as a premium footballer, his participation for Manchester City either way doesn’t change the odds significantly when his replacement is Bernardo Silva or Riyad Mahrez. These five, on the other hand, highlight just how valuable a single player can be to their team.”

ELA Games

ELA Games Casts Its Latest Spell with Witches’ Book

Published

4 hours ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

ela-games-casts-its-latest-spell-with-witches’-book

Reading Time: 2 minutes

ELA Games beckons players to step into a shadowy realm of sorcery and mystery with its newest release: Witches’ Book

Bathe in the magic as a powerful coven of three witches conjures their spells across the reels, revealing mysterious rewards and surprises. Each spin is a step toward ultimate strength, where massive riches and bubbling magic await.

The Power of the Book

In the Witches’ Book, magic shimmers in every spin. Players aim to collect enchanted pages and experience the power of each witch’s most mythical spells.

Once players gather enough enchanted pages, they complete the spellbook and choose their witch and symbol to unlock the magical Free Spins. As the witches’ power grows, every symbol has the chance to transform into a Jackpot, turning ordinary spins into powerful, enriching moments.

A medium volatility level and 94.9% RTP ensure that wins are frequent even on the base game. Additionally, multiple surprise features can arise and spread across the 5×3 reel format, making each spin a potion of excitement.

ELA Games’ Magical Touch

Witches’ Book is an enchanting embodiment of ELA Games’ philosophy regarding creative innovation and a focus on engaging gaming experiences. The games’ animations, sound design, and dynamic mechanics blend to create an atmospheric game that will have players a part of the incantation.

Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented on the release, “With Witches’ Book, our goal was to create a title that emphasises the visually-rich aesthetics that embody the atmosphere of the brooding festive season. Every feature and design element was meticulously crafted to keep players engaged and deliver value for our partners. Witches’ Book is an example of our development approach: leverage creativity to entertain players while driving meaningful performance results for operators.”

Discover Enchanting Riches Now

Players can dive into the mysterious world of magic and spells today, with powerful gameplay and immersive experiences.

Finish your incantation and cast a powerful, lucrative spell today.

The post ELA Games Casts Its Latest Spell with Witches’ Book appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Bet It Drives

GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Hits the Portuguese Fast Lane with Tiago Pereira of LeBull.pt

Published

4 hours ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

gr8-tech’s-bet-it-drives-hits-the-portuguese-fast-lane-with-tiago-pereira-of-lebull.pt

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Lisbon’s streets set the pace for Season 2 of GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives — the drive-time podcast where iGaming’s most interesting voices speak freely, in motion. Hosted by Yevhen Krazhan, Chief Sales Officer at GR8 Tech, each episode captures raw insight, candid stories, and the kind of energy you can only find on the road.

Episode 2 puts the spotlight on Tiago Pereira, Head of Portugal at LeBull.pt, the executive who helped turn a logo and a bull into one of the fastest-growing brands in Portugal’s regulated iGaming market. With more than 20 years in sports betting, affiliates, and casino operations at Placard.pt, Betano.pt, bet.pt, and Sportingbet, Tiago has led market entries, compliance frameworks, sponsorships, and full-funnel digital growth.

During the ride, Tiago opens up about:

How he found his path and his journey from architecture and computer science to marketing.
The history of LeBull.
Portugal vs. Brazil: same language, different mindset: why copy-paste doesn’t work and true localization is key.
The idea behind the LeBull Night Show, a weekly late-night comedy event.
His failed marketing project.
Trusting younger generations.
His previous approach to marketing when he joined Betano in 2017.
Why the Portuguese sports betting market relies on the casino vertical.
The next chapter for affiliation.
Network or Not Work: mascots, localization, and keeping support teams local.
A small personal detail that’s still quietly visible online for those who know where to look.
His Champion Rule: move forward with an “I need to get this done” mindset. Whatever happens, don’t stop. Stay consistent, keep moving forward, and the results will follow.

“Tiago showed us how to win a new market with discipline, curiosity, and the courage to keep moving forward,” said Krazhan.

Watch or listen to Season 2, Episode 2 with Tiago Pereira on:

Bet It Drives Season 2 kicked off with Rasmus Sojmark and keeps the pace with upcoming episodes featuring Kyrylo Korobka and Kelly Kehn. Buckle up. Lisbon’s just getting started.

The next chapter of iGaming belongs to those who play smart and play bold. Meet GR8 Tech at booth 5028-2 during SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome, November 3–6, and discover the Heavyweight Rulebook built for operators ready to scale, localize, and win.

The post GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Hits the Portuguese Fast Lane with Tiago Pereira of LeBull.pt appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

FashionTV Casino

FashionTV Gaming Group Rolls Out the Red Carpet for a Royal Night in Rome

Published

5 hours ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

fashiontv-gaming-group-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-a-royal-night-in-rome

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The “Royal Night in a Roman Palace” at Palazzo Brancaccio will mark a decade of success for the megabrand and honour its licensees and partners that together have revolutionised the online gaming industry by setting a new standard for branded luxury in iGaming.

FashionTV Gaming Group, the exclusive licensor of the FashionTV megabrand for the online gaming industry, will celebrate a defining moment in iGaming history with an unforgettable Royal Gala and the prestigious Royal Salute Ceremony at the historic Palazzo Brancaccio in Rome.

This exclusive, invitation-only extravaganza will welcome the global iGaming elite, from CEOs and founders of the world’s leading gaming companies to innovators, celebrities, and visionaries, uniting to celebrate ten years of success in bringing fashion, glamour, and luxury style to the online gaming world.

The event will honour Fashion TV Gaming Group’s global network of licensees, the industry titans and future pillars who have reshaped and infused branded gaming with luxury through the creation of FashionTV branded games across all iGaming verticals, as well as standalone FashionTV Casino and Sports Brands.

The evening will begin with a royal reception in the palace’s grand entrance hall, where guests will be filmed by the FashionTV crew and photographed alongside the iconic FashionTV Wall of Fame, joined by top FashionTV models and international celebrities.

The programme will continue with the Royal Salute Ceremony, followed by an exquisite gala dinner prepared by Palazzo Brancaccio’s Executive Chef, Francesco Paolo Baretta. The celebration will reach its peak with a spectacular FashionTV Party, featuring world-class DJs, live performances, and the unmistakable glamour of the FashionTV experience.

This milestone year of remarkable achievements crowns a decade of success for FashionTV Gaming Group and its partners, including a new strategic business roadmap, landmark collaborations with global gaming powerhouses, and the launch of standalone FashionTV Casino and Sports Brands across Asia and the GCC, with more industry giants soon to be announced.

Moshe Cohen, Founder & President of FashionTV Gaming Group, said: “The Royal Salute Ceremony is more than a celebration; it’s a statement. In Rome, we honour our licensees, the pioneers who believed in our vision, joined our journey, and turned a dream into reality, alongside the current industry titans and the future pillars of our world.”

The post FashionTV Gaming Group Rolls Out the Red Carpet for a Royal Night in Rome appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.