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NBA Trading Blows: this week’s betting market movers and shakers from Cloudbet

Published

5 years ago

September 11, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The theme-park surrounds of the NBA bubble are a most appropriate venue for what has certainly been a roller-coaster ride of a postseason. The conference semifinals have so far seen one of the title favourites – Milwaukee – bundled out unceremoniously, while the Los Angeles teams – the Clippers and the Lakers – are close to moving through.

Yes, there has been no shortage of drama in the NBA bubble, even without the crowd support and the home-court advantages conferred to higher-seeded teams. Arguably, the games have been more dramatic precisely for those reasons. The first round of the playoffs was highlighted by buzzer beaters, phenomenal individual scoring and a temporary halt to protest yet another police shooting in America.

Lebron James, the game’s best-known player, has rediscovered his imperious form, while the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo may have to console himself with the MVP award (for which he’s heavily favored to win), now that he’s been relegated to the sidelines.

With the Eastern and Western Conference finals beckoning, it’s appropriate for us at Cloudbet to take stock of the big market moves over the past week.

Miami heats up

Title odds: 4.88/+388 (from 8/+700 on 4 September)

The Heat are the hot team at the moment after sweeping Indiana in the first round and rolling over the Bucks in five games. Miami cornerstone Jimmy Butler is playing close to his All-Star best, backed by strong performances Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic, among others.

This is a line-up that outgunned Indiana and Milwaukee by an average margin of 8 points per match, and includes Duncan Robinson, who is fifth in the league for made 3-pointers this season. They’re now heading to their first Eastern Conference finals since 2014, but Butler is focused on bigger things:

Making the conference finals “means a lot, but that’s not my goal,” the All-Star swingman told reporters after closing out the Bucks series. “We want to win it. We want a championship and I think that’s what we’re focused on.”

Butler, who is currently in the deepest playoff run of his eight-year career, indicated that the Heat haven’t played their best basketball yet: “I don’t think we’ve played a full 48-minute game yet and that’s what’s promising. If we do lock in from start to finish and play the way that we’re capable and the way that we’re supposed to, the game will be a lot easier. But it’s yet to happen and we’ve got to have it happen in the next round.”

An ominous signal for their next opponent, the winner of the Toronto-Boston semifinal.

We the West

Los Angeles Clippers title odds: 2.76/+176 (from 3.14/214)

Los Angeles Lakers title odds:2.96/+196 (from 3.54/254)

While not a massive improvement in their lines, it’s worth just talking about the two LAs because of their star-studded line-ups, and because they’re inching closer to facing each other in the Western Conference finals. Both units are leading all current playoff teams in points per game and field-goal percentage.

The Clippers were efficient in dispatching Dallas in the first round, even through injury and Covid-related personnel issues, and now hold a commanding 3-1 series lead over Denver. Kawhi Leonard is the joint second-highest scorer of all players left in the playoffs (with the Lakers’ Anthony Davis), and the Clippers have averaged more points than any other unit in the postseason.

They’ve been boosted by the return of guard Patrick Beverley from a calf injury, and some solid scoring efforts from their other superstar Paul George. Markets favor the Clippers to end the Nuggets series in Game 5 (1.25/-405).

Meanwhile, after early bubble yips, the Lakers have rediscovered their offense in the playoffs, averaging 114 points per game. That’s a big improvement over the 106 they had in their eight regular season contests in the bubble.

GOAT contender Lebron James has lifted his game, as he has done frequently in his career: He’s currently the playoffs’ assists leader, with 9 dimes per game, and the league’s fourth-highest scorer this month. The Lakers have been boosted by Rajon Rondo, who has taken some of the playmaking burden off James’ shoulders.

The Lakers are 3-1 up against a Houston Rockets team that can also score by the truckload, but are coming off a seven-game series against Oklahoma City. Rocket guard Russell Westbrook has shown some flashes of brilliance, but has been struggling with form and a thigh injury.

The Lakers’ latest victory over the Rockets is James’ 163rd playoff win – the most by any player in NBA history.

“It doesn’t happen without the supporting cast,” James said of his playoff record, after winning Game 3 against Houston. The same is certainly true of winning a championship this year, and based on their recent form, the Lakers are looking good on that front.

We the… North?

Boston title odds: 8.03/+703 (from 7.09/+609)

Toronto title odds: 9.95/+895 (from 13/+1200)

The Celtics replace Milwaukee as favorites to take the Eastern Conference title after sweeping Philadelphia in the first round and winning the first two games over the Toronto Raptors. Since then, Boston’s line has drifted as they dropped three of the last four games to a Raptor unit that continues to defy expectations.

Jayson Tatum has been a stud for the Celtics in the playoffs, leading his team with 27 points per game, with support from Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown. The Raps, however, found a way to contain Walker in Game 6, a double-overtime thriller destined for the pantheon of classic NBA match-ups.

Defending champions Toronto, meanwhile, refuse to go quietly into the night, thanks to gutsy performances from guards Kyle Lowry and Fred Van Vleet. This is a team that had the second-most regular season wins in the league this year, even without Kawhi Leonard, who left for the Clippers after last year’s title run.

The Raps have now leveled the series with the much more talented and fancied Celtics – and are looking to go one step further.

“Winning is all that matters right now,” a determined Lowry said after scoring 33 points in Game 6. “Just go and win, it don’t matter how you get it done, don’t matter who gets to do it.”

Truer words rarely spoken.

Results and odds are current as of 8am UTC on Friday 11 September.

Cubeia

Cubeia expands Originals Studio with Turbo Crash launch

Published

13 hours ago

October 20, 2025

George Miller

cubeia-expands-originals-studio-with-turbo-crash-launch

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Cubeia, a Sweden-based iGaming software solutions provider, has unveiled the latest addition to its Originals Studio, Turbo Crash – a fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled game designed to test players’ instincts.

Turbo Crash challenges players to make the ultimate risk-versus-reward decisions in search of astronomical returns. Players place their bets and watch the multiplier soar higher and higher – but timing is everything. It’s possible to cash out at any moment with a single click and every round can be verified for total transparency and trust thanks to its Provably Fair design.

Turbo Crash continues Cubeia’s Originals Studio mission to create operator-first, fully brandable games inspired by its Operator-Up philosophy – built from the ground up around what operators and their players need.

Cubeia’s investment in gamification and community-driven features is reflected in its latest release with challenges, achievements, and duels all available to bring players closer together.

A very successful first year for Cubeia Originals has validated this approach, and with Turbo Crash, the company is setting the pace for what an Originals experience can become as it scales the portfolio further.

Cubeia’s Head of Sales, Caroline Björkman, said: “Launching Turbo Crash as we approach our first anniversary is the perfect way to celebrate how well Originals Studio has established itself in the market. In less than a year, we’ve launched ten distinctive titles – from Mines and Crash to Turbo Crash – and built a portfolio that operators can rely on and players genuinely enjoy.”

The post Cubeia expands Originals Studio with Turbo Crash launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Claire Osborne Vice President of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment

INSPIRED EXPANDS ITS iGAMING PORTFOLIO WITH A DUO OF NEW SLOTS: WEREWOLF IT UP! & ZEUS LEGENDS OF OLYMPUS

Published

14 hours ago

October 20, 2025

George Miller

inspired-expands-its-igaming-portfolio-with-a-duo-of-new-slots:-werewolf-it-up!-&-zeus-legends-of-olympus

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading B2B provider of gaming content, systems, and solutions, is excited to announce the launch of Werewolf It Up! featuring Cash Bank and Zeus Legends of Olympus featuring Triple Hit Combo across the UK and Malta iGaming markets. Packed with captivating visuals and engaging gameplay, this online and mobile slot duo is designed to deliver strong results for operators and offers the best in iGaming entertainment for players.

Werewolf It Up featuring Cash Bank is the Halloween-themed follow-up to Inspired’s smash hit Wolf It Up! Set in a mystical, spooky forest, the game combines fairy-tale charm with thrilling win potential. The base game introduces cash-packed candy symbols and the Bonus Wolf, which together trigger the Cash Bank Free Spins Bonus with eight free spins. A pseudo-persistence mechanic adds further excitement, with collected candies building towards the Lucky Wheel for chances to win one of four Prize Pots.

As with all our games, players can enhance their gameplay with customisable features including Bonus Buy for instant bonus entry, Fortune Spins for boosted hit potential, and Inspired’s Gamble, for potentially bigger rewards. Werewolf It Up delivers spook-tastic thrills, fun features, and a broad appeal for casual players looking to win big this Halloween.

Zeus Legends of Olympus featuring Triple Hit Combo is a 5×3 reel, 20 win-line slot adventure that brings the power of Zeus, the King of the Ancient Greek Gods, to the reels. In a new art style for Inspired, the game blends ancient Greek mythology with fun gameplay features, the game introduces Inspired’s new Triple Hit Combo mechanic, designed to deliver escalating excitement and legendary rewards.

Players collect coins to feed three pseudo-persistent bags, Double Coins, Pot Fill, and Zeus Boost, that unlock epic bonus rounds powered by Inspired’s thrilling Win & Spin mechanic. With expanding reels, escalating prizes, and Zeus himself boosting values, every spin builds suspense toward greater wins. Optional features include Bonus Buy, Gamble, and a new multi-level Fortune Bet that allows players to supercharge their bonus rounds. Zeus Legends of Olympus combines a mythic theme and modern gameplay with Inspired’s signature innovation.

Claire Osborne, Vice President of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “We’re thrilled to unveil these two exciting new slots, each offering something truly unique for players. Werewolf It Up! is set to be this Halloween’s standout game, blending proven mechanics with spooky, visuals that will have players howling with delight. Our seasonal games have become player favorites, and Werewolf It Up! is a perfect addition to our portfolio of holiday-themed titles. Meanwhile, Zeus Legends of Olympus raises the bar with our brand-new Triple Hit Combo mechanic, kicking off a powerful new series of ancient Greek god–themed content. We’re confident both titles will engage players worldwide and deliver outstanding performance at launch and well into the future.”

The post INSPIRED EXPANDS ITS iGAMING PORTFOLIO WITH A DUO OF NEW SLOTS: WEREWOLF IT UP! & ZEUS LEGENDS OF OLYMPUS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Chris Loftus CEO of Northern Lights Gaming

Northern Lights Gaming promotes Chris Loftus to Chief Executive Officer

Published

15 hours ago

October 20, 2025

George Miller

northern-lights-gaming-promotes-chris-loftus-to-chief-executive-officer

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Northern Lights Gaming, the award-winning studio known for blockbuster slot titles such as Unusual Suspects and Bison Moon, has promoted Chris Loftus to CEO.

The promotion comes after Andrew Goodale chose to step away from the studio after more than eight years at the helm to pursue other opportunities.

Chris is a seasoned online slot studio executive with more than 17 years of industry experience and joined Northern Lights Gaming back in April 2025 as Commercial Director.

His career began at Inspired Entertainment, where he spent a decade as Head of Content Operations before moving on to 1X2 Network, where he served as Commercial Director for the leading studio and aggregation platform.

This was followed by a stint as Sales Director at fast-growing game studio Playnetic, where he further expanded his expertise in commercial strategy and business development, before joining the Northern Lights Gaming team.

As CEO of Northern Lights Gaming, Chris brings seasoned insight and an energetic approach to the studio, which has both a strong legacy and ambitious plans for the future.

Robert Henrysson, Chairman at Northern Lights Gaming, said: “We are thrilled to promote Chris to the position of CEO and for him to lead Northern Lights Gaming into the next chapter of its success story.

“Of course, we’d like to thank Andrew for his many years of service and for helping to drive Northern Lights Gaming forward with passion and purpose and wish him well for the future.

“Change always brings adjustments, but our direction and mission remain the same – and that’s to create the very best games and experience in the industry.

“And with Chris leading our incredible team and with a strong product roadmap in front of us, we are highly confident of doing just that.”

Chris Loftus, CEO of Northern Lights Gaming, added: “It’s an honour to have been promoted to CEO of Northern Lights Gaming and to have the trust of the team to steer the ship and continue to build on the incredible progress we have already made.

“The key to success for any studio is to create great games that hit the mark with players, and we have the team and process in place to keep adding epic titles to our portfolio.

“Our product roadmap is packed with truly exceptional games, and we can’t wait to see them leave our production line and for players to fire up the reels.”

The post Northern Lights Gaming promotes Chris Loftus to Chief Executive Officer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.