New SBK Betting Podcast with Lee Westwood as first guest

Published

5 years ago

September 22, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SBK – the sportsbook app powered by Smarkets – is delighted to announce the launch of the new SBK Betting Podcast, hosted by Jess Stafford of Racing TV.
Every episode will feature a new guest from the world of sport, starting with Lee Westwood, one of the most recognisable faces in golf for over 20 years.
Westwood is due to tie with Sir Nick Faldo’s record of 11 Ryder Cup appearances when he represents Team Europe at Whistling Straits this week and speaking exclusively to SBK on the podcast, he said:

“It’s ironic really that he set the record of 11 Ryder Cups in 1997 at Valderrama where I was his partner and that was my first one, so it’s all kind of gone full circle really. He’s obviously a legend of the game and it’s nice to be tying a record that he holds.”

The Ryder Cup veteran also commented on Brooks Koepka’s criticism of the ‘hectic’ event schedule:

“I can see where Brooks is coming from. Some people find it difficult to adjust to that team environment. We’ve all got into golf because we like the buck to stop with us at the end of the day. We like being individuals. A lot of us played team sports in our youth and we’ve kind of transferred to golf because it’s an individual sport and we like that environment, and then you get thrown into the team environment. The week of the Ryder Cup there is a lot to do, they cram a lot of media in, dinners etc. and practice rounds take a lot longer, and there aren’t a lot of hours in the day. And if you’re somebody like Brooks who likes to chill out going into tournaments it’s difficult; at a Major Championship he might play 18 holes on Monday, nine holes Tuesday, nine holes Wednesday, and really not do a lot but at the Ryder Cup it’s very full on!”

Team USA are 4/7 favourites with SBK to lift the trophy but Westwood does not believe these odds factor in the team element of the Ryder Cup enough:

“All the statistics that are used for compiling the odds take into consideration individual achievements. The world rankings are all based on individual achievements. But at the Ryder Cup you come together as a team so it’s completely different to what we do week in and week out. European teams seem to bond well and bond that little bit better (than the Americans). I always go into it not really thinking that either team is particularly the favourite. It’s a pretty level playing field and I think it’s just who holes the most putts at the right time, and generally just plays that last hole well when you need to under pressure; that’s who is going to come out on top at the end of the week.”

Westwood also announced that his son, Sam, would be taking over caddying duties from his wife Helen, who caddied for him at the recent BMW PGA Championship:

“Sam’s doing the Ryder Cup, my son. Helen’s doing all the wives and partners things and Sam’s doing the caddying. Sam’s caddied a lot for me this year, at the Masters and other events in Europe like the Scottish Open. They share it between the two of them. Both know what to say to me, they don’t get involved in the yardage or picking clubs but they’re good on the psychology side of things. They just keep me in a good, nice, relaxed frame of mind which is even more important the week of the Ryder Cup.”

ACR Poker $10M Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms

Published

6 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

acr-poker-$10m-dual-mystery-bounty-venoms

ACR Poker is igniting the spring poker season with the Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms Special High Five Edition, offering an astonishing $10 million in guaranteed prize pools alongside the return of its celebrated High Five Series.

From April 12 to April 28, 2026, the special edition will feature two marquee events running simultaneously — an $8 million GTD No‑Limit Hold’em (NLH) and a $2 million GTD Pot‑Limit Omaha (PLO) tournament — promising some of the most thrilling online poker action of the year.

Players buy in for $2,650 and compete for massive mystery bounties, with the NLH event offering up to $500,000 for a single knockout and the PLO event featuring a top bounty of $200,000. Every knockout on Day 2 guarantees at least $5,000 in bounty rewards.

With five Day 1 flights, participants can enter multiple times and build competitive stacks for Day 2’s showdown. Qualifiers begin April 7th through Venom Fever satellites, providing hundreds of seats — some even free — via Direct, Mega, or Beast satellite events.

All players who make it to Day 2 on April 27th at 1:05 pm ET are already in the money. The climactic final table to crown this special edition’s champions will take place on April 28th at 4:05 pm ET.

ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker says the High Five edition builds on the momentum of earlier high‑stakes events like the $50 Million OSS XL, combining huge guarantees with broad access and big bounty potential for players of all bankrolls.

Featured Reference

For a similar take on this major online poker series and its prize pools, check out this article from Poker.org on ACR Poker’s dual mystery bounty events and their massive guaranteed prizes:
ACR Venom $10M GTD Tournaments – Poker.org

The post ACR Poker $10M Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI in gambling safety

BOS releases report on the prevalence of gambling addiction in Sweden

Published

6 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

bos-releases-report-on-the-prevalence-of-gambling-addiction-in-sweden

Sweden has seen a long‑term decline in gambling addiction over the past 25 years, despite rapid growth in online gambling availability, advertising, and mobile gaming.

Economist Ola Nevander’s research for the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) shows that the prevalence of problem gambling has steadily fallen since the early 2000s, even as the market expanded. This trend emerged even with the widespread adoption of digital gaming products and 24/7 access on smartphones.

According to the findings, the proportion of Swedes classified as problem gamblers (based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index) dropped from about 2.2 % in 2008–09 to around 1.3 % by 2021, marking a significant reduction in overall gambling harm.

Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS, emphasizes that this decline suggests Sweden’s regulatory and industry efforts are moving in the right direction. While the transformation from traditional physical gambling venues to digital platforms has raised concerns, online tools such as responsible gaming technologies and AI‑assisted safeguards are helping reduce problem gambling rates.

However, Hoffstedt cautions that much work remains, because expanded game offerings and persistent advertising mean ongoing responsibility is crucial to maintain and deepen the downward trend.

Report available in full at: Problem Gambling_ENG_20260327[2]

For a similar perspective on gambling addiction prevalence trends in Sweden, see this article:
Sweden problem gambling falls but still ‘scope for improvement’ — iGamingBusiness.com Sweden problem gambling trend report (IgamingBusiness)

The post BOS releases report on the prevalence of gambling addiction in Sweden appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

ACR POKER’S DUAL MYSTERY BOUNTY VENOMS – SPECIAL HIGH FIVE EDITION HITS WITH $10 MILLION IN GUARANTEED PRIZE POOLS

Published

6 hours ago

March 31, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

acr-poker’s-dual-mystery-bounty-venoms-–-special-high-five-edition-hits-with-$10-million-in-guaranteed-prize-pools

Celebrate the return of the High Five Series with a special edition of the iconic Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms and hundreds of seats from just $0 in Venom Fever satellites

ACR Poker is turning up the excitement this spring with the Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms Special High Five Edition, featuring $10 million in total guaranteed prize pools. Alongside the return of its popular High Five series, this special edition of the Dual Venoms will run from Sunday, April 12th through Tuesday, April 28th, delivering side-by-side action in the $8 million GTD NLH and $2 million GTD PLO, offering some of the biggest online poker action of the year.

Following the success of previous editions, the $2,650 buy-in Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms return with massive guarantees and mystery bounties that reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the $8 million GTD NLH, a single knockout could earn a player the top bounty prize of $500,000, while the $2 million PLO, which ties as ACR Poker’s biggest Omaha event ever, offers a $200,000 top bounty. Every knockout starting on Day 2 guarantees at least $5,000 in both events.

With five Day 1 flights, players can enter multiple times and combine their stacks to hit Day 2 with some serious firepower. All players reaching Day 2 on Monday, April 27th at 1:05pm ET are already in the money, with the Final Table showdown for the coveted Venom crowns scheduled for Tuesday, April 28th at 4:05pm ET.

Qualifying begins Tuesday, April 7th through a packed Venom Fever satellite schedule, offering hundreds of guaranteed seats at low cost, or even for free, through Direct Satellites, Mega Satellites, and Beast Satellites.

“After the incredible turnout and massive payouts in March’s $50 Million OSS XL, Spring 2026 is shaping up to be epic with the return of our High Five Series and this special Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms edition,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “With huge guarantees, mystery bounties, and accessible satellites for every bankroll, players have double the excitement and double the chance to hit massive prizes!”

The latest Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms delivered massive fields and payouts, with both events exceeding their guarantees. The NLH drew 3,673 entries for a $9,182,500 prize pool, paying over $700,000 to the winner. Runner-up ‘BALDOUS’ from the UK scored the biggest payday of the tournament, claiming the top $500,000 bounty and $730,000 in total bounties, pocketing a whopping $1,240,310 in total. The PLO tournament attracted 837 entrants and generated $2,092,500, with the champion earning more than $300,000.

For more information, visit ACRPoker.eu.

The post ACR POKER’S DUAL MYSTERY BOUNTY VENOMS – SPECIAL HIGH FIVE EDITION HITS WITH $10 MILLION IN GUARANTEED PRIZE POOLS appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.