A new way to earn interest on Bitcoin, Ethereum from crypto apps – Decrypt

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Wyre creates the payment APIs that make many a crypto app tick, with partners such as MetaMask, MakerDAO, Compound, Coinlist, and OpenSea on its extensive list of allies. And soon, you may see those apps offer savings sub-accounts to earn you interest on your cryptocurrency holdings.

Today, the firm announced the launch of the Wyre Savings API, which makes it possible to establish a savings sub-wallet within your main Wyre wallet within partners apps. Should partners enable the API, their users can deposit cryptocurrency into the sub-wallet and begin earning interest on the funds.

Wyre has been focused on lowering the barriers to entry for Fintech entrepreneurs around the world, and now we want to help our partners be prepared for the next market cycle, reads a post about the new API. When the next bull market hits there will be a huge influx of new users and speculators. Theyll come for the speculation, but we want to make sure were giving them a reason to stay.

Out of the gate, the Wyre Savings API supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, DAI, and USDC, with the company working with both centralized and decentralized finance (DeFi) partners to deliver the best-possible interest rates. While the company will source rates from numerous partners, the post says that Wyre aims to stay consistent rather than have rates fluctuate wildly.

The current interest rates offered are: 2.431% for BTC, 2.401% for WBTC, 3.374% for ETH, 5.873% for USDC, and 5.788% for DAI. Theres no fixed term needed for the funds to stay in the wallet to earn interest beyond the initial 24-hour period. Funds can be added and withdrawn at any point.

Wyre didnt name any specific partners that have agreed to add savings functionality, but if the API is as easy to implement as the firm claims, then its hard to believe that partnered app makers would resist the ability to offer users interest on their crypto holdings.

The firm is also a regulated Money Service Business in the United States and some other countries, which Wyre used in its blog post to claim an advantage. While the crypto space has been relying on the goodwill of hackers to return funds, Wyre is placing security as a top priority, it reads, while pointing to a story about Aprils dForce hack.

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A new way to earn interest on Bitcoin, Ethereum from crypto apps - Decrypt

How a Repeat of the Roaring 20s Could Boost Bitcoin Adoption – Bitcoinist

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The 2020s have drawn comparisons to the 1920s for several reasons. The roaring 20s was a tough time for the world, but what came out of it was prosperity and a technological renaissance. If the same happens again as analysts predict, it could be a major boost to Bitcoin adoption. Heres why.

Before the pandemic hit, there was nothing but positivity going into 2020. But just as people prepared roaring 20s parties on New Years Eve, an outbreak was unfolding across the globe.

But the themes were correct in concept: everything about the 20s thus far has been roaring. The stock market, crypto, and gold prices have been booming, and so have citizens in protest all across the world.

Back in the 1920s, the world had just been hit by a similar pandemic: the Spanish flu in 1918. At the end of the decade, the stock market also experienced a significant crash, much like what we witnessed on Black Thursday this past March.

RELATED READING | ECONOMIST WARNS OF 1929-LIKE SECOND LEG DOWN; WILL BITCOIN FOLLOW?

In 1929, it was dubbed Black Tuesday, and it kicked off the Great Depression. And while a similar economic depression may be ahead, analysts claim there are still enough years left to close the decade out in prosperity.

So far, the 2020s has started with the pandemic, but there are plenty of years left for the prosperous 1920s to become a precedent for the current decade, says Ed Yardeni, chief investment strategist at Yardeni Research.

Yardeni points out that the 1920s eventually led the United States to become the economic superpower it is today. It also began a technological revolution, that if repeated, could be the boost Bitcoin has needed.

Yardeni also calls attention to the similarities between the two decadesreaching a similar point of technological revolution.

The roaring 20s gave way to a historic transformation in technology-driven productivity. There was an enormous boost to electrical infrastructure, and through that, new methods of manufacturing and transportation came to be.

The Ford Model T was produced during this time, making a prime example of the sudden growth in the adoption of new technologies. In 1900, just 8,000 motorcars were registered in the US. By the time 1920 rolled around, there were 9 million and by 1929 the number rose to 23 million.

Today, all those infrastructures are in place. Any revolution will be in microtechnologies powered by these existing processes. Yardeni specifically points to technologies like blockchain, 3D printing, AI, robotics, and more.

RELATED READING | HOW PICTURE PERFECT MACRO UNCERTAINTY WILL KEEP GOLD, BITCOIN TRENDING

In a prior book, Yardeni was quoted as saying, economics is about using technology to increase everyones standard of living. A technology-driven future where the economics increase everyones standard of living sounds a lot like Bitcoins ultimate goal.

The assets decentralized network was designed to make it better money for all, unable to be counterfeited, cryptographically protected, and completely non-sovereign. Times of technological prosperity, as the Ford Model T has shown, can create a perfect storm for technology to be adopted.

If the 20s do continue to roar, it could be the boost to Bitcoin adoption that the budding technology needs.

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How a Repeat of the Roaring 20s Could Boost Bitcoin Adoption - Bitcoinist

Writing Bitcoin Smart Contracts Is About to Get Easier With New Coding Language – Yahoo Finance

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Bitcoin smart contracts are a tricky beast to tame, but a new language is making them easier to write, democratizing them in a sense.

Smart contracts can (among other things) allow users to set extra rules on their bitcoin, requiring these rules be met before the funds can be unlocked. Minsc, created by Bitcoin developer Nadav Ivgi, is a new programming language that makes it easier for developers to create these kinds of contracts so they can build them into bitcoin wallets and other apps more smoothly.

One of the goals of Minsc is to make smart contracts more accessible to more people, Ivgi told CoinDesk. That means both developers and users alike are able to take advantage of tools built by developers.

Related: First Mover: As Wall Street Goes Topsy-Turvy, Crypto Traders Are Bullish as Ever

Smart contracts were first described by Nick Szabo in the 1990s. He theorized a way of automating legally binding contracts made between people.

Typical examples of smart contracts on Bitcoin include not allowing 0.1 BTC to be spent until 2021, or requiring more than one person to sign off on a transaction before the money can actually move. Smart contracts also power second layers on the Bitcoin protocol, such as the Lightning Network, which could help Bitcoin expand to reach more users.

Thus far, Bitcoin Script is the language that makes these contracts possible.

The problem is its tricky to work with Bitcoin Script. It is unlike other, more popular programming languages developers are used to, making it harder to wrap their heads around and compose in. This lack of understanding also makes it easier to make a mistake, potentially putting Bitcoin at risk.

Related: CME Rises in Bitcoin Futures Rankings as Institutional Interest Grows

The unwieldiness of Bitcoin Script was one of the factors that led Vitalik Buterin to design the Ethereum platform in the first place. Solidity, Ethereums first smart-contract language, was designed to be much easier for developers to read and thus use. And it has paid off: Ethereum has grown to become the go-to platform for smart contract developers.

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Read more: How Do Ethereum Smart Contracts Work?

Miniscript, released in 2019 by Pieter Wuille, Andrew Poelstra and Sanket Kanjalkar at Blockstream Research, chips away at this issue for bitcoin.

Read more: Pieter Wuille Unveils Miniscript, A New Smart Contract Language for Bitcoin

One reason that were not anywhere close to using Scripts full potential is that actually constructing scripts for nontrivial tasks is cumbersome. Its hard to verify their correctness and security, and even harder to find the most economical way to write things, Wuille and Poelstra wrote in a blog post introducing Miniscript in September of last year.

Miniscript offers a language thats easier to understand than Script, with built-in security guarantees.

Additionally, if there are two different ways of writing the same contract in Script, Miniscript is able to assess which one is more economical.

The computer eventually compiles (or converts) Miniscript to Bitcoin Script, which is what the code ultimately needs to be written in to successfully lock up real bitcoin with these extra restrictions.

Minsc is the third tier of the cake. It builds on top of Miniscript, taking advantage of its security properties but creating a language that is even easier for developers to read and think about than Miniscript.

Minscs focus is on usability and making it easier to express, comprehend and reason about scripts, using a simple and familiar syntax. It adds additional convenience features and syntactic sugar,' Ivgi told CoinDesk.

Syntactic sugar is a programming term for adding into a language another easier, shortcut way of executing a task that is usually harder to write.

So Minsc doesnt add anything new to Script, it just makes it easier to use.

It doesnt let you do anything that Miniscript doesnt already, similarly to Miniscript itself in relation to Bitcoin Script, Ivgi said.

Minsc could make it easier for developers to add support for various smart contracts. The main intended target audience is developers looking to build apps that utilize Bitcoin Script in interesting, advanced ways, Ivgi added.

Read more: RIF Launches Layer 3 Network to Scale Bitcoin-Based Smart Contracts, Tokens

If more developers can eventually add support for these smart contracts, more users will (perhaps even unknowingly) be able to use these more-complex contracts as well.

Initially, however, I anticipate the usage to be primarily experimental and educational. Minsc can be a great tool for people looking to gain a better understanding of Bitcoin Script, as well as for educators teaching the technical aspects of Bitcoin, Ivgi said.

Ivgi is still in the process of adding other features to the language. Bitcoins smart contracting abilities are likely to expand even further, such as with Taproot, a likely upgrade on Bitcoins horizon. Minsc will be there to make these contracts easier to create.

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Writing Bitcoin Smart Contracts Is About to Get Easier With New Coding Language - Yahoo Finance

After Bitcoin Betrayal, Goldman Sachs Is Suddenly Betting Big On Crypto And Blockchain – Forbes

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Goldman Sachs GS , along with Wall Street banking rival JPMorgan JPM , has a mixed history with bitcoin.

After cheering bitcoin's epic 2017 rally to around $20,000 in 2017, Goldman Sachs "betrayed" bitcoin believers in May this year when the bank's top analysts revealed a Buzzfeed-style "five-reasons-why" they didn't think bitcoin and cryptocurrencies should be considered an asset class in a much-hyped investor call.

Now, Goldman Sach has appointed a new global head of digital assets and, following in JPMorgan's footsteps, is reportedly exploring the possibility of creating its own blockchain-based answer to bitcoin.

Goldman Sachs, a Wall Street stalwart, has had a turbulent history with bitcoin and ... [+] cryptocurrencies.

"We are exploring the commercial viability of creating our own fiat digital token, but its early days as we continue to work through the potential use cases," Goldman Sachs' new digital assets boss Mathew McDermott told CNBC in an interview this week.

McDermott has poached JPMorgan's head of digital assets strategy, Oli Harris, CNBC reports, who helped the bank develop its JPM Coin. Unveiled last year, JPM Coin was the first digital coin from a major bank and is intended to speed up and lower the cost of international payments by using bitcoin's distributed ledger blockchain technology.

"The honest answer is, of course, with any technological advancement, there will be a disruption to the existing status quo," McDermott said, pointing to his plans to use blockchain to upgrade the repo market, credit and mortgage markets, and create forward-looking crypto and blockchain industry consortiums, adding it "feels like there is a resurgence of interest in cryptocurrencies."

"Weve definitely seen an uptick in interest across some of our institutional clients who are exploring how they can participate in this space."

Earlier this week, research from bitcoin, cryptocurrency and blockchain data company Chainalysis revealed Wall Street giants are increasingly moving even larger transfers of bitcoin and cryptocurrency as institutional investors in North America pile into bitcoin and cryptowith the trend thought to be just getting started.

The bitcoin price is flat on this time 12 months ago but has ricocheted wildly, along with most ... [+] other assets, due to the coronavirus crisis.

While the bitcoin and cryptocurrency community has broadly applauded Wall Street's emerging interest in digital assets, there's concern institutional adoption is doing the opposite of what some people think crypto was originally designed.

"Whats exciting and innovative about cryptocurrency is that it creates opportunities for people from every walk of life to acquire wealth," Catherine Coley, chief executive of Binance.US, said via email.

"The time is ripe for mass adoptionthe past weeks rise in the price of bitcoin, the expansion of this industry during a lockdown that caused strain on nearly every other sector of the economy," Coley said, pointing to the founder of the Barstool Sports blog, Dave Portnoy's, recent invitation to cryptocurrency exchange founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss to explain bitcoin to him.

"By purchasing large amounts of bitcoin, [mainstream newcomers] too are preparing for a future where users take control of their finances."

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After Bitcoin Betrayal, Goldman Sachs Is Suddenly Betting Big On Crypto And Blockchain - Forbes

Stellar Lumens (XLM) Is Poised to Bounce Against Bitcoin: Heres Why – newsBTC

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Stellar Lumens (XLM) has retraced against Bitcoin over recent days, failing to follow other leading altcoins higher. Indicators suggest the altcoin may soon outperform Bitcoin a sentiment in line with those shared by crypto traders.

Stellar Lumens has been bleeding out against Bitcoin over recent days as the leading cryptocurrency has pressed higher. This price action can be seen in the chart below, which shows XLMs underperformance of BTC on the right side of the chart.

The coin is purportedly due to bounce, a Tom Demark Sequential analysis indicates. The sequential is an indicator that forms 9 and 13 candles when an asset undergoes a technical inflection point in its trend.

In XLMs case, a buy 9 candle was just formed. This suggests that Stellar will recover against Bitcoin in the coming days. The Tom Demark Sequential has had quite the strong performance on calling XLM price action in recent months, predicting local lows in April, late May, and early July.

Other analysts are also bullish on Stellar Lumens.One trader shared the chart below last week, writing the following on why the asset is poised to go parabolic in the weeks ahead:

$XLM is still one of my favorites.

For altcoins to outperform Bitcoin, some analysts think that the leading cryptocurrency must maintain its consolidation in the $10,500-12,000 range. One historically accurate crypto trader wrote on the matter, referencing the chart below:

BTC. 11500-11700, then down to test the 10400-10500 support zone, which should hold for a while. Looking for longs above that level and shorts below it. Altcoins should perform very well as long as BTC stays above 10.5k -> $EOS, $XTZ, $XRP, $XLM (Stellar)

There are some, unfortunately, that dont think Bitcoin is still in a bullish state.

One trader noted that since Bitcoin keeps on failing to surmount $12,000, it could retrace towards the $9,000s. This same trader, though, noted that altcoins may hold up rather well for the time being (Stellar Lumens was not specifically mentioned).

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Stellar Lumens (XLM) Is Poised to Bounce Against Bitcoin: Heres Why - newsBTC

Bitcoin confounds the Fed’s understanding of digital currencies – Decrypt

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The Fed thought it had it all worked out when it came to digital currencies. There are account-based digital currencies, where systems verify accounts (like inter-bank transfers) and currency-based systems, where vendors verify currencies, like dollar bills or Fortnites V-Bucks.

Then Bitcoin came along and muddled everything up, economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York complained in a blog post yesterday.

Bitcoin and the hundreds of other cryptocurrencies that use public-key cryptography constitute both an account-based system and a token-based system. This is problematic, grumbled the Fed economists.

First, Bitcoin is an account-based system. The account is a Bitcoin address, and the private key is the proof of identity needed to transact from that account. Every time a Bitcoin user wants to spend Bitcoin, that user must verify their identity by using their private key. Thats just like bank transfers, which rely on the banks ability to verify the identity of the account holder.

Second, its also a token-based system: When someone wants to spend a Bitcoin, the protocol verifies its validity by tracing its history. The current transaction history is used to verify the validity of the object being transferred. Just like cash, which is only valid if it is genuinely issued from the central bank. Or like Fortnites V-Bucks, issued by the games publisher, Epic Games.

The Feds minds, upon realising this, blew up. The distinction is often raised when discussing how to create a state-rolled digital currency, also known as a central bank digital currency or CBDC. But Bitcoin proves that two seemingly-contradictory ideas can be true at once; the rules that guide those conversations are broken. Kaput.

If a digital currency can be both token-based and account-based, then the classification loses its power to meaningfully distinguish between new and existing methods of digital payments, they said.

They implored that clinging on to the distinction may slow down progress when understanding different digital payment technologies. In a huff, they concluded: Perhaps these terms should be retired to avoid further confusion.

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Bitcoin confounds the Fed's understanding of digital currencies - Decrypt

PSF Token Invokes the First Coin-Age Staking Protocol on Bitcoin Cash | Technology – Bitcoin News

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During the last six months, the Simple Ledger Protocol has grown immensely and theres been 9,604 SLP tokens created since the infrastructure launched. Just recently news.Bitcoin.com reported on mistcoin, the mineable SLP token that can be mined with a CPU. Now software developer Chris Troutner has invoked tokens called PSF, which are the first SLP tokens that leverage UTXO coin-age for staking on Bitcoin Cash.

During the first week of July, news.Bitcoin.com reported on the Permissionless Software Foundation (PSF), an organization that aims to foster the growth of open-source software and growing adoption of Bitcoin Cash across the globe.

This week software developer Chris Troutner discussed the PSF project with our newsdesk as the project has invoked the first SLP token that can be staked based on UTXO coin-age. People who are interested in reading about the PSF staking process can check out the groups grants page.

Individuals can also read about the SLP tokens staking incentive by reading the groups business plan. The grants page states:

The next airdrop of funding tokens is set to take place on October 15th. To be part of this funding token airdrop you will need to stake your PSF tokens, by not moving them for two months. This means you must not move your PSF tokens after August 15th. Funding tokens are an important part of the governance mechanism for the PSF community. As described in the business plan, stakeholders receive periodic funding tokens.

Discussing the subject with the projects head janitor, Chris Troutner, he summarized the staking process with our newsdesk and said that the process was quite simple.

The biggest hurdle to understanding it, is understanding UTXOs, Troutner emphasized. As most crypto proponents are aware that UTXOs are the thing that is spent. UTXOs are consumed as inputs to a transaction, and new UTXOs are generated as the output of a transaction. Every time a UTXO is generated, it contains a block height. Troutner added:

So staking of the PSF token is based on the block height of the UTXO. The block height, which is part of the UTXO, represents its age or coin-age. unlike Ethereum staking, the tokens are not locked in a smart contract. The UTXOs remain completely under the control of their owner. All they have to do is just not move their tokens. Moving or spending their tokens would destroy the UTXO and generate a new one, which would destroy the coin-age.

So essentially, Troutner says that staking is basically not moving the PSF tokens or spending them for a period of time. Simply moving PSF tokens from one wallet to another will interfere with the coin-age, so Troutner recommends storing with a paper wallet.

Its really easy for newbies to destroy their coin-age, by simply moving the tokens between wallets, or a wallet might do it accidentally in the background. Thats why I recommend people stake their token by sending them to a paper wallet, the software engineer stated.

According to Simpleledger.info, there were 730,883 PSF tokens created and 160,048 PSF tokens burned which shows a circulating supply of 570,834 today. We talked about the exchange rate for PSF as the token does have value according to the website, but PSF is currently not listed on an exchange.

At the time of publication, a single PSF is worth $0.439 USD per token or 0.0014475 BCH per token. Using todays BCH exchange rate, people can get more than 690 PSF for a single BCH. Troutner explained to our newsdesk how the PSF value is currently derived.

The token-liquidity app maintains liquidity between the BCH and the PSF tokens, the developer explained. Its an automated market maker. It was inspired by the original Bancor whitepaper. The token-liquidity app is a JavaScript program with its own BCH wallet. It has an equation that it follows to determine the exchange rate. Its constantly adjusting its exchange rate based on the balance of BCH and PSF tokens in its wallet.

The Permissionless Software Foundation plans to leverage the funding tokens in order to bolster the concept as a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO).

In addition to Chris Troutner, the host of the developers monthly video series, David R. Allen is also working with the project. PSF also plans to deliver a white-label bitcoin cash (BCH) and SLP wallet as well.

The Permissionless Software Foundation will also act as a consulting firm. Further, the team is looking into a vending machine concept that represents SaaS applications.

What do you think about the PSF token and its ability to be staked by coin-age? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, Permissionless Software Foundation

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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PSF Token Invokes the First Coin-Age Staking Protocol on Bitcoin Cash | Technology - Bitcoin News

Insights on the Global Casinos and Gambling Market 2020-2024 | COVID-19 Analysis, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Threats | Technavio – Yahoo…

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Technavio has been monitoring the casinos and gambling market and it is poised to grow by USD 82.09 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 10% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200814005043/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Casinos and Gambling Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

Frequently Asked Questions-

At what rate is the market projected to grow during the forecast period 2020-2024?

Growing at a CAGR of over 10%, the market growth will accelerate in the forecast period of 2020-2024.

Who are the top players in the market?

Boyd Gaming Corp., Caesars Entertainment Corp., Crown Resorts Ltd., Flutter Entertainment Plc, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., Golden Entertainment Inc., Las Vegas Sands Corp., MGM Resorts International, SJM Holdings Ltd., and William Hill Plc. are some of the major market participants.

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Boyd Gaming Corp., Caesars Entertainment Corp., Crown Resorts Ltd., Flutter Entertainment Plc, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., Golden Entertainment Inc., Las Vegas Sands Corp., MGM Resorts International, SJM Holdings Ltd., and William Hill Plc are some of the major market participants. The growing popularity of online gambling will offer immense growth opportunities. To make most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

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Casinos and Gambling Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Casinos and Gambling Market is segmented as below:

Platform

Offline

Online

Geography

APAC

Europe

North America

MEA

South America

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41224

Casinos and Gambling Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our casinos and gambling market report covers the following areas:

Casinos and Gambling Market size

Casinos and Gambling Market trends

Casinos and Gambling Market analysis

This study identifies the use of technological innovation in casinos as one of the prime reasons driving the casinos and gambling market growth during the next few years.

Casinos and Gambling Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the casinos and gambling market, including some of the vendors such as Boyd Gaming Corp., Caesars Entertainment Corp., Crown Resorts Ltd., Flutter Entertainment Plc, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., Golden Entertainment Inc., Las Vegas Sands Corp., MGM Resorts International, SJM Holdings Ltd., and William Hill Plc. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the casinos and gambling market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Casinos and Gambling Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist casinos and gambling market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the casinos and gambling market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the casinos and gambling market

Analysis of the markets competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of casinos and gambling market vendors

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Platform

Market segments

Comparison by Platform

Offline - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Online - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Platform

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Boyd Gaming Corp.

Caesars Entertainment Corp.

Crown Resorts Ltd.

Flutter Entertainment Plc

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.

Golden Entertainment Inc.

Las Vegas Sands Corp.

MGM Resorts International

SJM Holdings Ltd.

William Hill Plc

Appendix

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200814005043/en/

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INTERVIEW: Gambling On The New Sports Betting ETF – TheStreet

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If you're tired of the scales always tipping in the house's favor, maybe it's time to switch to the other side.

I'm talking, of course, about gambling and other forms of online gaming. While the coronavirus has shut down major sports leagues and events up until recently here in the United States, sporting events are resuming all around the world. Gambling on those events has been experiencing an enthusiastic resurgence, making this industry an intriguing "recession-proof" idea.

The new Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF (BETZ) aims to target not just this sector, but also the online gaming industry, which covers things, such as online poker and daily fantasy. BETZ invests in traditional casinos & sportsbooks, online gaming platforms, such as DraftKings and the technology companies that produce the infrastructure that supports this space.

In my latest interview with TheStreet, I talk about the BETZ ETF, its prospects for the future and how this fund could fit into a broader portfolio.

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INTERVIEW: Gambling On The New Sports Betting ETF - TheStreet

Chiefs keep gambling by doling out another big-money deal – KSN-TV

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Chiefs had just finished their first padded practice of training camp Friday when safety Tyrann Mathieu was asked about the long-term contract signed by Travis Kelce, which ensured he would remain in Kansas City through the 2025 season.

I think Travis is a special talent, Mathieu replied. He reminds me a lot of Larry Fitzgerald.

That would be the longtime Cardinals wide receiver, who was a teammate of Mathieu during his time in Arizona. And while comparing a likely Hall of Fame wide receiver to a tight end on his own path toward Canton may seem odd, the reality is the numbers that Kelce has put up during his seven-year career match up quite nicely with what Fitzgerald accomplished.

Kelce is being paid like a wide receiver these days, too.

The competition that (Fitzgerald) provided me coming into the league, me coming to Kansas City Travis gives me that same kind of competition day-in and day-out, Mathieu said. He makes me hone in on my craft. Thats the only way you can compete against those guys with that kind of ability.

Kelce missed most of his rookie season with a knee injury, but he has played 95 games over the past six seasons with 507 catches for 6,465 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also has four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, has been voted to six straight Pro Bowls, twice earned an All-Pro nod and just helped the Chiefs win the Super Bowl.

By comparison, Fitzgerald appeared in 92 games over his first six seasons with 523 catches for 7,067 yards and 59 scores and also had four 1,000-yard seasons over that span. Those numbers are exceptional for a wide receiver, let alone a tight end, and Fitzgerald didnt have the added burden of being a glorified offensive lineman on most running plays.

No wonder the Chiefs were eager to keep Kelce around.

The Chiefs and his representatives agreed to the four-year, $57.25 million extension on Thursday. It was the third major deal signed by general manager Brett Veach this offseason to keep the Chiefs core intact: quarterback Patrick Mahomes signed a record-setting 1-year extension that could ultimately pay him a half-billion dollars, while Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones signed a four-year, $85 million deal that kept him from playing on the franchise tag.

There are only 13 wide receivers in the league that will be making more than Kelce, based on average salary, one of of those is teammate Tyreek Hill. He signed a three-year, $54 million extension last September.

We all knew and trusted the front office all the guys to keep the core. We trusted they would be able to make it make sense for all the players, which they did, Kelce said. They held up their end of the bargain.

These pricey contracts dont come without risk. And in Kelces case, the Chiefs are making two significant gambles.

The first is that the salary cap will continue to rise over the next five years, allowing them to make good on the deals theyve given to some of their premier players. It has grown from $155.27 million in 2016 to $198.2 million this season, but there is no certainty it will continue to increase at the same rate going forward.

The second is that Kelce will continue to produce as he ages. He turns 31 in October, which means he will be 35 during the final year of his contract. There are exceptions to the rule Fitzgerald is one of them but most players begin tailing off at that point in their career, either because injuries have mounted or their natural speed has diminished.

The Chiefs have placed their bets, though, and now will see whether they will pay off.

Travis still comes to work wanting to get better, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, so you love that part. He brings energy every day. Ive been lucky to coach he and his brother, and theyre both that way.

Theyre wired where they want to be the best. But they enjoy playing the game like no other.

Notes: DE Frank Clark did not practice Friday because of a stomach virus. Nothing COVID-related, Reid said. LB Darius Harris (personal reasons), DT Devaroe Lawrence (personal reasons) and TE Deon Yelder (groin strain) also did not practice on Friday. CB Bopete Keyes joined OL Martinas Rankin (knee) and FS Juan Thornhill (knee) on the PUP list. The rookie broke one of his orbital bones before arriving in Kansas City, Reid said.

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Chiefs keep gambling by doling out another big-money deal - KSN-TV

VIDEO: What Gambling Looks Like In The Age Of Coronavirus – KCBS

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Related: Is It Safe To Crank The AC In A Pandemic?

As we reported last weekend, a card room just outside the Bay Area has become the first in the state to reopen for gaming.

Welcome to Stars Casino in Tracy, where guests get a temperature check and a mask as they enter through the back patio. The outdoor casino floor consists of blackjack, Bacharach and three-card poker tables.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, seating capacity has been cut in half.

"Normally, you would see eight players on a table, but as you can see there are only four," Stars COO Emmanuel Macalino told KCBS Radio.

The seats are also disinfected as soon as guests leave the table, and chips, cards and cash are stored under disinfecting ultraviolet lights.

"Theyre actually proven to mitigate the coronavirus that may be on the cards or the chips," Casino CEO Joseph Melech explained.

Melech said the changes cost them tens of thousands of dollars to abide by state and county safety guidelines, but he's hoping it will help the business survive the pandemic.

"Well, if everything stays safe here and the county and state governments are okay with us staying open, I think were going to be okay," he said.

The guests seem to enjoy it.

"Its okay," one player said. "I just wanted to check it out."

"Its good to have an option and if its safe, (with) safety protocols, then I feel comfortable doing it," another player added.

The casino bought industrial-size fans to keep players cool.

Melech said they are getting calls from card rooms across the state and the country asking about how they can double down on pandemic precautions.

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VIDEO: What Gambling Looks Like In The Age Of Coronavirus - KCBS

Couple charged in $4M gambling scheme at casino in Livermore – Pleasanton Weekly

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A husband and wife have been charged with allegedly conspiring to steal approximately $4 million from Parkwest Casino 580 in Livermore in a baccarat scheme, state prosecutors announced on Monday.

Eric Dat Nguyen and Khan "Tina" Tran each face two felony counts of grand theft and eight felony counts of conspiracy to commit grand theft, plus special allegations -- as to all counts -- of an aggravated white collar crime enhancement in excess of $500,000.

Nguyen, 38, and Tran, 32, were arrested in Texas in May on felony warrants out of California.

"My office stands ready to fight back against those who try to get rich quick by breaking the law," California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "Mr. Nguyen and Ms. Tran now face serious criminal charges for their actions. The California Department of Justice will do its part to tackle criminal activity in our state."

The criminal complaint alleges the couple conspired to cheat at EZ Baccarat with Panda 8 Rules during 2015 and 2016 while Tran worked as a card dealer and Nguyen gambled at the casino on North Canyons Parkway in Livermore. Nguyen previously worked at the casino.

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Couple charged in $4M gambling scheme at casino in Livermore - Pleasanton Weekly

The 13 best golf gambling games: how to play, rules and more – Golf.com

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By: James Colgan August 14, 2020

You don't have to be a Vegas native or even a gambler to make some serious cash with these golf gambling games.

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For months here at GOLF.com weve scoured the golf world to find the best gambling games and bring them directly to you. Our weekly gambling games column has featured everything under the sun, from games for one player to those suitable for a hundred; games built for elite golfers and those for bottom-of-the-barrel hackers; that have been around for ages and that were created on buddies trips.

Now its time to bring all of them to one place. Without further adieu I present to you, GOLF.coms ultimate guide to golf gambling games (if you want to read the full rules, just click on each attached link).

Nassau: Golfs most iconic gambling game isnt much of a gambling game at all. Players wager a certain amount on the best score on each hole of the front and back nines and on the best score for the total 18. Wagers can run anywhere from a couple cents to hundreds of dollars.

Stableford: As opposed to scoring low, the goal of a Stableford is to record the highest possible score among the group. Golfers dont count strokes, rather, each scoring outcome is given a point value (for example: one stroke above par would be zero points, a par, one point, a birdie, two points, etc.). At the end of the round, the player with the highest score wins.

Scramble: Another iconic gambling game, this one is perfectly suitable for outing play and play among high handicap golfers. In this game, foursomes compete against one another for the lowest cumulative score by hitting from the groups best shot until the ball is in the hole. The group with the lowest score at the end of 18 holes wins.

One-Man Scramble: Same as an original scramble, but with a twist. A single golfer hits two shots and plays the better of his or her shots until the ball is in the hole. This game can be played among multiple people in a foursome or by a single golfer playing alone.

Texas Scramble: A traditional scramble, but the foursome must play four tee shots from each player before the end of the round.

Miami: Like a traditional scramble, but the golfer whose tee shot is selected is unable contribute again until the team has reached the green.

Chicago: Similar to a traditional Stableford, but adjusted to better include higher handicap players. In Chicago, each golfer begins the round with a score associated to their handicap low handicappers begin with scores heavily in the negatives, while high handicappers begin with scores around zero. From here, everyone plays by the same scoring format, and the winner is the player who ends the round with the highest score.

Las Vegas: Two vs. two game in which both players combine their scores together, with the lower score coming first (a player shooting a 4 and his teammate shooting a 5 would equal a team score of 45 for the hole). After each hole, the team with the higher score subtracts from the team with the lower score. The difference in score equals the debt one team owes the other. There are a series of twists and catches that accompany Las Vegas that I dive into with the full rules, which you can read by clicking the link HERE.

Bingo Bango Bongo: Game in which three points are available on each hole the bingo point, for the first on the green; bango point, for closest to pin; and bongo point, for first one in the hole. Each point is worth an associated dollar value, and strict etiquette is a must.

Split Sixes: A three-player game in which every hole is worth six points, which are split between the players in accordance to their score on the hole.

Defender: Another three-player game in which two players compete on a team against one player, called the defender. On every hole, the defender changes, and it is his or her job to ensure that she defends the hole by matching (or beating) the score of the two attacking players.

Wolf: Similar to defender, but featuring four players. The Wolf competes on each hole, either against the remaining three players (for a bigger potential payday) or by selecting another one of the foursome to team up with. Then, the group plays a best ball format, with the winning side taking home the payday.

St. James Roll: Our lucky 13th favorite golf gambling game? The St. James Roll. In this game, points are divided based on each players finishing position on the hole. If you beat the remaining three members of your group, thats three points. Beat only two of them? Thats two points. Beat one of them? Thats one point. Beat none? Nada for you.

Got an awesome golf game you want to see highlighted by us? Send your suggestions tojames_colgan@golf.com.

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‘It’s de-humanising yourself’: Ex-Tottenham prospect Ciaran Feehan discusses gambling addiction, anxiety and depression – Belfast Telegraph

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How does it feel to see 20,000 disappear in 45 minutes? Even with 15 years' distance from the fateful evening, it's a question that still prompts an almost visceral reaction across the body of Ciaran Feehan, as if the memory of a scarcely believable Liverpool comeback recalls a blow that is not mental but physical.

It was the Champions League final of 2005 - backing AC Milan to be lifting the trophy come full-time in Istanbul, the former Cliftonville, Glenavon and Ballymena United striker made the now familiar trip into a bookmakers in Newry town.

Once there, the bet was a simple enough proposition - the Italians at even odds. Double your money in an hour-and-a-half... even if, as in Feehan's case, your money happens to be a large pile of cash on a counter amounting to 10 grand.

Settling down in his living room to watch the match, he couldn't have asked for a better start, Milan's legendary captain Paolo Maldini providing a rare goal in the opening minute.

When Argentine striker Hernan Crespo added two more in the minutes leading up to half-time, Liverpool's race was run and Feehan's bet was won. At least that's what he and everyone watching assumed.

Unwilling to let those closest to him know the stakes with which he was now gambling, it was years before he told his Liverpool-supporting friend in the room that night how his every cheer felt like a slap to the face.

Today, benefiting from both hindsight and a better understanding of his condition, he knows that winning or losing mattered little.

The money wouldn't have solved any of his problems, wouldn't have paid the bills or got the bank off his back, wouldn't have kept the roof over his head or held his marriage together. With a bit of luck and a few compliant horses, it would have simply kept him in open betting slips through the weekend.

When the comeback pops up on TV now, as it so frequently did these past sports-starved months, he can even almost laugh. That night, though, there could be no such acceptance. As 3-0 unfathomably became 3-3, Milan unravelled in front of his eyes, the harder they tried to avert the disaster unfolding the worse things became. A feeling Feehan knew all too well.

Like so many afflicted with gambling addiction, it was the sport itself that used to provide the rush Feehan ultimately sought through wagers.

Born the youngest of seven brothers into a football-mad household, a Mitre size five thrown into the garden was a sure-fire way to keep the brood entertained from sunrise through dinner time. Of a handy bunch - one Bessbroke Wanderers team sheet would later contain six Feehans - Ciaran was the stand-out, and it was at Lisburn Youth where, aged 13, he caught the attention of Spurs.

In the same youth sides as the likes of Sol Campbell, Jamie Redknapp and Nicky Barmby, Feehan chased his dream in London through the tail end of the 1980s. With his father a regular visitor across the water, even as the games got bigger and bigger, for Feehan no feeling in football would better that of seeing his dad smile at him from the stands after another goalscoring performance. Ultimately, none ever would.

He'd make it as far as the Tottenham reserves, back in the days when the side turned out midweek at the old White Hart Lane, and when he returned home in the summer of 1990, he assumed it was only a temporary one. After all that's happened since, he'll sometimes wonder what life would have been like had he remained on the Premier League side's books that little while longer.

"I was never formally sat down and told by Spurs that I was finished," he says. "They told me that I'd get the three-year contract, and I was sent home to get my stuff together.

"I was shown the house where I'd be staying and everything. It was going home to basically say my goodbyes. At 17, you're still young, still naive, no agent or anything like that. And then when the rejection comes, there's nothing to help you deal with that.

"Still to this day, I don't know why they changed their minds. When I think about my story now, I look back at that time and it still plays on my mind.

"That rejection - I've never really been able to cope with rejection - had an effect on my life. I hadn't got the tools to deal with it."

By the time Spurs won the FA Cup the next season - led to the final by a Paul Gascoigne still riding a wave of unprecedented fame thanks to Italia '90 - Feehan had given away plenty of shirts, shorts and boots from the stars lifting the trophy at Wembley that day, the sort of mementos he assumed he'd have a career's worth of by the time he finished playing. Today, he has not one scrap of memorabilia to remember his teenage years at one of England's biggest clubs.

Back home, initially with Glenavon, there'd be goals and memorable moments aplenty in Irish football - a League Cup hat-trick for Cliftonville against Limavady in his first competitive start for the Reds 25 years ago this week and the goal against Distillery that sealed the title for promotion-seeking Ballymena United among the more notable - with Feehan striking those that played alongside him simply as a man who knew how to enjoy life on and off the pitch.

Play with Ciaran Feehan long enough, and you'd have a story to tell.

"If you ask anyone I played with, they'd have said I was outgoing," he says.

"I'd have been the sort that was described as a 'character'. I would have been seen as a motivator too, always chatting, an outgoing personality.

"But deep down, I was always very shy and now I know it was anxiety that I was dealing with.

"Even coming down here today to talk to you, it'd have been getting at me all the way here. Now that we're in the middle of it, I'll be sitting thinking, 'Why was I feeling anxious about this?'

"And the honest answer is that I don't know. I've asked people, I've tried, I've looked into it all, but it's just a mental thing that's with me."

While hiding the affliction undermining his confidence, Feehan certainly liked to unwind, but neither his drinking nor occasional trip to the bookies would have been seen as atypical for the scene. It was at age 30 he believes he lost control.

After a planned season in Australia turned into three, banging in goals for Bentleigh Greens and living beach-side with his brother Mark, he'd scored 26 goals for Armagh as they sought promotion in the 2003-04 season, firing the side into a promotion/relegation play-off. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, it would take a miracle to come back at Solitude. Instead, the day was to prove the beginning of a long nightmare.

"I've watched the incident a few times since," Feehan says. "The ball came over the top and it was between me and (Cliftonville goalkeeper) Paul Straney - God rest Paul's soul for he's no longer with us.

"I knocked it over his head with my right foot with my left foot planted on the ground. He'd come out of his goal and in the collision my leg just snapped, tib and fib both shattered.

"I looked down and my leg was wobbling around from the middle of the shin, swinging like your arm does from your elbow. I must have gone into shock because I was trying to pull the foot round and back into place.

"I was near sick looking at it, the players that came over, you could see them looking down and having to turn away. Over in the Royal Hospital I knew it was going to be pretty much it for me."

Out of football and, having worked as a self-employed painter, out of a job, long and lonely days stretched ahead. To fill the void, he'd drink more and more, bet bigger and bigger.

"I'd always taken a drink, went out with the boys at the weekend after a match, but I'd had no major issues," he says. "And the gambling, I'd never gambled in my life until I was 19, and even then it was all small money for a long time.

"But that leg break was the turning point for me, things started to spiral out of control. I was sitting about the house with nothing to do and then I'd find myself in the pub. I'd be getting low, depressed, and if my head wasn't right, I'd do anything to suppress it. Just anything to give me a buzz, some escapism, an anaesthetic.

"At the start, gambling was just something that I did when I didn't want to drink, but when you're trying to find that something, the bets get bigger and bigger and, once you go bigger, you're not going lower.

"By that next year, the year of that Champions League bet, it could be two, three, four thousand a go. There'd be times I walked into the bookies with 10 or 12 thousand pounds and I'd walk out without the 80p to get my car out of the car park.

"It's disrespecting yourself, de-humanising yourself. That realisation - 'I've spent X amount of pounds' - it's not the money that you've lost, it's how it makes you feel. It degraded me and took me to a place that I never want to go again.

"They reckon an addict has a negative impact on 11 people in their wider circle. I was married, and I loved my ex-wife and I'll always love my son to bits.

"It's never that you go out to harm anyone but you're not just harming yourself, you're hurting everyone around you. You're not paying the bills, you're saying things that you normally wouldn't say, doing things that you wouldn't normally do... if I could turn back time, of course I would. But you can't, can you?"

To sate his addiction, Feehan resorted to drastic measures. He'd bet using credit cards, borrow huge sums from then compliant banks and, as the debts began to pile up, ultimately re-mortgage his house.

As technology advanced, he didn't even have to leave the sofa. Waking in the middle of the night, there was no wait for betting shops to open or the day's sport to start, his mobile phone opening up the possibility of getting his fix 24/7 from American racing or NBA basketball.

In a way you never could with drink or drugs, he could mask the severity of his struggles, placing bets online worth thousands of pounds so quickly that an onlooker would assume he was only sending a text message or reading an email.

The global financial crisis was to prove a reckoning. Banks that had once barely questioned what the thousands were for would suddenly not be so amenable. Having blown through upwards of 500,000 when property is taken into account, there was nowhere left to turn. His house was repossessed, his marriage ended and bankruptcy was declared all in quick succession. At his lowest ebb, his mind turned to suicide and, now desperate, he checked into the Cuan Mhuire rehab centre in Newry.

"My head went," he says. "I'd tried to hold it all together for five or six years but by that stage the head was gone. I was trying to be strong but I couldn't. It all fell apart, it was a breakdown.

"You learn a lot about yourself in rehab. It's hard, it's work, it's work every day and it still is.

"I still suffer from depression, and addiction will always be with me, but I think it's only now that I've got the mechanisms to deal with it.

"I might be alright all day and then some small thing happens and you don't snap, but it fires your head away off in some wrong direction.

"Life is like a sea; it can be calm, there can be waves and there can be storms. Like my father was rushed to hospital with a heart complaint. My father, my best mate... these are the things that are fired at you through your life and it's all how you cope.

"It used to be with drinking, or gambling, now I know when I feel those waves starting that I have to get the defences up."

For the first time in a long time, part of those defences are provided by football.

While he'd never reach the same level as before the leg break, Feehan had attempted comebacks before only to find little or no joy in the game.

But when fellow former Irish League player Brian Adair got in touch during lockdown to ask if he'd be interested in getting the boots on again for FC Mindwell, the revelation of the team's ethos convinced him to have one last crack.

Set to make their competitive bow in the third tier of the Mid-Ulster League next weekend, the team have been brought together in a matter of months with the goal of helping those suffering through mental health issues.

With Northern Ireland hero Keith Gillespie among the ranks, as well as a host of former Irish League talent, there is plenty of optimism surrounding the squad's playing prospects but, for Feehan, of far greater importance has been just how it feels to be enjoying something he loves.

"Playing before, I was getting nothing from it," he says. "Younger players today are a different breed. I'm not saying that my generation are dinosaurs but it's all different. Then this came along and it suited me perfectly. It's a great bunch of guys and they might have gone through some things, but there's no judgment, no judgment for what you might have done before.

"I've gotten a lot from AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) but there's a different buzz to this. It's amazing how football can bring people together off the field. The WhatsApp chats and things, after two weeks, I could feel my spirits had been lifted. I'm 46 now so I know I'll obviously not play every week, but I'm going to give it everything I can and it's started well.

"The first friendly, I was injured, just a calf niggle, but at the end of the game, I was proud. I've played at Wembley, White Hart Lane, Old Trafford but, I'll tell you what, see that weekend, I was prouder of being involved in that than anything else I did in football."

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'It's de-humanising yourself': Ex-Tottenham prospect Ciaran Feehan discusses gambling addiction, anxiety and depression - Belfast Telegraph

LINKS Demand Marketing Trailblazes The Bi-lingual On-demand Marketing Experience – Yahoo Finance

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MIAMI, Aug. 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --LINKS Demand Marketing formally introduces a new business model that will allow companies of any size to access on-demand marketing and public relations services virtually 24/7. Headquartered in Miami, LINKS' methodology and specialized network will serve a global clientele to reach markets as the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Argentina, Brazil and Pan-Europe.

Arising from a need for versatility in times of volatility, LINKS Demand Marketing seeks to consolidate traditional and evolving marketing practices. The agency's online portal will enable users to request services on project-based needs and without the long-term commitment of retainer fees, allowing clients more control and justified marketing investments.

The traditional agency model is outdated, which has kept small businesses from competing or generating awareness for their product. We help users develop their ideas, concepts and/or help them create a product that's ready to market. More importantly, LINKS gets them to the 'promote' stage of business, which is a client's main goal," stated CEO & Managing Partner Edward De Valle.

A tech-oriented marketing firm, LINKS's structure is designed to make starting a project a seamless process. Whether in doubt or with a defined project in mind, users can access the platform to schedule a call with an account manager or simply select the services needed, choose to bid or quote, specify delivery time, provide details and upload related files. Once received, LINKS' professional marketers will execute under the agreed parameters.

The agency's capabilities will encompass every step of brand development, from concept to market. Services will range from brand identity and campaign development to public relations, event coordination, content creation, digital marketing, video production, presentation and web design.

Led by Edward De Valle, Owner of Grupo De Valle, LINKS Demand Marketing's team is represented by bilingual and diverse professionals and creators. With over two decades of experience in the traditional marketing and public relations sectors, Mr. De Valle, FORBES Latin America and the Caribbean former license holder, introduces a revolutionary business strategy in an ever-changing industry.

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ABOUT:LINKS Demand Marketing is a US-based agency led by a team of multicultural minds with dynamic, creative everyday marketing solutions. LINKS' on-demand business model empowers clients to set ideas in motion while our hub-and-spoke methodology creates opportunities to move beyond borders.

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LINKS Demand Marketing Trailblazes The Bi-lingual On-demand Marketing Experience - Yahoo Finance

Ease anxiety with the sounds of bees – Los Angeles Times

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By Mary Forgione

Design and illustrations by Micah Fluellen

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Your newest neighbors are the type that would happily eat dinner in your backyard without inviting you. Take no offense.

These Southern Californians, with feathers and tails, have been learning new habits and adapting to city life over the last few decades. In a new study, a team of researchers at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and UCLA found more than 50 wild bird species now nest and thrive in some of our most built-up areas. They call them urban success stories.

The more species that persist and thrive in ... these human areas, the better off biodiversity and wildlife will be, said Allison Shultz, one of the studys co-authors and assistant curator of ornithology at the museum.

Case in point: the Coopers hawk, a large, sturdy, blue-gray raptor that feeds mainly on other birds. The now common urbanite was absent from L.A. neighborhoods in the 1980s. Goldfinches, woodpeckers, orioles, juncos, kingbirds and three types of hummingbirds now live here too, offering a connection to nature that can begin outside your door. (Heres a guide on how to start birding.)

When you see one or two, snap a photo. Thats how researchers discovered which birds have moved in. The study used two different L.A. data sets created by citizen scientists from different time periods. Anyone can upload their wild finds and add to our understanding of the city as habitat. Two popular places to start: iNaturalist, run by the Natural History Museum, and ebird.

Sturtevant Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains.

(Kelcie Pegher / Los Angeles Times; illustration by Micah Fluellen / Los Angeles Times)

1. Spend a night at a hike-in camp in the San Gabriel Mountains. Sturtevant Camp has been part of the mountains north of Sierra Madre since 1893. The only way to get there is on foot. The only way to get your gear there (unless you want to carry it) is by loading it onto L.A. Countys last remaining mule train, which charges $1 a pound. Cabin prices are $90 to $320 a night.

Kelcie Pegher, L.A. Times editor for off-platform engagement, wasnt big on camping. The four-mile hike up the canyon was hard, with stream crossings and some steep stretches. Still, she found the camp to be an ideal pandemic hideaway. In a time period of deep uncertainty, where renting an Airbnb or going to a hotel room feels unsafe, a cabin in the woods was enough, she wrote. Read about her journey here.

Star-gazers watch shooting stars above Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

2. Look for shooting stars during the Perseid meteor showers. Stargazers love the Perseids in mid-August because theyre fast and bright. You may get lucky and see fireballs, which NASA describes as larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. For best viewing, find a dark spot away from city lights and look for streaks of light across the sky. The meteor showers are peaking now and should be visible for the next week. The catch: Theyre best seen between midnight and dawn, so set your clock or pull an all-nighter.

3. Kayak in a salt marsh in Newport Beach. Social distancing and gliding on the water what more can you ask for? The Newport Aquatic Center rents kayaks for those who want to paddle around the Upper Newport Back Bay, a salt marsh where youll find herons, egrets and other shore birds. Usually, the Newport Bay Conservancy leads guided kayak tours on weekends, but those are on hold because of the coronavirus. Still, you can explore on your own. Rentals from $15 an hour. Info: bit.ly/newportbackbay

Elyse Walker at Mt. Washington on the Appalachian Trail

(Courtesy of Elyse Walker)

In my never mind how many decades as a journalist, Ive always valued what readers share with me. Laura Galvan sent an email to remind me that "[w]hen it comes to hiking and outdoor pursuits, please bring in women and BIPOC folks into your newsletter.

She had specific athletes in mind, such as Liz Snorkel Thomas, former speed holder for the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail and author of a book about long-distance backpacking adventures called Long Trails, which won a 2017 National Outdoor Book Award. Thomas also completed the Triple Crown of thru-hikes, which includes the Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles), the Pacific Crest Trail (2,650 miles) and the Continental Divide Trail (3,100 miles).

Others who went the distance include Elyse Chardonnay Walker, the first African American woman to hike the Triple Crown, and Will Akuna Robinson, a military veteran, the first African American man to notch all three trails.

Please bring some fresh voices to the table so that everyone can get inspired to get outdoors, Galvan wrote. Well, Laura, you just helped do that. Thank you.

I recently tired of eating the same old bars on the hiking trail. Instead, I loaded my backpack with chips, popcorn and pork rinds and it was heavenly. OK, the snacks werent exactly the bad stuff. I was sent some de-junked junk food items to try out, all made from plant-based ingredients that are vegan and gluten-free. For example, Pigless Pork Rinds (you heard right) are made with pea protein and spices instead of pork. I liked the crunchy spiciness of the Original and Texas BBQ flavors. Forager Project makes worthy chips from brown rice, kale, spinach and other ingredients all to keep the guilt factor low. The most addictive snack? I call it dessert popcorn. Safe + Fairs kettle corn is coated with sweetness in flavors such as Key Lime Pie, Birthday Cake and Dark Chocolatey. Warning: Dont open a bag at home; therell be nothing left to put in your pack. Info: Pigless Pork Rinds, outstandingfoods.com; Forager Project, foragerproject.com; and Drizzled Popcorn, safeandfair.com.

(Micah Fluellen / Los Angeles Times)

Mo Jackson of Portland, Ore., loves camping and wanted to share that passion with other people of color. Jackson got started with a few call-outs on Instagram in May for anyone who needed gear. By August, about 600 kits called BIPOC Camping Kits, with a tent, two sleeping bags and a cooler had been shipped to people around the country. Jackson connected with some virtually to show them how to pitch a tent. One recipient said camping provided a re-centering in the midst of social and political chaos. Its a moment to catch your breath. Read the full story here.

What do you think? Keep the comments coming. Share anything thats on your mind. The Wild is written for you and delivered to your inbox for free. Drop us a line at TheWild@latimes.com.

Click here to view the web version of this newsletter and share with others. Im Mary Forgione and I write The Wild. Ive been exploring trails and open spaces in Southern California for four decades.

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Ease anxiety with the sounds of bees - Los Angeles Times

The Walking Dead Onslaught Will Be Forward Compatible With PS5 For PSVR – UploadVR

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Yesterday, Survios announced the long-anticipated release date for The Walking Dead Onslaught. The zombie survival game touches down on September 29 on PC and PS4 with support for VR headsets. But youll also be able to play the game on the upcoming PS5.

In a press release announcing the release date, Suvios noted that The Walking Dead Onslaughts PlayStation 4 version will also be compatible with the next-gen PlayStation 5.

To our mind, that makes Onslaught the first PSVR game to be confirmed as backward compatible on PS5. Note that this wording makes it clear that were not talking about a native version of the game on PS5, but instead the PS4 version running on the console.

Why is that news? Well, simply put, we dont know how far backward compatibility on PS5 will extend. Sony initially suggested that most of the PS4s most-played games would work on the console, before later specifying that the vast majority of the older consoles entire library would run on the device. Onslaught seems to be the first PSVR game we can count among them.

Last week Sony also confirmed that all your existing PSVR peripherals will work with PS5 to play PS4 games. The PlayStation Camera will need a special adapter to work (which Sony says it will ship out for free), but the DualShock 4, Move controllers and Aim controller can all still be used.

Wide-ranging backward compatibility support will be crucial for PSVR on PS5, but were also wondering if new PS5 games will support the headset. Last week IO Interactive announced that Hitman 3 would support PSVR, but is yet to clarify if thats on PS4, PS5 or both. Well be keeping a close eye on the situation as we lead up to PS5s holiday 2020 launch. Onslaught, meanwhile, is available to pre-order on Steam and Oculus now, with PSVR pre-orders coming soon.

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The Walking Dead Onslaught Will Be Forward Compatible With PS5 For PSVR - UploadVR

As Film Festivals Go Online, a Competitive New Business Takes Shape to Support Them – IndieWire

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As the pandemic forced shutdowns worldwide, no aspect of the film industry faced a more immediate existential threat than the festival circuit. While mainstays from Cannes to Telluride chose not to hold events at all, others did the once-unthinkable: They migrated online. Now, the race is on to provide digital services that support the unexpected era of the virtual film festival.

Enter Shift72, which counts Toronto, New York, and Sundance among its upcoming clients. The New Zealand-based company has provided secure press and industry screening platforms since 2008 and has now emerged as a leading company poised to tackle the challenge of creating online festivals. However, its hardly alone in an industry that has just gotten started and could be here for good.

In conversations with IndieWire, festival organizers discussed the frantic process of shopping for cost-effective platforms that could meet their needs on a tight schedule especially when the market is evolving in real time. There are new people coming online very day, from event platforms to OTT apps bubbling up, said SXSWs Jarod Neece, who facilitated the festivals relationship to Shift72. Its really hard to make decisions at this point because every month theres another solution we didnt know about.

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Many sites proclaim high-caliber privacy standards. However, with 12 years as an end-to-end online video platform, Shift72 is equipped to act fast. When Copenhagens documentary festival CPH: DOX was forced to cancel physical screenings for its mid-March festival, Shift72 created a front-end platform and uploaded more than 140 films in less than 24 hours. SXSW, which has used the platform to power its press and industry library for years, uploaded several films from its program to a press and industry platform that same month.

No matter which platform enables an online festival, it cant possibly replicate the experience of standing ovations, bidding wars, or after parties. However, they are essential for organizations eager to salvage sponsorships and deliver the programs they assembled for months. The demands are myriad: geo-blocking, privacy concerns, Zoom integration for Q&As. And even after physical festivals return, leaders say they intend to retain a robust virtual presence that can bring in new audiences. The post-pandemic festival scene will find the circuit redefining its relationship to audiences worldwide.

As more festivals recognized the looming pressure to cancel their physical editions, Shift72 found itself at the center of a booming business. The company has launched more than 100 virtual festivals since March, and signed several others. Its founders, distribution and marketing veteran David White and Whale Rider producer John Barnett, recently reported a 400 percent growth in business.

We were really well positioned for this, because weve been primarily focused on building out a very strong transactional VOD solution, White said in an interview. Weve been doing a lot of work with cinemas around reporting and all the nuances of transactional for 10 years. We had a platform we could rapidly deploy. The companys name references Buffalo, New Yorks 72-seat Vitascope Theatre, which Thomas Edison opened in 1896.

Festivals are realizing they can become year-round events, he said. Pre-COVID, they were strong, curated brands that brought new content into the market that might not otherwise make it there. But after a couple of weeks, theyre gone and you have to wait another year. Were really excited about supporting their move into year-round entertainment brands.

Many other companies, previously invested in other aspects of the festival relations business, are making steady progress in this emerging field.The five-year-old Cinesend first developed its relationship with festivals as a reliable source for DRM technology, which was used to replace the need for the physical shipping of festival submissions and awards screeners alike.

We were in a very good position to pivot quickly to meet a virtual festival solution, said Cinesend vice president Eric Rosset. Patrons have been really happy. Festivals are tapping into a new type of audience that might not go to a cinema but are interested in this type of movie experience. Were seeing a lot of hybrid models.

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Cinesends first pandemic-era client was the Cleveland International Film Festival, which went virtual in April. Since then, it has signed over 100 festivals, largely regional entities drawn to the user-friendly display setup. One of its biggest clients is Torontos Hot Docs, which used the service for its festival, an industry-only event, and year-round online programming. Upcoming clients include the Hamptons and Mill Valley festivals.

Over the summer,the Nantucket Film Festival settled on Cinesend based on the layout it could provide. We had to look at the most turnkey option for our audience, which is on the older side, said artistic director Basil Tsiokos. We didnt want to throw a lot of complicated technical things. Its supposed to be a light summer festival, not a chore. It was like creating a Netflix landing page for us, which was pretty easy overall for our audience to navigate.

The audience was fairly similar to the one that turns out for Nantucket each year. Our engagement was still pretty much from our loyal base, Tsikokos said. We would do it differently if we went online next year, with more options to allow more people. Were the numbers what they wouldve been with a live festival? No, but we were happy that people were engaging with the films.

However, no service may have closer ties to the needs of the festival galaxy than Eventive. Memphis-based filmmaker Iddo Patt, a board member of the Indie Memphis Film Festival, started the service five years ago with his teenage son Theo to improve its festival ticketing. Streamlining the process of buying passes and browsing the festival schedule attracted other festivals as clients. By the start of 2020, Eventive signed more than 250 festivals; since March, theyve added about 10 festivals per week. Its been a really intense period, Iddo Patt said. For me, its all about accessibility and being able to connect people and audiences with films.

Its also one of the most cost-effective options, with a $975 activation fee that enables any festival to upload 10 features. More films, and the cost climbs. Bigger entities that want more advanced layouts, apps, and customer service may be more inclined to shell out for Shift72, where costs can range from $4,000 to over $100,000, depending on client needs. But Eventive, which has a 10-person staff out of Memphis, may be ideal for festivals that want someone whos very familiar with the festival experience.

Were looking at ourselves as a technology company thats creating delightful independent film experiences, Patt said. Denver Film Society director of marketing and partnerships Kevin Smith said his organization went with Eventive because the company understood the festivals needs without running the show. The upfront costs were minimal, and we knew we had the right staff internally to help customize the system, Smith said.

The virtual festival concept is still gaining traction. Some sales agents are wary of making films online for any open-ended period; distributors express concerns that an online premiere can impinge on VOD returns. They also know that the industry continues to evolve.

This has fundamentally changed how we do business, said Cinetic sales rep Jason Ishikawa. However, we cant just go to the festival and assume on certain buyers just showing up to the screening on the basis of the sheer presence of the movie. We do a lot of that work on the sales side to clear out a lane. Now we have to go to every buyer and come up with a sales strategy to screen it for them.

Meanwhile, programmers are wary of asking audiences to tune into streams at a specific time, and the platforms have helped them push back on distributors preferences for narrow windows. We have to keep in mind that how we view in the home is not the same as being at the screening, White said. People want to be able to pause. If we take too many of those elements away, there will be backlash from usability perspective.

Platforms are also learning about the range of security and geographical demands. Apple requires a different forensic watermark than Neon, while TIFF has been engaged in negotiations to make its film premieres available in Ontario even as an international group of press and industry attendees access most of the program online. There is also the challenge of virtual crowds and the need to limit attendance. In a traditional streaming environment, youd never want to limit the number of people who watch a film, said Shift72 marketing manager Mathew Joubert.

While its one thing to marvel at a crowded room or cringe at a half-empty house, virtual festival platforms allow their clients to see much more complex data, including how long someone watched a film before turning it off. It brings a whole new anxiety to the idea of the walkout, but also it lets festivals track their most engaged audiences. I think its a big opportunity to bring loyalty into the festival space. How do you reward that in the home? White said. A lot of people think itll dilute the market but it actually improves both sides, the physical and the digital.

No major festival is seeking exclusively online solutions, but White said Shift72 has already been meeting with many of the major festivals about 2021 strategies. Ive been really impressed with how nimble and prepared to adapt these large organizations are, he said. Theyve done a great job of embracing this. The feedback was it was always on their radar to have a digital component to their festivals.

For now, their clients just want to get the films out there. This year round itll be a nice streaming experience, White said. Itll be exciting to see where they take it next year. Asked about the other players in the field, he demurred. Weve been too busy to look at the competition, he said. Well look back in a couple of months.

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As Film Festivals Go Online, a Competitive New Business Takes Shape to Support Them - IndieWire

DLive add new emote feature – here’s how to use it – Dexerto

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Livestreaming platform DLive has officially added emotes to their platform, with affiliates and partners now able to give their loyal fans even more options to enhance their viewing and chatting experience.

The feature is now available across all platforms, with DLive revealing who exactly can create emotes and how many they can have in their stream.

DLive did already have stickers, and one sticker can be sent as a message, but the new emote feature will allow viewers to better communicate with their favorite streamers in text chat.

Affiliates, Verified Partners and Global Partners now have the option to upload their very own channel emotes which can be used by their subscribers in any channel on DLive.

Follow these simple steps to use emotes on DLive right now:

Its worth noting, too, that each different channel will have a different number of emotes, as well as emotes that theyve made completely unique to them.

Heres how many emotes streamers can have, based on their status on the platform:

Now, if youre a streamer looking to create emotes on DLive, the process is really simple, but bear in mind youll be limited by your partnership status, as laid out above.

Heres what youve got to do to add emotes to your stream once you achieve affiliate:

So, whether youre a streamer or a viewer, DLives new emotes are a great way to interact in the broadcast and theyre available, at your disposal, right now.

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DLive add new emote feature - here's how to use it - Dexerto

The role of remote monitoring post-lockdown – Med-Tech Innovation

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Lucy Mackillop, chief medical officer, Sensyne Health, discusses the key challenges in implementing remote patient monitoring technologies, and their role in helping to continue to look after the most vulnerable.

The pandemic has led to huge spikes in digital technology adoption as doctors and patients have complied with social distancing guidelines. In fact, according to the Royal College of General Practitioners, 71% of routine consultations were remote in the four weeks leading up to April 12th, compared to 25% in the same period last year. This is a tremendous shift.

COVID-19 has sharpened the mind. We all understood the need for social distancing and minimising footfall to our GP surgeries and hospitals as lockdown came into effect in March, in order to manage infection rates effectively and ensure healthcare systems were not overwhelmed. Having the technological capability to offer remote consultations, where appropriate, is beneficial for general practice, the wider NHS and patients alike. However, although adopting a remote monitoring system to complement usual care may improve user satisfaction and potentially have some benefits on outcome, it doesnt necessarily reduce demand on the healthcare system in fact, often, quite the reverse.

As we move into phase three of controlling the virus and start easing lockdown measures across the country, we need to learn how to continue to support our healthcare system moving forward to manage an ever-increasing demand.

There is a real imperative for remote patient monitoring (RPM) and management to support patients and help healthcare systems become more efficient. RPM has allowed us to take more control of our own health whilst reducing footfall to our healthcare facilities, allowing resources to be focused on where it is needed most. As demand for healthcare continues to grow, RPM can, when implemented intelligently, play a key role in assisting healthcare staff manage increasing demand without over-stretching already strained clinic and staff resources.

Key challenges of RPM adoption

While were well aware of the benefits of RPM, the implementation of these technologies does not come without its challenges.

Firstly, a thorough understanding of how a remote patient monitoring system is anticipated to support, for example, earlier interventions or improve operational efficiency, are essential to any implementation. And indeed, the anticipated benefits need to be clearly identified and measured before and after implementation.

Secondly, prior to the pandemic, Deloittes Shaping the future of UK healthcare: Closing the digital gap report found that many digital health innovations failed as clinicians were reluctant to engage with them. Key reasons included the amount of change required to familiar processes, the time taken to implement, and a lack of education and training. Therefore, it is imperative that a proper change management process is followed. This is preferable, and likely to be much more impactful, than the lazy alternative of adding the technology to existing care-pathways.

Third, but of equal importance, is ease-of-use. New technologies must be simple and intuitive for both clinicians and patients if they are to bridge, rather than reinforce, the digital divide.

Finally, digital health technology providers need to understand the regulatory and technical environment the technology will inhabit. It is very likely that the technology may be deployed in hardware that is not high spec; therefore, what is developed in a high-tech company might not work seamlessly in an NHS hospital with older, less powerful infrastructure.

The role of RPM in easing lockdown

As strict lockdown measures were introduced in March 2020, the government, Public Health England and the NHS, encouraged those with milder COVID-19 symptoms to use applications to help self-manage their health and help manage the strain on local healthcare services. This allowed clinicians to focus more time on the patients that need emergency care. The result was a tremendous rise in deployment and use of digital health technologies in just days and weeks instead of months and years.

RPM also has the power to improve access to healthcare services for vulnerable groups advised to shield during the COVID pandemic. For example, Sensynes GDm-Health digital therapeutic app helps pregnant women and their care teams proactively monitor and manage diabetes remotely. The risks to mother and child associated with this condition are significant if not treated, and include an increased rate of caesarean section, pre-eclampsia and premature birth. Clinicians use the system to remotely monitor blood glucose levels, and prioritise care to women needing it most. Mums-to-be upload their blood glucose readings from home, and communicate with their care teams through the app. The need for face-to-face appointments is reduced, administrative time is saved, and quality of care is improved. GDm-Health is an exemplar of how RPM can enhance the existing care pathway, improve operational efficiency and help deliver better outcomes for patients.

Despite lockdown measures easing, the threat from COVID-19 is far from over and its important that we continue to look after vulnerable patient groups. RPM can help us achieve this, by giving providers the option to deliver care to patients in their homes, reducing the risk of infection spread and freeing up capacity for those who need it the most. It may even allow some patients to be discharged earlier because follow-up care can be delivered remotely. If a patient's condition deteriorates, RPM software can alert clinicians in real-time, enabling them to take the appropriate course of action quicker than might otherwise be the case.

Equipping scientists with data for drug discovery

The fundamental role of RPM is to improve the quality of data and information flow to deliver timely, effective and safe care. Data from RPM applications can be uploaded to Electronic Patient Records (EPR), which can be used to provide a complete medical history and real-time information resource. Furthermore, this data can be anonymised, aggregated and used to analyse patterns within a disease and inform clinical research aimed at drug discovery and disease prevention. Gaining insights from anonymised patient data may, for example, allow for faster vaccine development and new treatments, not just for COVID-19, but also for other diseases.

As we continue to fight coronavirus, we must recognise the great potential of technology to help us. It is important that RPM solutions are implemented swiftly but with a clear pathway to deliver operational efficiency and improved clinical care in a tightly controlled ethical, information governance and regulatory framework. The hope is that by doing so, healthcare providers can manage future peaks, continue to improve health outcomes, free up time for clinicians to treat more patients and drive scientific research into disease prevention and treatment.

COVID-19 may have provided the motivation for both patients and clinicians to embrace new technologies - something that was difficult to achieve before and this change is likely to be a common feature of routine clinical practice going forward. Demand on our healthcare systems will continue to rise, yet this demand can be better managed with technology that is aimed at earlier detection and intervention, preventing more costly treatments and providing the catalyst for transformative change in medical practice, helping to move from reactive to preventative models of care.

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The role of remote monitoring post-lockdown - Med-Tech Innovation