Bokor Hill Station – Cambodia’s Abandoned Town

The history of Cambodia in the twentieth century is one of almost continual struggle and conflict. One place which encapsulates the traumatic events which the country persevered is the Bokor Hill Station. This eerie ghost town has been abandoned not once, but twice in its history.

Image Credit Flickr User Atilla.szantner

Image Credit Flickr User An Agent

Even its birth was savage. Designed as a resort for the French colonists of the early twentieth century, the construction of Bokor Hill Station was complete by 1925. Built by indentured Cambodian laborers it took nine months to build. Almost a thousand men perished during that time.

Using Structure to Plan a Story for GCSE English

How many times have you had a student, pen in hand, poised over a blank and unspoiled piece of paper, look up at you and plaintively say “I don’t know where to start!”? Me too.

It’s not that they don’t have the words – they plainly do as otherwise you wouldn’t spend half the lesson telling (commanding, imploring, encouraging – the verb is interchangeable) half the class to be quiet.

Joking aside, it isn’t about a lack of language or vocabulary (or writer’s block as some of them insist!)  – it’s about structure.  They are thinking too much about content and not enough about organisation.

Jeremy Bentham once said: “Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet”.  We must forgive the very gender-specific language used by this pre-eminent eighteenth-century British philosopher and social reformer – but he wasn’t wrong.  In the case of GCSE English, language is “the stars” and structure “the flowers”.

Before you close the tab with a tut and move on, let me explain a little further.  Language is – or at least seems to me – hugely over-represented in GCSE English.  There’s a veritable tsunami of language for students to get to grips with – whether it’s in the twenty marks specifically targeted at the way that writers use language over the two papers – or the texts that must be read and understood to respond to Section A questions - not to mention the texts that students must themselves write for the final question of each paper.

Krampus – Santa Claus’ Secret Weapon

Image Credit Flickr User Tanya.Guettersberger

The song lyrics have never been truer.  Oh You better watch out,  You better not cry,  You better not pout, I'm telling you why.  Yet it isn’t Santa Claus that you have to watch out for – it is his sinister sidekick – Krampus. He has a whip – and he is going to use it.

Image Credit Flickr User gholzer

What on earth has this creature of the night – more orc than elf – to do with Christmas?  If you have children you may well be aware of the mantra – if you don’t behave then Father Christmas won’t bring you anything.  The idea behind Krampus is similar – only the threat is not that Santa won’t bring them anything but that Krampus will whip them in to the New Year.

Tis the Season

Have you ever wondered what Santa does with his time off? What about the reindeer, the presents and the Christmas trees? Not spared a second thought?

Well, perhaps it’s time for you to look in to the secret lives of these yuletide characters, take a peek through the proverbial keyhole as it were.  This marvelously silly animation comes courtesy of Jens and Anna of Animate Me.

How Did Music Begin?

If you have a child who has asked this question then you know that, on first appearance, it sounds quite straightforward.  However, the answer is a little more convoluted than you might expect.

Instead of boring said child with your own answer, why not sit the little cherub down in front of this wonderful animation.  It manages to take in around ten thousand years of musical history in a little over three minutes and should answer the first question rather well - although it may provoke even more.

This short animation was part of the Science Club series on the UK TV channel BBC2 hosted by Dara O Briain.  It was created by Asa Lucander.

The Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis

In 1621 the French scientist Pierre Gassendi (left) decided to name the strange natural displays of light he had observed in the sky. He took the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora and combined it with the Greek name for the north wind, Boreas.

The world had a name, finally, for these mysterious light shows – aurora borealis.

Image Credit Flickr User Omar Smith

For those who find Latin/Greek combination names something of a mouthful there is still the alternative name – the Northern Lights. The closer you are to the North Magnetic Pole the more likely you are to see the lights. Many confuse the magnetic pole with the geographic North Pole but they are not the same thing at all.

Epoch

A pair of demigods, Luna and Ram, alters the course of mankind through the selfish acts and desires of their timeless love affair. Directed by John Robson and starring Denise Xavier and Nick Denbeigh, Epoch is grandiose, epic and breath-takingly shot as it follows the trail of devastation left by the pair. Yet if not for our eyes, our hands, our dreams and our suffering they would cease to exist…

The Bizarre Hammerhead Worm

Have you eaten recently? If so, then perhaps it’s not a wise idea to visit the Ark in Space today which has a feature on the bizarre hammerhead worm. It is an extraordinary predator which preys on mostly earthworms but the way that it attacks and feeds is, well, potentially quite disturbing if you are a gentle soul. For those of you brave enough to screw your courage to the sticking place (as Lady Macbeth said) then go take a look at this most bizarre of creatures. But expect carnage.

Image Credit Wikimedia

Beerbug

Old Joe runs a struggling gas station and so he feels well within his rights to sink a few beers once the sun sets. Yet one evening his favorite beverage seems to be going down a little too quickly and he soon determines to grab his gun and hunt down the culprit. Yet when worlds collide there is, sometimes a solution as is shown in this very funny animated short written and directed by Ander Mendia and produced by Katue Studio.

The Phantom Inventory

A bailiff visits the apartment of an old man who collects memories that people do not want.  As he takes his inventory of objects to be seized he discovers a giant attic which contains more than he had bargained for. 

If you love a good ghost story then I don’t think you will be disappointed by this  wonderfully done animated short by Franck Dion.

Liverpool fans named the “sexiest” supporters in the Premier League

There is no doubt that football is a global sport loved by many people from all walks of life. Consequently, the English Premier League is one of the most popular football leagues globally. Football clubs from England have the largest fan base in the world.

Football teams such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal have hot football fans worldwide wearing their jerseys and supporting them whenever they are playing. However, it is hard to determine which football team has the most fans. Liverpool is one of the most popular teams on https://www.mightytips.com/bookmakers/portugal-betting-sites/ and was recently voted the team with the hottest football fans in the Premier League. Many funs bet to their favorite team and win.

The survey organizers asked fans to vote which football club has the hottest fans among the teams in the premier league. Liverpool football club came out on top after receiving 26% of the vote ahead of Chelsea with 20%. Manchester United and Arsenal, with 18 and 17%, completed the top four positions for the league's best-looking fans, respectively. However, the survey indicated that Southampton received one percent of the total vote.

So the South Coast club has the least attractive fans in the league. Football teams such as West Ham United, Wolves, Watford, and Norwich completed the bottom five.

Famous fans of Clubs in the Premier league

The Premier League top football clubs have their fair share of famous fans and celebrities that support them. However, the lesser-known clubs also have prominent supporters, including politicians. Here are some famous fans of football clubs:

●        Daniel Craig

007, aka James Bond, is a dedicated Liverpool supporter. He has attended many games at Anfield over the years. Craig has supported the "reds" since he was young. His love for Liverpool has generated controversy in recent times. Some people state that it is wrong for him to be affiliated with any club because of his role as “James Bond” since the character belongs to the whole of England.

 

●        Idris Elba

The famous London-born actor is an Arsenal fan. He has watched the Gunners many times. He complained about the club’s failure to win significant trophies in recent times.

 

●        Kelvin Costner

Costner became an Arsenal fan when he filmed the movie “Robin Hood” in England two decades ago and became enamored with England's football style and fan culture.

 

●        Samuel L. Jackson

The celebrated Hollywood star fell in love with Liverpool when he shot the movie “51^st state “ in the city, watching a game in Anfield. He has not stopped supporting the team since then.

 

●        Tom Hanks

The famous “forest Gump” and "Saving Private Ryan" actor is a big fan of football. Hanks support Aston Villa – not what you expect, right? He has been seen with the club jersey on many occasions.

 

●        Tim Lovejoy

The former soccer AM presenter is a lifelong celebrity Chelsea fan, and he can often be seen at Stamford Bridge.

 

●        Usain Bolt

The Jamaican athlete and Olympics gold medalist is a die-hard Manchester United fan. He attends games at old Trafford regularly and is seen with the club’s Jersey on many occasions. Bolt wanted to play for the club after retiring from athletics a few years ago.

Other famous names, including Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna, have pledged their support to various English Premier League clubs. Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are rumored to support West Ham United and Chelsea respectively.

Best football fans in the world

The answer to the best football fans in the world is complicated. But, it is a question every football fan will like to know. Although there is no definite answer, Real Madrid and Manchester United are broadly accepted as the football clubs with the largest supporters in the world.

While it’s hard to determine exactly how many fans do Liverpool have, their supporters are among the most committed fans globally. Fans of both clubs are committed to creating a cauldron of noise at home games.

Consequently, other football fans make their home matches as enjoyable as possible and find ways to boost the atmosphere at stadiums. So the exact answer to the question is subjective.

Celebrities married to footballers

These celebrities found love on the soccer field. Some are married, some are engaged. But all of them are known for their achievements. Below is the list of couples that made a list:

●        David and Victoria Beckham

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, PSG, and AC Milan players got married to the fashion designer, model, and singer in 1999. Victoria Beckham rose to fame with her girl pop group, the Spice Girls, and was called Posh Spice.

 

The couple has four children together.

 

●        Gerard Pique and Shakira

Pique is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. He is in a committed relationship with Columbian singer, songwriter, dancer Shakira. The couple began dating in 2011 and had their first child two years later. Their second son came in 2015.

Many people around the world watch football daily. Most of these people support clubs in the English Premier League. You can learn more about celebrities and the club they support here.

The Rise of the Eagle Twins

Many people would like to start up a business over the internet yet many struggle to find the right product to market.  The Gradinar twins, Andrei and Igor, didn’t have to worry – they already knew the name of their “product” from the outset – themselves!  An interest in sports and fitness led the brothers, originally from Moldova, to develop an online presence which has proven a great success.

As well as containing some fantastic fitness advice, their videos and pictures show a great sense of humour that shows a lighter side to their personalities – not to mention a savvy understanding of the kind of content that goes down well on the internet.  As well as YouTube, they have online presences on TikTok and Instagram.

Their slickly designed Russian language website is called the Eagle Twins – which is a great name for a pair of young men who are set to fly high!  As well as appealing to the Russian fitness market, the twins are just launching their English language version on YouTube.

The twins started at Lewisham College when they were 16, successfully completing the L2 Business course. Now 17, they have progressed on to the Level 3 Diploma in Business. We took a little time out to ask Andrei and Igor some questions about how they developed their online business.  It’s an interesting story about how something that started just for fun became a serious business.

How did you first decide to create an online presence? Did you plan it as a business from the start?

When we first decided to start making content online, of course we hoped that someday we would get paid, but honestly, we didn’t really believe it would happen. We were doing it just for fun.

What was your vision when you started? Is it different today?

We were just having fun when we started making content online, now we have a clear vision of becoming TOP fitness bloggers in the world. We’ve a Russian language channel on YouTube with 120k subscriber and recently we started filming in ENG (channel: “Igor Graf”)

Where did you start? Facebook? YouTube? Instagram?

We started filming on YouTube, then Instagram and TikTok.

How fast did things start to happen? Did it take a long time?

It took around 3-4 months to gain 1000 subscribers on YouTube. In the next 3 months we got 10k and from there, step by step we’ve gained 120k subscribers, but for us we hope that is only the beginning.

Is there anything you know now that you wish you had known when you started?

Nothing comes easy, you have to work hard to see any results. A crazy idea is the most important thing when it comes to getting views on any platform.

Do you ever feel like giving up? What do you do to get past that?

Sometimes. When we feel like that, we just try to remember why we started and what we will get if we don’t give up and work even harder.

What advice would you give anyone who wants to start an online business?

Always keep in mind things that stands you apart from others. Your rewards in life will always be in the exact proportion as your service.

Why are you studying business at Lewisham College? What do you plan to do next?

I am studying Business L3 year 1, because I want to know more about business and it also improves my English, because I’m from Moldova.

Lewisham College is, of course, very happy to place host to Andrei and Igor’s study.  The Head of Faculty for Business, Digital Skills and Performing Arts, Adu Antwi is proud of their achievements. “It’s wonderful to see two of our young students doing so well as online entrepreneurs,” he said. “I hope that Andrei and Igor will use their Level 3 Business course to develop their business even further.  I’m sure that we have a lot to learn from them as well!”

You can find out more about Andrei and Igor and their fitness journey on the social media channels below.

YouTube

Instagram 

Tiktok 

Official Website

Pictures by permission.

Shift

Ever wanted to do something different? When life becomes a routine, step out of the ordinary and follow your dreams. Shift follows a white-collar worker who escapes the confines of his working environment, exploring and dancing freely through the outside world.

Award winning Director Patrick Ryder and renowned creative director and choreographer Del Mak team up to create and direct this inspirational narrative based dance short film. Shift stars Renako McDonald famed for achieving runner's up position on Got To Dance, UK and Ireland's biggest reality TV talent dance show as contemporary couple act 'Alleviate'.

Caminandes: Two Very Funny Llama Dramas

Caminandes is about as hapless a llama as you are ever likely to meet.  Yet through adversity our Patagonian friend makes it through – often by the skin of his teeth.    Of course, in the spirit of classic animation, you have to root for the guy! The first episode is above but I do have to say that the new episode below is my favorite of the two! Both episodes are Open Movies produced by the Blender Institute in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Stingray

Struggling novelist Kurt endures a painful and unsuccessful pitch at the hands of a pair of publishers. He seeks refuge in his local aquatic design store only to receive ill-advice from the resident Stingray. Bemused but not swayed he attempts to connect with a nearby pretty young teacher.

This short black comedy stars Mat Horne (Gavin & Stacey), Andy Serkis (King Kong, Lord of the Rings), Dominic West (The Wire, 300), Lucy Punch (Hot Fuzz) and Kate Isitt (Coupling). It was directed by Neil Chordia and written by Charlie Gee.

Salina Turda: Romania’s Amazing Salt Mine turned Museum

The historic region of Transylvania has long been associated with vampires. Yet there is something in Transylvania which predates even the legends of blood-sucking fiends: salt mining has been going on in the area since Roman times.

Salina Turda is an ancient and wondrous example of a salt mine, now a museum and center for halotherapy - with a distinctively modern twist.

Image Credit Flickr User Christian Bortes

Yet as well as the preservation of historic mining facilities, Salina Turda holds some unexpected pleasures. It now looks as much like the lair of a James Bond villain as a salt mine – albeit a very playful Bond villain.

Out of Bounds

Paul 179 is a goldfish – the latest in a series owned by a young man with Aspergers.

He is determined to keep this latest fish alive but when the fish food runs out and its replacement is delivered to the wrong house he must venture out of doors.  This is a charming and unique little story by students at The Animation Workshop.

Some Tips on How to Find a Good Online Casino to Play in Canada

The first step of gambling online in Canada is choosing the best casino that will offer a smooth flawless experience. There are thousands of online casinos to choose from but a huge fraction is not worth your time. Some of them are only aimed at stealing your money while others offer very poor-quality services that can be regretful. Here are tips that will assist you to find a good online casino to play in Canada.

The online casino industry is a multibillion-dollar industry and everyone seems to want a piece of the cake. This is why these sites come with enticing offers such as casino free spins and other bonuses that attract new players. Even though they are so tempting, they should never make you forget the things that matter. Let us take a step-by-step approach to choose a good online casino.

Choose Only Eligible Casinos

This is the simplest consideration to make when choosing an online casino. These casinos usually have restrictions so you should select a casino that accepts Canadian players. Luckily, Canada is not one of the strict jurisdictions that illegalize online gambling. Therefore, you can find several top casinos that work there.

These casinos can go beyond just the eligibility by offering tailor-made products for the residents of your country. These could be in the form of bonuses. Also, while considering the eligibility, it is important to check the languages and currencies supported. A casino that supports English and/or French would be ideal for Canadian players.

If it supports the currency, it would save you from unnecessary conversion costs that will reduce your gambling cash. The payment methods should also be convenient for you. This basic step will assist you to filter several casinos on the web that are not suitable for you.

Create Your Specifications

Looking around for an online casino is the same as shopping for a phone, a car, or any other thing. Before you go looking for the best, you must first figure out exactly what you want. It is necessary to know your priority areas and refuse to compromise on them. The main factors to consider include the following:

• Game Variety & Software Providers;

• Customer Service;

• Mobile or Desktop;

• Licensing Info;

• Bonus Features;

Let us take a look at each of these factors in detail.

Take a Look at Game Variety

Online casinos offer an extensive variety of games, which range from slot machines, table games, video poker, and live dealer games. However, not all of them pay attention to each of these types. Slots usually dominate their portfolios so you will rarely have a problem in this sector unless you want specific slots from a specific software provider.

The problem is usually in the rest of the categories. The live dealer games currently offer the epitome of casino gambling entertainment but only the top casinos can afford to offer them. Hence, you must know your gaming preferences and ensure that you choose a casino that has all that you need.

The software providers are another consideration to make. Many providers mean that there will be a massive collection of diverse games. Also, it is vital to check the providers and make sure that they are trustworthy. Only games from reputable providers can be proven fair and secure. This is the first consideration to make when trying to decide what you want.

Pay Attention to Customer Service

Customer service is another important factor when choosing a casino. You should choose a casino that has great customer support in your language of choice. Live chat is currently the most preferable because it allows you to communicate directly from the website at no additional cost. It is also quite fast. The other avenues like email or phone should also be open if you prefer them.

The time that customer service is available is another priority area. Since the casino may have its headquarters away from Canada, it should have 24/7 customer support to ensure that you can get assistance whenever you need it.

Choose Mobile or Desktop

Does the casino have a mobile version or is it desktop only? If you are planning to play on your mobile, then the casino should have a mobile casino. It is inconvenient to be forced to find a different casino for playing on the go. This is a very important factor to consider. Besides, the casino should be compatible with the mobile phone that you own. Luckily, most of them work well with iOS and Android phones, which are currently the most popular worldwide.

Read Licensing Info

The best casinos have licenses from respectable bodies. If you trust casinos with a particular license, you should pick one that possesses it. The most trusted licensing bodies include the following:

• UK Gambling Commission;

• Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta;

• Gibraltar Licensing and Regulatory Authority;

•  Curacao e-Gaming Licensing Authority;

•  Alderney Gaming Control Commission;

•  Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

In addition to the licenses, you can find other certifications like eCOGRA that further ascertain the quality of a casino. Online casinos may have one or more of the licenses above. It is important to know the kind of license that you want your preferred casino to have.

Pay Attention to Bonus Features

It is crucial to know the kind of bonuses that tickle your fancy. If you love free offers, then you should pick the no deposit bonuses. If you are a slots lover, then no deposit free spins will be fantastic for you. You should know the kind of bonuses and the terms and conditions that are favorable to you. This will assist you to make a perfect choice.

These are the main factors that will lead you to what you want. Once you know what you want, it gets easier to pick an ideal casino.

Make the Research

You should read interesting for you information about casinos and then visit only those sites that suit your specifications. It is not very easy but the expert reviews can be quite helpful. They tend to summarize the key features making it easy to find what you want. Also, you should go to the comments of real players and avoid casinos that have genuine complaints about major issues. Some review sites may also be biased for various reasons so you should ensure that you only trust the reputable ones.

The shortcut of this step is talking to your gambler friends and finding out about their experiences with various online sites. This could easily lead you to a fantastic site.

Try and Test the Casinos

By the time you get to this step, you may have a shortlist of casinos that seem to meet your specifications. Hence, it is easy to simply go to them and test all their important elements. The first step is to move through the site and check whether the organization of the games and the overall outlook attract you. You can also check how well it works on your desktop and mobile phone.

You can also try the available games. Fortunately, the top casinos offer free games that can be played without registration, deposit, or download. Hence, you can proceed to play them. This will give you a glimpse of the experience in this casino and any red flags would be visible at this point.

Another element that is worth trying is customer support. You can proceed to ask them questions and check the FAQ sections for areas that you do not understand. The professionalism and the promptness of the responses will tell you whether the casino is as promising as it seems.

It is also vital to check the payment options and withdrawal times. This info should be available on the site. However, if it is not, feel free to ask customer care in person. Here are the factors to consider when checking the deposit and withdrawal options:

Deposits	Withdrawal
Should be instant	Should take reasonable periods
A variety of methods should be supported	A variety of methods should be supported
Ease of making deposits	Ease of making withdrawal requests and low pending time
Deposit limits	Withdrawal limits and conditions
The bonuses involved	Possible casino interest rate

Lastly, you can proceed to the Bonuses and Promos section to check what the casino offers. It is also important to check the terms and conditions for all you need to know about these promos.

Sign Up and Start Playing

Once you find your ideal casino, you can proceed to sign up and play. However, the vetting process is not over. If you find the sign-up process a bit too much, then you can always back out at this point. You may also proceed to claim the no deposit bonuses once you are ready to deposit cash and play.

Finally, loyalty is useless in the gambling realm, so you should not shy away from signing up in another casino to check what they offer. You can keep signing up and enjoying the bonuses until you get the best casino to play in Canada.

This is an excellent guide with strong tips on how to find a good online casino to play in Canada. Following them keenly will certainly get you the best. 

Machu Picchu: Diverse Perspectives

For most people, this view is the one most associated with Machu Picchu, the broad mountainous prominence dotted with ancient buildings, sharp peaks towering above them.  It is little wonder this place is the most instantly recognizable icon of Inca civilization for so many. Yet a closer look gives a greater insight in to how it must have felt to live there, its thick stone walls echoing to the sounds of everyday life. Take a look at Machu Picchu from different perspectives.

The walls are perhaps the most remarkable thing about the place.  They are known as dry stone and as such there was no mortar holding them together.  Their structural integrity came entirely from the forces of compression and the way that the stones interlock with each other.  At Machu Picchu this interlocking is an art from in itself. 

Roommate Wanted - Dead or Alive

If you have ever been a student then you have probably had to face the prospect of living with strangers in order to afford a place to live and all its associated expenses. So it is with this medical student in this entertaining short by students of the Animation Workshop. Yet smelly socks and untidiness are the least of this medical student’s problems when his prospective roommate turns out to be a zombie.

How Will The Universe End?

Science should be big, bright, bold and engaging – and you are going to find this video by Beakus all of those and more. It asks the question that, at some point or another, many of us ask – when is the universe going to end?

Fortunately the answer is not tomorrow or indeed the day after. Created for the Royal Observatory Greenwich this is science and art in blissful union.

A Strange Young Man: A Short Film about Autism

Erdem is the strange young man of this short film’s title.  Or, at least that’s how the rest of the world sees him.  Erdem himself lives in a world which amuses, perplexes but regularly frightens him.

Yet he navigates this bewildering array of sights and sounds with the help of his intimate knowledge of Hollywood movies (and see if you can get all the references!). 

We follow him through the course of his daily journey to class at the Autism Orientation Center.  Unsurprisingly, this film won both first place and the Audience Favorite Award at the Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival 2014 in Austin, Texas. It is in Turkish with English subtitles but please, please don’t let that put you off watching this remarkable short film directed by the very talented Emre Sert and Gözde Yetişkin.

Gea and Fossils

Don’t be put off by the rather uninspiring title.  This is, quite simply, the best educational animation I have seen for an age.  It’s about fossils and introduces us to Gea who has an inventor uncle (don't we all?).

He sends her a package and she finds Zum (pronounced Zoom), a flying robot designed to assist in the cataloguing of fossils.   Unfortunately, Zoom knows nothing about them so it’s up to Gea to show him the ropes – and the complete history of fossils. This explains the length of this animated short but believe me, the time will zoom by.

This animation is wholly delightful in as much as it makes what can be quite a difficult subject wholly accessible if not entertaining. It was created by Render Area, a visual effects, 3D animation digital production company based in Spain for Museo Geominero in Madrid. They have thrown the animation equivalent of the kitchen sink at this piece with so many different techniques used to form the whole.

So, if you happen to have a kid rampaging around your house at the moment (or one who is staring listlessly at the ceiling) who also happens to be fascinated by dinosaurs and how they came to be fossilised, plonk him or her down in front of this.  You will have peace and quiet for almost exactly half an hour.

Times are changing in California as technology ushers in the dawn of sports betting

Betting on sports has been a practice enjoyed by people for thousands of years. Early forms of gambling didn’t resemble the industry we know today, with bets placed in accordance with strict laws at land-based casinos or overseas sportsbooks. Records mention wagers placed on the early Olympic Games in ancient Greece. It’s not difficult to imagine people making predictions on events involving humans or animals before that.

In many countries around the world, betting on professional sport is legal, with bookmakers licensed and regulated at government level. The United Kingdom is considered to be the spiritual home of the modern gambling industry. Independent bookmakers like William Hill and Joe Coral accepted bets on horse races and greyhound races at track. These men were pioneers of sports betting, building their businesses and evolving to become William Hill and Coral, two of the biggest names in the sports betting market.

It’s not just residents in Great Britain that can enjoy a gamble on their favourite horse race, Premier League football team or boxing match. The industry is growing and evolving, spreading to new areas of the globe thanks to online betting. Canada and the United States recently lifted their long-running restriction on gambling, creating excitement. California is just one of the US states pushing for betting to be legalised, and it looks like this could happen as early as 2022. Several California sportsbooks are already waiting in the wings to act on these proposed changes to the law.

Bookies are ready to act

The biggest names in the sportsbook gambling sector are prepared to act, bringing betting to Californians at the earliest opportunity. They won’t be coming from a standing start either. The leading bookies from the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe are planning an attack on the Golden State. They have already gained a foothold in neighbouring states that acted quicker than California to legalise betting.

Bookies are prepared for the starter’s gun. They have offices in place, their target audience set out, the promotions and free bets they plan to offer new customers and a list of the sports and competitions that will be popular in the state. This is nothing new to them. They know what works and precisely what bettors want to entice them to register for an online betting account then start wagering on the NFL, NBA, MLB, and other world-famous leagues.

When California legalises sports betting in the state, they won’t be the first to do so. Far from it. We’ve seen many regions move much quicker, including New Jersey, the first to remove that ban on betting. Doing so has resulted in a number of benefits, not least the huge increase in taxes generated from allowing bookies to trade in the area.

Pros far outweigh the cons

The positives far out-weight the negatives, and governors in Cali, New York and other major states are beginning to realise this. They know allowing betting apps to trade in the state and hitting them hard in taxes could help speed up the post-pandemic recovery. The dated laws regarding banning have also become a bit of a joke. They were written to ban people visiting land-based underground betting dens. At the time, there wasn’t an option or even an idea that one day residents could gamble through an overseas sportsbook using their home computer or smartphone, something many have been doing under the radar for years.

With sections of the population taking advantage of online betting and loopholes in the laws, gambling with bookies from the UK and Europe, it means US states were missing out on the taxes while betting was ungoverned in the state. The aim is to change all that, legalising betting, submitting a set of modern rules that bettors and bookies must abide by then ramping up the taxes. The top betting firms are so desperate for access to an untouched market, a new oil well of bettors, that they are happy to pay over the odds for the privilege.

Nothing has been decided yet, and the bill to legalise betting in California will be debated and decided on later in 2022. The early signs are promising for those in support as citizens and betting firms apply pressure to those in charge.

Both images used under Google Images Creative Commons Licence