bitcoin-lightning

Lightning Network’s New Use Cases Could Be Big Boost for BTC

Bitcoin has continued to trade on a rather narrow range, reflecting on the overall mood of the market following the weekend consolidation. Fortunately, things are about to get more interesting following a recent Lightning Network breakthrough that is definitely going to give bitcoin proponents some renewed optimism in regards to mainstream commercial adoption of bitcoin or cryptocurrencies in general.

The growth and widespread adoption of the Lightning Network has been going quite well and with more developments being unraveled, it is expected to be a major catalyst to spearhead the adoption of bitcoin.

Ricardo Reis, a cryptocurrency and tech enthusiast from Brazil has recently been all the buzz in the crypto circles after he created a new use case for the Lightning Network that allows users to buy Coca-Cola bottles (or any other items) from vending machines.

How It Works

In a 42-second video titled “Coke vending machine that accepts Bitcoin payments through Lightning Network,” the computer programmer demonstrates how easy it is to pay for certain items using the new infrastructure layer. Reis used a handful of off-the-shelf materials such as a water pump, a Raspberry Pi, some wood, a touch screen, and some programming skill to build a handmade automated vending machine that accepts bitcoin payments for Coca-Cola bottles. The modified machine uses the Lightning Network to process the bitcoin transactions.

As seen from the video, the bitcoin users would be required to scan a QR code which then requests a bitcoin payment that is then issued by the customer using their BTC wallet. Once the payment is received by the modified vending machine, it dispenses the Coca-Cola bottle while at also paying a negligible amount in transaction fees to the Lightning Network which supports the service.

Could This Be It?

As much as this new modified bitcoin-Lightning Network vending machine is without a doubt a novel demonstration of how both technologies can be easily integrated into thousands of different services, it also acts as a more practical and serious demonstration of the open source nature of the blockchain. Both of these factors are what will drive the cryptocurrency revolution that we are all waiting for.

Unfortunately, the vending machine is just a proof-of-concept and is still at its earliest stages – in fact, of course, it still has no affiliation to the actual Coca-Cola company.  The Lighting Network and the payment solutions it supports are still in their in their early stages of development but such innovation as the one that we have discussed above will be a great move forward for the entire cryptocurrency market.

Hero_gaming

Hero Gaming Debuts A Faster Online Slots Interface

Hero Gaming is famous for being an innovative creator of fun gaming experiences which can be attested by its solid portfolio which includes online gaming platforms like Speedy Casino, Casino Heroes and sports betting site Betser. Now the Malta-based company is taking the next step with the recent unveiling of Blitz, a new slots interface that will allow players to spin up to six times faster than they used to.

The idea behind Blitz which was developed in collaboration with NetEnt was letting the customers play faster without having to wait for the slots to be displayed after each spin – quite a number of slot players have cited the waiting period to be time-consuming for them. Blitz further allows the players to stop the game at any time, leaving the updated account balance and remaining spins completely visible to the player.

“There’s a lot going on in the gaming world right now, and our focus is always on developing innovative gaming experiences that are both entertaining and technically in the forefront. Behind Blitz is a complex technical solution that meets the needs of today’s gamers – it should be easy and fast while the pleasure factor is high. You should not be disturbed by information and graphics if you don’t want to. We’ve spent a lot of time and effort in developing a technical platform that has both flexibility and strength. Blitz is an example of what we can create on it,” Tomas Bäckman, CEO of Hero Gaming commented. “This is a collaboration between two driven and innovative players, utilizing both companies’ strengths. NetEnt has contributed with significant insights and technical know-how in this process. My assessment is that Blitz will be a contribution to the gaming market.”

The new slots interface has been developed as an overlay on top of NetEnt’s technology, something that is already proving to be immensely beneficial to both companies. While Hero Gaming’s business will be receiving a significant boost from the technological resources that NetEnt has to offer, the operator will be bringing a set of innovative gambling offerings to the table.

“We are pleased that Hero Gaming has chosen to develop Blitz on NetEnt’s platform. Our ambition is to be at the forefront, and we welcome innovative thinking and creative initiatives from our customers. In the future, I think we will see more of this type of products and solutions – to tailor the experience to different gamers. It will be exciting to see how gamers will use Blitz and we are looking forward to following developments,” NetEnt’s chief of product, Henrik Fagerlund said.

Disco-Bar-7s

Booming Games Releases New Disco Bar 7s Slot

The 70s were a great period that was mostly defined by great outfits and hairstyles, great dance and music, the amazing outfits, and, of course, the simple and captivating slots games that were based on various outstanding elements borrowed from the aspects of the era. In fact, slots were all the buzz back in the day with people obsessing over them thanks to the excitement they offered and the possibilities of huge wins.

Well, if you are nostalgic about the casino offerings from the 70s, then this is your lucky day. Booming Games has recently released a new slot game that will take you on a trip back in time to the dancing 70s. Titled Disco Bar 7s, the new disco title features classic designs similar to what existed in the 70s but it will certainly appeal to each and every slots machine enthusiast on the planet. There are a number of other great slot machine offerings but this is definitely among the very best of them.

Disco Bar 7s consists of 3 reels and 10 paylines which are accompanied with a 95.96 percent RTP – these, in addition to the funky tunes and fast-paced gaming that the slot game features make the game a worthy use of your precious time. Winning big is made even easier with a number of cool multipliers, and Wild and Scatters.

Uniquely Themed

Even though Disco Bar 7s is prominently themed to match the look of offerings from the 1970s, Booming Games went out of their way to make sure that the game was a treat for players. Therefore, they opted to pattern it after the classic fruit slot machines and the results speak for themselves – there is nothing like it.

Disco Bar 7s is a very colorful slot game with its bright blues and purples on the reels. However, every colorful element that is added to the game also serves other purposes by contributing to the overall functionality of the game. Players can find Disco Ball Wilds on the reels – this pays the most and doubles wins when it is part of a winning combination. Similarly, the scatters offer nice multipliers when found on the reels.

The Game Play

From the very first glance, players will notice that Booming Games’ intention with this particular offering was replicating the real casino experience. Once they start playing it becomes even more pronounced as they will feel like they are sitting at a slot machine at a real 70s casino. Furthermore, this extends to playing on the go as well – Booming Games also ensure that the game can be accessed on mobile phones and tablets. Whichever method you choose to access the games, the experience will be nearly the same thanks to some next level optimization built into the game.

illinois-gambling-law

Illinois Online Gaming Set For Hearings in November

As it stands, most states that chose to examine online poker legislation in early 2018 moved to abandon it, at least until their next legislative sessions kick off next year. Not Illinois though. The state is set to be the next state to fully launch its online gaming industry, a process that will begin when they create a regulatory framework for legalized sports betting.

There are high some pretty expectations following the announcement by a lawmaker who intends to push for comprehensive gaming expansion that will encompass sports betting, online casino games, online poker as well as daily fantasy sports. The lawmaker, Representative Bob Rita who is also the head of the Illinois House Subcommittee on Gaming Sales and Other Taxes, believes that by advancing the proposed regulatory framework bring “tremendous opportunities to create revenue, jobs, and economic growth” in the state.
The lawmaker will be bringing together the two House committees in the coming weeks so as to coordinate efforts for a significant gaming expansion bill that promises a number of economic opportunity initiatives. The first of these subcommittee hearings is scheduled for August 22 with the following shortly after on October 3.

“As I have said from the beginning in working on this issue, gaming expansion presents many tremendous opportunities to create revenue, jobs and economic growth in Illinois,” Rita said in a press release. “The gaming landscape has changed significantly since I took on this issue five years ago, and I want to use these hearings to understand how those changes present new opportunities for us to put the right package together as we look to meet budget needs and provide a spark for our economy.”

The primary focus of the hearings, according to WCSJ News, will be to address the possibility of not only online sports betting but also other forms of online gambling. It is hoped that the hearings will assist the lawmakers in better understanding of the issues that need to be addressed as far as sports betting is concerned. The lawmakers will be returning to the capitol in November – shortly after the mid-term election – for the fall veto session and when this comes to an end we will have a clearer picture of the future of online poker in Illinois.

Too Early To Get Their Hopes Up?

Online poker fans residing in Illinois have quite a lot to be hopeful about. This is because the desire for sports betting and daily fantasy sports in the state is strong and since these issues are certainly going to be discussed rather explicitly during the hearings, the push for online gambling is also going to be just as prominent. The inclusion of online poker and other online casino games is being considered by very many of the state’s casino simply because they have seen the benefits similar initiatives have brought to Atlantic City, New Jersey.

sphinx_4-D

A Look at Pechanga Resort & Casino’s 4-D Slot Machines

If you are looking for something that is truly unique and stands out from the traditional bells and flashing lights that usually define the old school slot machines, then look no further than Pechanga Resort & Casino’s innovative take on the game. The operator’s new Sphinx 4-D video slot machine gives the customers a chance to change from day to night by just a sweep of their fingers.

But that is just the beginning. Players are also able to reach out and touch floating butterflies and coins on the screens as they go about their gaming business in the hopes of landing a jackpot. It’s a completely immersive experience that is certainly bound to keep players coming back for me.

The Technology Behind It

Manufactured by multination gaming company International Game Technology (IGT), Sphinx 4-D debuted on the Pechanga Resort & Casino floors last month and it has been received quite well since then. Aside from the already sensational 3-D gaming technology that allows the players to interact with floating graphics, the game also includes revolutionary 4-D technology that entails some very neat features.

These features include gesture recognition that is quite accurate, enhanced sound that makes the game even more immersive as well as elevated high definition graphics that make everything look crisp and real. In addition to this, the Sphinx 4-D chair also rumbles and vibrates. Too much? Well, the game developer thought of this as well and they included an option of dialing down on the sensory intensity of the slot machines.

“The concept is that players will be able to feel what they are seeing on the screen,” said Anthony Zamora, the slot director at Pechanga Resort & Casino. “Guests have reported the game is fun to play.”

Even though this particular slot machine is truly exceptional, similar 4-D style gaming is becoming the trend. The goal is to give the players more options and thus set the gaming experience apart from traditional slot gaming. Slot machines are evolving and Pechanga Resort & Casino is lucky enough to have a front seat spot.

Expect to see more goodies as newer skill-based games and themed machines take over casino floors with advanced visuals, enhanced sound, and innovative seats.

“The next generation of games is 4K monitors with distinctive and immersive graphics,” said Greg Colella, the vice president of product marketing for Scientific Games, a renowned game manufacturer. “There are also clever technological things like a speaker that provides surround sound instead of sound chairs which are a little clunky.”