Are sports betting the biggest driver for online gambling in Ireland?

The country of Ireland is known all over the globe for its beauty, peacefulness, and friendly people. However, in recent years it has become increasingly recognised for its thriving gambling scene as many Irish people now like to gamble. In particular, people in this country have an affinity for sports betting as for a growing number of sports fans betting has become an integrated part of watching their favourite sport. With the transition of gambling to online platforms, it is worth exploring whether Irelands love for sports betting will be carried into the future and how it competes with online casino games.

Firstly, one of the reasons why sports betting has become so popular over the years is because bettors can now make bets on their phones when they are on the go or multitasking. Punters can now easily head to a site such as bonusfinder.ie, choose a trusted gambling provider and place their bet quickly online. This makes gambling and sports betting more convenient than ever so that they don’t even have to leave their house to partake in gambling activities.

Furthermore, the volume of people gambling in Ireland has soared thanks to sports betting as sports betting continues to be the most popular online gambling sector in Ireland, accounting for around 41 per cent of the industry and generating a lot of money for it. In fact, sports betting has surpassed any other form of gambling in Ireland, with more than 60% of bettors turning to online bookies to place a bet on the current sporting events.

As Ireland is a country where sports is widely appreciated, betting on sports matches gives its people the chance to have fun whilst being in for the chance of winning some money. One sport that is especially popular in this country is football as is typical around the world. In fact, football tends to dominate when it comes to the top sport to bet on at Irish betting sites. Competitions are one of the main sources of entertainment for Irish football fans including the Premier League which requires them to support a side including Liverpool or Manchester United which are backed by many in the country. Of course, many Irish football fans also want to bet on League of Ireland matches. There are many benefits for Irish fans betting on the Premier League or other matches as many leading Irish betting sites have bonuses, rewards and promotions on offer to retain loyal customers as well as intriguing new ones.

Moreover, horse racing is another sport that has attracted many Irish people to bet on it. As there are many horses racing events at racecourses all over Ireland, the people of this country have grown accustomed to the social element of the sport. This is why they have decided to inject an extra layer of fun into it by wagering on the sport. The flat racing season in Ireland typically runs from mid-March to mid-November, but there are other horse racing activities to place bets on throughout the year. With the Irish horse racing industry predicted to be worth around €1 billion per annum, it is a leading reason why sports betting in Ireland is equally if not more popular than online casino games such as slots, blackjack, poker or roulette.

When talking about the various types of sports that people in Ireland bet on, it is also worth mentioning the popularity of Rugby which many people wager on at online betting sites. This game has been popularised by Irish rugby teams who have found success in many competitions such as Leinster who secured victory in the European Cup champions in 2009, 2011 and 2012 as well as 2018. With Irish rugby teams showing a lot of promise, many people feel as though it would be a shame not to place their bets on this sport. In addition, boxing and the MMA is a sport that is not widely discussed in Ireland. However, they are still popular sports to bet on in the country with Irish fighters such as Katie Taylor making a name for herself in the world of boxing. Of course, many Irish bettors have sparked a desire to bet on these sports thanks to Conor McGregor from Ireland who achieved tremendous success in his fighting career.

In the future, although online casino games are predicted to attract even more Irish fans it appears that it will always be challenged in popularity by sports betting. As Irish people can now wager on sports from their mobile phone, it is predicted that even more people will be betting on sports in the future. As statistics reflect that sports betting is responsible for the majority of revenue generated for the gambling sector in Ireland, we should witness sports such as football bringing more people to the gambling scene in the hopes of making money off of some friendly competition.

In conclusion, as the people of Ireland continue to harboura love for sports betting, it remains to be the biggest driver for online gambling for Ireland. From football and horse racing to rugby and boxing the people of Ireland have a long history with sports betting. So why not follow in the footsteps of those people in Ireland and experience for yourself the fun of sports betting?

Order Of Australia wins ITM Cup in Qatar

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Order Of Australia was a game winner of the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Qatar on Saturday.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, the son of Coolmore stallion Australia, claimed the Qatari Group 2 contest at the prestigious H.H. The Amir Trophy meeting by half a length from Band Width with a further head back to Conflict in third place in the 12-runner 1 mile contest.

Russian Emperor

The Coolmore-bred, former Aidan O’Brien inmate Russian Emperor landed day’s main race, the H.H. The Amir Trophy over a mile and a half for Hong Kong-based trainer Douglas Whyte and jockey Alberto Sanna.

The 2021-22 Hong Kong Champion Stayer (2021/22) claimed the US$2.5 million race ahead of Godolphin’s Warren Point for Godolphin and the French-trained Bolthole, by half a length and another half a length respectively.

It was a fifth career win for Russian Emperor, a son of Galileo, who previously won the 2022 Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and the 2022 Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong.

The six-year-old Russian Emperor holds entries in both the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan on Dubai World Cup Night, 25 March 2023.

The Aidan O’Brien-handled runners, Broome and Stone Age, finished fifth and twelfth respectively in a race that included runners from Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Irish Senior Indoor Championships – Day 1 Report

Irish Indoors — Credit: @irishathletics.

The stars of Irish athletics delivered on day 1 of the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on Saturday.

Raheny Shamrock’s Mark Smyth and Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) both starred in the sprint 200m finals. Smyth, who had impressed earlier in the heats, posted a championship record of 20.77 seconds to claim the 2023 indoor title.

Sharlene Mawdsley set a personal best in the morning’s heat (23.61 seconds) before improving on that time to clock a PB of 23.50 seconds in the final. This time moved the Newport AC athlete up one place to 6^th on the Irish all-time list indoors.

In the men’s 3000m, UCD’s Darragh McElhinney produced a sub-25-second final 200 metres to claim the men’s 3000m title in a championships record time of 7.49.18.

McElhinney sat in the slipstream of the eventual second place finisher Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) for much of the race, with the pair stretching clear of the field over the opening laps. McElhinney claimed the title thanks to his final kick, as Griggs stayed on to take silver in 7.55.75.

Emerald AC’s star hurdler Sarah Lavin claimed the women’s 60m hurdles title in 8.03 seconds, while Matthew Behan (Crisaders AC) retained the men’s version in 8.10 seconds.

Olympian David Kenny (Farronfore Main Valley) posted 19.11.43 to win the men’s 5k walk, while Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) took the women’s 3k walk in an indoor PB of 14.40.46.

Mark English (1.52.88) and Nadia Power (2.13.28) safely negotiated the heats of Saturday’s 800 metres.

Phil Healy (Bandon AC) and Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock) set up a clash in Sunday’s 400m decider, with both safely advanced to the 400m final.

Jack Raftery (Donore Harriers) impressed in qualifying for the men’s 400m with a 48.02.

Field Events

There was a championship record of 13.25m for Saragh Buggy (St Abbans) in the triple jump as she went close to Taneisha Scanlon’s national record of 13.28. It was the St Abbans athlete’s 20^th national title (indoor and outdoors).

The much-anticipated clash between Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock) and John Kelly (Finn Valley) went right to the wire, with a 19.26m from Favors enough to claim the gold. Kelly settled for silver with a throw of 19.19m.

Ellie McCartney (City of Lisburn) claimed the women’s pole vault title with a best of 4.05m, while Sam Healy (Leevale) was best of the long jumpers with 7.36m.

Kourosh Foroughi (Star of the Sea A.C.) won a very competitive men’s high jump with a best of 1.95m from Cork’s Ben Donovan (1.90m).

Much Irish Interest among Global Champions Tour Teams

lgct — 2023 Longines Global Champions Tour schedule. Credit: LGCT.

The teams for the 2023 Longines Global Champions Tour have been announced, with a number of Irish combinations involved.With more than €36 million in the overall season prize purse for GCL & LGCT, 16 teams will be battling for glory with their sights fixed on victory at the high-stakes GCL Finals, with the top teams contesting the GCL Super Cup at the season-closing GC Prague Playoffs where €10 million will be up for grabs in just one weekend this November.Last year’s champions Riesenbeck International keep their strong lineup of Ludger Beerbaum, Christian Kukuk, Philipp Weishaupt, Ireland’s Eoin McMahon, Jane Richard and U25 Philipp Schulze Topphoff.

Stockholm Hearts field Peder Fredricson, Olivier Philippaerts, Nicola Philippaerts, Malin Baryard Johnsson, Lillie Keenan and Lily Attwood (U25) again this year.Valkenswaard United, second in 2022’s GCL Super Cup, will have new-signing Olivier Lazarus joining John Whitaker, Marcus Ehning, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Andre Thieme and talented U25 rider Gilles Thomas.Rome Gladiators bring in Irish duo Michael Duffy and Trevor Breen along with Jos Verlooy to join Shane Breen, Beth Underhill and Nina Mallevaey (U25).

Other changes

Shanghai Swans have signed up German Daniel Deusser to boost their squad; Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Kraut transfers to Madrid In Motion; Dutch Champion Frank Schuttert joins Georgina Bloomberg’s New York Empire; St Tropez Pirates have a huge shake-up, signing 4 new riders Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli, Katrin Eckermann, Simon Delestre and Marlon Modolo Zanotelli; Jur Vrieling switches to Jennifer Gates’ team, Paris Panthers, while there will be a brand new team for 2023 called Riyadh Blue.

Denis Lynch will be in the New York Empire squad; Tom Wachman is with Mexico Amigos, while his brother Tom is the U25 rider with Cannes Stars; Mark McAuley is part of the Madrid In Motion squad and Jeremy Sweetnam will compete with Monaco Aces.Jan Tops, President of the LGCT and GCL, said:

“We are thrilled to announce the exciting line-up of the 16 teams for 2023. It will take exceptional team performances to win the GCL Finals and the GCL Super Cup, with incredible prize money on offer. With fantastic U25 talent in the GCL, we continue giving young riders the opportunity to shine at our unique world-class venues.”The individual championship of the Longines Global Champions Tour will see winners of each LGCT Grand Prix booking a place in the LGCT Super Grand Prix with a €1.25m purse.GCL kicks off in Doha on 2 – 4 March 2023.

URC Team Announcements Round 14

URC Team Announcements Round 14, Munster, Ulster, Leinster and Connacht starting teams.

The teams for this weekend’s Round 14 fixtures of the BKT United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.

TEAM NEWS HEADLINES

#GLAvULS

Stafford McDowall captains Glasgow Warriors as Nathan McBeth makes his first URC start for the side
Prop Eric O’Sullivan will make his 100th appearance for Ulster

#MUNvOSP

Gavin Coombes returns from Ireland camp to start for Munster as Simon Zebo makes his first appearance since December
Nicky Smith to captain Ospreys while Iestyn Hopkins could make his debut if called upon from the bench

#LIOvSHA

Ruan Delport has been named in Emirates Lions matchday squad and could make his debut if called upon from the bench
Vincent Tshituka and Dylan Richardson return from injury as they are named in the matchday squad for Cell C Sharks

#BULvSTO

Morne Steyn will make his 150th URC & Super Rugby appearance for Vodacom Bulls
Two changes in DHL Stormers squad with Scarra Ntubeni and Willie Engelbrecht coming into the forward pack

#ZEBvCON

Atnonio Rizzi returns from injury and is named in Zebre Parma’s matchday squad
Niall Murray set to make his 50th appearance for Connacht while Eoin de Buitléar could make his debut if called upon from the bench

#SCAvEDI

Ben Williams and Eddie James set for URC debuts off bench for Scarlets
Damien Hoyland returns from injury to start for Edinburgh Rugby on the wing

#CARvBEN

Lloyd Williams will make his 256th appearance, over-taking Tongan prop Taufa’ao Filise as the most capped Cardiff Rugby player
Dewaldt Duvenage to captain Benetton

#LEIvDRA

Jack Boyle is in line to make his Leinster debut if called upon from the bench
Ross Moriarty and Angus O’Brien returns to Dragons RFC starting line-up

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster

Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 41st league game)

AR 1: Jonny Perriam (SRU) AR 2: Ru Campbell (SRU)

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Live on: ViaPlay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery + & URC.tv

Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith, Sebastian Cancelliere, Stafford McDowall (CAPT), Sam Johnson, Cole Forbes, Tom Jordan, Jamie Dobie; Nathan McBeth, Johnny Matthews, Lucio Sordoni, Lewis Bean, Scott Cummings, Thomas Gordon, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, Simon Berghan, JP du Preez, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Ali Price, Duncan Weir

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Alan O’Connor (CAPT), Kieran Treadwell, Harry Sheridan, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney

Replacements: John Andrew, Rory Sutherland, Andy Warwick, Cormac Izuchukwu, Greg Jones, John Cooney, Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy

Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland said: “Glasgow are nine games unbeaten now. They play a very exciting brand of rugby and are extremely dangerous. We saw they have a bit of steel about them when they played Edinburgh back-to-back over Christmas. They’ll definitely come into this game as favourites off the back of the run of wins they’ve had, and the position they are in the league. I see it that it’s all up for grabs.”

Munster v Ospreys

Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 21st league game)

AR 1: Dan Carson (IRFU) AR 2: Padraic Reidy (IRFU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Live on: TG4, BBC Wales, ViaPlay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery + & URC.tv

Munster: Shane Daly, Liam Coombes, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Simon Zebo, Joey Carbery, Paddy Patterson, Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue (CAPT), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Mark Donnelly, Stephen Archer, Jack O’Sullivan, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell

Ospreys: Max Nagy, Luke Morgan, Michael Collins, Owen Watkin, Keelan Giles, Stephen Myler, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Nicky Smith (CAPT), Elvis Taione, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Huw Sutton, Jack Regan, Ethan Roots, Morgan Morris

Replacements: Tom Cowan-Dickie, Garyn Phillips, Rhys Henry, James Fender, Harri Deaves, Matthew Aubrey, Jack Walsh, Iestyn Hopkins

Ospreys Head Coach Toby Booth said: “Munster are a tough opposition, but the boys are in good fettle as we had some extra preparation time in the buildup. Going to Munster is never easy, especially on a Friday night, but we’ve been to Ireland on a Friday night before and come away with the win.”

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks

Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA

Referee: JD Jadezweni (SARU, 5th league game)

AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)

TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Live on: SuperSport, ViaPlay, Premier Sports, Discovery + & URC.tv

Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Rabz Maxwane, Manuel Rass, Marius Louw (CAPT), Edwill van der Merwe, Gianni Lombard, Morne van den Berg, JP Smith, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Willem Alberts, Ruben Schoeman, Jaco Kriel, Ruan Venter, Emmanuel Tshituka

Replacements: Michael van Vuuren, Morgan Naude, Ruan Dreyer, Ruan Delport, Sibusiso Sangweni, Ruhan Straeuli, Sanele Nohamba, Rynhardt Jonker

Cell C Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Francois Venter, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Thaakir Abrahams, Curwin Bosch, Grant Williams, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Dan Jooste, Carlu Sadie, Reniel Hugo, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Henco Venter, Phepsi Buthelezi (CAPT)

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Dian Bleuler, Hanro Jacobs, Vincent Tshituka, Dylan Richardson, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Cameron Wright, Ben Tapuai

Emirates Lions Head Coach Ivan van Rooyen said: “The aim for us is to be more dynamic on attack as well as with our kicking game. If you look at the top teams in this competition, their point of difference is their attacking-kicking game as well as their defensive kicking game. It’s been a work on for us on tour because of the conditions and circumstances, but especially back here at home where we’ve worked hard on the aspects I’ve mentioned. Being back home we feel we need to play differently whether it’s on attack or defence. The system is not just going to do for you; there are intricacies in there that require attention. In terms of energy and excitement, the guys have trained well and hard over the past two weeks and are raring to go at home after being away for six weeks. There’s a real excitement for this weekend.”

Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 16th league game)

AR 1: AJ Jacobs (SARU) AR 2: Griffon Colby (SARU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Live on: SuperSport, ViaPlay, Premier Sports, Discovery +, & URC.tv

Vodacom Bulls: David Kriel, Cornal Hendricks, Wandisile Simelane, Harold Vorster, Sbu Nkosi, Chris Smith, Zak Burger, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith, Jacques Du Plessis, Ruan Nortje (CAPT), Marco van Staden, Cyle Brink, Elrigh Louw

Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Morne Steyn, Lionel Mapoe

DHL Stormers: Clayton Blommetjies, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Seabelo Senatla, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Brok Harris, Scarra Ntubeni, Neethling Fouche, Ruben van Heerden, Gary Porter, Deon Fourie (CAPT), Willie Engelbrecht, Marcel Theunissen

Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Ali Vermaak, Sazi Sandi, Ernst van Rhyn, Ben-Jason Dixon, Junior Pokomela, Paul de Wet, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said: “It is quite rare at this stage of the season to have such continuity and we are also very happy to have some experienced players like Scarra and Ernst added to the mix this week as well. It has been a good week of training after the players got some deserved rest last week and we are ready for what will be another tough derby game.”

Zebre Parma v Connacht

Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – KO 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 88th league game)

AR 1: Clara Munarini (FIR) AR 2: Francesco Meschini (FIR)

TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

Live on: Discovery +, TG4, ViaPlay, Premier Sports, SuperSport & URC.tv

Zebre Parma: Lorenzo Pani, Kobus van Wyk, Erich Cronjé, Enrico Lucchin (CAPT), Simone Gesi, Tiff Eden, Chris Cook, Luca Rizzoli, Marco Manfredi, Matteo Nocera, Leonard Krumov, Josh Furno, Luca Andreani, Matt Kvesic, Giovanni Licata

Replacements: Giampietro Ribaldi, Paolo Buonfiglio, Muhamed Hasa, Jan Uys, Davide Ruggeri, Ratko Jelic, Antonio Rizzi, Richard Kriel

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Cathal Forde, John Porch, Jack Carty (CAPT), Caolin Blade, Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier, Josh Murphy, Niall Murray, Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler

Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Adam Byrne

Zebre Parma Head Coach Fabio Roselli said: “It will be an exciting game: Connacht play good rugby, they love to impose themselves in the territorial battle but this opens up a lot of opportunities for Zebre in the counter-attacks, although we know we have to improve the efficiency of our play. We are very proud to play in front of our families and our public and we are very happy to welcome back to the team Antonio Rizzi, back after a long injury. We have the opportunity to involve several players from the national team in the match, we have everything we need to be able to compete for the result from the first to the last minute, just as we did in the previous matches without succeeding.”

Connacht Director of Rugby Andy Friend said: “Everyone enjoyed a well-earned break after the Lions game, and now it’s all about getting back to work and playing our best rugby. We travel to Italy conscious that we’ll be up against a good Zebre side eager to get their first win of the season, but also confident that we can get the job done if we play to our abilities.”

Scarlets v Edinburgh Rugby

Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 31st league game)

AR 1: Jason Bessant (WRU) AR 2: Simon Mills (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Live on: ViaPlay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery + & URC.tv

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl, Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Ioan Nicholas, Ryan Conbeer, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Kemsley Mathias, Shaun Evans, Sam Wainwright, Morgan Jones, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Dan Davis, Sione Kalamafoni (CAPT)

Replacements: Taylor Davies, Steff Thomas, Javan Sebastian, Ben Williams, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Dane Blacker, Dan Jones, Eddie James

Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen, Damien Hoyland, Mark Bennett, James Lang, Jack Blain, Charlie Savala, Charlie Shiel, Boan Venter, Dave Cherry (CAPT), Murray McCallum, Glen Young, Jamie Hodgson, Nick Haining, Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Jamie Jack, Lee-Roy Atalifo, Marshall Sykes, Connor Boyle, Ben Vellacott, Jaco van der Walt, Chris Dean

Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “The boys are excited about playing again. It is a big game and an important game for us. Edinburgh are a side who like to play football, we are fully respectful of them, but for us it is about focusing on ourselves and maintaining momentum. We have to make sure that areas of our game improve and we know we have to be at our best on Saturday.”

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Mike Blair said: “We’ve had a really focussed week of training and the guys are excited to return to league action. That short break during the Six Nations window has given us the opportunity to take stock and reflect on what we’re doing well and what we can do better as a team. The internationals have come back into training this week and brought a brilliant buzz. We’ve got a great dynamic across the squad and we feel energised as a group heading into tomorrow night’s match at Parc y Scarlets. Scarlets have been going really well of late and are always strong at home. However, we’ve had some terrific results on the road so far this season – with URC wins at Cardiff and Zebre – which gives us some confidence heading into a fixture which is hugely important for us as a club.”

Cardiff Rugby v Benetton

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 28th league game)

AR 1: Adam Jones (WRU) AR 2: Stephen Allsop (WRU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Live on: S4C, Eurosport, Discovery +, ViaPlay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, & URC.tv

Cardiff Rugby: Ben Thomas, Owen Lane, Rey Lee-Lo, Max Llewellyn, Jason Harries, Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams, Corey Domachowski, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull (CAPT), Ellis Jenkins, James Ratti

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Brad Thyer, Keiron Assiratti, Rory Thornton, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Ellis Bevan, Aled Summerhill, Matthew Morgan

Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Onisi Ratave, Marco Zanon, Filippo Drago, Mattia Bellini, Tomas Albornoz, Dewaldt Duvenage (CAPT), Nahuel Tetaz, Siua Maile, Tiziano Pasquali, Marco Lazzaroni, Riccardo Favretto, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro Izekor, Henry Time-Stowers

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Thomas Gallo, Filippo Alongi, Carl Wegner, Toa Halafihi, Alessandro Garbisi, Jacob Umaga, Joaquin Riera

Cardiff Rugby Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “It’s great to be back here at the Arms Park, and we are all determined to get back to winning ways. The season is going to go right down to the wire and every game is of huge importance. We have been disappointed with our recent performances and need to get back to the levels of performance we saw earlier this season to turn things around. Despite missing the internationals, we have still been able to select a strong squad to get the job done but we will not underestimate our opposition. Benetton are a quality team, full of talent, and they taught us a harsh lesson at the end of last season so there is no lack of motivation. It’s also important that we mark a special day for Lloyd (Williams) in winning fashion. Not many players have the ability to break records like Lloyd and he should be really proud of this latest milestone as he passes Fa’ao. It is testament to not only his quality as a player but his professionalism in everything he does – he is a great example and role model for young players.”

Leinster v Dragons RFC

RDS Arena, Dublin – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 68th league game)

AR 1: Oisin Quinn (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)

TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)

Live on: RTÉ, S4C, ViaPlay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery + & URC.tv

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Jamie Osborne, Dave Kearney, Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath, Michael Milne, John McKee, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ross Molony, Brian Deeny, Rhys Ruddock (CAPT), Scott Penny, Max Deegan

Replacements: Lee Barron, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Jason Jenkins, Will Connors, Nick McCarthy, Charlie Tector, Rob Russell

Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Sio Tomkinson, Steff Hughes, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams (CAPT), Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter, Ben Fry, Taine Basham, Ross Moriarty

Replacements: James Benjamin, Aki Seiuli, Chris Coleman, Sean Lonsdale, Ryan Woodman, Lewis Jones, JJ Hanrahan, Jordan Williams

Dragons RFC Head Coach Dai Flanagan said: “It’s a tough challenge for us, but one we have to embrace. We’ve got our own challenges in house. But fundamentally we are a tough group of people going to a tough place and it is something we are excited for.”

Zebre v Connacht – Preview, Betting & Match Facts/Stats

Connacht Rugby team have an away trip to Zebre on Saturday, a bonus point win is vital to keep their champions cup qualification hopes alive.

Zebre Parma v Connacht
Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – KO 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 88th league game)
AR 1: Clara Munarini (FIR) AR 2: Francesco Meschini (FIR)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Live on: TG4, Viaplay, Premier Sports,

Preview
Ulster 43
Bulls 40
Munster 37
Treviso 34
——-/////——-
Sharks 33
Edinburgh 31
Connacht 30

This is how the Champions Cup qualifying table presently looks for Connacht, so a win is absolutely vital.

Andy and his squad all focus will be on the trip to Parma this weekend where they look to make it three wins from three in the URC.

“This is a huge game for us”

“Look Zebre haven’t won a game yet but they’ve pushed a lot of good teams to the wire so we know we need to be on our game to beat these guys because they can hurt you if you let them”

Connacht are able to call upon Caolin Blade and Cian Prendergast for Saturday’s game. The two have been with the Irish squad the last week or so but are available for selection this week. David Hawkshaw and Oisin Dowling are both back fit and ready after injury layoffs to play this weekend as well

Match Stats

Zebre Parma

– Tommaso Boni missed a round-high eight tackles against the Ospreys last time out. This equals Manie Libbok’s record for most missed tackles in a fixture this season.

– Zebre Parma have made 125 entries to the 22 this season – more than seven other URC teams. However, they have the lowest rate of conversion: they have scored tries from a league-low 27% of their entries to the red zone.

– A league-high 50% of Zebre’s tackles have been low – below the waist. However, they are one of three teams in the URC with a tackle success rate of less than 87%.

Connacht

– For the first time this season, two hattricks were scored in the same weekend in Round 13. One of these was scored by Connacht scrum half Caolin Blade, who also made more passes than any other player in the round (96).

– Niall Murray made four lineout steals in Round 13. Only Peter O’Mahony has made as many in a single match this season (Round 3). Murray has now stolen more opposition lineouts than any other player in the league (11).

– Jack Carty has made as many try assists as any other player (eight, = Paul de Wet). He has also made the most break assists with his passing (11).

Did you know?

Zebre Parma are on a four-match losing streak to Connacht, last winning in February 2018.

Zebre’s losing streak at home now extends to seven matches. In general, they have lost their last 16.

Connacht have won their last two fixtures. This is only the second time this season that they go into a match having won consecutive fixtures.

Starting teams

Commenting on the team selection, Director of Rugby Andy Friend says:

“Everyone enjoyed a well-earned break after the Lions game, and now it’s all about getting back to work and playing our best rugby. We travel to Italy conscious that we’ll be up against a good Zebre side eager to get their first win of the season, but also confident that we can get the job done if we play to our abilities.”

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS ZEBRE PARMA

Saturday 18^th February, 15:05 Irish time @ Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Number/Name/Caps

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (218)
14.Diarmuid Kilgallen (14)
13. Tom Farrell (93)
12. Cathal Forde (8)
11. John Porch (73)
10. Jack Carty (193) (C)
9. Caolin Blade (167)
1. Denis Buckley (224)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (16)
3. Jack Aungier (44)
4. Josh Murphy (12)
5. Niall Murray (49)
6. Cian Prendergast (39)
7. Conor Oliver (56)
8. Jarrad Butler (108)

16. Eoin de Buitléar *
17. Jordan Duggan (35)
18. Sam Illo (7)
19. Darragh Murray (6)
20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (13)
21. Kieran Marmion (225)
22. Tom Daly (74)
23. Adam Byrne (5)

Betting

Bookies are expecting Connacht to have an easy win, the handicap is -11 which means Connacht are expected to win by 12pts or more.

Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup Game to be Replayed

Following a meeting of the Leinster Rugby Schools Committee yesterday afternoon, it has been decided that the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup first round game between Clongowes Wood College and Terenure College will be replayed on Monday, 20 February in Energia Park.

The decision to replay the fixture follows an independent submission, unrelated to either school, that Clongowes Wood College fielded an ineligible player during their first round 17-15 win over Terenure College in contravention of Regulation 8.6 of the Leinster Rugby Games Master’s Handbook and Schools Competition Regulations.

On the evidence available, it has been decided by the Leinster Rugby Schools Committee, to replay the game next Monday.

Details of the replay will be confirmed in the next few days and the winner of the game will face St Michael’s College in the second round of the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup on a date also to be confirmed.

How to Use Skrill for Gambling & Sports Betting

The industry of gambling and sports betting has changed a lot. The biggest innovations are payment methods. This is a critical factor since it determines the strength of your online betting experience and defines whether you will have quick financial transactions. Skrill is one such popular method.

Skrill is an electronic wallet that has been around for a while now. It lets you send and receive money without a third party. The payment option eliminates the overhead and allows you to gamble in casinos with fewer charges. This review will discuss this method, how to use Skrill, and other vital details.

About Skrill — What Makes it a Good Choice?

There are so many criteria to make a payment option a great choice. They work together to bring great value while using the system. Let’s look at why Skrill in gaming sites is a good choice:

Popularity

Players love reliability and simplicity. Not everyone wants to deal with the complexities of payment and legal aspects. Therefore, many well-known casinos are now switching to Skrill. It is a popular e-wallet that makes payments quick, easy, and safe. It provides a simple and fast payment, and a low commission.

But finding a reliable and trustworthy casino with such a wallet can be difficult. Experts in their reviews recommend studying the list of Canadian online casinos that accept Skrill, where experienced players and beginners can choose the appropriate option. Professional analysis shows that maximum confidentiality is maintained in such casinos. The players’ and their bank card details are not disclosed. For payment, users can choose almost any currency. It is convenient, practical, and reliable. Place your bets, gentlemen.

Privacy

As fast as the gambling industry is moving, many gamblers prefer to stay lowkey. They keep their sportsbook activities quiet and under wraps. Usually, there aren’t many payment options that make this possible. You might have to connect your bank details to the account for easy usage.

Yet, with Skrill, your privacy and anonymity can remain intact. This is because it is a digital wallet. You can transfer your money there and operate without updating your personal or banking information.

No Fees

No one wants to incur extra charges while betting. With Skrill, you don’t have to. Aside from offering fast payouts, withdrawals cost close to nothing. You can send and receive money without unexpected cuts to your total funds. This is another factor that makes this a great idea.

How Does Skrill Work?

The first step to using this in betting sites is to be an active member of the platform. Create an account to facilitate all your betting transactions. Then complete the verification steps, make your payments, and cash out your funds. Skrill sets up two-factor authentication, providing players with an extra layer of security. This helps to keep their money safe. Your email is the only form of identity you need to verify a profile.

Fees and Limits

Making deposits with Skrill on betting sites are often at no charge. Regardless of how often you do this. However, for withdrawals, the rules are a little bit different. You will not be charged for withdrawals for the first 30 days, but there is a 2% fee on the subsequent ones.

For deposits, you can send us Paysafecard, Paysafe Cash, bank transfer, Visa, or MasterCard. For withdrawals on Skrill sites, you can use any global payment option. Also, note that withdrawals are free when currency conversion is not involved.

Payment Type	eWallet
Currencies	CAD, GBP, USD
Min. Dep.	$100
Min. With.	$100
Fee	0% on deposit; withdrawals are free every 30 days, and 2% is applied on subsequent ones.

Using Skrill for Online Casino and Sports Betting

Now, we will explain how you can use this method in casinos. Reputable sites and expert reviews show that slot games onlineare a good way to relax and mentally rest. We will highlight and discuss all the steps to navigate Skrill gambling sites:

Creating an Account

Opening a Skrill account is without charges. You need a working phone number and email address. You have to pass the verification process and make a deposit of $5 as you are an ordinary user.

During registration, fill in your personal information on the first form. We suggest you fill in your real data. That way, you will not have any problem with authorization when you want to make a deposit. Confirm your name compared to the one on your bank account. The same goes for your addresses and utility bills. Make sure all the data is real and can be confirmed.

Depositing into Your Gambling Sites

To make payments in an online casino, make sure you choose a site that offers Skrill as a major payment system. You can check out the reviews of the Skrill online casino sites listed at AussieBestCasinos because they are secure and trustworthy. Then you can make your pick from all the amazing Skrill-accepting websites. These sites offer Skrill as a major deposit system. They also offer some of the best games and bonuses in the industry.

Making the deposit is easy with Skrill. The player needs to choose a funding method. This can be a bank account, credit or debit card. After that, enter personal information. The user indicates the card number, expert date, and the security code for the transactions.

Withdrawing From Skrill

It is also easy to withdraw from Skrill. All you have to do is head to the banking section of the online casinos. Choose withdrawal, and then scroll through the options provided by the platform. Since it is a Skrill betting account, you will find Skrill as an option. Through this method, you can pay your winnings directly into your account.

Getting your Winnings Into Your Skrill Account

Once you enter your wallet address into the page, authorize the transaction, and you’re good to go. As a first-time user, your payout might take longer than usual. This is because they need to confirm and authorize your account to ensure you are the real owner of the account. Usually, withdrawals take 1-3 business days.

Summary

If you’ve been curious about how to use Skrill for gambling, this is the best review for you. It covers everything you need to know about how to use Skrill betting sites. Now you only need to choose a site and start betting today. Skrill online casinos are so popular that it is easy for gamblers to find the best one. Especially if you know platforms with excellent options for your gameplay.

To achieve a faster payout time, verify your account in time. You can send them an official photo ID, such as a scan of your passport page or driver’s license. Once you are verified, the payout is made easy. Join any Skrill casino today, and enjoy great financial freedom.

Top 7 Unknown And Unexpected Facts About Online Betting

Even if you are not interested in the world of gambling and lotteries, and have never bet on sports, you probably know that the latter account for about 40% of the total gambling market.

According to the analytical and news resource, every 2nd inhabitant of the planet over the age of 18 made bets on sports and non-sports events.

Do you know that bets on various sporting events began to be accepted several thousand years ago? In those ancient times, the fans had their own favorites, on which they bet huge amounts of money, trying to predict the outcome of certain competitions. It is quite understandable that even today bookmakers are extremely popular.

You can also read: Premier Hockey Federation Drops 2022 Preseason Schedule.

However, let’s try to figure out what we know about this hobby of many gamblers? You can do this without much difficulty by reading the very interesting facts about sports betting on ice hockey, which will be presented below.

First of all, it should be mentioned that the leading position in the betting business is confidently occupied by the UK. It is noteworthy that the first analogues of modern bookmakers began to actively work here several centuries ago. This business was quite profitable, since the annual turnover in such establishments reached several billion pounds! At the same time, the British liked to bet not on football at all, as they do today, but on the weather or boxing.
Mysticism is a rather rare phenomenon in sports betting, but still there is one extraordinary case that deserves special attention. A simple worker – Mick Gibbs won 800 thousand dollars, betting only 50 cents. The young man immediately guessed 15 exact outcomes in one “express” and then safely received a well-deserved reward.
There is no doubt that you have heard at least once about the “end of the world”, because this topic was actively discussed at the beginning of this century. Of course, bookmakers also could not ignore the potential threat. Some bookmakers took bets that the year 2000 would be the last in the history of mankind, offering their customers huge odds. True, it is quite difficult to answer the question of who would pay the money to the winners, in the event of a correct outcome.
It should also be noted that bookmakers never forget about famous personalities. For example, when the musical compositions of the American singer Britney Spears were extremely popular, betting enthusiasts often risked their money, hoping to get a big win if the performer suddenly became pregnant from one of her many fans. As a result, this did not happen, although the chances were estimated as 1 to 28!
There have been quite a few ridiculous bets in the history of the betting business, so gamblers have always had enough imagination. For example, once, bookmakers accepted bets that Elvis Presley would definitely shoot down a UFO with a shot from a gun, and then the “apparatus” would fall right into the lake with the Loch Ness Monster and kill the reptile. Of course, the chance that such an event will occur is minimal – 1 in 15 million. However, these are not all interesting facts that deserve your attention.
One of the most unexpected wins was received by an amateur bettor from Norway – Thomas Savirson. The man decided to put money on the fact that the Uruguayan scorer Luis Suarez would certainly bite someone during a football match with the Italian national team. Fans with experience, for sure, remember that one of the leaders of Barcelona then could not restrain his aggression. The victim was Italian Giorgio Chielini, who had bite marks on his shoulder. Accordingly, Mr. Savirson’s prediction turned out to be correct, which allowed the man to get a win – almost 6,000 kroons.
As you know, advertising plays an important role in the development of every business, and bookmaking is definitely not an exception to the rule. So, the most extraordinary advertising idea belongs to Sportingbet and football player Niklas Bendtner. During one of the matches, the Danish striker scored a goal, and then showed the fans the logo of the bookmaker’s office, depicted on his underpants. The marketing ploy was really successful, but the footballer himself was disqualified for his act.

The first and most interesting bets

Scientists know that the first predictions for sports were given in ancient Rome and Greece. References to betting can be seen in materials related to 17th and 18th century Britain and France.

Unusual sports betting that went down in world history:

Correct weather forecast in 13 cities. In 2010, shortly before Christmas, a certain Cliff Bryant went to the Ladbrokes bookmaker and entered into a bet that snow would fall in 13 cities in the north of England during the holidays. His assumption turned out to be correct: on Christmas Eve, it actually snowed in the settlements of Britain – for the first time in seven years. Due to the fact that Bryant made an express bet (multiplication of odds) and not a single bet, his winnings amounted to more than 7 million pounds (approximately $ 11 million). But the office staff gave him only 30 pounds, saying that the rate was accepted by the operator by mistake, and “weather” express trains are prohibited.
Elvis Presley VS aliens. One of the most ridiculous predictions in history is the following: American singer Elvis Presley will shoot down a UFO. An alien ship will land in Loch Ness, killing its famous monster. The coefficient for this event, invented by the bookmaker William Hill, was 14,000,000. Much later – in 2017, one of the British offices began to offer guests a bet that the king of rock and roll, who died in 1977, is still alive in reality.
Horse Racing. What could be unique about a horse race bet? The ratio of the amount of the dispute and the amount of winnings. In 1995, Ladbrokes paid out £210,000 in an event with quote 3072887. The winner bet only 5p. By the triggered multiplier, this win is the largest in history.

Video Highlights – Ireland beat France in 2023 Six Nations

Ireland remained on course to win a grand slam after getting result against France.

Ireland 32-19 France Result

A second bonus point win for Ireland in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship as they beat France 32-19 and deny the visitors a losing bonus. Watch the highlights from the Aviva Stadium.