Tron (TRX) founder Justin Sun has pledged to donate $1 million towards Greta Thunberg’s anti-carbon crusade, in a move that has sparked derision in the crypto community.

Sun jumps on Greta’s misguided anti-carbon bandwagon

Sun’s pledge was in response to last week’s COP25 UN climate conference in Madrid, which ended in failure to agree on concrete action. On 18^th December, Sun tweeted:

“As a young entrepreneur, I share @GretaThunberg’s passion to change the world. Crypto will contribute immensely on reducing carbon footprint by implementing decentralized settlement. I would like to personally commit USD$1 Mil to @GretaThunberg ’s initiative. #cop25”

Switched-on crypto community aware climate is driven at solar and galactic level

However, reflecting the fact that the switched-on crypto community is increasingly aware of the misguided, extremely dangerous and out-dated attitudes of climate extremists like Thunberg and other ignorant fanatics, there is a growing backlash against Thunberg and her followers like Sun.

More specifically, each day more people become aware that increasing numbers of scientists around the world are speaking out and exposing the fraudulent claim that there is a ‘consensus’ that carbon is causing climate change (there is, of course, a consensus among people who are inputting the same inaccurate, incomplete data, into the same fundamentally flawed computer models).

Away from the ill-informed mainstream media hysteria and pathetic political game playing, more and more researchers are realising Earth’s climate is primarily driven by long-term solar cycles, which are themselves driven by even longer-term galactic cycles, and that CO2 is not driving climate change in any meaningful way.

Illustrating this is the fact that the IPCC’s own official data sets have now been expanded to include far more comprehensive solar forcing factors – data that has completely upended the traditional models that the CO2 brigade, championed by the ridiculous Thunberg, have based their entire position on.

It is important not to confuse issues here. Polluting our air and poisoning our oceans and land is suicidal, and needs to stop. Similarly, Trump-style outright hostility to anything to do with environmental stewardship is extremely dangerous and counter-productive.

Thunberg, Sun et al are useful puppets, distracting from the real impending crisis

But, politicians are clearly happy to let Thunberg, the mainstream media, and misguided cheerleaders like Justin Sun, carry on fueling the carbon hysteria as a way to distract from what is a very real climate crisis – one driven by forces that are far beyond human control. That crisis is part of a natural, galactic-level cycle that operates like clockwork.

There’s a reason for all the deep underground bunker construction around the world, for Jeff Bezos hollowing out a mountain just a few miles from his Blue Origin space launch facility in Texas, for the global seed vaults and knowledge repositories (including Israel’s recent failed attempt to land a repository on the moon), for the submerged cities being found all over the world, for the hidden ruins of metropolises being discovered under rainforests using the latest LIDAR technology, and for the vast ancient underground cities in Turkey.

We now have an inkling of why out-of-place artifacts, that seem far too advanced for their age, are being dug up by archaeologists around the world, for why advanced machining marks are found on megalithic stone structures on the Giza plateau, Pumapunku and countless other megalithic sites, and for why cave art ‘stick men’ are now being reinterpreted as highly accurate diagrams of massive plasma discharges in the atmosphere.

Thousands of people are now pondering the mysterious changes at the so-called Younger Dryas boundary, asking why over half the mega fauna (large animals, including humans) suddenly died out in the blink of an eye around 12,500 years ago in both North and South America, but more species survived on the other side of the planet in Africa. Many are still wondering why the thousands of flash-frozen mammoths have never been explained, or why there are thousands of mammoths, mastodons, giant ground sloths, woolly rhinos and other large creatures collected in gigantic bone deposits, seemingly in water drainage catchment locations, all with smashed bones and signs of trauma, all over the world.

People are pondering why ancient maps show the ice-free coastlines of Antarctica, and why cultures and religions all around the world share the same tales of global catastrophe. Still others have looked at Google Earth and wondered why all the major rivers in the world seem to continue as deep channels for hundreds of miles out to sea – despite the fact that fresh water is less dense than salt water, and couldn’t possibly have carved them… indicating those channels were carved when it was land – on all sides of continents. Some have noted ‘impact’ proxies in a ‘black mat’ layer, across the planet, dated to around 12,500 years ago.

And, is it coincidence that, if we go by Plato’s dates, the destruction of the ‘mythical’ Atlantis was roughly 12,500 years ago, or that the ancient Egyptians (from whom Plato’s relative got the story of Atlantis, funnily enough) categorically insisted they were merely the descendants of a much more sophisticated and advanced civilisation that had existed in a prior ‘Golden Age’, or that the much-hyped Mayan calendar ended a great cycle in 2012?

Still others are asking why the CIA classified certain literature dealing with magnetic pole shifts back in the 1960’s, why the authorities seemed determined to shut down certain theories that were being floated and supported by some of the greatest minds of the 20^th century, and why vast resources were spent to go to the moon in a series of missions, named ‘Apollo’ after a sun god, to collect tiny glass spheres that littered the moon’s surface… spheres that similarly litter the Earth’s surface.

While, right now, those agencies observing the Earth’s magnetic poles and fields are recording movement and weakening that is unprecedented in recorded history. We could go on, and on, but if you’re paying attention you’ve probably got the gist. And, Greta and Justin, it’s got absolutely nothing to do with carbon dioxide.

Of course, the chances of anyone like Greta actually taking the time to delve into this subject, to watch the hundreds of videos, read any of the thousands of books and peer-reviewed scientific papers that strongly suggest our climate is governed by a solar/galactic-driven cycle, are remote. But, if you are curious, we’d recommend starting with the video below, and watching it all before you form an opinion.

This article features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.

2019 was quite an eventful year for iGaming, sports betting, esports, blockchain and AI, but what can we look forward to in 2020?

iGaming and Sports Betting

Scandinavia continues its falls from grace

The Swedish market will continue to remain challenging for operators, as it finally dawns on them that there’s no going back to the days of easy revenue. However, we expect the Swedish regulator will, at long last, start to be a little more consistent as a consensus regarding rules starts to establish itself.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Norway, amendments to the payments ban on unlicensed operators means doing business could become practically impossible for offshore operators. In Denmark, the massive tax hike set for 2021 and increased scrutiny will likely make the country considerably less attractive for operators.

The year of the crypto casinos

Bitcoin prices may remain subdued, but the sheer utility and easy of gambling with cryptocurrencies and tokens, and the large investment from major operators will make crypto casinos and sportsbooks much more accessible and popular. Those operators still ignoring cryptos and blockchain will fall further behind the curve.

We do, however, expect regulators will launch a clampdown on crypto gaming, as they start to reach a wider market and draw increased media scrutiny, especially unlicensed offshore crypto lotteries advertising in the UK and other highly regulated jurisdictions.

Massive investment in US

As yet more states legalise online gambling we will see investment from operators, supplies and affiliates continue to ramp-up. FanDuel and DraftKings will further strengthen their dominance of the market, with FanDuel perhaps establishing a lead if the Flutter Entertainment/The Stars Group merger goes according to plan.

States like New York, that have seen disappointing sports betting results due to their messy piecemeal legislation may well look at amending things, more along the lines of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania models by the end of the year.

At some point in 2020, we also expect the first real calls for more gambling advertising and marketing restrictions from pressure groups.

Brexit confusion in the UK gives gambling a breathing space

Though Brexit will probably technically go ahead at the end of January, the mess it sparks will last throughout the year. On the plus side for the gambling industry, it likely means politicians will have bigger things to worry about, so it may give them some breathing space. However, if things go along the lines of the worst predictions, and a messy Brexit triggers an economic crisis, and even the break-up of the United Kingdom itself, things could get very bad for all businesses, gambling included.

Philippines bows to Chinese pressure

Though Filipino hardman President Duterte has so far managed to resist Chinese pressure to shutdown the country’s online gambling industry, we doubt this front will hold up through 2020 – China simply wields too much economic and military clout in the region.

Malta’s future in doubt

As more alternative jurisdictions regulate and offer online gambling licenses (especially high value countries like Germany), the issues accessing banking services continue, the political fallout over the Panama Papers and Daphne Caruana Galizia murder continue to draw unwanted international scrutiny, and the skills crisis continues to be exacerbated by rapidly rising rents and living costs, 2020 could well be the peak year for the Maltese iGaming industry.

Esports

Growth continues but with a corporate flavour

The phenomenal growth of global esports will continue, though the nature of the sector will change as more corporate interests and sponsors get involved. As the esports fan base matures, we expect to see more betting operators give it the attention it deserves.

In-game advertising and rebrands

We also expect to see much more crossover between the real world and virtual worlds, as advertisers wakeup to the possibilities of in-game advertising and marketing.

Continuing the trend we saw in 2019, more esports organisations will rebrand, again some of this will be influenced by corporate pressures.

Educational uptake

With esports already establishing a firm foothold in the US collegiate sports world, we predict that educational institutions around the wolrd will increasingly realise the value of having a strong esports presence, for both attracting students and corporate support.

Blockchain and AI

The tax man comes knocking

As we’ve recently seen in both the US and Denmark, tax authorities will increasingly target individual crypto investors and users, demanding what will often be unrealistic amounts of data and proof. This is almost inevitable as the slow and clumsy legacy tax apparatus of states tries to get a grip on a world that is entirely alien to it. This will cause a lot of friction between, individuals, companies and authorities over the coming year, but we don’t see it getting sorted quickly.

Libra and the digital renminbi

We don’t see Libra overcoming political opposition and being in a position to launch anytime soon, and it seems almost certain the People’s Bank of China will pip it to the post with its digital renminbi. What will this mean for the balance of power in the global digital economy? Its too early to tell, but we reckon President Trump, as anti-crypto as he has been up until know, will probably fire off some undiplomatic tweets and nearly start World War III… again.

And talking about the US…

We expect the Securities and Exchange Commission to continue getting in the way of innovation, holding the US back when it comes to the digital asset economy, while Europe and Asia steal a further lead. Though we still expect US companies to be at the forefront of blockchain tech development for the foreseeable future.

If an orderly Brexit is achieved, without a catastrophic breakup of the United Kingdom, it is easy to see that the UK could become something of a digital asset hub, as the City of London looks for a way to shore-up its dominance in the post-Brexit world.

VR, AR, 5G, AI and quantum computing

Of course, there’s sure to be plenty of exciting developments on the technical side of things too – not least in the fields of virtual and augmented reality and artificial intelligence. The roll out of 5G will enable two way data transfers of unprecedented weight, enabling true Virtual Reality to go mainstream for gaming and broadcasts.

Meanwhile, to enable these changes we expect 2020 will see the mass adoption of decentralised infrastructure systems, particularly regarding video.

And, finally, if 2020 does end up being the year that quantum computing goes commercial, then all bets are off the table, and we’ll probably want to get ready for some kind of Terminator-style war against the machines!

With Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party winning its biggest parliamentary majority since Margaret Thatcher in 1987, the last chance of stopping Brexit and saving the United Kingdom has vanished.

Labour: Sabotaged by its own leader

Jeremy Corbyn’s refusal to step down, and hand leadership of his party to someone more acceptable to his own MPs and the British public, has condemned his party to the wilderness and assured the certainty of Brexit and the disintegration of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Time and again Labour MPs and supporters have urged Corbyn to step down for the sake of his party and the country, but time and again his own ego has prevailed. Only ever party leader because of the dysfunctional British system for electing party leaders (where only paid-up party members can vote – which, in Labour’s case, unfortunately consists mainly of washed up old hard left activists), Corbyn will be remembered as playing an instrumental part in facilitating Brexit and the destruction of the nation.

As has been noted many times over the past 24 hours, this election wasn’t won by Johnson because most people like him, but rather because people truly hate Jeremy Corbyn.

Scotland: SNP seize almost complete control

Reflecting the alienation from Westminster felt by the majority of Scots, who have always opposed Brexit, the Scottish National Party wiped the floor, seizing almost complete control of the country. It now seems certain, as we previously predicted here at AYO.NEWS, that a new Scottish independence referendum will be held in the very near future – maybe even before the end of January, when the UK is now expected to exit the European Union.

Liberal values crushed by populism

Despite enjoying increasing support since the 2016 Brexit referendum, the Liberal Democrats were easily brushed aside, with party leader Jo Swinson losing her Dumbartonshire seat to the Scottish National Party, and promptly stepping down. Whether the Liberals lost votes due to their supporters tactically voting for Labour in a vain attempt to keep the Conservatives out remains to be seen, but the bottom line is that the only openly anti-Brexit party has now ceased to exist as a fighting force capable of putting up any meaningful resistance.

What now?

Boris Johnson, in true Trump-style, will no doubt now boast loudly of his “stonking mandate” for Brexit, and with his increased parliamentary majority, will force his version of Brexit (whatever that version is) through in January.

All industries, including iGaming, can now expect to have to deal with all the difficulties we’ve previously discussed, from travel and employment complications and expenses, to mountains of extra paperwork and administration costs, and an uncertain regulatory environment (see UK GOV’T URGES GAMBLING OPERATORS TO PREPARE FOR ‘NO-DEAL’ BREXIT NOW).

Of course, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, one of the world’ major gaming industry hubs, faces some of the most immediate and potentially dislocating issues – particularly regarding staff living in Spain and commuting into the British territory. Crown dependencies like the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney may also find things get complicated – as they are not part of European Union, but enjoyed a kind of defacto ‘membership’ through their association with the United Kingdom (which they also aren’t technically part of).

That other Mediterranean gaming hub, Malta, could also be in for a shock. In April the Maltese government issued a warning that Brexit could spell the end for UK-facing operators on the island (read more).

But, all of these issues may well pale in comparison to the problems that could emerge if, or should we say ‘when’, Scotland makes a bid for independence and when the inevitable reunification vote comes in Northern Ireland…

The Independent summed things up well: 

This article features opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.

AYO.NEWS’ Simona Pinterova talks with Jiawan (Jill) Ni from the Binance Charity Foundation, at DELTA Summit 2019, Malta.

Jiawan explains how the Binance Charity Foundation is showing the world that blockchain and cryptocurrencies can be a powerful force for good. For example, highlighting how blockchain and crypto tech can help the world’s poorest and most isolated populations access critical financial services for the first time.

Find out more about the Binance Charity Foundation at https://www.binance.charity/

Stay tuned for more exclusive videos from the DELTA Summit 2019, Malta’s official blockchain, AI and emerging tech event.

Sponsored content: 

The Norwegian gambling law is ambiguous and leaves plenty of room for uncertainty.

As is the case in many countries, gambling is overseen by a government run monopoly, where Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are the two main companies permitted to take wagers from Norwegian players.

Although that doesn’t stop Norwegians gambling on internationally licensed sites, far from it in fact. Despite the government’s attempt to block transactions and IPs of unlicensed casinos there are still several online casinos to choose from for any potential Norwegian player.

In reality it simply represents a mass of funds that aren’t collected as tax in Norway, but instead leave the country’s borders, lining the pockets of international operators.

Winner and losers

At present it’s the players that are the losers in this situation. Norwegians play on international gambling sites and the authorities are actually working against them as they seek to block transactions, causing more harm rather than protecting the players.

Responsible gambling shouldn’t be taken light heartedly, and a regulated market could solve many of the existing issues in that particular area. With clear laws in place for anyone offering their services in Norway, as in their neighbouring countries, player protection would be made easier to oversee.

The larger international gambling operators are already engaged in several markets where this is a reality, and have proven time and again their ability to adapt their services to alternative markets. There stands no reason why Norway would be any different.

On the other hand, from a social welfare perspective it’s easy to see how the existing monopoly might be the best option if the government manages to ensure unregulated operators remain a non-viable option. Something they have failed at so far.

Room for both

We have however seen some compromises in other countries, allowing room for both state owned and private businesses to operate concurrently. For Norway though, the most logical point of departure is to look toward their neighbours, Sweden and Denmark, to get a feel of how this could possibly pan out.

Denmark regulated their market back in 2012 and Sweden followed suit in 2019. So far, this has shown that both private and state run gambling companies can exist in harmony. In Sweden for example, between January and October 2019, close to $300 million was paid in taxes on gambling. It’s safe to say then that there are many benefits to deregulating the market to allow room for operators outside if a country monopoly.

What can be done?

It’s no secret that we, as humans, are moving towards a more digitalised world. It’s probable that the gaming monopolies’ offline revenues are increasingly likely to decrease year on year.

With online competition becoming increasingly tougher it’s fair to say that international operators are likely to take a large portion of money wagered online against state run monopoly enterprises.

If the Norwegian government does seek to regulate the gambling market and allow other players to enter the field Norwegian authorities could be set to reap millions in tax revenue.

It’s no surprise that betting and casino companies want to see an overhaul of the current , seeking to be a benefit to Norwegian players and lead to an increase in tax income for the state.

Sponsored content

Trailblazing Swedish iGaming affiliate Leadstar Media is leading the way when it comes to expanding beyond the UK market.

Stockholm-based affiliate and lead generation experts Leadstar Media began life with a firm foothold in the Swedish and Scandinavian markets before successfully expanding their operations to the UK.

Now they have a solid grounding in one of Europe’s most lucrative markets they’re setting their sights even further afield, looking to expand into more global markets, particularly in the Americas and Africa.

Explaining their reasoning for this recent bold move Leadstar CEO Eskil Kvarnström said:

“It’s not that we want to shy away from our traditional markets in Scandinavia and the UK, far from it. Now we have established ourselves in the UK and are continuing to grow we saw opportunities to expand our operations even further. With a strong and experienced team of experts and content writers we realised the potential to utilise our faculties and target more English speaking markets where we see fundamental promise. Diversity is a key foundation to our ever expanding business and we’re always on the lookout for new and exciting opportunities.”

As one of the oldest and most well established markets in the world, gambling in the UK has been legal since the mid-nineteenth century. It’s no wonder that with some of the most experienced and continuously operating betting companies in the world, and with an entrenched culture of betting, such fierce competition would naturally transfer to the UK online betting market. That’s why burgeoning markets outside of the UK hold such appeal.

For example, one of their foremost English language brands BetBlazers.com has firmly had its sights set on the UK market since its inception. However now they are using its authority and reputation to expand to other English speaking markets in order to cast a wider net, and to offer their services to a more extensive audience. A prime example can be seen in their betting companies in Kenya page which allows users to find reliable and trustworthy betting sites fast and effectively.

Product Director Jacob Ljunggren clarifies:

“We originally established sites such as BetBlazers and BookiesBonuses in order to tap into the UK market, and while we saw a positive response from our intended audience, from quite early on we began to see visitors from English speaking countries from all over the world, as well as across Europe.”

The company’s first, and to this day leading brand in the UK BookiesBonuses.com, in particular has seen massive interest from across Europe, which has led them to create country specific pages such as their best online betting sites in Germany portal. It’s an important step in not only understanding user behaviour, but in being able to provide valuable services that meet the needs of a growing English speaking audience in Europe and further afield.

The saturation and intensive competition in the UK market can often seem daunting to many affiliates, but rather than discourage burgeoning businesses it should demonstrate that while there is value in traditional, it also pays to appreciate development and target diversity.