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A heartwarming rags-to-riches story has emerged from the state of , where Pamela Arscott, a mother of five and a grandmother of ten from Franklin Park, Illinois, has won the top prize of $1 million (€925,800) on an instant ticket scratch-off.

Arscott shared the moment when she bought her life-changing $10 (€9.26) ticket at a Walmart in Addison. After absentmindedly putting the tickets inside her purse, she only remembered to scratch it the next morning.

Upon seeing the $1 million jackpot on the ticket, she initially thought it was a mistake and even had to wake one of her daughters, who was asleep, to ask her to check.

Excited and in disbelief, Arscott's daughter immediately went to the store to confirm the authenticity of their fortune. Once the store confirmed that they had indeed won a million dollars, they were over the moon.

This heartwarming story has gained significant public attention, especially after Arscott shared that she had lost her husband of 49 years just a few months before winning the jackpot.

She believes that the prize they received was a gift from her deceased husband.

Furthermore, scratch-off ticket winners are not just limited to Illinois. Similar stories have been reported from different states, such as in Kentucky, where a and an (€277,740) from another scratch-off game.

This heartwarming tale serves as a reminder that luck can strike in unexpected ways and offers hope to many struggling families, showing that dreams can become reality, even during the toughest of times.

Stay informed with the most recent announcements and news regarding the upcoming , which is proudly supported by Soft2Bet. The summit is set to be held in Budapest from the 2-4 September.

, the recently established iGaming brand under the umbrella of , is strategically expanding its presence in the market by entering into a partnership with the renowned online gaming platform .

On 2 July 2024, Hard Rock Digital released a statement on their website regarding the addition of 10 Aristocrat Interactive titles to their platform, including popular games such as Buffalo™, Buffalo Gold™, Timberwolf™, and Wild Lepre’Coins™. This development marks the expansion of Aristocrat Interactive’s reach to New Jersey, with discussions already underway to bring these games to other states as well.

Since its initial launch in August 2023, the highly-rated Real Money Gaming (RMG) application, Hard Rock Bet, has offered nearly 1000 games and provided a “sportsbook-only experience” that extends beyond New Jersey to include availability in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. The app has been made available to both Android and iOS users.

Despite its recent launch, Aristocrat Interactive has quickly gained popularity among players by providing connected experiences and customisable options that have thoroughly entertained and engaged its audience.

Grant Williams, SVP of Casino at Hard Rock Digital, commented on the addition of Aristocrat Interactive games to their platform, stating, “The addition of these popular Aristocrat Interactive games to Hard Rock Bet is yet another way that we’re entertaining our players like no one else can.”

Through this expansion, both Aristocrat Interactive and Hard Rock Bet aim to offer an enhanced gaming experience for online players, paving the way for further advancements in the iGaming industry.

Stay in the loop with the latest updates and news for the upcoming powered by Soft2Bet. The summit is scheduled to take place in Budapest from 2-4 September.

Until recently, the Gambling Commission maintained a relatively subdued presence as the regulator of a £15.1 billion industry that engages hundreds of thousands of Britons weekly. However, its recent decision to investigate election betting has thrust it into the spotlight, raising questions about its role and scope.

The investigation, which currently involves five Conservative members, one Labour candidate, and seven police officers, was initiated amidst an election campaign, . Some have criticized the Commission’s involvement during an election, labelling it as “political interference”. However, others argue that the main focus of the outrage should be those accused, with one Tory veteran stating, “The stupidity of it, they should have known better.”

The investigation was triggered by bookmakers who noticed a surge of interest in the July election just days before 22 May announcement. They are obligated to report any suspicious betting patterns to the Gambling Commission. This probe, which has overshadowed the final weeks of the campaign for Number 10, is a unique test of the Commission’s ability to conduct investigations independently, rather than in conjunction with sports governing bodies that enforce rules against match-fixing.

The Commission announced that it would collaborate with the Metropolitan Police to consider additional offences, such as misconduct in public office. However,under laws prohibiting cheating in betting. This approach is unusual for the Commission, which typically focuses more on social responsibility issues than on tackling cheating.

The Commission relies heavily on working with sports regulatory bodies due to its reluctance to prosecute independently. These bodies have strong rules in place, unlike the equivalent bodies for MPs and public officials, which lack clear rules on insider betting. The Commission clarified its position, stating that using confidential information to gain an unfair advantage in betting could constitute a criminal offence under Section 42 of the Gambling Act.

While the Commission has published guidance on this matter, there has been no public action in the past regarding political betting. In sports, suspicious bets are usually handled by the relevant governing body, which can impose sporting sanctions and refer a case to the Gambling Commission if it believes there is a criminal case to examine. The threshold for criminal proceedings is much higher than for imposing sporting sanctions.

The Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit is responsible for investigating suspicious bets and deciding whether to pursue a criminal case. Suspicious activity is typically detected through unusual betting activity or a whistleblower complaint. When a bookmaker identifies suspicious activity, it notifies its competitors through industry platforms. Other bookmakers then check their systems for similar patterns.

The Gambling Commission’s investigation into election betting has stirred controversy and raised questions about its role and capabilities. However, experts close to the betting industry argue that the Commission has responded appropriately to the issue. The Commission has a wealth of experience investigating sports betting integrity concerns, which it can draw upon in this investigation. Despite dealing with a small number of bets with relatively modest potential winnings, the Commission is well-equipped to investigate these instances given its role in regulating licensed operators handling high-value accounts placing bets daily. The Commission continues to regulate gambling in the interests of consumers and the wider public and is currently investigating potential offences related to the election date. As this is an ongoing investigation, the Commission cannot provide further details at this time.

In China, the authorities are facing a surge of illegal online gambling activities linked to the football tournament currently taking place in Germany, Euro 24.

In recent weeks, Chinese authorities have reported successful operations dismantling illegal online gambling activities and networks. Leading the charge, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau announced the arrest of 21 suspects in three separate operations. These efforts uncovered a complex network of illegal activities, including the creation of fake betting sites mimicking the official Euro 24 platform. These sites, cleverly designed to attract unsuspecting bettors with promises of high returns, instead led to financial losses.

In Chengdu, Sichuan Province, authorities apprehended two suspects accused of orchestrating a scheme via a WeChat group, allegedly amassing substantial bets with falsified betting odds.

In Shanghai, deceptive text messages falsely claiming recipients had won Euro 24 prizes were reported. These messages, if clicked, risked revealing personal information or extorting money under false pretences.

In total, 181 people were arrested by the police for gambling-related crimes between the months of January and May.

Hong Kong authorities mirrored , arresting 62 individuals involved in illegal gambling activities related to Euro 24. The charges ranged from conspiracy to commit bookmaking, to money laundering. The amount involved is reported to exceed HK$460 million ($58.9 million). The investigations are ongoing and backed by collaborative efforts with mainland China and international counterparts.

Thailand's fight against Euro 24-related illegal gambling also intensified. The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau targeted networks within the country, arresting several suspects involved in transnational gambling networks.

Recently, in Bangkok, Thai authorities executed Operation "SHUTDOWN EURO BET," resulting in the arrest of key figures managing a significant Chinese online gambling network. Seizures included luxury vehicles, large sums of cash, and various assets.