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Is using machine translation a viable option for your business?

Elliot
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Is using machine translation a viable option for your business?

With machine translation cheap, easy, quick and readily available for anyone with internet connection, more and more businesses are using machine translation tools for a wide range of reasons. But machine translation also has an unfortunate reputation for being a little unreliable. So where are the areas in which your business can make use use free translation, and what are the areas for which you should turn to the professionals?

Machine translation has come very far in recent years

Some of the more recent developments in AI and machine translation are very impressive. The Pilot Earpiece, which is strongly reminiscent of the universal translator as seen in Star Trek, promises “A world without language barriers” to users. As the world’s first translation earpiece, the Pilot can translate one language into another and vise versa in real time.

Meanwhile Google and Facebook are both venturing into the world of AI for their translation software. Google’s GNMT (Google Neural Machine Translation) has been called “really really accurate” by the Washington Post, and Wired have gone so far as to say that the Facebook translation tool “could lead to translations that actually make sense”.

The pros

The pros of machine translation are fairly straightforward; most softwares cost nothing to use, they deliver fast results, and they’re easy to use. On the topic of machine translation, London Translations, a professional translation company, acknowledge: “Sometimes machine translations are the only option if speed is of the essence.”

Indeed, the savings alone that machine translation represents is enough of an incentive for some businesses. They won’t have to foot the bill to train new staff, hire bilingual staff, or outsource and hire professional translators. That, combined with the billable work-hours saved by just copying, pasting and pressing a button, must make the relative cost of anything but machine translation seem high.

The cons 

Unfortunately, the translations that machines produce are limited, and not always the most reliable.

Forget about the 6,000 – 7,000 languages thought to exist; there’s no automated translation tech in the world that is an expert in the comparatively small 1,000 languages that are economically important in the world today. In fact, the most that the more popular online tools, like Google Translate, can handle is about 100.

Even one of the researchers who worked on the GNMT team said that the software “doesn’t have a model of how the world actually works yet.” If a machine with language skills has no common sense, why should we trust it with our high stakes corporate translations?

When can you use which kinds of translation? 

If you’re a small business in need of language skills, the expenses associated with hiring a translator on a regular basis, or hiring bi/multilingual staff may be too much for your company to take. If that is the case, there are certain, low-pressure situations in which machine translation could prove useful.

For example, if you need to translate the occasional email off the cuff, then machine translation could very well give you enough information to get by. If you need to translate a competitors website for internal analysis, then automated translation should work effectively enough for you to do your job.

If you’re looking to have regular contact with speakers of other languages on a casual business basis (provided they aren’t potential customers), then it may be worth investing in foreign language speaking staff, or training staff in the relevant languages.

However, if you are planning on branching out into international markets, then there is no substitute for professional translation services. Translators of quality can not only translate at expert speed and to the utmost accuracy, but they will also localise your translation to your target audience, which is vital. Never forget the mistake made by American Airlines when their non-localised ad campaign telling customers to “Fly in Leather”, a slogan designed to promote their new leather seats, translated in certain Spanish speaking parts of the world as “Fly Naked.”

Entrepreneurship Lessons to Learn

Elliot
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Entrepreneurship Lessons to Learn

Many successful entrepreneurs have learnt several valuable lessons that have significantly changed their start up business. In retrospect, some wish they had learned the lessons sooner. We’ve put together some of the top tips entrepreneurs wished they had when they first started.

  • Mentors Are Vital

Before launching your business, you should find a mentor with extensive experience in your industry niche or field.  Having a valuable mentor will enable you to match up to the high expectations placed on you and will also challenge you to reach your full potential.

It’s likely that, like most other new entrepreneurs, you are prone to making common mistakes. However, having a trustworthy mentor by your side can prevent any expensive business decisions.

It is imperative to put your ego aside and just listen. While choosing a mentor, keep in mind that the perfect mentor is not someone who is just successful but is someone who can provide you knowledge from their life experience and help you steer through the obstacles on your path.

A good mentor can teach you business values and tactics to overcome problems. Seeking guidance from a person who has industry knowhow and experience will help you to take action, rather than just worrying. Having somebody by your side willing to challenge you and raise the stakes will allow you to raise your game to another level.

As a beginner, there’s always going to be challenges and issues to overcome. The key to overcoming these obstacles is to remain true to yourself and listen carefully, as well as following the guidelines of your mentor.

  • Branding is Important

Many people think that branding only applies to their products or services. However, that’s only half true as it’s also about the person representing the company.

To put this in context of the success of your business, you need to stand out from your competitors. If you want investors, you have to provide them something they would be interested in so they’d consider investing in your venture.

Business is all about relationships, and clients are looking for much more than just the service you offer. They need to feel comfortable and trust the person they are seeking services from, especially if you are new in the market.

You need to ensure that you are well-informed about your services and products. The more knowledge you have in your field, the more trustworthy and powerful you appear to customers.  At the same time, reliability will help you market your services/products and drive customer satisfaction.

You need to keep in mind that we live in times where everything is guided by opinion and perception. Being well dressed keeps you appealing to clients. This can also form personal branding as when you feel good about yourself, you tend to feel more confident; and it is no secret that confidence leads to success. This is just an instance of branding yourself; you can try your own ways to feel more confident. The best part is that there are no rules and guidelines about branding yourself. Go ahead and do your own research and development, anything that works to improve you and makes you feel more confident works. Remember that your business is a brand and so are you.

  • Marketing is a Strong Word

You can have a great idea for a product or service, but if others don’t know about it, it’s not going to work.

Getting people to your website or shouting about your products on social media are a great way to get the word out to your target market, but there is an art to it.

Here’s the golden rule: target the right audience for your niche marketplace. This is important, for instance, you don’t want to be selling fat-burners to thin people. As a start-up business, PR is key to successful marketing. You need to make people aware that your product or services exist.

Strategies you implement to market your business can lead to more familiarity and favourability towards your brand name amongst your target audience through word of mouth, social media and getting featured on several vendor websites that highlight your services.

It may seem simple and ineffective but word of mouth can be an excellent way to build trust toward your brand, particularly within tight knit communities. This is why you must always place great emphasis on providing exceptional service to your clients and aim to leave them with an unforgettable experience.

Social media has become an excellent platform, that has immense business value. With the right strategy, you can access millions of potential customers in minutes.

Learn how to utilise social media platforms and create a stronger online presence to market your services or products. Engage people and you’ll notice the effect on sales.

  • Having Emergency Funds Gives You Security

About 80% of start-ups fail in first few years due to financial instability. You can stave off such scenarios by planning for it beforehand and having emergency funds reserved for your business. During the early stages, businesses need to invest and it’s very easy to run out of funds in the quest of meeting all your requirements. It’s crucial to have reserve funds and more importantly, know where to get help if you need it. You can opt for alternative business fund such as Invoice finance, cash flow finance etc, as a great way to fill in your cash gap between business goals and reality. Look for a reputable business finance provider who can provide financial products such as cash flow finance, asset finance and invoice finance that are best suited for your business.

  • Work Until Your Idols Become Rivals

Keep in mind that there’s always someone who is working just as hard as you or even harder. Make sure you’re on top of your game.

You need discipline, commitment and dedication to become a successful entrepreneur. There are always going to be people who don’t believe in your vision and they’re not worth bothering about. As humans we’re bound to make mistakes, which is how we learn and improve. There have been numerous success stories that started with mistakes and failure, but the key is to always keep fighting. Never back down or accept defeat in your pursuit.

In order to go ahead and realise your vision, you have to remove the negatives in your life and surround yourself with like-minded people. You need positive people who support you to truly succeed.

Find the right fuel for your business and it will sky-rocket you to success.

Resources businesses can offer their employees

Elliot
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Resources businesses can offer their employees

Increasingly, the lines between time spent at work and time spent outside of work are becoming blurred. It used to be the case that we went to work for a fixed number of hours every week, and then used our free time for things such as exercise, self-improvement, evening classes and domestic tasks, as well as leisure activities and just plain relaxing.

Now, we are all working longer hours and taking our work home with us, but the trade-off is that we expect greater flexibility and in-work benefits that help us to manage our out-of-work needs. These changes are enabled by the way that the private sector is taking on more areas that were once the responsibility of the state, such as healthcare and education. This situation can ultimately be made to work for both employers and employees if businesses put careful thought into the best resources that they offer their staff.

Better benefits 

These resources fall under the general heading of in-work benefits. Financial incentives such as higher wages, bonuses and overtime are always welcome, of course, but many SMEs simply don’t have the budget to effectively offer their employees more money. Thankfully, there are other ways to make your team feel valued and rewarded. Non-financial incentives can sometimes even work better as they are less divisive, more personal and longer-lasting. A surprise bonus in one month’s pay packet is all very well, but the opportunity to learn a new skill can be of benefit for a lifetime, and can help the recipient advance their career so that they are regularly earning more money each month – and, of course, a more capable and skilled employee is of greater benefit to the company.

Empowering employees 

Offering learning schemes and programs can also give employees greater self-confidence and can empower them to achieve more, to everyone’s benefit. Think about what skills it would benefit your employees to learn, and look around for a provider that your company can partner with. The Knowledge Academy, for example, offer courses in IT, business management and project management training both for individuals and company workforces as whole. Obviously, the courses offered should relate to the sector that your company works in in order to give the best advantage for the company and for the kind of person who wants to work for you.

Healthy and happy 

Free or reduced gym membership is another common benefit that companies offer their employees, and giving your staff the opportunity to look after their physical health benefits both parties. Longer working hours in office situations often mean less opportunities to exercise while stress mounts up, resulting in more cases of obesity and high blood pressure, as well as absenteeism and general poor health.

Health-based resources are a good thing, but why stop at the gym? Yoga, running classes and even weekend five-a-side football matches are all worthy alternatives. Looking after your employees’ mental health is just as important as encouraging them to take care of their bodies, so why not think about offering meditation or mindfulness sessions? At the end of the day (or even in the lunch break!), everyone should be able to choose the method of staying healthy that works best for them. To this end, you could consider offering wellness vouchers that can be used in a variety of ways. This approach is also fairer as it doesn’t discriminate against employees with disabilities or other special needs.

Insurance incentives

Workplace health insurance plans are another great incentive to keep staff loyal and attract the skilled, self-motivated workers that you need. Again, there’s no reason to stop at health insurance, as other forms of insurance could be just as valid. One could look at workplace pension plans. It’s now compulsory to offer some kind of workplace pension, but obviously some are better than others. An exceptional pension scheme can be a great way to attract and retain employees, but be sure to let them know about the extra benefits that you are offering.

Offering employee benefits is a great way to improve morale and so increase productivity. It also tends to reduce staff turnover as employees are more loyal, not only because the company offers them resources that are useful to them but also because they feel valued and part of the team. Being able to learn new skills and improve one’s health through work is empowering and motivating. As a result, everyone benefits, not just today but also tomorrow and further into the future.

Will I have to pay tax on a lottery win?

Elliot
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Will I have to pay tax on a lottery win?

“Yeah, but they’ll lose half of that in taxes.” It’s something you hear all the time after people win the lottery. You might have said it yourself. But is it true, or is it unnecessarily cynical?

Lottery winnings can be a huge amount of money, so you may expect them to be taxed in much the same way as a large salary. The truth is, there is no official tax on lottery winnings, but that doesn’t mean some of your prize income won’t go to HMRC in the long run.

Lottery winnings are not taxed, but…

Officially, there is no HMRC tax on lottery winnings. The government body’s Capital Gains Tax page makes that clear, naming any income from “betting, lottery or pools winnings” as tax exempt. So you are free to enjoy games such as lotteries, bingo not on Gamstop, or table games at any time.

This may be surprising, as other countries’ tax collectors do take money from tax winnings. In the USA, for example, lottery winnings are taxed as ordinary income, meaning 39.6% goes to the IRS.

Fortunately for UK residents, even winnings on foreign lotteries will not be subject to taxes from HMRC. People in the UK can play the eurojackpot online and take home 100% of their winnings. A eurojackpot player in, say, Portugal would have to pay 20% of that to the government.

Despite their nontaxable status, it is entirely likely that you will end up paying taxes on your lottery winnings once you put them in the bank. One way this could happen is through taxes on your savings account. An Independent Savings Account (ISA) is limited to £20,000 per year, likely to be a tiny fraction of your jackpot winnings. Anything over that will be subject to capital gains tax. Your options are either to put your money in a savings account that doesn’t accrue interest, or put your money in other kinds of investments.

Where you could lose the most money in taxes though, comes not through what you do with your money while you’re alive, but what happens to it when you die.

Inheritance tax could mean you lose big 

Known by those who oppose it as the “death tax”, inheritance tax is currently set at 40% of everything above £325,000. This may not affect everyone who dies, but it can hugely decrease the amount of wealth lottery winners pass onto their descendants.

The rules differ depending on your marital status. As this helpful Money Saving Expert guide explains, when one partner dies, they receive all their inheritance tax free. The living partner consequently doubles her or his tax-free inheritance allowance. When the second partner dies, they can pass on £750,000 tax-free.

If we’re dealing with lotto jackpot numbers in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds, inheritance tax could take a huge chunk of your winnings. If you win £150 million, for example, you would have to pay £59,870,000 to the government when you die. This significantly restricts the amount you can leave to your family and friends in your will.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that a simple way to avert this would be to give those you love presents before you die. But that may be more complicated than it sounds. 

Be careful about giving presents to family 

In 2006, 83 year-old Bob Bradley became Wales’ oldest lotto jackpot winner. In a heartwarming gesture, Bradley donated most of his £3.5 million winnings to charity, and spent the rest on presents for his friends and family. “I haven’t kept any money for myself,” he said at the time. “I can just give my family all they ever wanted.”

He bought his son a £70,000 Mercedes Benz, his grandson a £500,000 home, his great grandson a £25,000 motorhome, and his great granddaughter an £8.50 rabbit (that was all she wanted).

One year later, he passed away, and that was when the trouble began for his family. Although Mr Bradley was not taxed when he received the £3.5 million, his family were facing 40% inheritance tax on the presents he bought them.

In a bid to stop people cheating inheritance tax, HMRC considers any gifts given up to seven years before an individual’s death to be inheritance. If Bob Bradley had lived to be 90, his presents would have been tax-free. But since he died just one year after buying the presents, his family had to pay up.

As The Telegraph explains, the most someone can receive as a gift before inheritance tax is applied is £3,000. Bradley’s great granddaughter won’t have to pay anything on her £8.50 rabbit, but Bradley’s grandson will face a significant fee for his £500,000 house.

The key takeaway from this story is this: spend all you like on your family, but don’t think it will help you avoid inheritance tax. If you’re buying something big, make sure you live seven years afterwards.

Buying a masterpiece: How to find art with the largest investment potential

Elliot
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Buying a masterpiece: How to find art with the largest investment potential

Buying works of art is continually proving itself to be one of the most smart and reliable investment decisions there is. In the seven years since 2010, seven paintings have sold for more than $100 million at auction. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Untitled” (1982) was the latest to join that exclusive group. The expressionist painting sold to Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa this May. Yusaku plans to display the work in a museum, but if he chooses to sell it years down the line, there’s no doubt he’d make a huge return.

It’s clear that art investment can be lucrative, but this is only true if investors buy the right pieces. How can you tell which artworks will be worth millions, and which will just gather dust? Figuring this out is crucial to successful art investment. It isn’t easy, but thankfully there are a few guidelines you can follow to help you find the right masterpiece.

 

Art that explores political and societal issues of the era

There’s a reason Basquiat’s “Untitled” (1982) sold for such a healthy sum. The artist himself died when he was just 27, giving him an immediate status as a cult figure. He was a friend of fellow $100 million-club artist Andy Warhol and, let’s not forget, a great artist in his own right.

While these factors may have helped drive up the price, the most important reason his art is so treasured is its political value. Basquiat’s work captures the frustration, anger and despair that African Americans experienced in his era in an urgent and creative way.

Any art that similarly encapsulates political moments or movements has the potential to sell just as big. Picasso’s “Guernica”, for example, responded to General Franco’s fascist rule in Spain, while Patricia Piccinini’s sculptures challenge genetic engineering.

At the moment, some of the best political artwork is grappling with the harsh realities of the refugee crisis. Take Japanese multimedia artist E.B. Itso, who investigates the idea that refugees “shed” a layer of their past in his “Sheddings” series. Art like this is likely to acquire value in the coming years, as good political art traditionally does.

 

Artists with an instantly recognisable style

Another money-making aspect of Basquiat’s “Untitled” (1982) is the painter’s hugely idiosyncratic style. With his roots in New York graffiti culture, Basquiat took many techniques from the streets with him when he moved into the more traditional realm of expressionist painting, giving his work a uniquely recognisable edge.

Artists with recognisable styles often create works that greatly increase in value over time for a variety of reasons. For example, if the artist was ahead of their time, and their style eventually gains appreciation or imitators, they will be hailed as a visionary. Perhaps more likely, it will just gain value because it is beautiful, moving or provocative, and difficult to replicate.

British Painter Ian Davenport is a pioneer of the “poured lines” technique. His deceptively simple work is layered and complex, with incredible technique. No one else makes paintings like these. Indian artist Prabhavathi Meppayil takes minimalism to a new level, using the tools of a goldsmith to create tiny notches in panels.

 

Artists at the forefront of their movement 

If you are convinced of the merits of art investment, and you’re planning to spend a lot of money, perhaps the safest bet is to buy artworks by artists who are leaders of their movements. Picasso, widely considered the leader of the Cubist movement, is the only artist to have sold more than one painting for over $100 million. In fact, he has sold three. To be completely accurate, he didn’t sell them for this much money, the paintings’ owners did.

More recent movement leaders include Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin of the Young British Artist movement, both of whose work is highly lucrative; and Edvard Munch, a key Expressionist figure, whose iconic painting “The Scream” sold for $119.9 million in 2012.

The artworks don’t even have to be the best each artist has produced. Picasso’s “Garçon à la Pipe” sold for $104 million in 2004, yet most critics consider it a below average effort from the great artist.

Getting in on the ground floor with a new, up and coming movement may be the best way to make returns with this approach. Digital art, for example, is on the rise. In years to come, the pioneers of this genre may find their names on the biggest-selling artists list. And whoever bought their paintings while they were cheap will make a huge return on investment.

New regulations regarding the marketing of credit and private loans in Norway

Elliot
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New regulations regarding the marketing of credit and private loans in Norway

As of the 1st of July 2017, the Norwegian government has issued new regulations regarding the marketing of products in the private financial sector, specifically loans without security in property or personal assets stemming from bank-loans or credit cards.

Background

Norwegians have acquired increasingly higher debts from unsecured loans over the last decades, and in 2016 alone the total growth in debts of this type reached 15% according to the Norwegian Central Bank. For a lot of people these kinds of loans bare with them a higher degree of personal economic freedom, but are at the same time a source of serious financial issues for some people. Therefore, it is the Financial Departments opinion that the market for these products is not functioning properly, and should be regulated. In the new statements from the government, specifically two issues will be handled by the new regulations:

The aggressive marketing made by the banks and credit institutions, in which they emphasize benefits such as quick granting of loans, immediate transfers of the money to be borrowed, and the simplicity of the application processes, intended to make people apply for loans based on these benefits regardless of whether they need the loans or not
The fact that many people are granted new and expensive loans, even though they are already heavily in debt and unlikely to be able to handle the expensive interests

The new regulations and their implications for consumers and banks

Regulation about the billing of credited debt

The Norwegian Government emphasizes a need for the consumers to attain a better overview of the entire debt they are obliged to pay for a certain loan or credit card. To facilitate this, the Financial Department has made a regulation which requires the financial institutions to inform the individual debtor about the total amount of the debt that he or she has, on every single bill. For the consumer, this means that on each bill he or she receives from the bank, there will be two numbers: both the one which is to be paid this month, and the amount of the entire debt that is owed. In this way, the consumers will attain a better insight into the amount of money actually owed, and is meant to make them more aware of whether or not it is a good decision for them to apply for new loans.

The new law about the information of individual debt

Today, the financial institutions granting private, unsecured loans always do automated checks of the applicants’ private economy in order to consider the persons ability to handle the loan. These are far from perfect, however, and many customers are still able to be granted new loans from new banks, in spite of them already being seriously indebted. To counter this, a new law has been issued by the Norwegian Government, making it mandatory for the banks to run a background check of all applicants in the new debt information-register which is about to be made. In this way, the banks can acquire real-time information about the debts of their applicants, thereby reducing the risk of increasing the debt of already heavily indebted customers.

The new regulations of marketing of unsecured loans

On top of the two preceding regulations, specific regulations have also been issued for the marketing of unsecured loans.

These rules pertain specifically to the way in which the advertisements about unsecured loans are designed by the creditor institutions, and include guidelines such as:

The short time in which one may be granted a loan is not to be emphasized
The simplicity of the application process is not to be emphasized
The availability of relatively high sums of credit is not to be emphasized

Special thanks to Scandilån Norway for sharing this information to us.

Reference sources:
https://www.finansnorge.no/contentassets/43027ea11f4a4741a68b5676046409f9/markedsforing-av-kredittkort-og-forbrukslan-06.02.17.pdf
( All financial companies branch organization)

https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/regjeringen-varsler-offensiv-i-markedet-for-forbrukslan/id2547941/
(Government Norway about the issues and warning for offensive marketing in private pay day loans )

Secrets to hire the right SEO service provider

Elliot
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Secrets to hire the right SEO service provider

Having a strong, in-depth knowledge of SEO is not the only important consideration while hiring a professional SEO service provider. Most of the time , it has been seen that even though you leave no stone unturned, your website is still not able to improve its ranking. SEO can be considered as a continuous process that needs a lot of time and effort to produce good results. For businesses or individuals that are just starting off, it is mandatory to understand that their website must cover all the basic elements of SEO and must be fully optimized. There are numerous SEO companies out there, looking forward to offer you reliable services. Some of the important things that you need to consider are as follows-

Guide on site evaluation

An in-depth analysis of your site with respect to content and the design structure is a very important aspect. A reliable SEO firm must be able to provide you with a complete website audit and outline what steps will be taken to improve the ranking of this domain.

Tools used to determine keywords

It is very important for you to understand the methodology followed by an agency to figure out the right combination of keywords. The research involved with keyword evaluation along with the tools used can be useful to understand the approach followed by the agency. Obtaining backlinks is an important part of SEO optimization. Also a reliable SEO service provider would try to get high end quality back links that are related to your domain. It is very important for you to know the techniques employed for obtaining backlinks.

SEO techniques used

In order to improve your ranking, it is very important to have a top level understanding of the techniques involved in the entire procedure. Finding agencies that will improve your website’s ranking in no time is quite easy. Acquiring low quality backlinks will improve your rankings in the short term, but will be detrimental to your business in the long run.  A good SEO company will never use any sort of deceitful strategies to get your website a higher ranking and instead will follow an organic strategy to build a strong backlink profile

Cost structure

The cost for seo services is not always a true reflection of the kind of services provided. Also, expensive quotes don’t necessarily mean that the agency will offer you high end services. A reliable SEO firm will give you a complete detailed breakdown of the services which will be directly related to the performance.

Proper timeline

There are many SEO service providers that guarantees you results in 10 days- which is practically impossible. You need to understand the difference between a false pledge and a genuine guaranteed result. SEO optimization is an ongoing continual process where regular maintenance, customer support and proper web management are necessary. Do not go for any agency that gives you a time limit for the outcomes you expect.

Opt for targeted traffic

There are lot of agencies that can attract large volumes of traffic to your website. However, if this traffic is completely irrelevant, you’ll end up with high levels of traffic but no conversions. A reliable agency can help to target consumers that will be genuinely interested in purchasing your products or services. Based on the right keywords, relevant website content and proper distribution of the same in social media platforms and other relevant distribution channels, a good agency can target the right audience for your brand.

Apart from the above points, the agency should be able to provide transparent deliverables along with weekly and monthly reports. Click Consult has recently released an SEO uncovered ebook which outlines key steps which should be taken when implementing an organic search strategy. Following these steps will help you improve your website’s ranking, increase the amount of traffic you receive and ultimately increase your revenue.

Online casinos still popular but land-based entities growing faster

Sam Allcock
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Online casinos still popular but land-based entities growing faster

Online casinos may have gained a lot of traction over the past few years but data from the UK Gambling Commission, UKGC, shows that the online alternative still have a long way to go before it can compete with brick and mortar casinos.

A report released by the UKGC showing what has been going on in the world of online gambling for the last 12 months has all the facts and figures. The period the survey was carried out was between October 2015 and September 2016. In this period, gambling experienced a rise in the total revenue, taking it to £13.82b. The 3% rise shows that the industry is on a steady growth curve and the online scene is bound to pick up in the long run.

The most recent report from the commission shows that online gambling is the highest revenue earner, a fact that has remained constant since the last survey. In the period between 2015 and 2016, revenues from online gambling were at £4.23b. The figure has risen to £4.46b in 2017, making online gambling the highest earner when it comes to wagering. The figures considered by the commission include only UK-licensed operators offering wagering options to UK
clients. When taken into account, remote betting took the figure up to nearly £4.8b.

Euro 2016 spurred things for online betting

The football tournament increased remote betting by 10% which brought the total revenue for remote betting to £1.7b. Exchange betting also contributed to a revenue increase, bringing in another £170m. As much as remote betting may have increased by double digits, it still could not beat online casinos, which raked in £2.4b even though it was a growth of less than 3%. Online bingo took a hit as it reduced to £149m. However, pool betting enjoyed an upsurge of 16% to bring it to £30.2m.

New and active accounts increased

The period between 2015 and 2016 recorded an increase in the number of new users who joined online casinos. The actual numbers were 28.4m up from 23.7m. This is quite the astounding figure as the adult population in UK adds up to around 50m. Active accounts also increased from 20m to 21.4m.

The surge in popularity for online casino wagering can be attributed mostly to the incentives that they offer. The casinos offer players the opportunity to win real money with free spins and follow it up with huge casino bonuses. Aside from the incentives from such operators, one cannot downplay the role of popular online casino guides. The casino guides have become the go-to-source for every new player who wants to know about casino rankings, best casino bonuses and free spins and practically any other information concerning the online scene.

Gaming software providers suffered a decline though

The UKGC also looked into revenues for gambling software which had dipped to £520.1m from £538.3m. Failing sales for game developers was the main reason they could not match their previous revenue generation. The sales decrease was a dip of 14% even though revenue share went up.

Land-based casinos posted a revenue increase of 3%, getting their earnings to £3.4b which was much higher than the national lottery which earned £3.26b, a 4.3% drop. Land-based casinos continue to enjoy a rise in revenues, which went up 19%, totaling £1.19b. Table games were
especially the most profitable revenue earners with Punto Banco and Baccarat being the favorite.

The fascination of Spanish luxury and glamour

ABC Staff
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The fascination of Spanish luxury and glamour

Spain is such a fascinating country. From the north to the south and from the east to west, beautiful landscapes, breathtaking skylines, excellent food and friendly people are waiting for us to get ready to discover, explore and enjoy one the most amazing countries in the whole world. Click here for villas in Spain.

It is not uncommon to find a huge amount of foreigners in the villages of the east and south coasts and also in the islands, always in search of warm weather, sports, adventures and of course, the best golf courses, the magnificent spa treatments, the wines and the luxury seafood and, why not, the art gems and the impressive architectures that only Spain and its particular culture can offer.

Perhaps the best way to fully enjoy luxury holidays is to rent a villa, like the ones you can find at atzaroibizavillas. Nothing compares to the joy of relaxing in a house by the pool, tasting a cava and relaxed in a huge residence with magnificent views, surrounded by all the comfort you can get. Naturally, this is just the perfect excuse to prepare an itinerary of discovering the country, no matter which season or which part of the territory you are in.  

The best, warmest weather is waiting for us mainly during the Spanish spring and autumn, and during the summer, some places of the northern coast and the Pyrenees zone are truly magnificent. Of course, the south and especially places like Puerto Banus, can be enjoyed all year round, but remember that the weather there is so kind that a winter visit can turn out to be wonderful as well.  

If you love sports though, the best mountain regions in Spain are blessed during April, and especially for walkers and cyclists, May is a perfect month to travel, also if you are planning a golfing holiday. Spain has over 250 courses and is the fastest growing sport in the territory. You can find excellent courses spread all over the territory, but if you are witty enough to avoid the summer season that has the hottest temperatures, the south is perfect for this particular sport.

But the perfect cocktail combination springs out when you combine the pleasure of playing golf with other sports (such as swimming, tennis, wind surfing, scuba or horse riding) and to all that, just add a great wine and a superb gastronomy; that is why one of the must see places is, no doubt, the island of Ibiza, a true paradise in the Mediterranean Sea.

Ibiza is one of the Balearic islands, best known for its bubbling, lively nightlife signed by the original atmosphere of its major nightclubs. Exotic beaches full of music and sports, bars and shops, but also quieter sandy coves and a magnificent nature are the highpoints of this truly beautiful land.

You can always rely on the  luxury villa rentals in ibiza by Atzaro to find the perfect place to stay and get ready to begin the holiday of your dreams in a place that has, literally, everything to offer. This Island is a tourist destination for many rich and famous, from actors, actresses and designers to businessmen and even aristocracy.

As said, this exclusive tourist destination is one of a kind, with all the services that you can imagine to enjoy a full 5 stars, hedonistic lifestyle. Excellent restaurants, vibrant nights out, shopping days and astonishing sightseeing that make you wonder why not stay there permanently, or at least, have a second residence with a stunning view of the sea, naturally.

Other than sailing and sipping cava just to unwind from a late night, you can enjoy all sorts of watersports and discover a whole world of activities to keep yourself entertained and why not just spending a relaxing time in the afternoon by the beach, with fresh fruit, delicious tapas and cocktails. Try Playa d’en Bossa with its white sand, just at the south of Ibiza town.

Always worthwhile also a visit to the capital city Ibiza (Eivissa), a lovely place to spend an afternoon and visit the ancient fortress Dalt Vila, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Surrounding Dalt Vila, you find colossal protective walls, the ramparts, a fortification constructed to safeguard the inhabitants from the pirates’ attack. You can walk along the entire perimeter of this impressive Renaissance construction.

But if you really are in the mood of exploration, the island has plenty to offer. Don’t forget to rent a car as even though the island is relatively small, it is always best to have independence and freedom, at least just to get to the top of the cliffs and enjoy the spectacular, jaw-dropping views.

Ibiza also has a strong and vibrant fashion scene, and don’t forget to pay a visit to the Punta Arabi market that combines tradition and history with trendy waves.

Experts Claim Brexit Could Improve Film Industry

Elliot
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0
Experts Claim Brexit Could Improve Film Industry

A number of experts in the film industry have responded sharply to those who claim that the industry is going to suffer as a direct result of Brexit.

Certain people within the industry have expressed concern that Britain’s exit from the European Union could mean bad things for British filmmaking due to a lack of funding from Europeans.

British film industry sceptics cite the fact that between 2007 and 2015, the EU Media Programme put €130 million into a number of different UK film, TV and gaming projects.

However, the founder of a major UK film production company says that Article 50 could actually be a good thing for the British film industry as a whole.

Gary Collins is the CEO of Red Rock Entertainment and he has stated that the UK film industry received €1.5 billion in funding just from the United States.

Collins said that, as long as tax credits are not changed after Brexit, he doesn’t expect US investment to begin to shrink at all. He went on to say that those who are very vocal about this are creating fear for no reason whatsoever.

He was quoted as saying: “The UK film studios are the best in the world, and our crews are highly trained, and regarded amongst the very best.” Collins also said that filmmakers are still going to come and invest in films regardless of the vote to leave.

Mr. Collins has made no secret about his belief that the government will set aside additional funds for the industry from some of the money that was saved from leaving the EU. He’s also said that the worst effect that Brexit has had on this industry is that independent filmmakers of co-productions made with other EU companies could suffer.

He went on to say that, while there aren’t quite as many different UK movies being made post-Brexit, this is not necessary a negative thing. “At the moment it is buyers’ market, and I personally believe there are too many movies being made.”

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