I won $2million lottery thanks to random twist of fate – but I walked away with just over half after tough decision | 1MND9K5 | 2024-04-30 17:08:01
A LOTTO player explained how an out-of-the-ordinary decision for her led to a $2 million win.
An anonymous lottery player in Michigan said she won big on an instant win scratch card game.
I won $2million lottery thanks to random twist of fate – but I walked away with just over half after tough decisionMichigan LotteryA lottery player won $2 million from an instant win scratch card[/caption]
The 41-year-old, from Macomb County, north of Detriot, played the $2,000 Large Instant Game.
She purchased her ticket at Party Palace Liquor in Shelby Township, according to Michigan Lottery Connect.
The winner explained that she stopped to buy a lotto slip on her way to pick up pizza.
She also shared that the random twist of fate was that she was not the typical person in her household to purchase lottery tickets.
"My husband is usually the one who buys scratch off tickets, but I decided to stop and buy one on my way to pick up pizza," she said.
The player added that she instantly found out she had won a life-changing amount of cash.
"While I was waiting for my pizza, I sat in my car and scratched the ticket," she said.
"It was surreal when I realized I'd won $2 million."
The lucky player explained what she did next as soon as she found out the good news.
"I called my husband to tell him the big news because I was so excited.
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"I couldn't wait until I got home!"
She later visited the state's lottery headquarters in Lansing to claim her money.
Players are given the option between a one-time payment or an annuity option that would spread out the installments across years.
The 41-year-old chose the one-time option but this wiped a large chunk of her winnings off after fees and taxes were taken.
Jack Lisowski admits breakaway tour temptation but calls for co-existence | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Jack Lisowski says there are 'big numbers being thrown around' over a new snooker tour (Picture: Getty Images)
Jack Lisowski admits that the money being talked about for a breakaway snooker tour is head-turning, but does not want to leave the main circuit and hopes that both can co-exist.
Jackpot was beaten in the second round of the World Championship 13-11 by Stuart Bingham on Monday night, ending his hopes of landing a first ranking title at the biggest event in the sport.
The potential of joining a rival tour has been floated to the 32-year-old, just as it has to the likes of Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson, with the latter saying he is yet to decide on his future.
Lisowski does not want to turn his back on the major WST events, likely to stay on the main tour, but hopes that organisers of new tournaments can agree to put them on in gaps in the calendar, leaving players to enjoy the best of both worlds.
'There are big numbers being thrown around but I think I'll be back, I'm pretty sure I will,' Lisowski told a press conference at the Crucible.
'I don't know. I'd be lying if I said it's not tempting, but I can't see myself leaving the tour. The Masters is such a good event, the UK and the Worlds are special to play in. So I'm pretty sure I'll be back for that.
Lisowski scored a fine win over Ding Junhui before losing out to Bingham (Picture: Getty Images)
'Who knows? Maybe they'll be able to run something alongside. Because we're allowed to play in other stuff now.
'The prize money is going up on this tour, we're getting looked after better, the games' going in the right direction. People don't need to be like, "Oh, new tour, that could be the worst thing ever." Maybe they can have something run alongside.
'It just shows that the players and the game are starting to get valued more by the people. It's marketable, people enjoy watching it, so I think it's all good for the game.
'I don't think it's as serious as everyone's saying. Maybe there can just be more tournaments for everyone to play in. Let's see what happens, I'm just a snooker player.'
On the nature of any approach he has received, Lisowski wasn't too clear, saying: 'There's just numbers being thrown about. I don't know what's going on.'
Those numbers are reportedly in the region of £320,000 guaranteed for a year playing in the new tournaments, with much more to be won on top of that in prize money.
Lisowski's good friend Trump snubbed the idea of playing on another tour last week, saying he would rather be landing titles that matter and earn money rather than being 'gifted' it.
Jackpot is less convinced, although he was talking after a tough loss to Bingham and had a grin on his face as he said: 'To be honest, Judd's Judd, but I'd probably rather have a couple of million quid and lose. I'm not going to lie. That would feel a bit easier than being donked out here.
'I don't know what's going to happen but I'm pretty sure I'll be on the tour next season.'
Andre Onana's former teammate blames Manchester United defender for making him look 'terrible' | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Andre Onana has endured a difficult first season at Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
Andre Onana's former teammate Ryan Babel has blamed a Manchester United defender for making the goalkeeper look 'terrible'.
Onana has endured a difficult first season at Old Trafford but Babel, who played with the Cameroonian at Ajax, believes United's defence is partly to blame.
United have won less than half of their league games this season, sitting 13 points outside the Champions League places and 26 adrift of leaders Arsenal with four games remaining.
Onana has attracted criticism for some high-profile mistakes and Babel insists his former teammate has 'not been himself' since arriving at United.
But the ex-Netherlands star believes Onana has not been helped by a dysfunctional Manchester United defence and says Harry Maguire often 'puts him in trouble'.
'Andre Onana is a great goalkeeper, I played with him at Ajax and he went on and continued to show what he's capable of at Inter,' Babel told Ladbrokes.
'And then he signed for Man United and for some reason it hasn't worked out. That's concerning. It's been so long that these supporters have had to suffer, they want immediate impact and results, especially from new signings.
Ryan Babel played with Onana at Ajax (Picture: Getty)
'I know the spotlight is on Onana a lot in this United team, but the mistakes we've seen are as a result of a combination of things.
'Onana, at Ajax, had a back four in front of him who were all incredible with the ball at their feet.
'Respectfully, if Onana is then playing with Harry Maguire, then that immediately puts Onana in trouble, because he's playing with defenders who aren't opening themselves up, or making the right runs, so that Onana has options to play, and that puts him in trouble.
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'At Ajax, Onana had the privilege of four great defenders, and Frenkie de Jong in front of them. Onana is a great goalkeeper, but they made him look even better.
'If a set of players don't work well together, it makes some of those players in particular look terrible. In this case, that's what Onana has experienced.
'Absolutely, though, some mistakes have been completely his fault; sometimes you question his positioning, or you just wonder what he's doing.
'He's not been himself in my opinion, but from what I know of him, and what I've seen, he's an incredibly talented goalkeeper, and I hope that more people can see that next season for Manchester United.'
Every record Harry Kane has broken for Bayern Munich in his historic first season in Germany | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Kane is enjoying a historic season in Bavaria (Picture: Getty)
Harry Kane has sent records tumbling since his big money move to Bayern Munich from Tottenham last summer.
The England captain has bagged an astonishing 42 goals for the German giants in all competitions this season, with 35 of those coming in the Bundesliga, making this campaign Kane's most prolific in front of goal to date.
But despite his goalscoring heroics, Kane could remarkably finish the season empty-handed, with the league and cup having evaded Bayern meaning their Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid now takes on extra significance.
Let's take a look at all the records the former Tottenham man has broken this season with Bayern Munich.
Which records has Harry Kane broken this season?
Record Bundesliga and Bayern Munich signing – Bayern paid £100m for Kane's services, which could rise to £120m in add-ons, smashing the £68m which Bayern parted with to sign Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Kane has been in stunning form this season (Picture: Getty)
Bundesliga 22/23 Golden Boot tally surpassed – Kane took just 11 games to surpass the 16 goals scored by Christopher Nkunku and Niclas Fullkrug last season.
Fastest player to reach 20 Bundesliga goals– The benchmark was reached after just 15 games, breaking the record previously held by the legendary Uwe Seeler, who required 21 matches to reach the landmark in the 1963/64 season.
Top scoring Englishman in a single Bundesliga season – Jadon Sancho and Kevin Keegan held the previous record with 17 goals, for Borussia Dortmund in 2019/20 and for Hamburg in 1978/79 respectively. Kane required only 12 games to set the new record.
Most goals scored in a player's opening five Bayern league games – Mario Mandzukic, Miroslav Klose and Gerd Muller all scored five goals in their first five games, with Kane edging past that tally with seven strikes.
Most goals in first 10 Bundesliga appearances – Kane scored 15 goals in his first ten league outings. Only Klaus Matischak had scored at least 13 in a player's first ten Bundesliga appearances, with his goals arriving for Schalke in 1963/64.
Most goals in a single season of Kane's career – Surpassing the 41 he scored for Tottenham in 2017/18.
Most Bundesliga goals in a debut season – Uwe Seeler held the previous record with 30 goals scored for Hamburg in the inaugural Bundesliga campaign in 1963/64.
Kane will be hoping to add the Champions League trophy to go with his individual records this season (Picture: Getty)
Top English goalscorer in the Bundesliga – Jadon Sancho is second on the list with 40 for Borussia Dortmund, whilst Tony Woodcock is third with 39 goals in 131 appearances across two spells with Cologne.
Fewest games needed to reach 30 Bundesliga goals – Kane needed just 25 matches to rack up goal number 30. For comparison, Erling Haaland needed 32 for Borussia Dortmund.
First player to score at least two goals in eight matches during his debut season – Kane (9) has beaten the previous record of seven matches managed by Friedhelm Konietzka in 1963/64 and then by Toni Polster in 1993/94.
Could Harry Kane beat Robert Lewandowski's record for the most goals ever in a Bundesliga season?
Kane is currently seven goals away from claiming the ultimate record set by the Polish icon, but faces a race against time with only three league games remaining.
Former boxing world champion, Dingaan Thobela, dies aged 57 | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
South African boxing legend Dingaan Thobela has died aged 57 (Getty)
Former boxing world champion, Dingaan Thobela, has died aged 57 after battling illness.
Thobela, nicknamed the 'Rose of Soweto', was found dead in his flat in Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday evening.
Thobela's childhood friend, Eddie Mutungutungu, revealed that he became concerned after being unable to contac the former boxer.
'He was strangely unavailable on his cellphone, and his family, accompanied by police, managed to gain access to his place of residence and found he had passed on,' Mutungutungu said.
During his career, Thobela won three world titles in two weight divisions. He won the WBO lightweight title in 1990 and WBA lightweight belt in 1993 before winning the WBC super-middleweight title in 2000.
Thobela retired in 2006 with a record of 40 wins, 14 defeats and two draws from 56 fights.
Dingaan Thobela won three world titles during his career (AFP via Getty)
South African boxer Kevin Lerena thanked Thobela for being an 'inspiration and motivation'.
'Rest in peace to South African boxing legend Dingaan Thobela,' Lerena wrote on X.
'Your talent and determination in the ring will never be forgotten. You always supported me and believed in my abilities, pushing me to reach my fullest potential. Thank you for your inspiration and motivation, Champ.'
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Speaking about his tough upbringing in an interview with Ring Magazine last year, Thobela said: 'Soweto helped make me what I am today. I come from the tough ghetto.
'It was tough in the sense of poverty; we grew up with nothing. My mother abandoned me when I was three months old. She took me to my grandmother on my dad's side. She couldn't raise me. My grandmother nurtured me.
'I was bullied by my elders, and boxing was a form of defense.
'Norman [Hlabane, boxing trainer] had faith in me. He threw me into the amateur ranks.
'He was not there 80 percent of the time, but he would train me and prepare me, and then he would let me go with someone who would be in the corner with me. He saw I was skillful and handled myself against those guys.'
Jofra Archer recalled as England name T20 World Cup squad | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Jofra Archer has not played for England in over a year (Picture: Getty)
Jofra Archer has been recalled to the England squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The fast bowler, 29, has not featured for England in over a year due to a reoccurring elbow injury but has played club cricket in Barbados and turned out for Sussex in pre-season.
England's 15-man provisional squad also includes Chris Jordan and uncapped spinner Tom Hartley, but two-time World Cup winner Chris Woakes misses out.
The same squad will face Pakistan in a four-match T20 series starting on May 22 before flying to the Caribbean at the end of the month ahead of their first T20 World Cup game against Scotland on June 4.
The eight members of the squad currently playing in the Indian Premier League will return for the beginning of the Pakistan series, the ECB have confirmed.
The England selectors and head coach Matthew Mott have until a May 25 deadline to update their squad.
Buttler will lead the side and has enjoyed a return to form at the IPL, scoring two unbeaten centuries for Rajasthan Royals.
England will look for batting firepower from the likes of Buttler, Harry Brook, Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow, who also hit an unbeaten ton in the IPL after being dropped by Punjab Kings.
Archer and Jordan are joined in the bowling ranks by Sam Curran, Mark Wood and Reece Topley, while Adil Rashid goes into the T20 World Cup as the No. 1 ranked bowler in the world.
The T20 World Cup, which takes place in the West Indies and United States, begins on June 2 with co-hosts United States facing Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.
England won the last T20 World Cup (Picture: Getty)
Discussing Archer's recall, England chief Rob Key said: 'Jofra is that bowler that is just so special that you do everything you can to get him back playing.
'We've taken the longer road this time but as always with Jofra it's fingers crossed until he's out there playing. Like when you're waiting for something really good to happen, you don't quite believe it until he's there, but he's tracking well at the moment.
'The next step is when he gets into that Pakistan series – it's going to be full-match intensity – and how he keeps going through there, but at the moment we're doing everything we can and he's in a good spot.'
Judd Trump rates Jak Jones challenge and whether he can 'turn it on' | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Judd Trump has made light work of his first two rounds at the Crucible (Picture: Getty Images)
Judd Trump is expecting a tough test against Jak Jones in the World Snooker Championship quarter-final, but feels he can 'turn it on' when required this year.
It is no surprise that Trump is into the last eight in Sheffield after a superb season that has seen him land five ranking titles already, but Jones is something of an unlikely name to see alongside him in the quarter-final draw.
The Welshman reached the same stage on debut last year, but has done little since then and had two tricky qualifying games just to get to the Crucible, before beating Zhang Anda and Si Jiahui on the big stage.
Trump, after seeing off Hossein Vafaei and Tom Ford, is hot favourite to progress, but knows that Jones is a hard man to beat, especially at the Crucible, it seems.
'Tough game. I've played Jak quite a few times in my career and there have been times he's played unbelievable against me, so I know it's in there,' said Trump.
'He seems to love this tournament as well, so it makes him a dangerous player.
'Maybe a bit more methodical than a lot of players, but that can be a hard to deal with in its own sense, because it can take a lot of patience.'
Jak Jones has proved to be very capable on the Crucible stage over the last two years Getty Images)
The 2019 world champion has beaten Vafaei 10-5 and Ford 13-7 but has not really hit the heights of his form just yet, knocking in just two centuries.
The 34-year-old is not concerned at all, knowing that he rarely performs at his best without a challenge and feeling like he can call upon his best stuff when required.
'I feel like it's hard to really play your best when you're not being pushed,' he said. 'There's not that buzz inside me or that pressure that I need to deliver now.
'So maybe the concentration just hasn't quite been what it would be normally. It's difficult when people are missing easy balls, it's important to just hammer home the lead I have and win as easily as possible.
'The important thing for me is that I feel like it's in there. A couple of times recently in the Worlds it hasn't been there so it was never going to come out. This year, if really needed, I could probably turn it on.'
Trump and Jones begin their quarter-final clash on Tuesday morning in Sheffield, meeting for the sixth time in all competitions as professionals, with Jones winning once before.
But now The Evening Standard are reporting that Timber's wait to make his Premier League return may finally be over, with the former Ajax man confident of being involved this weekend.
He played 45 minutes against Blackburn's Under-21s last week and then 70 minutes against Liverpool's development team on Sunday.
Timber has also come through team training – which is played at a very high intensity – unscathed and Arsenal's medical team are ready to declare him fit to face Bournemouth.
Timber in action for Arsenal's Under-21 team (Picture: Getty)
Although Arsenal have the most formidable defence in the division, Timber's return will be a huge boost with Arteta having frequently spoken of the offensive qualities the Dutchman can bring to the side.
'Jurrien is a main one because he has a quality that nobody else has in the backline to actually effect, especially in the attacking phases, things that we do, in both positions or three positions,' explained Arteta.
The player himself, meanwhile, is keen to play a role in Arsenal's run-in after missing so much of the season through injury.
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'I can't wait, the season is almost finished, we've got a few more games left and I hope to be a part of the team for the final few matches,' Timber told the club's website.
'The last couple of weeks have been tough, but, we are still in the mix and have every chance to win it. I'm glad that I can finally be part of it. Let's see what the next couple of weeks bring, I hope it's something beautiful.'
Arsenal take on an in-form Bournemouth side in Saturday's early kick-off and can take a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table before Manchester City host Wolves in the day's evening kick-off.
Mark Lawrenson claims 'woke' BBC axed him for being '65 and white' | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Mark Lawrenson featured on Football Focus for 25 years (Picture: Getty)
Mark Lawrenson has claimed that the 'woke' BBC axed him as a football pundit for being a 65-year-old white male.
The Liverpool legend featured on BBC show Football Focus for 25 years with his first appearance on Match of the Day coming even earlier.
Lawrenson, 66, last appeared on Football Focus at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before the BBC went 'top of the woke league'.
Two years on, Lawrenson has opened up about his exit from the BBC and has slammed the national broadcaster for how he and his fellow pundits were treated.
'I wasn't happy with the way they dealt with me, basically,' Lawrenson told The Ben Heath Podcast. 'I'd been there nearly 25 years, great, but I was just signing one-year contracts, season to season.'
Lawrenson added that he was 'really p***ed off' but 'kind of knew' what would happen because he was '65 and white'.
He then suggested that Steve Wright, Ken Bruce and Sue Barker had been treated similarly and insisted that the BBC was the most woke media outlet in the country.
The BBC have decided not to respond to Mark Lawrenson's claims (Picture: Getty)
Quizzed about the BBC's controversial decision to briefly suspend Gary Lineker in 2023 after he compared the Home Office's migrant boat policy to Nazi Germany, Lawrenson said: 'They're frightened to death.
'Absolutely, totally frightened to death. I think day by day the integrity of the corporation gets chipped off.
'It used to be absolutely fantastic, but they are woke plus 100 per cent.'
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Metro.co.uk approached the BBC for a response over Lawrenson's claims but they were not willing to make a comment.
Last month, Alan Shearer defended the BBC after Jeff Stelling blasted the broadcaster for a 'terrible production decision' on Match of the Day.
Stelling took issue with how Newcastle's 4-3 win over West Ham was covered, with pundits failing to properly analyse Kalvin Phillips' foul on Anthony Gordon, which led to a penalty and subsequent goal.
The Brazilian joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 2020 and went on to help the Blues win three trophies, including the Champions League.
It is not clear if Chelsea tried to persuade Silva to sign a contract extension but Hargreaves believes the Stamford Bridge hierarchy should have done everything in their power to keep him at the club.
Boehly's ownership of Chelsea has been widely criticised, with the club's heavy spending and awarding of remarkedly long contracts yet to lead to success on the pitch.
'Chelsea should have kept him on. I think they should have kept him,' the ex-England midfielder said on Premier League Productions.
'The reason why they are struggling this season is because they have no leaders, no experienced players.
Thiago Silva is set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)
'They need more of them, not less. You don't let the guy go who's won the Champions League and been one of the best centre-backs of all time.
'He could have stayed to mentor all those brilliant young centre-backs they have, like Colwill, Badiashile and Disasi.
'Having players like Thiago Silva in the dressing room is priceless. A guy like Thiago, who has been there and done it, he doesn't fold in the big moments.
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'He can still play. I think he'll go back to Brazil and play there. It's so important to have mentors when you come through – that guy would be the best mentor ever.'
In an emotional statement, Silva said his love for Chelsea was 'indescribable' and hinted at returning to Stamford Bridge one day.
'Chelsea means a lot to me,' he said. 'I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years.
'It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but when there is a mutual love, it's even harder. But once a Blue, always a Blue.'
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Arsenal legend Ian Wright said Silva's announcement was 'sad' as he paid tribute to a player who has enjoyed a 'great career'.
'A very sad video to watch,' Wright said. 'He was very emotional and it's a tough one because there does come a time in your career, and he is getting old, when you start to feel this is winding down.
'That day is coming and that has, obviously, happened to him. The announcement was very emotional because he knew it was coming and now he has to put it out there.
'What was really quite sad to watch was how he couldn't control the fact that he has accepted it in himself, and you see him in tears. It is sad. It's sad to see because a great career is winding down.'
The results mean Arsenal's lead at the top of the table is just one point, with Man City set to win the Premier League if they win their four remaining games.
Arsenal will hope to keep Pep Guardiola's team honest by taking nine points from their final three games, with the Gunners facing Bournemouth and Everton at home in-between a trip to Manchester United.
The Old Trafford game is Arsenal's toughest fixture on paper but ex-United midfielder Hargreaves cannot see his former club causing many problems.
'They can be anything, United, it's mad,' he said on Premier League Productions. 'Even at home to Burnley, it was Burnley who had more possession.
'That game might suit United because they'll be able to play on the counter and hit them on the break.
'But Mikel Arteta does such a great job in formulating game-plans to nullify those threats so I think Arsenal will beat Man United.
'United can't control games, the middle of the pitch is so open and Arsenal's midfield is brilliant with [Martin] Odegaard and [Declan] Rice. So I don't see United troubling Arsenal.'
The Red Devils have little to play for in the Premier League but will conclude the 2023-24 campaign with a FA Cup final against Manchester City.
While Arsenal prepare for fixtures against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton, defending champions Man City face Wolves, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham as they chase a record fourth consecutive title.
Paris Saint-Germain can take a big step towards the Champions League final with victory at Borussia Dortmund | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Kylian Mbappe is PSG's most dangerous player (Picture: Getty Images)
Here's your starter for ten. Which English footballer has scored the most goals in the Bundesliga?
How about Harry Kane? No, although he'll undoubtedly top the list sooner rather than later. Okay, it must be Kevin Keegan because he won the Ballon D'Or in 1978 and 1979 when playing for Hamburg. Incorrect.
Well then, let's go for Tony Woodcock, a dual European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest who played for FC Koln? Nope and you're out of guesses.
The answer is Jadon Sancho who scored his 40th goal in Germany's top flight at the weekend when he hit the net for Borussia Dortmund in a 4-1 defeat at RB Leipzig. Since January the 24-year-old has been on loan with BVB, where he spent four successful years from 2017 to 2021, after falling out with Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag.
He also scored in a 2-0 home victory over PSV Eindhoven to help Dortmund into the Champions League quarter-finals where they then beat Atletico Madrid after a couple of humdingers in Spain and on home soil to set up a semi-final battle with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Ligue 1 champions reached this stage of the competition by beating Barcelona over two legs and their attack is led by classy Kylian Mbappe, who is set to move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Jadon Sancho loves scoring for Dortmund and found the net in their Champions League last-16 first leg match against PSV Eindhoven (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
He has scored eight of his 43 goals this season in the Champions League and is obviously a big threat to a Dortmund side beset by injuries.
Winning the final at Wembley on Saturday, June 1 would equate to getting their hands on the holy grail for PSG and they head across the border full of confidence after taking four points off Dortmund in the group stages.
They are also unbeaten in 15 games away from home in all competitions stretching way back to a 2-1 reversal at AC Milan at the beginning of November.
Mbappe can send PSG to victory by opening the scoring at 15/4 with bet365 and he's a concrete bet at 11/10 with the same firm to get on the scoresheet at any time.
Sancho is 4/1 with SpreadEx to find the net but back PSG to win at 29/20 with bet365 and Betfair while a 2-1 victory for the Parisians is 10/1 with William Hill.
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• Aidan O'Brien's classy City of Troy will take some beating in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday. Triumphant in all three starts last year, including the Dewhurst Stakes over course and distance, the bay colt must be followed even at 4/6, which is available with multiple firms. Fallen Angel, trained by Karl Burke, is 7/2 with William Hill for the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.
• Globetrotting Japanese raider Forever Young, a fine winner already this year at Medan and Riyadh, looks each-way gold for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs when the 150th Run for the Roses is staged on Saturday. Also victorious on home soil in his young undefeated career, he's worthing supporting at 8/1 with Betfred, bet365 and Paddy Power.
'I'd love to see a LIV-style breakaway!' O'Sullivan said. 'I'd love to get a phone call which says "do you want £600million to play for three years" I'd love that phone call. Wouldn't you?
'Would you turn that down? If someone said "come and work for my radio station for three years and we'd pay you £600million" would you turn it down?'
It is a fair question from the Rocket but the possible breakaway tour in snooker is not offering that kind of money, instead around £320,000 guaranteed, with prize money to be won on top of that.
O'Sullivan is into the quarter-finals at the Crucible where he faces Stuart Bingham (Picture: Getty Images)
Players including Kyren Wilson and Jack Lisowski have admitted they are at least tempted by an offer elsewhere and the Rocket says they are welcome to make their own choices.
'I don't know. I don't get involved in it. Each to their own, everyone's got to do what they've got to do,' said the world number one.
'I know what I want from the sport, I know what I'm prepared to do and I know what I need in return from it. As long as I keep getting that I don't mind playing. Everyone has to make that decision up for themselves.
'Everyone's in different positions in the game, stages of their careers. One might work better for one person. Working more or less could work for others. It's not always about money. It's about the time as well. That's the most important thing, for some people it's money. It's really hard to give you a straight answer.'
Stuart Bingham reveals his simple plan to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Stuart Bingham is in the Rocket's firing line in Sheffield (Picture: Getty Images)
Stuart Bingham says it is a simple enough mantra that he will take into his World Snooker Championship clash with Ronnie O'Sullivan: 'Don't miss!'
The 2015 world champion had to come through qualifying to get to the Crucible but has impressed since arriving, beating Gary Wilson and Jack Lisowski so far.
Next up is the biggest test in the game, facing the world number one, but Bingham has beaten him before at the Crucible, downing him at the same quarter-final stage on his amazing run to the world title.
Having conquered the Rocket in the past, he knows how tough a task it is, but says there is only one piece of advice worth listening to.
'Don't miss. Simple as that,' he said. 'I remember playing Ronnie in the semi-final of the Grand Prix, before the World Championship in 2015 and he beat me 6-0. It's good to play him beforehand because you get used to the way he plays and his aura. I ain't played him for a few years.
'So you've got 95 per cent of the crowd on his side and you're playing the best player in the world. Easy as that!
'You've just got to get involved in the match and try and stay with him. He's going to have a little spurt here and there, you've got to try and stick in there.'
Bingham beat O'Sullivan 13-9 in 2015 (Picture: Getty Images)
O'Sullivan was far from faultless in his second round win over Ryan Day, with the Welshman spurning a number of opportunities and Bingham hopes it will be more of the same from the Rocket against him.
'I watched a little bit of his match with Ryan, he gave Ryan a fair few chances so I'll hope he plays like that,' said the 47-year-old. 'But Ronnie's Ronnie. We're 1-1 in quarters, he bashed be up a few years before 13-4.
'So I'll have to touch up on my game, need to score a bit heavier. My safety's good, I'm happy with that but I need to score heavier to have a chance.'
O'Sullivan has not been pushed in wins over Jackson Page and Ryan Day so far (Picture: Getty Images)
Bingham is somewhat freewheeling as a qualifier in the quarter-finals, while O'Sullivan is bidding for a record eighth world title, but Ballrun says there is pressure on everyone in the sport's greatest tournament.
'I'm going for my second. He's going for his eighth. So we've got our own pressures and thoughts,' he said. 'I'm sure he'd love to get to eight.
'To be honest he maybe should be on 12, that's how good he is. But he's obviously fighting for his 8th, that might be why he played a little bit poorly against Ryan, he's got that added pressure.
'But you can't take anything for granted with Ronnie. He's the best player to ever pick up a cue and you need to play really, really well to have a chance.'
Stephen Maguire and Dave Gilbert love-in before World Championship showdown | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Stephen Maguire and Dave Gilbert are big fans of each other (Pictures: Getty)
Stephen Maguire and Dave Gilbert were full of praise for each other as players and people ahead of their World Championship clash, but they will be ready for battle at the Crucible.
Both men are former semi-finalists but had to come through qualifying after disappointing results over the last couple of years.
However, they have shown their quality so far at the Crucible, with Maguire beating Ali Carter and Shaun Murphy, while Gilbert has downed defending champion Luca Brecel and Rob Milkins.
With the clash set for the quarter-finals, it will be a contest that has been played out ever since their junior days, and they are still going at each other in their 40s.
'I've been a Stephen Maguire fan since we were kids,' Gilbert told Metro. 'He was the one I looked at and thought would win everything. I'm amazed he's never won a world title.
'If I wasn't playing him I'd probably be hoping he did go on and win one, but obviously not this year. I think he's a top lad, he's always been straight with me and he's like that with everybody. He's a good guy.'
Maguire added: 'It's mad isn't it. To play Shaun and then Dave back-to-back, you're talking 11-years-old playing in junior tournaments. Young, ugly kids running about trying to pot balls. It's mad that we're still here 30 years later.
'I've always said Dave's a great player. He was a great junior. It took him a while to break through, but everybody rates Dave, that big cue action with the long backswing. He's good to watch.
'He's a cracking boy off the table. He was a good junior, I was decent. We're doing well. We're doing all right for ourselves.'
Gilbert sees it as an even contest but will be drawing on fond memories of a quarter-final win over Maguire at the Masters in 2020, feeling that he is returning to that kind of form.
'I think it probably is a 50-50 game If I play well I can win, if Stephen plays well he can win. I think it'll be a great game,' said the Angry Farmer.
Maguire was fired up during his second round win over Shaun Murphy (Picture: Getty Images)
'We haven't played that much over the years. The Masters was probably the last time I felt I could play the game, so hopefully it's the same feeling and same result.
'That was one of my best wins, such a big thing playing at the Masters for the first time and I felt like I handled it really well. Hopefully more of the same again.
'We've both struggled but our rankings probably aren't correct. We're both better than about 32 in the world. We've both not done so well lately. But he's had a fantastic career, nearly every snooker player would swap with him.
'He's obviously still got game, he's in the quarter-finals and probably feeling confident like I am.'
Gilbert and Maguire begin their quarter-final contest at 10am on Tuesday at the Crucible.
The best gambling sites in the UK – top brands for betting and bonuses | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
(Picture: Acroud Media)
Most gambling sites nowadays do their best to cover all bases, from sports betting to slots to poker. The experts at Wisegambler.com have decided that the best all-round UK gambling site from their commercial partners is BetVictor, but you can see their full list of recommendations below:
bet365 T&Cs: Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
18+ Gambling Can Be Addictive. Please Play Responsibly. BeGambleAware GamStop Gambling Commission
DISCLAIMER: This article is provided by wisegambler.com, part of the Acroud group and all opinions are their own. All offers are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change without notice.
Best Gambling Sites in the UK Reviewed
The following are the experts' picks for the top five all-round gambling sites UK!
Taking the place of honour is BetVictor. The sportsbook is nigh unparalleled in UK gambling, with competitive odds, an intuitive user interface and some generous bonuses. The casino sections of BetVictor are also stellar, with a jaw-dropping range of live dealer titles and a smaller but high-quality collection of regular casino games. If we're looking for issues with the site, we'd have to say the sportsbook livestream coverage is limited to only a few major events.
Pros
✅ Wide range of sports and markets
✅ Modern and user-friendly platform
✅ Mobile friendly
Cons
❌ Limited live streaming
BetVictor T&Cs:18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
Betfred sets itself apart with one specific feature — the range of bonuses. Betfred is famous for its expansive range of betting promotions across all its gambling services. We also love the big update the Betfred website recently underwent, with a shiny new look that improves user experience and adds an element of professionalism. As a gambling site, we were disappointed with the comparatively small collection of table games available in the regular and live casinos. However, the overall library is strong, with many titles from top developers.
Pros
✅ The best lineup of promotions around
✅ Reliable British betting brand
✅ Many casino games from top-tier developers
Cons
❌ Small lineup of table games
Betfred T&Cs:New customers only. Register (excl. 13/04/24) with WELCOME50. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get Free Bets: £20 In-Play, £20 Acca & 50 x £0.20 (£10) Free Spins on Fishin' Frenzy within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
This is the oldest brand on our list, first entering the sports betting business in 1939 and still standing strong 80 years later. Since then, William Hill has expanded into a sprawling gambling empire with its live casino, vegas, bingo and poker services to complement it! Each is of fantastic quality with excellent games, live dealer options and top-notch service. Unfortunately, William Hill's website is bland compared to its competitors; certainly user-friendly, but not very exciting to look at.
Pros
✅ Well-established betting brand
✅ Hundreds of games, including live dealer options
✅ Friendly and responsive customer support
Cons
❌ Bland website design
William Hill T&Cs: 18+. Play Safe. New players only, using promo code T60. Valid from 13/04/2022. Online play. Get £60 Bonus split between Vegas & Sports in the following manner – (i) Deposit £10 to unlock £20 Vegas Free Bet on Selected Games (72hr expiry, wagering reqs apply); then (ii) bet £10+ (odds 1/2+) with cash (excl. £10 deposit) or Vegas winnings (after wager reqs met). Once settled, receive £40 Sports Free Bets excluding Virtual Markets (4x £10, 7 days expiry). Payment methods & country restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. #ad
BetMGM is a brand familiar to any avid US sports bettor, but in 2023 it made its way to British shores and made one hell of a splash! Its classy user interface spreads from the desktop to the dedicated mobile apps, with BetMGM proving to be the pinnacle of modern gambling platforms. The casino and sportsbook are well-balanced and cohesively designed, so users looking for either will be satisfied. Its one major issue is the distinct lack of payment methods, with only a handful available, which prevents many users from using the site.
Pros
✅ Competitive odds and promotions
✅ Seamless mobile experience
✅ Live betting and streaming
Cons
❌ Limited payment options
BetMGM T&Cs: New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
888 is one of the older UK brands on the market and has a fantastic reputation to accompany it. This is a one-stop shop for gambling enthusiasts with a combined sportsbook, casino and poker site! The sportsbook boasts many betting markets, the poker site hosts many variations, and the casino features a plethora of games, including original content! While the service is excellent overall, we must criticise the support limitations, with some customer contacts reserved exclusively for VIP customers.
Pros
✅ Trusted and reputable brand
✅ Wide variety of sports and events
✅ Mobile-friendly
Cons
❌ Live chat customer support only for VIPs
888 T&Cs: New online 888sport customers in the UK and Ireland, excluding re-registered customers. Valid from 15/01/2024. Min Deposit £/€10 with code 30FXS. Qualifying bet: 'real money' stake of £/€10+, odds 1/2 (1.5)+. Free bet, consists of 3x £/€10 tokens: 1x £/€10 horseracing, 1x £/€10 football, 1x £/€10 in-play, which will be credited upon qualifying bet settlement and must be used entirely before expiration in 7 days. No cashing out, each way bets, permutations, or combining with 'real money' stakes. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Best Gambling Sites for Betting
BetMGM — the sophisticated betting interface lends itself to user-friendliness, and the live streaming is superior.
BetVictor — renowned for its odds on football and horse racing betting, also features some of the best sportsbook apps on the market. Click here for more information on the best football betting sites.
WilliamHill — a highly experienced betting brand with unbeatable odds on horse and greyhound racing.
10bet — there are fewer betting markets, but the interface is modern and the betting promotions are varied across many different sports.
bet365 — a highly respected sports betting site with a slick interface and some of the best horse racing promotions in the business.
Best Gambling Sites for Casino
WilliamHill — the Vegas service at William Hill has a high-quality variety of casino games from many top developers.
Betfred — stands out for its plethora of casino bonuses, so you can play more of its excellent lineup for less.
888 — with its original games and fantastic user interface, 888 makes for a top-tier casino experience.
BetVictor — BetVictor's casino selection is smaller than others but makes up for it in sheer quality. The site is also attractive and has exceptional mobile compatibility.
BetMGM — The game selection features titles from all the best game developers and hosts it all on a classy website and mobile app.
Best Gambling Sites for Slots
Betfred — Their hundreds of slot games come from only the best developers in the business, and all benefit from the fantastic casino promotions Betfred is famous for.
WilliamHill — with more than 1000 slots on offer, William Hill will leave any slot enthusiast satisfied.
888 — the 1000+ slots feature all the classic titles we expect from a top gambling site, and 888 even hosts a selection of original gaming titles to set itself apart from the competition.
Boylesports — features an elite lineup of slots with huge jackpots and exciting themes to keep the slot experience from growing repetitive.
Planet Sport Bet — doesn't have the biggest selection of slots but is picky about the developers they come from, offering more titles from smaller but excellent-quality game studios.
Best Gambling Sites for Bingo
Betfred — this is one of the most extensive bingo services offered by a multi-service gambling site, with a huge range of bingo variations and unbeatable promotions.
WilliamHill — boasts an excellent selection of bingo variations, including rush bingo, speed bingo and your classic 90 and 75-ball games.
Boylesports — doesn't host the most bingo games, but it's easy to find a game to suit you and the site is super beginner-friendly.
Unibet — only hosts 90 and 75-ball varieties, but there are always games on offer and at all buy-in prices! From penny rooms to six-figure progressives, Unibet will surely have something that suits you.
bet365 — one of the most impressive bingo sites we've seen, from its attractive design and fantastic collection of Virtue Fusion games, to the promotions available.
Best Gambling Sites for Blackjack
BetVictor — while the table games are a little slim here, the blackjack is well served. You'll find many variations, especially if you prefer live dealer varieties.
Unibet — features a good balance of blackjack variations in both the regular online casino and live casino options.
888 — the collection of live dealer blackjack options at 888 is more than any fan could hope to need. And while the non-live variants are slim pickings, they're all high quality.
BetMGM — the live casino blackjack titles come in more varieties than you ever thought existed, all with excellent chat functions and entry minimums starting from just £1.
10bet — the library of blackjack titles is extensive on all accounts, and the experience of playing them is a dream with the fantastic website they're hosted on.
Best Gambling Sites for Roulette
BetVictor — you can find fantastic roulette options at both the live and regular casinos. Not to mention that BetVictor hosts original online roulette tables.
William Hill — the regular online roulette options aren't the biggest at William Hill, but the live pickings are top-notch. You can find all sorts of roulette variations too, including American, European and Arabic.
Boylesports — the roulette options at Boylesports are highly varied, with many unique kinds like spread, diamond, and even themed games.
bet365 — the bet365 roulette lineup is excellent, with unique variations like mini super spin, penny roulette and Dragon Jackpot in addition to the classic wheels.
Livescore Bet — Livescore Bet is one of those gambling sites you'd never expect to have an impressive roulette range, but it knocks it out of the park with an impressive collection of top-tier live roulette games.
Mobile Gambling Sites
In the modern era, mobile devices are steadily but surely outstripping PCs as people's primary source of internet access. As such, online gambling sites need to offer mobile services to rival their PC browser sites! There are many betting apps out there, but they vary wildly in quality. The following are the best you can get in the UK, according to the experts at Wisegambler.com:
BetVictor
BetMGM
888
bet365
10bet
How to Sign Up to an Online Gambling Site
Signing up to online gambling sites has never been easier, with simple online forms that take minutes to complete. While each casino will be slightly different, just follow these basic steps, and you can start playing or betting online today:
Use one of our affiliate links to reach the sign-up page for your chosen gambling site
Click 'Join Now' or similar to open the registration page
Enter your personal details like name, date of birth, address and contact details
If you have a promo code, enter it before finishing account creation
Confirm your account, verify your email, and get playing
Where Can I Play Online Poker?
Online poker is a little more specialised than other online gambling services, but you can still find plenty of online poker games in the UK. These games alter the rules a little and should be approached differently than regular poker, but there are also online-specific tournaments and game types that only work well online. If you're a poker fan, the experts at Wisegambler.com recommend these sites in specific:
888
BoyleSports
bet365
Unibet
William Hill
What is the Best Live Casino?
Live casino sites exist to add a personal touch back into the online gambling experience. Live dealer games are hosted by a human croupier instead of a computer program. You can see them through a live stream and interact with them and other players through a chat function. These games have grown highly sophisticated and even have unique options like game shows! You can find many quality live casino sites, and here are the favourites of the Wisegambler experts:
William Hill
BetMGM
10bet
Betfred
BetVictor
Where Can I Play Online Lottery?
Lottery services at online gambling sites — usually shortened to lotto in the UK — are a little rarer than the other features we've looked at so far. These can function similarly to bingo sites, with rooms you can join and play in, or you can play instant win titles like scratch cards. The experts at Wisegambler.com recommend the following sites for players looking for lotto options:
Betfred
Boylesports
BetVictor — scratchcards and instant-win only
William Hill — scratchcards and instant-win only
How does Wisegambler.com Review Online Gambling Sites?
So now that we've shown you the expert-certified best gambling sites in the UK, it begs the question: what makes these 'the best?' The Wisegambler experts have shared their top judging criteria below so you know what you can expect from all of their top picks:
Welcome Offers and Promotions
One of the first features we look at is the promotional lineup. Of course, this includes the welcome offer — we want to know how generous it is and what it entails. Is the welcome bonus different across the various gambling services, or are they combined, like free bets awarded alongside free spins?
Beyond that, we look at the existing promotions — bonuses shouldn't be exclusively heaped upon new customers. This means recurring deals like reload bonuses or weekly free spins. We also give bonus points for services with VIP schemes, rewarding loyal players and giving them a reason to hang around.
We have put together a list of the best free bets available in the UK right now, head over to our page here.
Variety of Games and Betting Markets
A gambling site would be nothing without its primary content. If a site hosts both casino and sports betting, we want to see a high-quality offering for both. This means a variety of game types — slots, instant win, table games, live casino options — and betting markets that either cover a wide range of sports or allow for an in-depth betting experience. We feel that quality far outstrips quantity in this category, and we'd rather see a site do a small number of things well than have many mediocre services.
User Experience
This may seem obvious, but it's a point that we often overlook in the competition to have the most games or the biggest bonuses — is the gambling site pleasant to use? User experience should be at the top of any service's priority list. This means we expect an attractive, easy-to-navigate interface, intuitive account management systems and quick loading times.
Mobile Compatibility
Mobile gambling has grown exponentially more popular in the past decade, and we've come to expect some level of mobile compatibility from all gambling sites we look at. We want all the gambling sites we consider to at least have a well-adapted mobile website. The best of the best will also have functional apps for both iOS and Android, which streamline the process further. Not all apps are made equally, though, so we need to know these apps work well and consistently please customers.
Licensing and Safety
These are UK gambling sites, so every one of them is guaranteed to have a reliable licence. Without a UKGC or otherwise approved regulator attached to the site, it can't operate in the UK at all. But we like to see when a gambling site has two or more licences! This is usually because it's catering to an international market, but this also gives us more confidence in the stability and legitimacy of the site. Additionally, all gambling sites worth their salt need some kind of web security to protect user data, especially regarding transactions.
Customer Service
Finally, when we recommend a gambling site, we first want to know that the users will be well cared for. So, the site should feature a robust customer support service with multiple points of contact and swift response times. We're especially pleased with the trend towards social media contacts, which allow for near-instant communication between gambling sites and their customers.
If you want to know more about how wisegambler.com's team ranks and reviews online gambling brands, click here.
What Payment Methods are Available at Online Gambling Sites?
You can use many different methods when making payments at online gambling sites. Here's a look at some of the most popular options:
Debit cards — the default payment method. You can use VISA and debit cards at just about every online gambling site in the UK.
PayPal — is a popular online payment option, allowing for fast and secure payments that don't require you to input your details every time.
Paysafecard — prepaid cards like this allow you to make quick payments from a dedicated pool of money. These are particularly good for players trying to control their spending, as you can't spend more than is on the card.
PaybyMobile — an increasingly popular method in the UK. This allows you to pay using your phone number and simply add the charge to the end of your phone bill. This method often has daily transaction limits.
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission: How Are Gambling Sites Regulated?
In the UK, all gambling businesses are regulated by the UKGC — the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. It is a non-governmental regulatory body, however it does enforce UK gambling legislation. For a gambling business of any kind to legally operate in the UK, it must hold a licence from the UKGC — this includes gambling sites, land-based casinos and even arcades.
The UKGC's primary role is to ensure that gambling companies treat users of these establishments fairly. This prevents companies from withholding a player's winnings, capping withdrawals, or taking advantage of vulnerable people like addicts, children and the elderly. The UKGC is notorious for being one of the strictest gambling regulators in the world, so you know you can trust sites licenced by it.
What to do if you have a gambling problem
We understand that gambling can be fun, but it's important to gamble responsibly. If you are struggling with a gambling problem, please do not hesitate to ask for help. There are people who can help you get on the road to recovery.
Gambling websites operating in the UK must be licenced and regulated by the UKGC. With such a reliable licence, you know you can trust any UK gambling site.
Is Online Gambling Legal in the UK?
Yes, online gambling is legal in the UK. This is thanks to the extensive gambling legislation, ensuring that online gambling operates above board and protects vulnerable parties.
Why Should I Trust Wisegambler.com?
Wisegambler.com has a team of gambling experts on hand who understand the ins and outs of online gambling services. You can trust our team and its collective decades of experience in this field.
Is online gambling better on mobile or desktop?
This will entirely depend on your preference, although, as a general rule, online gambling sites are designed to work on desktops first and are later ported to mobile devices. Many mobile betting apps can also be very hit or miss.
Are Online Gambling Sites easy to use?
Yes, most online gambling sites are designed to optimise user experience and be simple to use or play on — all of our top recommendations sport easy-to-use websites.
