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South Africa is home to some of the best events venues in all of Africa, but how do these places compare to the rest of the world? By looking at a few different categories of venues, we can see whether South Africans get to enjoy some of the planet’s biggest arenas.

Source: Pixabay

Sports Stadiums

In South Africa, the FNB Stadium is where most spectators can cram in to see major events. This venue in Nasrec, Johannesburg is known as Soccer City and is the home of the Kaizer Chiefs F.C. as well as being the venue for the 2010 World Cup final. With a capacity of 94,736, it’s the biggest sports stadium in Africa and is also used for rugby games. Across the rest of the planet, there is some debate over whether the biggest stadium is the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea or the Narendra Modi Stadium in India. The North Korean venue has an official capacity of 150,000 but some sources reduce it to 114,000. As for the Indian cricket stadium, it can hold up to 132,000 people.

Music Venues

The first problem we have here is in defining a music venue. The biggest concert of all time was held on Copacabana beach in Rio, Brazil, where over 3.5 million are said to have listened to Rod Stewart perform. However, if we look only at manmade venues, the Great Strahov Stadium in Prague, the Czech Republic is the winner. It has a 250,000 capacity and a record attendance of 127,000.

We need to go back to the FNB Stadium to see the biggest-ever music concert attendance in South Africa, as 135,000 saw Ed Sheeran perform there. Many of the other biggest musical events here have taken place at outdoor sports venues, such as Concert in the Park, which was attended by around 125,000 fans when it was held in Ellis Park Stadium in 1985.

Source: Pixabay

Other Entertainment Venues

The Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg was once regarded as a premier events venue but has now been turned into a giant car showroom that holds over 1000 vehicles at any given time. In terms of the biggest indoor venue, this is the Techtonic Velodrome in Bellville, which has a capacity of 8,000 but is far smaller than the Philippine Arena in the Philippines, which has a massive 55,000 capacity.

In terms of casinos, this list of the biggest casinos across the planet reveals that the biggest is in the US and is called Winstar World Casino, with more than 8,500 electronic games and over 100 table games. Several of the other names on this list come from Macau in China, including the biggest structure in Asia. Rio Casino Resort in Klerksdorp is the only African casino listed, with 260,00 square feet of gaming space and a Brazilian carnival theme running through it.

As we’ve seen, South Africa has several venues that are close to the top of the list in several categories but doesn’t quite manage to take the number one spot in any area.

Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency, was created in 2008 during the peak of the global financial crisis. The invention was announced in a white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” which was published by an anonymous person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Back then, only a small number of people paid attention to this truly revolutionary development in monetary technology.

The development of cryptography techniques and blockchain as a technology has led to the emergence of cryptocurrency as an alternative means of exchange, receiving a lot of attention through Elon Musk’s Twitter. Since its beginnings in 2009, the existence of cryptocurrencies is gaining more and more recognition all over the world. Because of the unique features it possesses, it has drawn a lot of attention.

When attempting to grasp the revolution of cryptocurrency, it’s crucial to understand the essential characteristics which make cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology so great. In this article, we’ll be telling you all you need to know about them.

Bitcoin : The Very First Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin is highly worth mentioning as we discuss the primary characteristics of cryptocurrencies as this currency served as the model for all others. Bitcoin is a decentralised and cryptographically secure digital currency which was designed to function similarly to cash in all aspects of payment processing. It is a form of decentralised digital money that acts as a means of exchange of value and may be exchanged from user to user over a peer-to-peer network. There is no need for intermediaries or a central regulating authority to make this possible.

Transactions in cryptocurrencies are verified and secured through the use of cryptography. Bitcoin is the world’s first cryptocurrency, and it was created with the intention of being the first decentralised and autonomous electronic payment system. Bitcoin mathematical proofs (proof of work), cryptography, and economic incentives (mining) in order to solve the issue of ”double spending”  (which arises from the ease with which digital currencies may be duplicated and reused) in order to verify and process transactions. 

Because the Bitcoin protocol is open-source, any developer is able to examine it and contribute to its development. As a result, during the past several years, people have been developing their own versions of Bitcoin, commonly known as “altcoins” or “alternative coins.”

Given Bitcoin’s present domination of the cryptocurrency industry at 45%, which is less than half of the total market, the idea that Bitcoin would one day replace all other forms of currency is becoming less probable. Despite this, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology that is strikingly comparable, and the same four distinguishing characteristics can be found in each circumstance (in most cases).

Key Features Of Cryptocurrencies

Decentralised 

Central authorities and banking institutions are the ones who govern the financial system with traditional fiat currencies. On the other hand, transactions involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can be processed and validated by a decentralised and open network which is not owned by any single entity. In each and every instance, the centralised authority in question evolves into the system’s primary point of failure, which ultimately results in the currency’s collapse.

The vast majority of cryptocurrencies operate in a decentralised manner on distributed networks of computers that are located in various parts of the world and are referred to as nodes. The nodes of the network use cryptography to verify transactions, and these verifications are then stored in a public distributed ledger known as a blockchain. Within a short amount of time, the transaction will have spread throughout the peer-to-peer network and been copied by each node. It will have reached a significant portion of the nodes in the network. Everyone on the network has a copy of the ledger, which means that we no longer need to trust a single entity, organisation, or third party. There is no need to trust when you yourself can simply verify against this ledger since you’d have a copy of it. The distributed ledger is generally referred to as the blockchain.

Despite the fact that we are still working out the specifics of how and why we should use cryptocurrencies, it is clear that they are here to stay. Simply finding a solution to the problem of centralised trust is a significant enough advance on its own to give cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin the ability to survive in the long term. This is in addition to the many other significant advantages offered by cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology.

Web3

In the world of the internet, Web3 is often referred to as the third generation of the internet. The aim is to contribute to a reality where major businesses no longer have control over the system and instead have it function in a decentralised manner that is owned, built, and run by the users themselves.

Web3 will, in contrast to established web businesses that sell your information or otherwise profit from it, return control of data to the individual. It will present distinct possibilities. As an example, Instead of relying on centralised organisations to earn from their compositions, musical artists can share their works on decentralised platforms or on their own personal devices.

The goal of Web3 is to keep watchdogs and other agencies from dictating which services users are allowed to access and which are restricted. In order to enhance users’ levels of privacy, autonomy, and control over their data, transactions in Web3 take place directly between two or more parties.

A cryptocurrency that is connected to Web3 may offer a variety of services that were once provided by cloud providers. Some of the Best Web3 Cryptocurrencies to Follow in 2022 include Helium, Chainlink and Filecoin. These services may include compute, bandwidth, storage, identity, and hosting services.

Developers have been focusing their efforts on enhancing the scalability, security, and efficiency of both cryptocurrencies and Web3 in response to the rapid expansion of both of these technologies. Web3 is frequently mentioned in the same breath as cryptocurrencies due to the key concepts of decentralisation and equal access that they both share.

Web3 is a relatively new ecosystem that is still undergoing development. 2014 was the year that Gavin Wood came up with the term, yet many of these concepts have only just lately become a reality. Only in the past year has there been a significant rise in interest in cryptocurrencies, improvements to layer 2 scaling solutions, large trials with new forms of governance, and revolutions in digital identification.

Immutable And Irreversible 

When discussing immutability in relation to blockchain and cryptocurrency, three guidelines must be followed:

  • It should be extremely difficult or even impossible to alter the course of past events.
  • It should be impossible for anyone other than the owner of a private key to transfer funds.
  • Blockchain technology must be used to record every transaction that takes place (in order to ensure the 2 principles above)

Because of the irreversible and immutable properties of cryptocurrency, it is impossible for anyone other than the owner of the respective private key to move their digital assets, and once a transaction has been recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be changed in any way. This makes it impossible for third parties to use cryptocurrency.

Since we have already seen that the components of bitcoin which are associated with centralization and trust are removed, there is no longer a third party who we must trust to accomplish these things on our behalf. As a result, the records of the transactions are made public and cannot be altered (immutable).

The transaction ledger can be changed, but due to the cryptographic protection in place, doing so is immensely difficult. 

Anonymity 

Users transacting with cryptocurrency are not obliged to reveal their identities in order to engage in these financial transactions as there is no requirement for a centralised authority. When a request for a transaction is made, the decentralised network will investigate the transaction, verify it, and then record the results of its investigation on the blockchain accordingly. In order to verify the legitimacy of these trades, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin employ a mechanism that consists of private keys and public keys. This indicates that users are able to construct anonymous digital identities and digital wallets in order to transact on the decentralised system while still being able to authenticate their transactions in a secure manner.

Limited Supply

Because central banks are able to issue and/or print an endless amount of fiat currencies, the supply of these types of currencies is virtually limitless. As part of their economic policies, central banks frequently engage in currency manipulation. This can have a significant impact on the value of a nation’s currency. Because of the inflationary effect of fiat currencies, the value of the money could gradually fall over the course of time.

On the other hand, the majority of cryptocurrencies have a restricted and pre-defined supply of the respective cryptocurrency which is written into the underlying algorithm as it is produced.

However, when dealing with cryptocurrencies, neither an individual nor a consortium has the ability to change the quantity of money or have considerable influence over it without first receiving the consent of the majority. The most prominent digital currencies either have fixed upper limits on the number of tokens that can be created or a limitless supply with fixed production criteria.

Several of the most prominent cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dash, all have a fixed supply, which makes them inherently deflationary. The price of the cryptocurrency will increase in direct proportion to any rise in either the demand for it or the number of people using it.

Since the smartphone era, pretty much everything has been transferred over to your phone. Playing games, watching movies or your favorite sitcom, and nowadays even trading cryptocurrencies. There are tons of crypto trading apps that are available on iPhone and Android devices. Most of them are free to download from the Apple or Google Play Store, which is awesome. Today we are going to show you the best crypto apps that you can use on your mobile device. Each of them will be reviewed, in order to help you find the right app that suits your style. We will also analyze all the features so you can also compare them, and choose the one to your liking. 

There are a couple of must-have features each app should have in terms of, usability, user interface, and of course most important, security. Each of these aspects is going to determine whether the app is good or not. That is why you should just sit down, relax, and read this article to the end. 

The top apps available on iPhone and Android devices

It is not easy to find the right app that will match your criteria, since currently there are over 100 crypto apps that are available on iPhone and Android devices. You have to do good research and find the best app that has an interesting design, low fees, and top-notch security. Luckily for you, we did that research already, so you do not have to bother with it.

The following list contains information about the best apps currently available on the market, which will make your decision-making much easier:

  1. eToro – overall the best app currently available on iPhone and Android devices
  2. AQRU – create a savings account and earn interest
  3. Crypto.com – one of the best apps where you can use your debit card
  4. Kraken – the oldest platform in the business
  5. Binance – an app with the lowest commissions
  6. Coinbase – great app for beginners
  7. My Freedom Coin – the app that will loan you money to make more money 

This list contains the best apps that you will find on the market for crypto trading. Each of them has its unique design, and some more or less features, that will catch your attention. The review of each app follows.

eToro – overall the best app currently available on iPhone and Android

eToro is for sure the best app that is available on iPhone and Android devices. It has a variety of features that we will present to you and you just need to deposit $10 to start your crypto trading journey. Also, there are over 500 cryptocurrencies to choose from, which is truly outstanding. 

In terms of security, you will be more than happy to hear that it is regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and SEC (Security and Exchange Commission). 

When it comes to fees you will pay just 0.5% which is really low considering other apps/platforms. The most interesting feature regarding eToro is that you can copy another trader. You can see his portfolio and investments and just follow him. This feature will automatically copy his trades, which means whenever he is trading, you will automatically too. It also shows statistics regarding the profit of a certain trader you copy, and that is really outstanding. 

The eToro Crypto Portfolio lets you minimize your risks by investing in several cryptocurrencies. The app is also very intuitive and easy to use, which adds another plus to the list. We definitely recommend this app as it is really great. 

AQRU – create a savings account and earn interest

This app is a very specific one with a unique feature that has also started to gain popularity. This feature is bringing you a passive income and you just have to buy a certain coin and hold it. 

The app offers currently only 5 cryptos that you can purchase and stake. The coins are BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC Maple, and USDC. You can earn up to 7% APY depending on the coin you choose to stake. As soon as you buy it, it calculates automatically and pays you daily. You do not have a lock-in period for the cryptos, which means you can quit it anytime. Just for USDC Maple, you have a 90-day lock-in period. 

Another good thing is if you invite a friend to sign in via your link, you will receive 75 USDT as a bonus. Also, you will not have any fees when purchasing crypto, which is also very good to know.

Crypto.com – one of the best apps where you can use your debit card

This app has 50 million users and can trade over 250 cryptocurrencies. It has a great user-friendly interface and the fees are also very low, just 0.4% no matter if you buy or sell. The fee can even be lowered in case you are using their native cryptocurrency, which is CRO.

It also offers its users to stake cryptos where they can earn passive income. The APY can get up to 34.6% in case you hold the CRO. For other cryptos, the APY goes up to 14.5%, and for some stablecoins up to 10% APY, which is still more than you will get holding your money in a bank. Another thing we forgot to mention at the beginning is that if you are a new user, you won’t pay any fees when purchasing cryptos for the first 30 days. 

Kraken – the oldest platform in the business

Kraken was founded back in 2011 and is considered among the first platforms/apps for crypto trading. It really offers low fees which we will discuss and it is available in more than 190 countries. They offer 365 days, 24/7 customers support, that will answer your question literary within minutes.  You can also find a lot of educational guides within the app that will help you understand the whole market, and also help you with your investment strategies. 

The fees are ridiculously small and are 0.16% for the maker fee or 0.26% taker fee for the range of $0 between $50.000. Above $50.000 the fees are even lesser, and a detailed overview of those fees you can find on their webpage. 

As previously reviewed apps, they also offer rewards for staking certain coins, which can go up to 23% APY. They also put much effort into their security, where you have several options to choose from, such as the Authenticator App or 2FA.

Binance – an app with the lowest commissions

The Binance app offers more than 600 cryptocurrencies and has the lowest fees for trading. They will only charge you 0.1% per trade. Just imagine making a profit of around $10.000, where you will only pay $10 in fees. This is really truly awesome. You will have fees when purchasing cryptos via Mastercard or Visa around 4.5%. 

You can also stake your money in certain coins and earn interest, which is also a good option if you have money to spare. That way you will increase your capital which you can reinvest. 

Coinbase – great app for beginners

This one is for sure the best app available on iPhone and Android devices for beginners. You can set up your account even if you are a newbie within minutes. It has over 70 million users and over 500 cryptocurrencies that you can start with. 

Security should always be your priority, especially if you are new to this. That is why the private key is stored on your device and not the servers. This is more than useful in the case of a cyberattack. You can also hold coins, and earn interest on them. The APY varies from 0.15% up to 5%. 

My Freedom Coin – the app that will lend you money to make more money

This app brings more features to the table than any other. It will serve you as a wallet, exchange platform, and bank. Where you can take loans and earn money through a community program.

It is also available on iPhone and Android devices and it is free of course. It has a clean and very easy-to-use interface.  You can take out loans without the need of selling your assets. Also, the loan feature is really recommended for people who have experience in these types of things. 

Conclusion

The crypto market is always risky and you really need to do good research in case you want to invest in it. The apps we reviewed are available on iPhone and Android devices and offer many features. Each of these apps is unique in its own way, but all of them are reliable to use. You just need to make a decision about which app suits you the most, in terms of usage, security, and fees. Take all these aspects into consideration before you choose the right app, and also do your own research. Not just regarding the apps, but also regarding the crypto market as well.

Gold is a great asset to invest in when your goal is to grow your money and increase your wealth. Many people buy gold as a hedge against inflation, as its price tends to increase when inflation increases. Plus, the fact that gold is always in demand yet its supply is finite can help ensure that its value will remain high. 

If you have been interested in adding gold to your investment portfolio, you might be wondering how you can go about doing so. Well, the good news is there are several ways that you can take advantage of this valuable metal. Continue reading for some helpful information on how to trade gold to get an idea of what is possible. 

Buy Physical Gold

One easy way to invest in gold is by purchasing it in physical form. You can buy gold jewelry, coins, or bullion, as a few examples, and you can store these safely wherever you think they would be most secure. As the value of gold increases, you will have the physical asset in your possession, and you could sell it whenever you wish. Provided that the price of gold has gone up by the time you opt to sell it, you will make a return on your investment. Just bear in mind that the price of gold does fluctuate, so you might need to wait to sell if the price has dropped since you bought your gold. 

Trade Gold Stocks

Another way to invest in gold is by purchasing stocks. Typically, people invest in the stocks of gold mining companies when they want to include gold in their investment portfolio. This is a good way to take advantage of the value of this precious metal without actually needing to buy it in physical form and having to figure out a way to store it securely. But, like all stocks, buying and selling at the right times is key. Prices of stocks will rise and fall over time, depending on a variety of factors, so it is wise to keep an eye on gold stocks and their trends in order to gauge when it would be best to invest in them. 

Work with Gold Futures and ETFs

If you thought that there couldn’t be any other way to invest in gold other than gold bullion or stocks, think again. You can also look into gold futures. This is another great way to invest in gold without needing to worry about storing it, and it may also give you the chance to invest in a high amount, which may not be possible at all if you were to try to buy it all in physical form. 

Or, you could instead opt to go with gold exchange traded funds, which are also known as ETFs. You can trade ETFs in a similar way that you trade stocks, and you can work through a brokerage to do so. Also, this is yet another way to diversify your portfolio easily, and it is a good way to get into the world of gold investing without needing to buy any actual gold.

So Many Options for Every Type of Investor

Ultimately, the way that you decide to invest in gold will depend on your preferences as an investor. Do you want to work with stocks or would you feel more comfortable knowing that you own the tangible asset and can sell it at any time? Bear in mind that each option has its set of pros and cons that need to be considered, and you might decide to invest in gold in more than one way to make the most of it. 

Gold is a great asset to invest in when your goal is to grow your money and increase your wealth. Many people buy gold as a hedge against inflation, as its price tends to increase when inflation increases.

Plus, the fact that gold is always in demand yet its supply is finite can help ensure that its value will remain high.

If you have been interested in adding gold to your investment portfolio, you might be wondering how you can go about doing so. Well, the good news is there are several ways that you can take advantage of this valuable metal. Continue reading for some helpful information on how to trade gold to get an idea of what is possible.

Buy Physical Gold

One easy way to invest in gold is by purchasing it in physical form. You can buy gold jewelry, coins, or bullion, as a few examples, and you can store these safely wherever you think they would be most secure. As the value of gold increases, you will have the physical asset in your possession, and you could sell it whenever you wish. Provided that the price of gold has gone up by the time you opt to sell it, you will make a return on your investment. Just bear in mind that the price of gold does fluctuate, so you might need to wait to sell if the price has dropped since you bought your gold.

Trade Gold Stocks

Another way to invest in gold is by purchasing stocks. Typically, people invest in the stocks of gold mining companies when they want to include gold in their investment portfolio. This is a good way to take advantage of the value of this precious metal without actually needing to buy it in physical form and having to figure out a way to store it securely. But, like all stocks, buying and selling at the right times is key. Prices of stocks will rise and fall over time, depending on a variety of factors, so it is wise to keep an eye on gold stocks and their trends in order to gauge when it would be best to invest in them.

Work with Gold Futures and ETFs

If you thought that there couldn’t be any other way to invest in gold other than gold bullion or stocks, think again. You can also look into gold futures. This is another great way to invest in gold without needing to worry about storing it, and it may also give you the chance to invest in a high amount, which may not be possible at all if you were to try to buy it all in physical form.

Or, you could instead opt to go with gold exchange traded funds, which are also known as ETFs. You can trade ETFs in a similar way that you trade stocks, and you can work through a brokerage to do so. Also, this is yet another way to diversify your portfolio easily, and it is a good way to get into the world of gold investing without needing to buy any actual gold.

So Many Options for Every Type of Investor

Ultimately, the way that you decide to invest in gold will depend on your preferences as an investor. Do you want to work with stocks or would you feel more comfortable knowing that you own the tangible asset and can sell it at any time? Bear in mind that each option has its set of pros and cons that need to be considered, and you might decide to invest in gold in more than one way to make the most of it.

Source: www.ghgossip.com

Probably no person in Poland who would not hear the information about the premiere of Cyberpunk 2077 in December. Video games are no longer an electrifying product only for players, and the Polish stock exchange records a substantial number of gaming companies. What was the last year in the gaming industry like?

The Polish gaming industry was doing well before 2020. According to the report “The Game Industry of Poland” published by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development in September 2020, more than 440 companies manufacture games in Poland. They employ 9.7 thousand people. As much as 96%. Selling native games is an export! Every year, on average, 480 new Polish productions are delivered to players.

Although Polish game titles have been triumphant for a long time, the last two years have been a real “golden age” for producers and investing in casino games or (العاب الكازينو). It was certainly influenced by the coronavirus, which locked us at home and inevitably turned us towards electronic entertainment. During the first lockdown, there was a significant increase in interest in computer games, but also in streaming services and Twitch.tv, which is used to broadcast video games. As indicated by the analysts of the Polish Economic Institute, in the second quarter of 2020 alone, viewers watched 7.5 billion hours of online game broadcasts.

Poland Position on the Gaming Industry Map

Poland is one of the most important gaming markets in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).

According to research from the report “The game industry of Poland”, prepared by PARP, over 16 million people play in Poland.

The analysis also shows that the value of the domestic gaming market is almost USD 600 million. Which places Poland in the third ten in the world ranking. This report was made at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic; hence the numbers have increased even further.

This is indirectly indicated, for example, by the presence of new Polish gaming companies that entered the Polish stock exchange. Currently, about 70 companies are listed there, which makes this sector an increasingly important part of the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

16 Million Players in Poland

The above numbers are the best proof of how resilient this area of the economy has become. What are we playing? According to the data from the list, “What do they play, how do they play and what do Polish players expect?” Prepared by the Try Evidence analytical agency, RPG games enjoyed by over 80% of respondents enjoy unflagging popularity. Sports games and survival horrors are the least liked. The most associated titles are, in turn, Call of Duty, Just Cause, Stronghold, Uncharted, The Last of Us and The Witcher.

Already 60% of the Value of Computer Sales in Poland Is Gaming

In the list above, an important element of the game is often indicated that the plot of a given production is well handled and its graphic design. In the latter case, the bar is also high for manufacturers of gaming computers, who have to prepare such equipment to meet the most demanding productions.

Although the overall market of desktops and laptops in Poland fell last year by 10% in terms of quantity and 1% in terms of value, the same data from GfK indicate a continuous increase in sales of equipment for players.

Desktops have the best results. In 2019, they accounted for less than 30% of models sold. A year later, about 35%, and in 2021, 40% of all computers are those designed for gamers. What’s more, their value is as much as 60% of all equipment sold in the previous year!

eSport Is the Dominant Trend

If we are looking for further examples of the significant growth of the gaming industry in 2020, the best of them is the fact that, according to estimates by International Data Corporation, the revenues of producers in this sector increased by 20% in this year.

Currently, the total value of the gaming industry is PLN 179.7 billion. dollars, making it larger than the movie and sports industries combined.

The development of gaming in recent months is not only due to the increased number of amateurs playing on consoles to pass the time. The closure of the stadiums and the forced break that took place in most traditional sports games gave scope for eSports players, which is a form of gaming.

Electronic games, so far treated with a pinch of salt by many people, during the lockdown for fans have become an excellent substitute for traditional sport. This is evidenced by, for example, the increased interest in betting on the results of eSports matches in bookmakers.

The coronavirus also thwarted the plans of eSports event organizers – many of them, such as Intel® Extreme Masters Katowice 2020, had to take place without the participation of the public. Over a million viewers (excluding China) watched the CS: GO games broadcast online. Compared to the corresponding tournament organized in 2019 in Cologne, Katowice’s IEM 2020 enjoyed 46 percent higher viewership.

Investments in Gaming – Who Will Grab Gaming in Poland?

The last few months have been especially favorable for inStreamly. It is a technology that allows you to automatically manage and place content on hundreds of live-stream channels. What is it for? Thanks to this solution, brands can sign short-term sponsorship contracts directly with the creators. In July this year, inStreamly obtained PLN 1 million of financing from the SMOK VC fund for further development.

Funding was also obtained by the start-up Skinwallet, which owns platforms for trading digital goods in games. This solution has so far collected PLN 3.4 million in financing, and invested in it, among others, Tar Heel Capital fund.

– “We received funding from our investor for the development of the project and, above all, operational and organizational support that is difficult to overestimate, incl. business mentoring, access to the network of Pathfinder founders (including foreign advisers) and administrative, legal and accounting services at an early stage of development, as well as assistance in obtaining capital for further development” – said Dawid Chomicz, co-founder of Skinwallet in an interview with mamstartup.pl.

The newly established ffVC Tech & Gaming fund, which has funds of PLN 100 million, will also invest in startups in the following industries:

·  Games

·  Artificial Intelligence

·  Cybersecurity

·  Drones

·  Robotics

·  Enterprise software

·  RegTech

·  FinTech

The main area of interest of ffVC Tech & gaming business in Poland are start-ups and companies with international potential that are in the phase of rapid expansion. As part of the first investment, one company may receive financing in the amount of PLN 1 to 8 million. If the investment is continued, the company can count on even PLN 15 million. The fund was established on the initiative of Totalizator Sportowy and ffVC’s managing partners with the support of PFR Ventures and the National Center for Research and Development.

Many people are looking for ways to bring in more income, and commodities trading can be a great option. Commodities are materials that help the economy run. People who invest in commodities need to know a lot about them, and it can be riskier than investing in stocks or bonds. This blog post will discuss what commodities trading is and how you can get started.

What are commodities?

Commodities are natural resources that can be traded in an exchange. These commodities are used to produce goods and services, and their prices often change due to supply and demand.

The four main categories of commodities are:

Energy:

The energy market contains a variety of sources, such as oil, natural gas, coal, and ethanol. Also includes renewable sources like wind power and solar power.

Metals:

Precious metals like gold and silver are commodity metals. As well as industrial metals such as iron, aluminum, and zinc.

Agricultural products:

Including edible goods like grain and wheat and non-edible goods like cotton.

Livestock: 

All live animals are referred to as livestock.

What is commodity trading?

In commodities trading, investors buy and sell contracts for these materials. A contract is an agreement between a buyer and a seller to trade a commodity at a set price on a certain date. When you trade commodities, you’re speculating on future price movements in the market. You’re not actually buying or selling the physical product.

The commodities market today is sophisticated. Not only is there a long list of various commodities being traded, but it’s also an international market with exchanges all around the world. During the workweek, you can trade almost 24 hours a day on the commodities market.

Ways to trade commodities

Commodities provide diversification in your portfolio and can be traded in a few different ways with their own set of pros and cons.

Commodities Futures

A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a commodity at a set price on a certain date in the future. Futures contracts are standardized so that you can trade them in exchange. The exchanges act as intermediaries and guarantee both sides of the trade will fulfill their obligations.

You can use futures contracts to speculate on the direction of the market or to hedge your portfolios against price swings.

Physical Commodity

You can also trade commodities by purchasing physical products. This is how most people first get involved in commodity trading. For example, you might purchase gold coins or bars as an investment.

You can also purchase commodities for use in manufacturing or other purposes. For instance, a company that uses oil to produce products may want to purchase a futures contract to ensure they have a steady supply of oil at a set price.

Commodities Stocks

You can trade commodities through stocks as well. A stock is a partial ownership stake in a company. When you purchase a commodity stock, you’re buying shares of a company that produces or uses that commodity.

For example, if you wanted to invest in the oil industry, you could purchase shares of an oil company like ExxonMobil or Chevron.

Commodities ETFs, Mutual Funds and ETNs

You can also trade commodities through exchange-traded products. These are investment vehicles that track the price of a commodity or a basket of commodities.

Commodity ETFs invest in a single commodity, while commodity mutual funds invest in a basket of commodities. Commodity ETNs are debt instruments that track the price of a commodity.

Commodity Pools and Managed Futures

A commodity pool is a fund that allows investors to pool their money and trade commodities as a group. These are also known as commodity trading advisers (CTAs).

Managed futures are similar to commodity pools, but they’re run by professional traders who make decisions about what and when to trade.

Start trading commodities

  • Open an account

If you’re interested in commodity trading, you’ll need to open an account with a broker that offers commodity trading services. Make sure to do your research on different brokers to find one that suits your investment needs. Once you’ve opened an account, you can start researching which commodities you want to trade. It’s important to keep up with current events and understand how they might affect the prices of commodities.

  • Choose a side

When you’re ready to start trading, you’ll need to choose a side—are you going to be a buyer or a seller? If you think the price of a commodity will go up, you’ll take a long position and buy contracts. If you think the price will go down, you’ll take a short position and sell contracts.

  • Evaluate options

Commodity futures allow you to bet on the future value of goods. Futures are another way to trade commodities. A futures contract is a deal between two parties that promises to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date. Futures contracts may be traded on exchanges and apply to any type of commodity. There’s usually someone willing to take the opposite side of your trade when you trade futures.

Conclusion

Commodity trading can be a complex and risky investment, so do your research before getting started. If you’re interested in commodity trading, educate and learn as much as you can about how this market works and what options suit you better.

Ghana is one of the countries that are betting-friendly. Most Ghanaian punters are sports fans hence, they end up wagering more on sports. Punters can wager on football, basketball, ice hockey, baseball, horse racing, and others. Also, most bookies have a section for online casino and virtual sports. This gives you the much-desired flexibility as a punter.

Betting could be profitable if you are patient and know your way around it. A lot of people make the mistake of betting blindly as they place wagers without doing any research. While betting on instinct may work a few times, doing research helps you make better betting decisions. After deciding which betting option to focus on, the next step is to choose bookmakers.

Your choice of bookmaker has a significant influence on your betting journey. If you choose a top betting site, you will most likely have a pleasant betting experience. Obviously some bookies are more beginner-friendly than others, for instance some offer very good bookmaker offers which help you use your deposit better. Some offer helpful information like tips on how to bet on varios sport and  this helps bettors make better betting decisions.

There are several top bookies in Ghana to choose from and in this article, I will share valuable insight on how to find proven betting sites in Ghana. Takebet Ghana also offers expert opinions and helpful betting tips like how to join Betpawa. Let’s get to it. 

Top factors to consider when choosing a betting site in Ghana?

Many bettors, especially beginners, are clueless when it comes to choosing sportsbooks. When choosing bookies, there are specific criteria you should consider. Here, I will discuss some of these criteria in detail. Before you choose a bookie for your wager, the bookie must satisfy your betting needs. 

Legitimacy and Safety

Gambling is legal in Ghana but all sportsbooks still require a betting license to legally operate within the country’s jurisdiction. Whether the bookie is offshore or local, it needs clearance from the Ghana Gaming Commission which is the body that regulates gambling activities in ghana.

Ensure that the sportsbook you choose is cleared legally in Ghana. This will prevent you from being implicated in the future.

Payouts

When you have any winnings on your bet, the next thing is to initiate a payout. Payout speed varies with bookies but most bookies take about 24 hours to credit your account. For grand winnings, the payout time may take longer. 

Odds

Odds are one thing bettors always keep an eye on. The higher the probability of an outcome, the lower the odds, and vice versa. A sportsbook that offers just a few betting markets with low odds is not the best choice for a punter. However, while high odds may be enticing, always go for reputation.

Some bettors use accumulator bets to boost their odds. Instead of wagering on single events, you can select multiple events and wager on them.

Betting Market

Most top bookies offer punters an extensive range of betting markets and betting options. On these online gambling sites, bettors can bet on sports, online casinos, and virtual games. This gives you flexibility as you have many betting options. 

Betting markets should be available for major competitions like the world cup, Ghana premier league, basketball, ice hockey, and horse racing. Also, middle-tier and lower-tier sporting events should be featured.

Bonuses

Punters love free bets. Bonuses are an essential part of the online gambling industry. Not only do bonuses reduce your risks but also boost your chances of being profitable. Some of the bonuses bettors offer are welcome bonus, deposit bonus, and first bet bonus. 

Bookies also roll out time-sensitive promotional offers. These offers are usually announced on the bookie’s website and social media accounts. 

Top list of proven betting sites in Ghana?

Here is a list of some of the proven betting sites in Ghana:

  1. Sportybet
  2. Betway
  3. betPawa
  4. Soccabet
  5. 1xBet
  6. Bet365
  7. Bangbet
  8. Betika

Let’s discuss some of these betting sites in detail:

Sportybet

This is one of the most popular bookies in Ghana. Sportybet Ghana was established in 2012 and the bookie has grown to become a strong competitor in several African countries. The online betting site is popular for the mouthwatering odds it offers Ghanaian bettors. Sportsbet also has wide coverage as it features several betting markets across different sports.

Bet365

Bet365 is another European sportsbook that is functional in Ghana. The online gambling site has millions of customers all around the world and is considered one of the best bookies. Bet365 has a wide coverage as punters can bet on popular sports like football, basketball, and baseball. The betting site also offers juicy odds and bonuses.

Betway Ghana

Betway is a European sportsbook with a solid presence in several countries. Punters like Betway as the bookie offers juice odds to punters. Betway also has a wide coverage and several betting markets which is good for punters. The betting site also features a category for online casinos and virtual games.

Betway supports the official Ghanaian currency, the Ghana Cedis which is one of the reasons the betting site holds good in Ghana.

How easy is it to deposit and withdraw money in Ghanaian betting companies?

The deposits and withdrawal options available may vary with a sportsbook. However, most bookies use mobile money, Mastercard/Visa card, ATMs, and bank transfers. Before choosing a bookie, ensure the payment methods the bookie supports are available to you.

Which bonuses do betting sites in Ghana offer?

As mentioned earlier, most bookies offer punters bonuses as incentives to encourage them to place bets on their platforms. Some of the popular bonuses are welcome bonus, deposit bonus, and first bet bonus. Some bookies also offer odds boosters.

Conclusion

Choosing a good bookie for your bets is essential. There are several bookies in Ghana hence, you need to filter the noise and pick the best ones. I have discussed some of the essential criteria that a bookie must satisfy before it’s considered solid.

I hope this article has been helpful and I wish you a profitable betting experience. 

1xBet, one of the world’s leading bookmakers, has become the LOSC Official Regional Partner in Africa. The duration of the agreement is three years. According to the terms of the deal, the betting company will be LOSC Lille’s regional partner in the Middle East, North, and South Africa.

As part of the agreement, 1xBet receives the rights to use the logo of the French club and the collective image of its players in their promotional campaigns. Furthermore, 1xBet advertising can be seen on LED boards during the club’s top matches in the French Championship, and the cooperation itself will be actively covered on social networks. 

In addition, a special page has been created for club fans – https://1xlosc.com. Here, supporters can get a promotional code for registering at 1xBet under improved conditions. 

“This is great news. We are very pleased to cooperate with such a legendary club, which has a huge fanbase, not only in France but worldwide. Most recently, in 2021, the club became the champions of France, which is not easy because we all know what level of opponents contest this tournament.

We want to offer Les Dogues fans the opportunity to get the most vivid emotions and a new online betting experience. For 1xBet, this deal is another important step in their global strategy to support football at all levels. We expect a lot from cooperation, and rest assured, this is not the last time that 1xBet brings good news this year,” said Alex Sommers, a spokesman for the company.

It is worth noting that this is not the first agreement between 1xBet and a French top-level club in recent years. Previously, the company became the official partner of PSG.

1xBet is one of the world’s leading betting companies operating directly and through its franchise partners in over 50 countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

About 1xBet

1xBet is a world-famous betting company with over 15 years of experience. Brand customers can bet on thousands of events in over 60 sports. In addition, the company’s website and app are available in over 60 languages.

1xBet cooperates with well-known sports clubs and organisations: Barcelona, Italian Serie A, CAF and others. In addition, 1xBet’s partner portfolio includes popular esports organisations such as Team Spirit, K23, Tundra Esports, OG Esports and MiBR. The bookmaker has repeatedly become a nominee and winner of prestigious awards, including IGA, SBC, G2E Asia, EGR Nordics Awards and others.

About LOSC Lille

LOSC Lille is one of the most successful clubs in France. The team has won the national championship 4 times and has had another 11 top three finishes. LOSC Lille has won 6 French Cups and won the 2021 French Super Cup. The club has participated in the play-offs of European cup competitions more than once. In the 2006-2007 and 2021-22 seasons, LOSC Lille reached the Round of 16 in the Champions League.

Stars such as Eden Hazard, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gervinho and Dimitri Payet have played for LOSC Lille in various capacities. And now, European champion Jose Fonte and one of the most productive forwards of Ligue 1 Jonathan David are squad members.

source: www.ghgossip.com

Two reports indicate a massive growth trend impacting the childcare market this year. Moreover, the movement should extend well into the future. This article will explore how much the childcare market may grow, how the pandemic has impacted the industry, and what changes to expect to deliver childcare services in the future.

What Is Childcare?

Childcare services usually take place in center-based facilities or in-home. They are aimed at children ranging in age from 0 to 14 years and include such offerings as:

  • Infant care
  • Toddler care
  • Preschool care
  • Pre-kindergarten care
  • Kindergarten care
  • Before school care
  • After school care

Growth Projections According To Source

The Child Day Care Services Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030 estimates that the global child day care market will grow to $295.99 billion in 2021 and reach $415.96 billion by 2025. Both figures have a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 9 percent. Expanding on that is the Children’s Day Care Services Market by Application and Geography – Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025, which projects overall growth of $176.29 billion from 2020 to 2025 with a CAGR of 9.23 percent. 

How The Market Is Segmented

There are two primary segments of the childcare services market. The definitions separate them by application and geography. 

Application

There are two distinct classifications defining the type of childcare service application. First, they are center-based and home-based. Second, center-based childcare services are provided through a childcare center or facility that focuses primarily on child personality development, achieved through a program curriculum that includes language development, literacy, personality development, and more. 

Center-based child care requires the delivery of the child to the site. Home-based childcare services revolve around various activities offered in the home. The majority of child care services are center-based.

Geography

The childcare services market has five different global classifications. They include APAC (Asia Pacific), Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). APAC holds the largest share of the market.

What Is Pushing This Growth Trend?

According to these market reports, childcare services are growing simply because the child mortality rate has decreased. However, challenges will slow market growth, such as the increasing cost of raising children. In addition, the pandemic also impacted the industry with protocols that forced capacity limits. 

The impact on the childcare market as children were removed from care to be home with their parents when many parents had to work remotely. This transition resulted in the widespread closures of center-based child care services. There are also many underserved regions across the country, and the low pay and marginal profit margin for childcare operators. However, all have contributed to the speed of growth within the market.

Other Factors To Consider

On the plus side, projections point to an increase in women gaining employment in the forecast period of both market reports. This increase will push for further growth within the childcare sector. As a result, the US projections estimate that the share of women in the workforce will go up to 47.2 percent by 2024. 

With this increase comes the need for more on-site child care services at workplaces. Fortunately, there are federally-funded programs that support more women entering the labor market, which will assist in the growth of the childcare market.

The Upside To The Pandemic

Although the coronavirus outbreak forced changes in all labor market segments, the market reports see positive results despite severely impacting the childcare sector. In addition, the effects of the pandemic did not touch many social services markets, and that did not slow down their operations. 

The further analysis gives weight to the belief that recovery will be easy for the childcare market. The reports refer to the pandemic as a ‘black swan’ event in the history of childcare, meaning it is a rare circumstance that will likely never occur again.

How Technology Drives The Future of Childcare

Childcare service providers are using new technology to assist with their services. The goal is to permit parents to maintain a connection with their children. For example, it is becoming commonplace for a childcare facility to have an app available that offers video streaming of activities taking place in the classroom. In addition, some apps enable childcare operators to take photos of children and send them to parents throughout the day. 

This purpose is to allow parents access to tools to monitor and track their children at childcare facilities when working. For example, the Parent Care Network teamed up with Trust Child Care Centers in Canada. The partnership provides videos to parents over the internet to facilitate parental monitoring. 

Where Child Care Services Are Used Most

According to the market analysis reports, five critical countries worldwide have the most demand for childcare services. China holds down the top spot on the list. The United States comes in second, followed by India, Germany, and the United Kingdom. 

The Asia Pacific region has the largest child care market globally, with 33 percent of the market (in 2020). Western Europe was next with 23 percent of the global market. On the other end of the scale, Africa has a minor portion of the market.

Final Thoughts

There is no better time to get involved in childcare services than now. Analysis shows that there has been tremendous growth to date and that growth will continue. Recovery from the pandemic, which hit the market hard, is expected to be swift. In addition, with more women entering the workforce in the coming years, the demand for childcare services will only increase. 

This market shows excellent long-term potential, with a Year-over-Year growth projected at 8.01 percent. With a childcare curriculum focusing on child personality development, enrolling your child in such a program only makes sense.

Sandra Chiu works as Director at LadyBug & Friends Daycare and Preschool.