Apple TV(SeaPRwire) - 每个后末日题材故事都萦绕着一个核心问题：末日本身。有的故事在第一集就展现末日发生，随后跳转到未来，比如《最后生还者》(The Last of Us)或《辐射》(Fallout)；有的会将末日的真相保密到关键节点，比如《天堂》(Paradise)；还有的完全不提及发生了什么，比如《扭曲金属》(Twisted Metal)。但Apple TV的后末日科幻剧集《Silo》(Silo)却采取了一种全新的方式。第三季将于7月首播，故事将在末日之后的当下与末日之前的过去之间切换：在当下，朱丽叶（丽贝卡·弗格森 饰）因“清洁”被流放后回到了家乡地堡；在过去，政客们正竭力为最坏的情况做准备。请查看以下剧集的首支预告片：这些加长闪回并非无迹可寻。第二季的结尾闪回到了不久后的华盛顿特区，一位国会议员与记者会面，讨论近期发生的悲剧事件。他送给对方一个礼物——一只鸭子造型的Pez糖盒。他解释说这是在街角商店情急之下买的，但对《Silo》的粉丝而言，这个看似无关紧要的道具却与剧集主线有着重大关联。几个世纪后的未来，正是这个Pez糖盒作为“之前的时代”（The Before Times）的文物留存了下来。融入起源故事的策略直接源自原著。休·豪伊的《Silo》三部曲第二部《Shift》(Shift)直到最后才出现朱丽叶，而是聚焦于没有她的事件，并穿插闪回。但既然剧集中有丽贝卡·弗格森这样的演员，自然要充分利用她，因此第二季的大部分内容都围绕她在邻近地堡的经历展开。看来第三季将回顾《Shift》中的那些闪回，同时推进朱丽叶的故事线。正如第二季结局所预告，《Silo》第三季将在当下与“之前的时代”之间切换。 | Apple TV这些闪回对《Silo》来说格外有趣。我们之前听过关于“之前的时代”的讨论，但地堡里没有人真正记得最初是什么迫使人们躲入地下。因此，这并非角色知晓而观众不知的情况——相反，我们会拥有一种戏剧性反讽，因为我们知道发生了什么。希望我们也能看到朱丽叶和其他地堡居民自己找出真相。《Silo》已有明确规划，因为它已续订第四季（也是最终季）。这意味着我们在第三季看到的一切，甚至前传剧情，都是终结的开端。《Silo》向来能带来史诗级的结局，有了如此充足的铺垫和比以往更大的格局，一切很可能正朝着载入史册的系列终章发展。《Silo》第三季将于7月3日在Apple TV首播。本文由第三方内容提供商提供。SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/)对此不作任何保证或陈述。
分类: 头条新闻,日常新闻
SeaPRwire为公司和机构提供全球新闻稿发布，覆盖超过6,500个媒体库、86,000名编辑和记者，以及350万以上终端桌面和手机App。SeaPRwire支持英、日、德、韩、法、俄、印尼、马来、越南、中文等多种语言新闻稿发布。
(SeaPRwire) - 耶路撒冷：以色列国防军（IDF）推出了一款新型自行榴弹炮，作为防御真主党袭击的武器，用于打击黎巴嫩境内的真主党恐怖分子。“Ro’em”（希伯来语意为“雷霆”）可能在以色列与真主党之间为期10天的脆弱停火协议破裂时发挥重要作用。黎巴嫩和以色列大使之间旨在解除真主党武装的第二轮会谈定于周四在华盛顿特区举行。停火协议于周四生效。以色列国防军首席炮兵军官 Ehud Bibi 告诉 Digital，“Ro’em”为炮兵部队和整个以色列国防军带来了新的能力，重塑了战场上火力运用方式。这标志着一个历史性的里程碑，开启了一个更精确、更快、更灵活的火力新时代，使我们能够更有效地支援地面部队。”根据以色列国防军的声明，“在行动中，部队对真主党的多个反坦克和地对地导弹发射阵地进行了精确炮火打击，这些阵地曾向以色列国防军部队发动袭击。此次射击效果显著，取得了作战成果，并引入了新的炮兵能力，从而降低了对以色列国防军部队和以色列平民的威胁。”以色列国防军表示，这些发射是在停火期间对伊朗支持的真主党恐怖分子进行的纯粹防御性打击。该榴弹炮射程约为40公里（约25英里）。一个由三名以色列国防军士兵组成的团队操作“Ro’em”。Elbit Systems 在其网站上表示，它“能够自动装填和瞄准火炮系统，具有快速进出阵地时间和高射速。它为三名乘员提供了一个受保护的驾驶室。”并补充说，“根据任务需要，SIGMA 能够自动选择和装填所需的弹丸、发射药和引信，并瞄准火炮以最佳方式打击目标。”“Ro’em”也被称为 SIGMA，由 Elbit Systems of America 位于南卡罗来纳州的子公司生产。真主党违反了此前由美国斡旋的2024年11月停火协议，于3月2日向以色列发射导弹，以回应以色列与伊朗联合对伊朗政权的战争。黎巴嫩政府和黎巴嫩武装部队未能遵守2025年解除真主党武装的最后期限。联合国安理会第1701号决议也要求在2006年以色列与黎巴嫩战争后解除真主党武装。根据以色列国防军发给 Digital 关于这款现代化榴弹炮的声明，上周二，“炮兵部队第282火力旅的部队，在 Mali（陆地训练中心）火力中心的‘Ro’em’分部带领下，进行了……他们首次使用‘Ro’em’榴弹炮的实战射击，以支援在以色列北部作战的以色列国防军部队。”声明继续指出，“‘Ro’em’是最近列装以色列国防军的新型榴弹炮，为战场带来了先进和创新的能力。它显著提高了射速，与现有系统相比能够实现更远的射程，并提供了增强的野战机动性和操纵性。自3月2日以来，真主党对以色列的袭击已导致2名平民和15名以色列士兵死亡。Reuters 报道称，真主党尚未公布其伤亡数字。黎巴嫩当局报告称，自3月2日以来，黎巴嫩已有近2300人丧生。这些数字没有区分真主党恐怖分子和平民。在该国阵亡将士纪念日活动上，该国防长 Israel Katz 承诺确保以色列北部居民的安全，他们曾面临真主党的大规模空袭。Katz 说：“即使我们聚集在这里纪念我们的阵亡将士，在以色列国防军部队在黎巴嫩南部进行了数周的坚定行动之后，我们对北部居民的承诺依然明确而坚定，那就是为他们带来安全。”他指出：“如果黎巴嫩政府继续不履行其义务，以色列国防军将通过持续的军事行动来履行。”Reuters 对此报道亦有贡献。本文由第三方内容提供商提供。SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/)对此不作任何保证或陈述。
分类: 头条新闻,日常新闻
SeaPRwire为公司和机构提供全球新闻稿发布，覆盖超过6,500个媒体库、86,000名编辑和记者，以及350万以上终端桌面和手机App。SeaPRwire支持英、日、德、韩、法、俄、印尼、马来、越南、中文等多种语言新闻稿发布。
(AsiaGameHub) - The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning face off this evening for Game 2 of their first-round NHL playoff series. The game begins at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Montreal secured a surprise victory in Game 1 on Sunday, led by Juraj Slafkovsky’s overtime goal which completed his hat trick in the 4-3 win.
For tonight's matchup, DraftKings lists Tampa Bay as a -192 home favorite, with the over/under set at 5.5. Currently, the Lightning have attracted 76% of the total bets and 83% of the betting tickets.
Leading Player Props: Canadiens vs. Lightning
With Tampa Bay anticipated to recover, we have identified three player props for the Lightning and one for the Canadiens.
Andrei Vasilevskiy OVER 21.5 Saves (-110)
Andrei Vasilevskiy entered the postseason as the premier goaltender. His regular-season goals against average of 2.33 was second only to Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood (2.07).
However, Wedgewood only made his first NHL playoff start during Sunday’s victory over the Kings. Consequently, we anticipate the veteran Vasilevskiy will bounce back tonight after recording just 15 saves in the series opener.
Nikita Kucherov OVER 1.5 Points (+105)
Nikita Kucherov finished the regular season with 130 points, trailing only Edmonton’s Connor McDavid for the league lead.
Kucherov maintained his high level of play in Game 1, recording two assists and firing five shots on goal.
Given that Tampa Bay is expected to dominate Montreal’s youthful defensive unit, Kucherov should be able to secure at least two points.
Jake Guentzel OVER 2.5 Shots (-150)
While the odds are a bit steep, Jake Guentzel plays a key role alongside Kucherov in maintaining offensive pressure for the Bolts.
Guentzel had four shots on goal in the first game. He has surpassed this shot total in four of his previous six outings, including a four-shot performance against Montreal late in the regular season.
Juraj Slafkovsky Anytime Goal Scorer (+195)
It is surprising that Slafkovsky’s odds remain this high considering his scoring record against Tampa Bay.
Beyond Sunday’s hat trick, the talented winger also netted four goals across four regular-season meetings with the Lightning.
He also led all players with seven shots on goal against Vasilevskiy in Game 1. With his knack for generating dangerous opportunities, he is a strong candidate to find the net tonight.
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TSUKUBA, Japan, Apr 22, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Discovering and characterizing new materials is important for unlocking advances in fields like clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and improved infrastructure. Researchers use machine learning and other computational tools to help them, but the trial-and-error nature of the process creates specific challenges. The research produces large amounts of experimental and computational data, and scientists need tools that can track and store not only the results but also the chain of reasoning behind them.A newly developed system tracks and stores not only the results but also the chain of reasoning behind them, allowing researchers to review the decision making process for a greater transparency and reproducibility in materials science research.A new system called pinax, published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods, provides precisely those features. Developed by engineers at Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), pinax captures the entire process of developing new materials, including machine learning workflows and decision-making processes. “By formalizing both successful and unsuccessful trial-and-error processes, pinax enhances reproducibility, accountability, and knowledge sharing while maintaining strict data governance,” says Satoshi Minamoto of NIMS, the study’s lead author.The new pinax system consists of three layers: the core machine learning infrastructure (bottom), the provenance recording and tracking that visualises the reasoning behind final results (middle), and the advanced feature layer for materials development (top). Credit: STAM-MMachine learning models are playing an ever-larger role in materials discovery and characterization. While the models are powerful tools, the reasoning processes they use are generally opaque. Researchers don’t know what considerations and trial-and-error processes went into their final predictions. “The system introduced in this study visualizes these invisible processes. This enables others to review, verify, and build upon the path to the conclusions,” says Minamoto.Minamoto highlights the importance of such access in applications where safety, reproducibility, and accountability are important, saying that this work “demonstrates how transparent AI systems can transform scientific discovery into a more reliable, efficient, and socially responsible endeavor.”The team tested pinax using two case studies: one on predicting steel properties and another using transfer learning to predict the thermal conductivity of polymers. The system made it possible to link the model’s performance predictions to the specific data or model aspects that influenced them, and to reproduce complex, multi-stage workflows. “In particular, the transfer-learning example highlights pinax’s ability to track how information flows between intertwined datasets and models, making every step in the reasoning process explicitly traceable,” says Minamoto.The engineers plan to expand pinax towards an autonomous, closed-loop materials discovery system. By integrating pinax’s tracking capabilities with automated experimental and simulation systems, they aim to create a loop that can use data generation, machine learning models, and decision-making systems to systematically and independently carry out the entire research cycle.Further information Satoshi MinamotoNational Institute for Materials Scienceminamoto.satoshi@nims.go.jpPaper: https://doi.org/10.1080/27660400.2026.2629051 About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods (STAM-M)STAM Methods is an open access sister journal of Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM), and focuses on emergent methods and tools for improving and/or accelerating materials developments, such as methodology, apparatus, instrumentation, modeling, high-through put data collection, materials/process informatics, databases, and programming. https://www.tandfonline.com/STAM-MDr Kazuya SaitoSTAM Methods Publishing Director SAITO.Kazuya@nims.go.jpPress release distributed by Asia Research News for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
SUNNYVALE, CA, Apr 22, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Graid Technology, the pioneer in GPU-accelerated NVMe storage, today announced its Agentic AI Storage Portfolio: a purpose-built family of KV cache solutions designed to eliminate the storage bottleneck that stalls "always-on" production AI. The portfolio spans three deployment tiers: KV Cache Server, KV Cache Rack, and KV Cache Platform, all built on SupremeRAID™ technology. KV Cache Platform, the portfolio's highest tier, is purpose-aligned to NVIDIA's STX reference architecture, with native BlueField-4 DPU execution on the roadmap for H2 2026.As agentic AI moves from experimentation to production, the infrastructure assumptions that underpinned single-shot inference have broken down. Models running continuous multi-step tasks and maintaining context across hours of operation generate KV cache demands that overwhelm GPU HBM. The result: latency spikes up to 18x, GPU utilization as low as 50%, and model-level failures, including hallucinations and reasoning degradation, that are difficult to detect and costly to recover from.SupremeRAID™ addresses this directly, aggregating up to 32 NVMe drives into a single 280 GB/s virtual pool, bypassing the CPU via GPU Direct Storage, and delivering KV cache reads at 1.3ms- 77x faster than standard NVMe. The three portfolio tiers bring this capability to every deployment scale:KV Cache Server - single-node NVMe acceleration for individual inference servers and edge AI deployments. Available now.KV Cache Rack - rack-scale, partner-validated solutions co-engineered with leading server OEM partners for enterprise multi-GPU clusters. Available now.KV Cache Platform - Purpose-built for NVIDIA's STX reference architecture, with native BlueField-4 DPU execution and rack-scale storage expansion on the roadmap."A year ago, at GTC 2025, Jensen Huang predicted that storage would become GPU-accelerated for the first time. This year, NVIDIA turned that concept into an architecture with STX and CMX," said Leander Yu, CEO of Graid Technology. "Our KV Cache Portfolio is built for precisely this moment, delivering the storage performance that agentic AI demands, at storage-tier economics."For enterprises and infrastructure teams evaluating agentic AI deployments, the full deployment architecture, technical specifications, and NVIDIA STX compatibility details are available in the solution brief: Graid Technology Agentic AI Storage Portfolio: Purpose-built KV Cache Solutions for Inference at Scale.To learn more about Graid Technology's AI offerings, visit graidtech.com/ai.Media Inquiries:Andrea Eaken, Sr. Director of Marketing, Americas & EMEAandrea.eaken@graidtech.comAbout Graid TechnologyGraid Technology is building the storage backbone for the future of AI, enterprise, and high-performance computing. As the creator of SupremeRAID™, the world's first and only GPU-based RAID, and the global steward of Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU (Intel® VROC), Graid Technology delivers flexible RAID solutions that maximize NVMe performance while ensuring resilient, scalable data protection for modern data infrastructure. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with global operations and R&D in Taiwan, Graid Technology is advancing RAID innovation for the next generation of data-intensive workloads. To learn more, visit graidtech.com.SOURCE: Graid Technology Inc. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
(AsiaGameHub) - Authorities in Hong Kong and various Mainland Chinese provinces are intensifying their efforts against illicit gambling in public areas, resulting in numerous arrests across multiple operations.
According to China.com, a Chinese media source, Hong Kong police initiated an operation on April 16 to dismantle an unlawful street gambling syndicate operating in Kwai Chung.
Law enforcement officials reported the apprehension of four Hong Kong residents at the location. All suspects are male, ranging in age from 68 to 82.
Investigators confirmed the confiscation of gambling equipment and an unspecified sum of money during the raid.
The individuals arrested are scheduled to appear jointly at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on April 30.
A residential estate in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong. (Image: WiNG [CC BY-SA 3.0])
Gambling Enforcement in China
Concurrently, within Hangzhou province, the provincial Public Security Bureau disclosed that Xindeng police utilized drone technology to locate and detain a group believed to be engaged in gambling at a hillside pavilion situated within a public cemetery.
Authorities stated that 13 individuals were apprehended, and gambling funds totaling 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,470) were seized. Various gambling implements were also confiscated by officers at the site.
Investigators indicated that the suspects selected the location due to its secluded and inaccessible nature. However, after police observed a suspicious gathering at the pavilion on April 14, a drone was deployed.
Within five minutes, officers reported, the drone transmitted “clear images of multiple individuals assembled in the pavilion, placing wagers.”
Law enforcement officials confirmed that all suspects have been charged with offenses related to gambling, adding that their investigation remains ongoing.
The Emergence of "Forest Gambling"
Throughout China, police forces are reportedly combating a significant increase in what is termed “forest gambling.”
This practice generally entails groups of gamblers arranging to convene in secluded, predominantly rural locations. Participants purportedly hold the belief that unlawful gambling is secure when conducted in areas not typically patrolled by police.
However, Chinese police assert that they now possess a wide array of drone-enabled technologies assisting them in identifying groups of gamblers in forested regions, derelict structures, lakeside retreats, and mountainous terrains.
Furthermore, certain police agencies have deployed small teams of officers to conduct daily foot patrols in remote and semi-rural locales.
These patrols primarily monitor activities within small, confined village pathways and dense woodland areas to counteract the proliferation of “forest gambling” operations.
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(AsiaGameHub) - In Daegu, South Korea, authorities have apprehended 68 individuals following a raid on a facility believed to be involved in dogfighting and gambling.
According to South Korean broadcasters TV Chosun and TBC, many of those arrested were reportedly observed placing bets on the outcomes of animal fights.
Police, alongside activists from the animal welfare organization Korean Animal Welfare Association, indicated that the fights were conducted in an undeveloped area within an industrial complex near the city.
Investigators estimate the fights took place within a “3-meter by 3-meter iron cage,” with spectators seated on camping chairs to observe the events.
Animal rights advocates reported finding "fighting dogs used for gambling purposes" tethered in the bushes near the location. Officers also discovered additional animals "chained to the guardrails on nearby roads."
Investigators stated that the gamblers wagered sums amounting to "tens of millions of Korean won" on the results of these illicit matches.
During the police raid, the majority of the suspected gamblers attempted to escape. However, detectives reported that most were apprehended by police netting deployed to secure the single entrance to the industrial complex.
Dogfighting & Gambling: Police Charge 68 People
A representative from the animal welfare charity described the scene as "absolute chaos," noting, "People were gathering near the entrance to escape, vehicles were swarming in, and car horns were blaring."
A dog rescued from a suspected dogfighting ring near Daegu in South Korea. (Image: Korean Animal Welfare Association/Screenshot)
Authorities reported that numerous dogs found at the site had sustained severe injuries, and several are currently undergoing veterinary treatment.
Activists shared that one dog was discovered in a "horrific condition," reportedly suffering from broken teeth and a severely gashed leg following a particularly brutal fight.
The suspects have been charged with animal abuse-related offenses and illegal gambling. Police are continuing their investigation to identify the individuals believed to be orchestrating the gambling operation.
Investigators also reported finding syringes and various illicit substances at the scene, which they believe were administered to the injured dogs.
Punishments are Too Lenient, Say Critics
In South Korea, the maximum penalty for causing injury to an animal for gambling-related purposes is two years imprisonment, with the possibility of a fine up to 20 million won (under $14,000).
However, critics argue that these penalties are excessively "lenient."
Late last year, animal rights activists in the southern part of the country raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of dogfighting rings.
Activists have stated that court and police efforts to combat illegal dogfighting are "lax," which has contributed to a "resurgence" of dogfighting and associated gambling activities in regions including South Gyeongsang Province.
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(AsiaGameHub) - The PGA Tour heads to TPC Louisiana this week for the Zurich Classic, the season's solitary team-format tournament.
For the past nine years, the Zurich Classic has featured a partner format, alternating between four-ball and foursomes. The title is currently held by Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak.
Zurich Classic Odds at DraftKings
Review the following DraftKings odds for the leading contenders at the Zurich Classic:
Fitzpatrick / Fitzpatrick +1175
Koepka / Lowry +1550
Yellamaraju / Gerard +1750
Novak / Griffin +1850
Thorbjornsen / Vilips +1950
Rai / Theegala +2150
Keefer / Brennan +2200
Moore / Clark +2300
Penge / Wallace +2350
Li / Smith +2350
Thompson / Eckroat +2500
McCarty / Meissner +2600
Hughes / Pendrith +3000
Ventura / Reitan +3000
Springer / Smalley +3000
Bauchou / Stevens +3200
Yu / Kim +3200
Mitchell / Snedeker +3500
Finau / Greyserman +3700
Roy / McGreevy +3700
Schmid / Power +3800
Hoey / Lipsky +4000
Parry / Brown +4300
Olesen / Neergaard-Petersen +4300
Suber / Jaeger +4700
Smotherman / Putnam +4800
Van Rooyen / Bezuidenhout +4900
Ewart / Jarvis +5200
Lebioda / Code +5500
Hossler / Ryder +5700
Dou / Wu +6000
Whaley / Sigg +6000
Svensson / Nyholm +6000
Mouw / Kanaya +6100
Dumont De Chassart / Chatfield +6400
Kuchar / Higgo +6600
Horschel / Hoge +7000
Top Favorite Pick for the Zurich Classic
Brooks Koepka & Shane Lowry +1550
While Brooks Koepka currently lacks entry into signature events, a victory this week would secure his spot. He is paired with Shane Lowry, who took home the trophy in 2024 alongside Rory McIlroy. This high-profile team is expected to be a major factor at TPC Louisiana.
Although Matt Fitzpatrick, coming off an RBC Heritage win, and his brother Alex Fitzpatrick, a recent winner on the DP World Tour, have plenty of momentum, the Koepka/Lowry duo offers superior betting value.
Top Sleeper Pick for the Zurich Classic
Aaron Rai & Sahith Theegala +2150
Teaming up for the third straight year, Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala previously secured a T-18 finish here in 2025.
Theegala has already secured four top-10 finishes this season and previously took fourth place in 2022 alongside David Lipsky.
While Rai has been less consistent, he stands to gain from Theegala’s high-level putting, as Theegala currently ranks 36th on tour in SG: Putting.
Top Longshot Pick for the Zurich Classic
Justin Lower & Chad Ramey +6800
This pair offers great value given their history of success in this team setting. Chad Ramey has logged three consecutive top-10s here, including a second-place finish with Martin Trainer in 2024, the same year Lowry and McIlroy won.
Justin Lower has also earned two top-10 finishes at the Zurich Classic. Last year, Lower and Ramey joined forces to finish in eighth place.
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(AsiaGameHub) - Louisiana legislators are once again advancing a measure to explicitly outlaw sweepstakes casinos across the state. This action follows Governor Jeff Landry's veto of a comparable bill last session, a move he justified by pointing to existing rules that already forbid such platforms.
The state's House of Representatives approved HB883 last week with a unanimous 99-0 vote. The legislation has since been passed along to the Senate’s Judiciary B Committee for further consideration.
The bill's wording is the same as the one that cleared both legislative bodies last year. It defines illegal gambling as “any game, contest, or promotion that is available on the internet or accessible on a mobile phone, computer terminal, or similar access device that uses a dual-currency payment system enabling a player to exchange the currency for any prize or award, cash, or cash equivalents, or any chance to win any prize or award, cash, or cash equivalents, and simulates any form of gambling constitutes gambling by computer.”
The bill notes that current law already forbids “gambling by computer and establishes penalties for violations.”
However, it clarifies that the “Proposed law specifies additional actions that qualify as gambling by computer, such as offering dual-currency games that simulate any form of gambling.”
Problem Already Being Solved
Governor Landry maintains that the present statutes are adequate for the state to take legal action against sweepstakes casinos, which operate on dual-currency models.
Explaining his veto last year, Landry remarked, “This bill is a solution looking for a problem that is already being addressed by our current framework.”
“This bill seeks to criminalize specific secondary internet gambling activities that are already illegal in Louisiana,” he continued.
“Our existing Louisiana Gaming Control Board possesses the regulatory power, oversight, and jurisdiction over all gaming activities and operations as outlined in the Louisiana Gaming Control Law.”
He also expressed concern that “portions of the bill's text are too vague and could be construed negatively, potentially undermining or obstructing our ongoing enforcement efforts against these bad actors.“
This year's proposed legislation, nonetheless, features highly comparable language.
State Ramps Up Enforcement Action
Supporting Landry's assertion that Louisiana's gaming authorities already have enough power to combat illegal operators, the Gaming Control Board issued cease-and-desist letters to over 40 offshore and sweepstakes casinos soon after his veto. To date, at least 60 operators have ceased operations within the state.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has also officially deemed sweepstakes casinos unlawful. She declared, “Following a review of applicable Louisiana statutes and legal precedent, it is the opinion of this office that online businesses offering casino-style games – purporting to be sweepstakes or social gaming platforms – are operating in violation of Louisiana law.”
While the new bill would grant the Attorney General expanded authority, Murrill is already confident in her existing power to close down these operators. She also cautioned companies that they remain “subject to Federal and State tax laws and liabilities.”
The Louisiana Department of Revenue has initiated legal action against VGW and WOW Vegas, claiming the firms are responsible for $44 million in back taxes.
Other States Banning Sweepstakes
Louisiana is not alone, as other states are also moving to outlaw sweepstakes casinos through new laws. Both Maine and Indiana have enacted bills this year that ban multi-currency gambling.
Last week, officials in Washington, D.C., also put forward a bill that would authorize iGaming while simultaneously prohibiting sweepstakes casinos.
It remains uncertain whether Gov. Landry will veto the bill again if it passes the Senate. Based on his past comments, it appears probable he would once again deem the law redundant and potentially complicating. The state's legislative session concludes on June 1.
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(AsiaGameHub) - The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has noted a “sharp contraction in online revenues” stemming from licences under the Netherlands’ Remote Gambling Act (KOA), indicating a structural shift in market dynamics.
In its Jaarverslag Kansspelautoriteit 2025, the Dutch regulator asserts that the overall gambling market stays stable at roughly €4.3bn (£3.7bn), notwithstanding increasing pressure on the online sector.
Figures derived from tax receipts of licensed operators indicate an 18.5% year-on-year drop in online gambling revenues, with KOA activity decreasing to an annual baseline of about €1.2bn – equating to €600m for each half-year.
This drop comes after growth seen in 2024 and mirrors what the KSA terms a “counter-reaction to curb market expansion”.
The downturn was expected after the introduction of tighter regulatory controls, such as a tax hike from 30.5% to 34.2% in January 2025, which is set to rise to 37.8% in 2026.
In addition to fiscal measures, operators must enforce monthly net deposit caps of €700 for adults and €300 for players aged 18–24, markedly cutting the spending of high-value customers.
The KSA is of the opinion that these measures have changed consumer behaviour within the KOA market. Although player channelisation stays high, with roughly 94% of users betting with licensed operators, revenue channelisation has diminished.
Nevertheless, data shows the legal GGR share dropped to nearly 49% in early 2025, with the authority cautioning that players in the illegal market are “much less well protected”.
Dutch online gambling trade body VNLOK has contested the KSA’s interpretation, asserting that headline channelisation stats “do not reflect where the money is going,” and cautioning that high-value players are moving to unlicensed operators in growing numbers.
VNLOK contends that the KSA should not make player channelisation a priority, deeming this figure a “false metric” since 50% of GGR seems to be unaccounted for by KOA licences.
Despite the online slump, other verticals have balanced out the online losses. The Dutch lottery and land-based gambling (casinos and betting) sector expanded by 4.6%, aiding in stabilising the total market at €4.3bn.
Looking to the future, the KSA’s regulatory focus stays firmly on player protection. “The focus point for 2025 was better player protection,” the authority declared, observing that gambling harm goes beyond financial loss to affect mental health, relationships, and social wellbeing.
As the market adapts, the KSA will uphold this mandate while waiting for the government’s next legislative stage.
A new Gambling Act is projected to be drafted in late 2025, with consultation in 2026, as policymakers mull stricter than advertising bans, higher age limits, and more rigorous enforcement. Instead of an immediate repeal, the KOA regime is poised to be reshaped via incremental reforms, pointing to a more restrictive future for the Dutch gambling market
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(AsiaGameHub) - Top US sports betting operators FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics significantly boosted their political expenditures last quarter, directing a combined $42 million to political action committees.
Each of the sportsbooks made major contributions to the Win for America Super PAC during the quarter.
While DraftKings had previously given $2 million to the PAC, its latest donations surged to $17.5 million, as shown in FEC records. FanDuel donated an even larger sum of $19.5 million, and FBG Enterprises, the parent firm of Fanatics Sportsbook, contributed a further $4 million, resulting in the $42 million total.
FanDuel and DraftKings each established their own PACs last year. DraftKings created its PAC, named American Future, which has primarily concentrated on financing politicians who advocate for lower gambling taxes in Illinois.
Folllow the Money
From the $42 million given to Win for America, $7.3 million was channeled to American Future. The bulk of the money, $26.1 million, was routed through the American Conservative Fund, according to an analysis by Gaming America.
The American Conservative Fund mainly backs Republican candidates. From the $26.1 million, the single largest allocation of $6.4 million, was sent to the American Conservative Fund Georgia.
Georgia maintains restrictive gambling regulations, yet its population exceeding 11 million makes it a major potential market. A Senate committee advised the state to legalize sports betting late last year. Securing the support of legislators is a primary objective of this PAC spending.
Texas Targeted for Gambling Expansion
Texas is another key target for gambling operators seeking legal expansion, ranking as the second most populous state after California.
Las Vegas Sands has invested heavily in lobbying for a casino in Texas, while sportsbooks are keen for the state to introduce regulated online betting.
The Texas Sands PAC previously supported James Talarico's campaigns, and he had voiced approval for establishing a legal casino in the state. However, he has since distanced himself from corporate PACs and wealthy donors. He secured the Democratic primary victory by running on a platform that promised to restrict such donations.
From the Win for America funds, $3.5 million was allocated to the Texas Conservative Fund, which works to advance legal gambling in Texas.
A further $3 million was directed to Win for Pennsylvania, an effort focused on protecting the state's market from additional taxes and regulations. Pennsylvania currently imposes a 36% tax rate on operators, which is higher than in most other states.
Some of these funds are used to support political campaigns of candidates likely to favor beneficial market policies, with the remainder spent on strategic communications and consulting groups.
Will the Gamble Pay Off?
This political investment is itself a gamble, as there is no certainty the contributions will translate into higher company earnings.
DraftKings and FanDuel were the primary funders of a $170 million campaign behind California's Proposition 27, a measure designed to legalize sports betting. However, voters defeated the proposition, leaving the state's gambling market closed.
Following the launch of their prediction market platforms, these companies are likely also focusing on politicians who would permit them to offer such markets in states like California, Texas, and Georgia.
Other prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are likewise ramping up their lobbying efforts, as are tribal groups and casino operators.
To offset substantial marketing and lobbying expenses, betting firms must maximize their profits, which are derived from customer losses.
This dynamic fuels allegations that gambling companies deliberately promote addictive gambling behaviors. DraftKings and FanDuel are confronting multiple lawsuits that claim the operators employ deceptive practices to increase player losses.
With political expenditures on the rise, a change in the companies' marketing approaches appears improbable in the near future.
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(AsiaGameHub) - In advance of this week's Westminster debate on gambling advertising, Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive Officer of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), has called on MPs to proceed carefully.
The debate, scheduled for this Thursday, was arranged by the Backbench Business Committee and was proposed by Alex Ballinger and Dr Beccy Cooper, the MPs for Halesowen and Worthing West, respectively.
Significantly, both Ballinger and Cooper are advocates for gambling reform. They have been especially outspoken on the issue of gambling advertising and have consistently engaged in discussions promoting stricter marketing controls.
During a debate on gambling reforms last December, Cooper stated: “We need regulatory and legislative tools to tackle industry marketing practices, and we must make sure that children are protected from the proliferation of gambling ads, sponsorship and influencer marketing.
“We have heard about the last Government’s White Paper, which does not give us the right road map to address this public health crisis…and it fails to address advertising, sponsorship and the modern marketing of gambling.
“We must look to review the White Paper and set a timeline for a new gambling Act.”
Following this, Ballinger contributed to a January debate on gambling harm and youth protection, emphasising that social media presents the most significant risk of exposing minors to advertising and calling for greater government oversight of marketing.
“There is a real problem in the self-regulation of content marketing,” he said. “The Advertising Standards Authority has a Committee of Advertising Practice code of practice that requires gambling marketing communications to be clearly identifiable as such, but again and again, we are not seeing that followed.
“The evidence is clear. The public is tired of gambling adverts—that much is obvious. I urge the Government to heed the report of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling reform, which will include proposals on limiting the most harmful forms of advertising, particularly as it affects young people.”
However, as in any political debate, there are opposing views. In an opinion piece for PoliticsHome, Hurst advocated for a balanced strategy that acknowledges the responsibilities of the licensed sector and the major threat it confronts in the UK – the black market.
To support her argument, the BGC CEO referenced research from the global marketing intelligence agency WARC, which revealed alarming findings about the growing presence of illegal operators.
Marketing spending by legal operators is forecast to fall by 9.2% in 2026 to £1.1bn. Conversely, the firm anticipates advertising expenditure from unregulated providers will increase by 32% over the next two years – exceeding the £1bn threshold by 2028.
Since many licensed UK operators are currently reducing their gambling expenditure due to the Remote Gaming Duty tax rising from 21% to 40%, it can be inferred that the share of licensed advertising will continue to decline, while the illegal market's share grows.
This aligns with WARC's conclusion, which indicates regulated operators are projected to represent less than half of all advertising spend by October 2028.
“The direction of travel is clear: regulated firms are scaling back their advertising, while the harmful black market grows rapidly. That should give policymakers pause,” Hurst added.
Faced with this potential future, the UK government has the sensitive job of continually balancing player protection with the risks of overregulation, a process that continues with the upcoming advertising debate on Thursday.
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TOKYO and RAHWAY, N.J., Apr 21, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada), and Eisai (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito) today announced results from the Phase 3 LITESPARK-012 trial evaluating combination treatments for the firstline treatment of patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The trial evaluated the triplet therapy of KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s anti-PD-1 therapy, plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib), the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discovered by Eisai, plus WELIREG® (belzutifan), Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s first-in-class hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor. The study also evaluated MK-1308A, the coformulation of KEYTRUDA and quavonlimab, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s investigational anti-CTLA-4 antibody, plus LENVIMA. Both combination regimens were compared to KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA for these patients.At a pre-specified interim analysis, the combination regimens did not meet the dual primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the first-line treatment of patients with RCC compared to KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA. The safety profiles of the combination regimens were consistent with those observed in previously reported studies evaluating the individual medicines and the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA combination. A full evaluation of the data from this study is ongoing, and Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and Eisai will work with investigators to share the results with the scientific community.“With the LITESPARK-012 trial, we explored whether combining therapies with established activity could improve upon well-established standards set by KEYTRUDA-based regimens, reflecting our commitment to continuously explore ways to improve outcomes for the kidney cancer community,” said Dr. M. Catherine Pietanza, Vice President, Global Clinical Development, MSD Research Laboratories. “While these regimens did not demonstrate the results we hoped, the data deepen our understanding of advanced renal cell carcinoma and will help shape the next generation of treatment approaches.”“While we are disappointed that LITESPARK-012 did not meet its primary endpoints, the findings reinforce the central role of KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma,” said Dr. Corina Dutcus, Senior Vice President, Oncology Global Clinical Development Lead at Eisai Inc. “Findings from trials such as this play an important role in shaping health care providers’ perspectives as the treatment paradigm for advanced renal cell carcinoma continues to evolve. We are committed to advancing the care of people living with this disease and we are grateful to the patients, caregivers and investigators whose participation and dedication made this research possible.”Results from the LITESPARK-012 trial do not affect other ongoing trials from the LITESPARK clinical program, including those conducted jointly with Eisai. As previously announced, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted two supplemental New Drug Applications (sNDA) for review based on Phase 3 LITESPARK-011 trial evaluating WELIREG in combination with LENVIMA for certain previously treated patients with advanced RCC and has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of Oct 4, 2026.KEYTRUDA is currently approved as adjuvant monotherapy and in combination regimens for appropriate patients with RCC in the U.S., European Union (EU), Japan and other countries around the world.KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA is approved in the U.S., the EU, Japan and other countries for the firstline treatment of adult patients with advanced RCC. Lenvatinib is approved as KISPLYX for advanced RCC in the EU.LENVIMA in combination with everolimus is approved in the U.S., EU and other regions for the treatment of adult patients with advanced RCC following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy.WELIREG is approved in the U.S., EU, Japan and other countries for the treatment of adult patients with advanced clear cell RCC following a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and 1-2 VEGF-TKIs based on results from the Phase 3 LITESPARK-005 trial.About LITESPARK-012LITESPARK-012 is a randomized, open-label Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04736706) evaluating either the triplet therapy of KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA plus WELIREG or MK-1308A plus LENVIMA compared to KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced clear cell RCC. The primary endpoints are PFS, as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1) modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and OS. Secondary endpoints are objective response rate and duration of response as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, as well as safety. The study enrolled 1,688 patients who were randomized to receive:KEYTRUDA (400 mg intravenously [IV] every six weeks [Q6W]) plus LENVIMA (20 mg orally once daily [QD]) plus WELIREG (120 mg orally QD);MK-1308A (coformulation of pembrolizumab [400 mg] and quavonlimab [25 mg] IV Q6W) plus LENVIMA (20 mg orally QD);KEYTRUDA (400 mg IV Q6W) plus LENVIMA (20 mg orally QD).All study drugs were continued until protocol-specified discontinuation criteria. KEYTRUDA and MK-1308A were administered for up to two years (approximately 18 cycles). WELIREG and LENVIMA may have been administered in combination or as a single agent until progressive disease or discontinuation.About renal cell carcinomaRenal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, with about nine out of 10 kidney cancer diagnoses being RCC. In 2022, there were about 435,000 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed and approximately 156,000 deaths from the disease worldwide. Renal cell carcinoma is about twice as common in men as in women. Most cases of RCC are discovered incidentally during imaging tests for other abdominal diseases, and about 70% are a form called clear cell RCC, which tends to be more aggressive and faster spreading. Approximately 30% of patients with kidney cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage. About Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s research in genitourinary cancersMerck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA is advancing research aimed at helping transform the treatment landscape and broaden options for people with genitourinary (GU) cancers, including bladder, kidney and prostate cancers. Globally, GU cancers account for an estimated 2.6 million new cancer diagnoses each year, equaling over 1 in 8 of all cancer incidences. Through a robust clinical development program with more than 50 ongoing clinical trials evaluating more than 22,000 patients around the world, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA is investigating the potential of several portfolio medicines and pipeline assets, leveraging multiple novel combination strategies, across various stages of disease, to help address unmet needs in GU cancers.About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) injection for intravenous use, 100 mgKEYTRUDA is an anti-programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 2,800 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.About LENVIMA® (lenvatinib); available as 10 mg and 4 mg capsulesLENVIMA, discovered and developed by Eisai, is an orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors VEGFR1 (FLT1), VEGFR2 (KDR), and VEGFR3 (FLT4). LENVIMA inhibits other kinases that have been implicated in pathogenic angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer progression in addition to their normal cellular functions, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors FGFR1-4, the platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), KIT, and RET. In syngeneic mouse tumor models, LENVIMA decreased tumor-associated macrophages, increased activated cytotoxic T cells, and demonstrated greater antitumor activity in combination with an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody compared to either treatment alone. LENVIMA has been approved for the indications below.Thyroid cancer– Indication as monotherapy(Approved mainly in Japan, the United States, Europe, China and Asia)Japan: Unresectable thyroid cancerThe United States: The treatment of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)Europe: The treatment of adult patients with progressive, locally advanced or metastatic, differentiated (papillary/follicular/Hürthle cell) thyroid carcinoma (DTC), refractory to radioactive iodine (RAI)Hepatocellular carcinoma- Indication as monotherapy (Approved mainly in Japan, the United States, Europe, China and Asia)Japan: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinomaThe United States: The first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)Europe: The treatment of adult patients with advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have received no prior systemic therapy- Indication in combination with KEYTRUDA (generic name: pembrolizumab) and transarterial chemoembolization (Approved in China)Thymic carcinoma- Indication as monotherapy (Approved in Japan)Japan: Unresectable thymic carcinomaRenal cell carcinoma (In Europe other than the United Kingdom, the agent was launched under the brand name Kisplyx®)- Indication in combination with everolimus(Approved mainly in the United States, Europe and Asia)The United States: The treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following one prior antiangiogenic therapyEurope: The treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma following one prior vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeted therapy- Indication in combination with KEYTRUDA(Approved mainly in Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia)Japan: Radically unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinomaThe United States: The first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinomaEurope: The first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinomaEndometrial carcinoma- Indication in combination with KEYTRUDA(Approved mainly in Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia)Japan: Unresectable, advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma that progressed after cancer chemotherapyThe United States: The treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is pMMR or not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiationEurope: The treatment of adult patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma (EC) who have disease progression on or following prior treatment with a platinum-containing therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgeryAbout WELIREG® (belzutifan); available as 40 mg tablets, for oral useWELIREG, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s first-in-class hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, is an orally administered small-molecule designed to reduce transcription and expression of HIF-2α target genes associated with cellular proliferation, angiogenesis and tumor growth. By inhibiting HIF-2α signaling, WELIREG aims to disrupt key pathways certain tumors may use to adapt to low-oxygen conditions, including those that help promote abnormal blood vessel formation and support tumor survival.WELIREG has demonstrated antitumor activity in certain von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated tumors, renal cell carcinoma and in pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. As part of a broader clinical program, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA continues to research WELIREG monotherapy and combination approaches for people with genitourinary, breast and gynecologic cancers across a range of treatment settings to further define where HIF-2α inhibition may provide clinical benefit and to better understand which patients are most likely to respond.About the Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA Strategic CollaborationIn March 2018, Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, through an affiliate, entered into a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and cocommercialization of LENVIMA. Under the agreement, the companies jointly develop, manufacture and commercialize LENVIMA, both as monotherapy and in combination with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA, and HIF-2α inhibitor, WELIREG.Eisai’s focus on cancerEisai positions Oncology as one of its key strategic areas, and aims to contribute to the cure of cancers through the discovery of innovative new drugs with new targets and mechanisms of action under the Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL) drug discovery and development organization. By utilizing biomarker data obtained from our products to elucidate the mechanisms of the incidence and root causes of cancer, as well as drug resistance, and using Eisai Group's precision chemistry technology to turn undruggable intracellular therapeutic targets into druggable ones, we will create new backbone therapeutic drugs.About EisaiEisai’s Corporate Concept is “to give first thought to patients and people in the daily living domain, and to increase the benefits that health care provides.” Under this Concept [also known as our human health care (hhc) Concept], we aim to effectively achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology.In addition, our continued commitment to the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which is a target (3.3) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is demonstrated by our work on various activities together with global partners.For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global headquarters: Eisai Co., Ltd.), us.eisai.com (for U.S. headquarters: Eisai Inc.) or www.eisai.eu (for Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand headquarters: Eisai Europe Ltd.), and connect with us on X (U.S. and global), LinkedIn (for U.S. and EMEA) and Facebook (global).Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s Focus on CancerEvery day, we follow the science as we work to discover innovations that can help patients, no matter what stage of cancer they have. As a leading oncology company, we are pursuing research where scientific opportunity and medical need converge, underpinned by our diverse pipeline of more than 20 novel mechanisms. With one of the largest clinical development programs across more than 30 tumor types, we strive to advance breakthrough science that will shape the future of oncology. By addressing barriers to clinical trial participation, screening and treatment, we work with urgency to reduce disparities and help ensure patients have access to high-quality cancer care. Our unwavering commitment is what will bring us closer to our goal of bringing life to more patients with cancer. For more information, visit https://www.merck.com/research/oncology.About Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USAAt Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USAThis news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov). Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com
(AsiaGameHub) - Affiliate management platform ReferOn continues to enhance its integration of advanced technologies within the iGaming affiliate sector.
Throughout the past year, the company has made extensive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and tokenisation technology.
Most recently, ReferOn has introduced a new built-in crypto finance layer to facilitate crypto payments through its licensed partners’ payment gateways.
The firm is confident that its new solution can reduce friction in crypto payments by scaling payout volumes without increasing headcount, and by managing manual work to expedite payment cycles.
“To be honest, manual crypto payments are a disaster waiting to happen,” stated Vlad Bondarenko, Head of Product at ReferOn.
“When teams fear entering the wrong address, making a double payment, or organising ever-growing spreadsheets, the team environment becomes conservative and reactive.”
The announcement of ReferOn’s crypto finance layer arrives a few months after the firm unveiled its latest tokenisation project in December 2025.
The company has also been experimenting heavily with AI, and last month it announced the launch of a new analysis product, Evolution Cohort.
Regarding the latest initiative, the crypto finance layer is part of a broader financial control centre – a dedicated finance page on the Refer platform accessible to all partner programmes.
The platform aims to provide clarity on programme funding and top-ups, a transaction journal, and an automated payout flow.
“Our new crypto finance layer eliminates this confusion by providing managers with a comprehensive, centralised hub that automates manual tasks via integrated payment partners,” Bondarenko added.
“This feature isn’t just about offering affiliates a fancy new payment method or automating for the sake of it; it’s about freeing you up to run a revamped financial operation.”
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