News & Updates

It’s the Europa League final on Wednesday night in Istanbul.

Two surprise contestants will be battling it out in a huge game that will give the winner automatic access to the Champions League next season.

Match Preview and Facts

• Start: 20 May at 20:00
• Venue: Besiktas Park, Istanbul
• Coverage: TNT Sports, HBO Max
• Aston Villa haven’t won a major trophy since the League Cup in 1996
• Freiburg don’t have any major trophy wins in their 122 year history

Betting Tip: Freiburg - Aston Villa

This game promises to have goals in it. 

Freiburg aren’t a side to die wondering. Just look at their last few results, most recent first: 4-1, 3-2, 3-1, 1-1, 2-1, 4-0, 2-1, and 2-1. Villa have had some entertaining games too, which included beating Liverpool 4-2 on Friday night, to go with a 2-2 draw with Burnley the week before, and that 4-0 win over Forest in the semi. 

Both teams to score looks a surprisingly high price at 2.05, and that’s what we’re going with here.

• Prediction: BTTS Yes
• Odds: 2.05 (at the time of writing)

Villa Are Strong Favourites 

The bookies think Freiburg have it all to do at Besiktas Park on Wednesday night, with Aston Villa strong favourites to go and lift the trophy. 

It’s just 1.29 that Emery wins yet another Europa League title, with Freiburg at 3.7 or up to 10.0 with boosted odds. On the match odds market, it’s 1.62 on the English side to win, 5.0 on Freiburg, and 3.75 on the draw. 

The market is somewhat split as to the likelihood of goals, with over 2.5 goals trading at 2.05 and under 2.5 goals available at 1.75. 

Whereas it’s been very much a team effort to make it to the final, it’s also true that Villa's attacking pair, Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, have more than played their part. 

Watkins has scored five goals so far and is 2.4 to get another, though it’s worth noting that three of those were the opening goal of the match, so you may prefer to push the boat out and go for him to be first goalscorer at a bigger 5.0. 

Rogers is 6.5 to be the first scorer himself and 3.0 to score anytime. Both players are 2.0 to either score or assist. 

But save a thought for skipper John McGinn. He may not attract the headlines the other two do and isn’t as easy on the eye in terms of his playing style. He’s scored five goals of his own in this campaign and is 4.5 to get a sixth. 

In other markets, you can get 2.2 on there being over 4.5 cards in the match and 13.0 that Villa win the final on penalties.

Unexpected Finalists to Battle It Out in Istanbul

You would have gotten sky-high odds a few months ago on Aston Villa and Freiburg contesting the Europa League final. 

Though Villa have a strong pedigree in Europe as winners of the European Cup (now Champions League) back in 1982, if they go on to win this, it will be their first major trophy of any description since they won the League Cup in 1996. 

Then again, it helps to have by far the most successful manager in the history of the Europa League in charge of your team. Unai Emery has won the Europa League on four occasions, three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. A win for Villa on Wednesday and that would make it an incredible five Europa League wins to his name. 

Villa overcame Lille and Bologna in the early knockout rounds before getting the better of fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the semis, despite going into the second leg 1-0 down. They ended up winning 4-1 on aggregate. 

If Villa’s appearance in the final is a surprise, then that’s nothing compared to Freiburg. If it’s they that go on to win Wednesday’s big game, it will be the first major trophy in their history, let alone their first European one. It’s been a long 122-year wait for some silverware, and they’re unlikely to get a better chance than this one.

Villa at least have a big budget to work with as a big Premier League side, but Julian Schuster’s side has to rely on good-value cheap signings. It has built a reputation as one of the best-run clubs in Europe, consistently over-performing against richer and seemingly stronger opposition. 

They got the better of Genk, Celta Vigo and Braga to get this far.

Basketball fans have it all to look forward to over the next few weeks as the NBA Play-offs reach their climax in the US. Only four teams remain, and it's certain that those last remaining matches will be a treat.

Here’s what you need to know before the action gets underway on Tuesday morning.

Betting Tip: Oklahoma City Thunder - New York Knicks

The Thunder have been the best team in the competition throughout, just as strong in defence as they are offensively and being able to call on one of the deepest and best-balanced rosters ever seen in the league. 

As good as the Spurs are themselves, the Thunder should be a little too good for them, and the smart money is on them playing the Knicks in the final, who look a cut above the Cavaliers. 

The Knicks will have had a pretty good season just in making the Finals, but should find Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and co too hot to handle, so the 2.25 that the Thunder beat the Knicks in the final looks the way to go.

• Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the New York Knicks in the final
• Odds: 2.25 (at the time of writing)

The Final Four Teams

After another gruelling regular season and the first few rounds of the playoffs, we’re down to the last four teams.

In the Western Conference Finals, we have the current champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, up against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Thunder made light work of the LA Lakers, beating them 4-0 in the semi-finals, a result that will have disappointed fans who had tickets to the later games because they weren’t needed, such was the Thunder’s dominance. 

It was also a result that made the great LeBron James announce that he was considering his future, which may mean he’s either contemplating retirement or a move to another NBA side after that devastating loss. We’ll have to wait and see whether we’ll see James, the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer, on an NBA court again. 

It was all pretty straightforward for San Antonio, too. They beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2, racking up 139 points in the game that got them over the line.

Over in the Eastern Conference, it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers up against the New York Knicks. The Cavaliers only just got past the Detroit Pistons, who recovered from being 3-2 down to force a decider in the best-of-seven Series, which the Cavaliers ended up winning 125-94.

As for the Knicks, they matched the Thunder in winning 4-0, with the Philadelphia 76ers being the team on the receiving end of such a beating.

Betting on NBA Playoffs

The Thunder are the 1.65 favourites to defend their title, with their Western Conference rivals, the Spurs, next best at 4.4. 

Then it’s the Knicks at 7.2 with the Cavaliers the big outsiders at 25.0. 

In other words, the odds-compilers expect the winners of the Thunder v Spurs encounter to go on and win the NBA.

The Thunder are 1.4 to get the better of the Spurs in the Series, the latter available at 2.9. 

Over in the Eastern Conference, the odds are actually quite similar, with a 1.45 favourite (the Knicks) and a 2.8 outsider, the Cavaliers. 

On Tuesday morning (00.40 UK time), we have the first match of the Spurs v Thunder Series in Oklahoma, with the hosts 1.4 to win it and 1.9 to beat the -6.5 points spread. 

Then on Wednesday morning (00.10) it’s exactly the same odds as the 1.4 Knicks host the Cavaliers. The points spread in that one sees the Knicks at 1.9 to beat a -7.5 point handicap.

Players to Watch 

One of the reasons why the Spurs v Thunder Series is so eagerly anticipated is because it’s seen as a showdown between the Thunder’s star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Spurs’ main man, Victor Wembanyama. 

Which of those two has the better Series could have a huge bearing on which of the two teams goes through. 

Gilgeou-Alexander was already the regular-season MVP and is just 1.57 to become the NBA Finals MVP too, while Wembanyama is 4.2 to pick up the award, with Jalen Brunson 7.0 and Donovan Mitchell a much bigger 26.0.

Starting today, the new rules, announced by the UK Gambling Commission nearly a year ago, are entering into force.

Namely, the change includes a ban on bonus mixing and capping the bonus wagering requirements to 10x, two measures designed to contribute to a safer and simpler gambling experience.

No More Mixed Bonuses

As promised by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission in March 2025, today marks the entering into force of the latest set of rules for UK-based online casinos and sportsbooks.

The first rule concerns a blanket ban on mixed product offers, prohibiting operators from promoting two or more types of gambling, such as sports betting and casino games.

Operators carrying the UKGC licence are no longer allowed to mix sport betting and casino gaming bonuses.

The new rule aims to reduce harm and boost fairness, given that evidence has shown gamblers are exposed to a greater risk of harm when gambling on multiple products. Hopefully, the new regulation will bring more clarity and clear the confusion often caused by complex terms and conditions.

Limited Bonus Restaking

The second rule concerns wagering any winnings derived from a bonus multiple times before players are allowed to withdraw them.

Wagering requirements at online casinos in the UK are officially limited to 10x.

According to UKGC, any playthrough requirement above 10x may lead to confusion and longer gambling periods.

Capping the wagering requirement should decrease the likelihood of harm and improve transparency without jeopardising consumers' choice, the regulator noted.

More Clarity for Consumers

UK operators were given nearly a year to prepare for the shift that promises to bring more clarity and increase the safety and simplicity of consumer promotional offers. Players in the UK “will benefit from new rules imposed on gambling operators," the UKGC said back in March 2025.

Commenting on the update at the time, Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy, said that “these changes will better protect consumers from gambling harm and give consumers much better clarity on, and certainty of, offers before they decide to sign up.”

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