As Cheltenham looms increasingly large on the horizon, we are safely beyond the stage where bets can be made satisfied in the knowledge that the Non-runner No Bet concession is a safeguard.

Put another way, we can back horses for the Cheltenham Festival knowing we will either get a run on the day or money back.

With that in mind, here’s a possible Lucky15 selection for Cheltenham 2025, with the Non-runner No Bet proviso. Check which betting sites Ireland are offering NRNB on this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Brighterdaysahead – Champion Hurdle

Current odds: 5/2

Gordon Elliott has suggested the decision on whether Brighterdaysahead will run in the Champion Hurdle or the Mares’ Hurdle will be left until the last minute, but the Cullentra handler has been keen to admit he may never have had a better contender for the two-mile Championship race.

The shadow of Constitution Hill is of course cast over the race but this Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare could well be the most serious rival he has faced.

Her Leopardstown win at Christmas was astonishingly good and with pacemaker King Of Kingsfield in the race, she won’t be undone by a muddling pace as she was at Cheltenham last year.

She can cause the major shock on day one of the meeting by taking the measure of Nicky Henderson’s superstar.

Caldwell Potter – Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase

Current odds: 16/1

Caldwell Potter became the most  expensive National Hunt horse ever sold at public auction after fetching €740,000 at the Andy and Gemma Brown dispersal last spring.

A syndicate including former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson bought him and he went to join trainer Paul Nicholls having left Gordon Elliott.

We didn’t see him until December, where he made a winning start to his chasing career at Carlisle (2m, soft).

He has since been beaten at Cheltenham in December and Windsor in January but it’s too soon to write him off. Grade 1 aspirations are on hold for now but he could be an interesting contender in the new novices’ handicap, particularly if the ground is soft come day three of the meeting.

Derryhassen Paddy – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Current Odds: 25/1

This Lucinda Russell-trained inmate has all the size and scope to believe his long-term future will be bright as a staying chaser, but that’s not to dismiss his hopes for now over hurdles.

Derryhassen Paddy has won a bumper and two contests over timber so far, scoring over 2m4f at Uttoxeter on jumping bow in November and then following up at Windsor (3m, soft) during their Berkshire Winter Million meeting in January.

The tight track at Windsor was far from ideal and he had to dig in to fend off the attentions of Honky Tonk Highway after they had pulled clear, but he did so in a really pleasing style.

This three-mile Grade 1 novice has been in the thoughts of connections for a while and he looks overpriced for what can be an attritional contest.

Shearer – St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase

Current Odds: 20/1

Paul Nicholls has won the Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival a joint-record four times and he could have a potential contender to grab another salute with Shearer.

He has won hunters’ chases at Ffos Las and Taunton in the month of February, with the 14-times champion trainer suggesting ahead of that second win: “I’m trying to qualify him for Olive [Nicholls, daughter] to ride [at Cheltenham]. He has to be first or second in another hunter chase before the end of the month after winning well at Ffos Las.”

He duly scored at Taunton and could now make his way to the Cotswolds for a race British-trained runners have won in six of the last eight years, defying the Irish domination elsewhere.

Take a look at betting sites Ireland for more information on which bookies are offering NRNB on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins has assembled another strong team ahead of the upcoming 2025 Cheltenham Festival in March.

Mullins has saddled 103 winners at the National Hunt showpiece and looks guaranteed to add several more to his tally next month.

A quick look at the latest Cheltenham odds highlights that Mullins has fancied runners in most of the races, reflecting the dominant status he enjoys in horse racing.

The Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup are at the top of Mullins’ targets this year having trained the winner of each race in 2024.

State Man took advantage of Constitution Hill’s absence last year to win the Champion Hurdle and is on course to defend the title this time around.

However, with Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten superstar on course to run next month, State Man will need to improve if he is to retain his crown.

Constitution Hill beat State Man by nine lengths in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, but a series of niggling issues have limited him to just four starts since then.

He has looked imperious in victories at Kempton and Cheltenham this season and will be tough to beat if he produces his best form in March.

State Man won the Irish Champion Hurdle on his most recent outing, taking advantage of a crashing fall by stablemate Lossiemouth to record an easy victory.

Mullins has confirmed the mare has suffered no ill-effects from the fall and remains firmly on track to take her chance in the Champion Hurdle.

“At the moment, we’re going for the Champion with Lossiemouth – we’re not steering away from it,” Mullins said. “we’ve been training her for it for two years.

“When asked if he had a plan to beat Constitution Hill, he replied: “I made a plan when Constitution Hill beat him the first year and I still have it in my head – and that is where it is staying!”

Mullins is also aiming to join an exclusive list on the final day of the meeting when Galopin Des Champs attempts to win the Gold Cup for the third successive year.

Best Mate (2002-2004) is the only horse to achieve the feat since the turn of the century. The legendary Arkle completed a three-peat in 1966, highlighting the size of the task Mullins’ horse faces.

The nine-year-old demonstrated his wellbeing on his most recent outing, putting a high-class field in the shade to win the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Mullins could not hide his admiration for the horse after the race and believes he has every chance of etching his name into racing folklore by completing the treble.

The Closutton-based trainer came up short in 2022 when two-time winner Al Boum Photo trailed home sixth of elven runners behind A Plus Tard.

Mullins thinks Galopin Des Champs will head to Cheltenham with every chance of going one better than his talented stablemate.

“To be associated with a horse like this, it’s a huge honour to be involved,” said Mullins. “We’re all delighted and we hope the dream stays alive.

“We’ve more a chance going in here and it would be a once-in-a-lifetime job. Al Boum Photo wasn’t favourite – he didn’t inspire as much confidence.

“Galopin would look a better chance and he is a tremendous horse. He has his own piece of history already, but hopefully there’ll be more to come.”

Casino bonuses are a very significant aspect of online gambling and have everything to do with how players interact with their favorite games. Whether you are a hardcore gambler or just a casual player, those promotions will go a long way to perfecting the gaming experience.

The Power of Casino Bonuses in Modern Gambling

Notably, one of the strongest factors making casino bonuses attractive is their capacity to offer extra value when playing. This can best be seen in the bonus offers for gambling sites where players receive incentives that will extend their gaming sessions without having to commit large upfront investments. 

Bonuses include deposit matching, free spins, etc., each serving a consideration variable for players. However, these offers symbolize much more than numbers and percentages to the casual or dedicated player.

Extending Playtime and Reducing Risk

Casino bonuses are basically intended to extend a play session for players. They typically provide numerous opportunities for game exploration. Walking into a physical casino with additional bankroll furnished by the house really increases the odds, allowing more experimentation with a new game or even higher stakes than normal.

The promotional incentives offered by online casinos simulate the above effect, allowing players to try out games before risking their own money. This is helpful especially for beginners who might be cautious about wagering real money, finding themselves unsure of how the game works or how much they might lose.

A good bonus is an essential cushion and a safety net that helps minimize the risk of initial finances. This provides a much more enjoyable and less pressured gambling experience and often encourages players to experiment with various games.

The Psychological Edge of Playing with Bonuses

All of these also carry with them a psychological aspect that normally makes their usage even more attractive. Indeed, a player would usually wager much more recklessly when playing with bonus credits instead of his or her own money. This can be an important factor when it comes to scoring big wins, but it can also lead to much worse approaching behavior toward gambling if it is tolerant or lacks responsible discipline in its front end.

The bonus is more than that; it adds a gamified aspect to the gambling experience. Online casino promotions are often formulated in such a way that they reward frequent play, much like what obtaining new levels or achievements in a video game would entail.

This creates a sense of continual achievement that retains people while making them advance. On the contrary, one must remember that bonuses offer an opportunity as well as obligatory wagering and other conditions that restrict their possibility of cashing out.

Navigating Wagering Requirements and Fine Print

And above all, one of the biggest misconceptions regarding the casino bonuses is that they offer free money. Most of these promotions are designed with wagering requirements, or the number of times a player must bet the bonus amount in order to withdraw the winnings. This is where the real problem arises, as high wagering requirements often make it difficult to convert bonus cash into cashable winnings.

For example, if a player has a $100 bonus that he needs to wager with a 30x wagering requirement, he must actually wager $3,000 before he can touch any of the winnings derived from that bonus. While all this sounds just about heavy, bonuses having lower requirements could be availed of or promotions have more flexible terms, thus maximizing advantages with that.

Game eligibility is another consideration in addition to the above. Some bonuses are meant to be played with certain games only; for example, slots usually contribute 100% towards the wagering, while table games such as blackjack may only have 10% contribution or even lesser. Knowledge of these little details could mean the difference between a one-off delicious bonus and merely prolonging play without benefits.

The Evolution of Casino Bonuses: More Than Just Free Cash

Over time, casino bonuses have gone beyond deposit match offers. New types of offers were developed to suit other types of players, and now loyalty programs, cashback offers, and no-wagering bonuses have become popular. VIP programs, catering to high rollers, may offer those players exclusive benefits, personalized promotions, faster withdrawals, and even real-world perks such as invitation to events or luxury gifts.

In that same vein, no-wagering bonuses have started to gain popularity with recreational players who do not want complicated requirements attached to their promotions.These bonuses allow players to withdraw winnings immediately, making them a highly attractive alternative to traditional offers with high rollover conditions.

The entry of cryptocurrency casinos has again affected the bonuses offered by several casinos. Many of these crypto-friendly platforms come with unique promotions for their digital currency users, from extra-high match percentages to lesser wagering requirements. Such evolutions are evidence of how casino bonuses are still stepping up with tech advancement and the changing taste of players.

In Retrospect

Bonuses in casinos are a boon for the gambling industry that offers more playtime to players and less risk along with thrill; but they are also quite complicated. 

Although such bonuses allow players to explore new games and maybe double up their winnings, understanding the fine print is essential to making the most out of these promotions.

For those who approach bonuses strategically, selecting offers with reasonable wagering requirements, understanding game eligibility, and managing their bankroll wisely, the rewards can be substantial.

Bonuses come in different shapes and sizes: there are some suited for the casual player looking for extra spins and game benefits, while high-stakes players know the high-value rewards are what they crave. Understanding the casino world and being moderate with one’s gambling will give players that added edge to maximize their own enjoyment.

The rise of surveillance and data tracking has negatively impacted digital privacy. Online transactions, mobile apps, and websites are commonplace for both businesses and governments to collect information on users. Many consumers look for proactive measures to secure their data.

Customers use anonymous digital services to browse the web, interact, and even make financial transactions without sharing personal information with the service provider. Such services include but are not limited to, verification-free online casinos, encrypted messaging applications, and decentralised finance platforms. These services are used by businesses and individuals who want to avoid being tracked, targeted ads, or compromised data.

Why Digital Privacy Is More Important Now More Than Ever

Today, both corporations and governments collect and retain considerable volumes of data. Places such as social media, online shops, and search engines provide services and also monitor user activity. For example, governments use surveillance systems for security and law enforcement purposes. The amount of data stored heightens the chances of misappropriation and unauthorised disclosure.

When data leakage happens, it can result in identity theft and financial scams. Such data is sold on dark web websites to make a quick profit. Individuals impacted by these scams suffer substantial economic and reputational harm. Cybercriminals can use leaked information to gain access to funds and accounts and commit various types of fraud. That’s why digital privacy has become as important as ever. 

The Role of Crypto In Anonymous Transactions

As we know, cryptocurrency transactions happen without the involvement of a third party. Transactions take place on distributed networks, which minimises the involvement of the mediator. Movements are captured and stored on a blockchain, and these do not need to be tied to a person’s identity. 

E-commerce, online gambling, and even finance use cryptocurrency as it provides anonymity. Users can log in to the website without having to provide any identifying information, avoid the issues that usually come with standard banking. Businesses in areas with strict banking regulations can use crypto to service customers directly.

Unlike traditional banks, cryptocurrencies provide greater flexibility in regard to the amount of fees charged during transactions. Also, the time taken to complete these transactions is significantly reduced. Banks require identity checks, limit the number of transactions a person can make in a given time frame, and impose reporting obligations. 

Anonymous Online Gambling

Non-verified online casinos are attractive for users looking for privacy. These sites have no know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, meaning players do not have to provide any identity or financial documents. Transactions are done via cryptocurrencies, allowing deposits and withdrawals to be made without personal identification.

Privacy is very important to some gamblers, so they are always trying to find something other than the mainstream gambling websites that require user details. They want platforms that facilitate quick withdrawals and secure transactions. The go-to option for many is online casinos without verification to which they can provide the least sensitive information. These casinos love crypto payments as they guarantee that winnings are received instantly. They are preferred by gambling players because of their speed and security.

Cons of Anonymous Services

Some people believe that anonymous digital services are somewhat controversial, and impose several challenges and risks. As scams and frauds seem to be commonplace, regulatory agencies are extremely careful about these services and consider them a problem. Moreover, the government has started paying more attention to cryptocurrencies, private browsing tools, and even encrypted messaging. With the popularity of cryptocurrency, some jurisdictions are implementing laws that require exchanges and other platforms to verify the identity of the user, thus making the fully anonymous services impossible to access.

Markets that are poorly supervised end up with illegal scams, and with no regulations set in place, the chances of fake exchanges, phishing schemes, and corrupt investment opportunities become a reality for all users. Nowadays, many anonymous services simply shut down, leaving users in the lurch without providing any stops.

To ensure that the anonymous service is legitimate, users should always check the reputation of the platform and read up on the feedback from previous users to understand the encryption standards employed. Policies imposed by the service, the history of the platform, and the reliability of the transactions along with independent security audits, determine the trust level surrounding the service.

Conclusion

Borders of concern have no particular limits and go along with the array of enhanced data exploitation. As the number of digital crimes increases, users are getting more and more concerned. The absence of control leads users to prefer anonymous digital services to make sure their personal data remains intact and unexploited.

As an island, there’s a lot that we’re known for. Admittedly, a huge chunk of that is having the craic and being all-round sound heads. Because of that, from an outsider’s perspective, it might seem like it’s all trad music and creamy pints. Obviously, us here on the island – be that in the superior west or in the pale to the east – know that there’s much more to it than that.

This nation has given the world a number of legendary artists, including George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde, award-winning actors like Cillian Murphy, and heart-pounding sporting action in the form of the Gaelic Games. But few might be aware of our national card game, Twenty-Five. So what is this game, where exactly does it come from, and how is it played? 

The Origins and Potential Revival of Twenty-Five

The game of Twenty-Five is quite similar to a number of different card games, such as Spoil Five, Ten and Five and Forty-Fives. In fact, the last one there is a Canadian variant that is based on Ireland’s very own Twenty-Five. But they all have one thing in common. They are descendants of the Scottish game Maw, which was particularly popular in England.

Our own version of the game was first documented in the early 19th Century, with Dublin newspapers describing it when negatively profiling the country’s gambling in 1833. From that, it became a staple of Irish recreational culture, particularly in pub settings. However, it’s notable that it has remained something of a bygone oddity as far as more recent generations are concerned.

A Jump to Digital on the Cards?

It’s interesting to consider the game’s origins in gambling, with the industry now being a popular one in the country, especially online.  A number of new big names are rushing into the online casino industry, fighting to capture the Irish market. Looking at one example, Karamba casino IE (the Irish version of the platform), it’s notable that, in terms of card games, poker and blackjack are the only two advertised on the site. If anyone was looking to achieve Irish brand loyalty, adding Twenty-Five would be a great way to do so. 

It’s a card game that has yet to make such a leap, unlike traditional casino card games like blackjack, poker, and even Indian Teen Patti. That could be for a number of reasons – we’re used to having our pastimes overlooked at times here in Ireland – but one big one is that it has simply gone out of fashion with players of a certain age. Many don’t even know the fundamental rules. So, how do you play Twenty-Five?

A Quick Breakdown of The Rules

The reason Twenty-Five was such a big deal once upon a time is primarily its simplicity. Looking at Britannica’s breakdown of the rules, the game can be summed up fairly simply. First, players, usually two to eight, are all dealt five cards from a standard 52-card French deck. They then have to turn their first card face up – this is known as a trick. A player wins the trick by having the highest clue card and is awarded five points.

The values of the cards are where there could be some contention. For red suit cards, it goes King, Queen, and Jack, then 10 to Ace. For black suit cards, it’s King, Queen, Jack, Ace to 10. The aim of the game is to win 25 points from these tricks. A typical game is made up of five tricks, which would mean you would have to take home maximum points. Instead, many will follow the best-of-five approach, claiming the game won in a first-to-three manner.

A Game With a National Identity

It may have gone somewhat out of fashion in recent decades, but the game of Twenty-Five is as Irish as it comes. If it can be promoted and adopted, it could sit alongside things like the GAA as a symbol of national identity.

To do that, though, newer generations would have to take the game on board and make it their own. That could well happen, too, when you look at the many cultural touchstones that younger people have kept alive. Time will tell, but this game could become a staple of Irish homes and pubs again.