• IGC is scheduled to market a liquid formulation of its drug, IGC-AD1 (Hyalolex), in 2018; company is eyeing markets in Germany, Canada and U.S. states where licensed medical cannabis has been legalized
• IGC is exclusive licensee of a U.S. patent filing for possible THC-based Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapy, which, if approved, could give it a huge advantage in competition for share of global drug market for AD
• Alzheimer’s Association: Some five million Americans have AD or some form of dementia, and $259 billion is being spent on treatments in 2017 — a number that could skyrocket to $1.1 trillion by 2050

India Globalization Capital, Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) sees opportunities in 2018, primarily from the distribution, in Germany, of its cannabinoid-based therapies, including IGC-AD1 (Hyalolex). It also sees the commercialization in 2018 of Hyalolex in a non-inebriating liquid supplement version. IGC has identified a number of U.S. states, as well as Canada and Germany, as target markets in the future.

The Maryland-based company is focused on the development of cannabis-based combination therapies to treat eating disorders, nausea, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), pain, and possibly Parkinson’s. It is also researching drugs that treat epilepsy in dogs and cats. The firm already has a portfolio of patent filings and four lead products that address these conditions.

IGC is the exclusive licensee of the U.S patent filing, “THC As A Potential Therapeutic Agent For Alzheimer’s Disease.” This gives IGC an advantage in the global market of AD drugs.

The global potential of AD treatment in massive. IGC sees worldwide application of its cannabinoid-based therapies (http://dtn.fm/3z2vD). In the U.S. alone, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that treatment of AD and other forms of dementia will cost about $259 billion in 2017 — and that number could rise to $1.1 trillion by 2050 (http://dtn.fm/yTM4z). The Association said some five million Americans have AD today, and that number could rise to 16 million by 2050.

Because AD begins well prior to the appearance of symptoms, a drug such as IGC-AD1, which has shown an ability to lower production/aggregation of Aβ plaque without neurotoxic effects or inebriation, could be taken as a prophylactic treatment to prevent AD.

IGC has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hamburg, Germany-based MediCann Handels GMBH for the distribution of IGC’s cannabinoid-based therapies, including IGC-AD1, to pharmacies, apothecaries and other licensed outlets that can legally sell cannabinoid-based products (http://dtn.fm/t1Dg1). The MOU calls for MediCann to provide the capital required for the import, storage, transportation, sales and marketing of the products. In Germany, the number of dementia cases is 1.6 million-plus, most commonly caused by AD, per company data.

In a news release, Ram Mukunda, CEO of IGC, said the company would market, through medical dispensaries, a non-inebriating liquid supplement version of IGC-AD1 in 2018, with target markets spanning Germany, Canada and certain states within the U.S. Cumulatively, these markets have some 7.8 million patients with AD, the company said (http://dtn.fm/U0Cm8).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.IGCinc.us

• Proprietary lipophilic enhancement technology boosts bioavailability of orally ingested cannabinoids and masks unpleasant taste
• Only company in the world to obtain a patent for improved oral or ingestible delivery of all cannabinoids, including both non-psychoactive and psychoactive
• Company generates revenue from out-licensing its technology

The cannabis market is exploding globally as well as domestically, and Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQB: LXRP) has pioneered an enabling technology that enhances the body’s absorption of cannabinoids—an advancement from which many cannabis-related companies can profit.

Lexaria’s proprietary lipophilic enhancement technology has demonstrated the ability to boost the bioavailability of all orally ingested cannabinoids. The body’s gastrointestinal tract poorly absorbs cannabinoids—whether ingested in pill form or via cannabis edibles—so smoking as a means of cannabis administration has been the norm for many users in order to achieve greater effectiveness. Lexaria’s technology, however, enables the body to derive greater effect from orally administered cannabinoids without the vehicle of smoking. The company’s patented process increases bio-absorption of cannabinoids by between five- and ten-fold and, additionally, reduces onset time by about 75 percent.

In addition to poor absorption, a second hindrance exists when it comes to orally administrated cannabis, and that is an unpleasant taste that accompanies it. Companies that manufacture edible cannabis products have been forced to mask this disagreeable attribute with an overabundance of sweeteners, which adds an unhealthy element to the products and still isn’t enough to completely subdue the repellent taste. Lexaria’s technology combats this problem by effectively and thoroughly masking the unpleasant flavor of cannabis.

The company’s lipophilic enhancement technology is patent-protected for cannabidiol (CBD) and all other non-psychoactive cannabinoids, and it’s patent-allowed for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and all other psychoactive cannabinoids, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), nicotine and more.

Lexaria is, to date, the only company in the world to be awarded a patent for the improved oral or ingestible delivery of all cannabinoids, including pill form, beverages and edibles. The company has patents relating to its technology in both the United States and Australia and, additionally, has a portfolio of 19 national and regional patent application filings in 44 other countries.

Lexaria generates revenue by out-licensing this technology and is positioned to now out-license it at a considerable royalty rate as a partner to biopharmaceutical companies rather than a competitor. The company foresees this generating substantial new business opportunities in 2018.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com

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• GOHE at vanguard of explosive FinTech industry growth
• Guided by nearly 100 years of executive talent and experience
• Proprietary state-of-the art systems position GOHE for significant footprint

Founded in 2009 with a focus on prepaid debit cards and electronic wallets, Global Payout, Inc. (OTC: GOHE) has deftly evolved into a full service payment platform that delivers complete customizable payment solutions for almost any entity engaged in domestic or international financial transactions. A leader in the booming FinTech industry, Global Payout has distinguished itself as a premier global provider of payment and disbursement services to unbanked, underbanked and bank adverse customers. Visionary, experienced management navigated the company’s successful evolution into the global player it is today in the booming FinTech industry.

Founder James Hancock, CEO and chairman of the board of Global Payout, has over thirty years’ experience in multiple executive capacities in financial services, investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, telecommunications and payment processing. Prior to founding Global Payout, Hancock, who holds a Juris Doctorate from the California School of Law, specialized in the financial services sector for 14 years and launched nearly 40 custom-designed prepaid debit card programs. Operating as a prepaid card services company, Hancock soon realized by listening to Global Payout’s customers the need and opportunity for comprehensive and customizable global payment solutions. His business acumen and prescience led to the development of Global Payout’s proprietary Global Reserve Platform (GRP), now recognized as one of the most powerful, customizable and extensible platforms available to provide B2B solutions for the automation of international funds transfer, payments, billing and invoicing processes.

Successfully managing such a significant corporate transition from prepaid cards to global payment solutions is a daunting endeavor, and Hancock recruited exceptional talent to achieve and exceed his goals. William Rochfort, president, board member and VP of sales and marketing, has over 25 years’ experience in leadership roles at various national start-ups and global companies. He built and nurtured top-end sales and tech-support divisions in network services and managed over 350 direct sales and technical support teams that exceeded $200 million in annual sales revenue. At Global Payout, Rochfort has established international sales and marketing channels for both direct and indirect sales, as well as a network of international distributors, channel partners and value-added resellers. He is focused on continued global expansion and is responsible for web-based services and supporting personnel.

With a strong background in the financial markets, Joseph Sebo, CFO and board member, joined the company in 2010. His responsibilities include financial reporting and transparency, public company compliance, investor relations, SarbanesOxley compliance and serving as controller and treasurer. With broad experience in publicly traded companies and investment banking, Sebo was instrumental in up-listing Global Payout in the over-the-counter markets.

With resolution and vision, Hancock has successfully transformed Global Payout’s core business model while assembling nearly a century of collective knowledge and experience on the senior management team. With such a track record and talent, it’s hard to imagine that Global Payout won’t achieve a significant footprint in the burgeoning global FinTech markets.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.GlobalPayout.com

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• LEI number is equivalent to a barcode and The European Union requires it to identify financial market participants, such as banks and investment funds
• German Stock Exchanges (Frankfurt Stock Exchange) mandate that LEI numbers are required by January 3, 2018 for all listed companies
• 92 Resources Corp. is a Vancouver, Canada-based emerging junior exploration company that owns six sites in Canada

92 Resources Corp. (TSX.V: NTY) (OTCQB: RGDCF) (FSE: R9G2) announced that it has been assigned a Legal Entity Identifier (“LEI”) number (http://dtn.fm/EHx1n). It is significant because the European Union has adopted regulations that require use of the LEI as an equivalent to a barcode, pinpointing systematic risks.

This 20-digit alphanumeric code is both an internationally standardized and globally valid identifier for financial market participants. Its purpose is to clearly identify contracting parties, such as investment funds, banks, and other companies. It is also used to comply with a number of financial reporting requirements.

92 Resources is a Vancouver-based emerging junior exploration company focused on acquiring and advancing strategic and prospective assets to the benefits of its shareholders, targeting primarily modern energy-related projects. 92 Resources owns six properties in Canada, with its three principal assets being the Hidden Lake Lithium Property in the Northwest Territories, the Corvette Lithium Property, QC, and the Golden Frac Sand Property, BC.

92 Resources now meets the requirements of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange to have an LEI number by January 3, 2018. “The LEI will clearly assist the regulatory authorities in monitoring and analyzing threats to the stability of the financial markets (but) it can also be utilized by counter parties internally for risk management purposes,” the Deutsche Borse Group stated. It added on its website that the LEI number will affect most aspects of the securities markets in Europe (http://dtn.fm/WO0Ep). These include clearing, trading, settlement, collateral, custody, and liquidity management.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.92Resources.com

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• The rapid growth of the legal cannabis industry has increased the need for tailored and comprehensive payment solutions for dispensaries and other retailers in the field.
• Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions partnered up with First Bitcoin Capital Corporation to enable cryptocurrency payments.
• The company has also launched its specialized digital payment platform for dispensaries that ensures full compliance and delivers full-spectrum merchant processing services.

Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions (OTC: REFG) announced that it will integrate First Bitcoin cryptocurrency (“$Weed”) with its StateSourced medical cannabis payment gateway service. The announcement came in November, following a partnership agreement between Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions and First Bitcoin Capital Corporation (OTC: BITCF).

Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions is an industry leader in the field of payment processing for the marijuana industry. Currently, no other company on the market offers a completely integrated payment processing system that’s entirely tailored to the needs of marijuana industry representatives. The company helps rapidly growing businesses in the field by identifying tools that dispensaries need the most and customizing these tools to address the operational specifics in the field.

The partnerships with First Bitcoin Capital Corporation is yet another move in the same direction. Through the collaboration, dispensaries and other companies that work in the marijuana industry will gain another opportunity for payment processing. They will work with both debit cards and prominent cryptocurrencies like $Weed and the well-known bitcoin.

Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions and First Bitcoin Capital Corporation signed a partnership agreement on November 8, 2017. The aim of the agreement is to revolutionize end-to-end compliance solutions. Upon the complete realization of the new project, a platform will be launched to deploy an exchange system. Because of the growing cannabis industry, more flexibility is required in terms of payment processing. The addition of a decentralized cryptocurrency provides an easy opportunity for non-cash payments to be made.

According to Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions representatives, the partnership will enable consumers to overcome many of the regulatory obstacles in the industry. As a part of the project execution, the company has announced that it will buy a block of $Weed in return for a block of REFG restricted common stock.

First Bitcoin Capital Corporation CEO Greg Rubin said that America is shaping up to be one of the world’s biggest marketplaces for the products of the cannabis industry. The partnership with Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions can potentially revolutionize compliance products and the processing of payments in the field.

America’s medical cannabis industry is expected to grow at double digit rates in the years to come. According to a Bloomberg report, the compound annual growth rate will be 27 percent by 2021 (http://dtn.fm/z6yL7). In 2016 alone, consumers spent 6.7 billion dollars on legalized weed products. The increase is 34 percent on an annual basis.

By 2020, the marijuana industry is projected to create more jobs than manufacturing (http://dtn.fm/kv5Ny). Medical marijuana sales are set to increase from 4.7 billion dollars in 2016 to 13.3 billion dollars 2020. Recreational sales will go up from 2.6 billion dollars in 2016 to 11.2 billion dollars in 2020.

With growing trends towards widespread legalization, Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions announced the launch of the first in-market digital payment solution in November 2017. The product is specially tailored to the needs of dispensaries. The payment solution can track sales, it features encrypted digital security and allows for comprehensive client management.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.MedicalCannabisPaymentSolutions.com

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• OptHemp Product Line successfully launched on Amazon and Alibaba
• CBD Magic Hemp Series generated 40,000 views and the purchase of over 91 units just minutes into launch
• CIIX offering is an innovative product line in what CBD Biotechnology believes to be an untapped segment of China’s booming skin care market

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX), in partnership with its foreign enterprise, CBD Biotechnology Co. Ltd. and through its subsidiary ChineseHempOil.com, Inc. has successfully launched its OptHemp product Line via a Top 100 platinum level seller on Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) and on China’s largest e-commerce retailer Alibaba. During its debut broadcast of “China Taobao Live Broadcasting Celebrity Show,” the company’s “CBD Magic Hemp Series” generated 40,000 views and the purchase of over 91 units just minutes into launch. ChineseInvestors.com CEO Warren Wang indicated in the news release that the product line’s successful initial launch on Taobao “solidifies our belief that Chinese consumers recognize that the anti-inflammatory agents and anti-oxidants contained in hemp-extract can have positive effects on the skin.”

According to Markets Insider (http://dtn.fm/rE7zR), the CBD Magic Hemp Series is the company’s first line of hemp-infused skin care products (the CBDBIO TECH Brightening and Refreshing Moisturizer, CBDBIO TECH Perfecting Shield Primer and CBDBIO TECH Peptide Collagen Solution).  The products are intended to bring a moisturizing balance, form a protective layer, provide an even skin tone, and firm the skin while reducing the signs of aging. Different from other skin care lines currently available in China, the products are infused with non-industrial cannabidiol or CBD. While CBD, known as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, has been widely used in skin care products in western countries for some time, its groundbreaking use in CBD Magic Hemp Series positions the innovative product line in what CBD Biotechnology believes to be an untapped segment of China’s skin care industry.

This product launch and debut with CBD products positions CIIX as an emerging leader in a strong market segment. According to CBD Biotechnology and as reported by Fidelity Investments (http://dtn.fm/SvQY4): “China has one of the world’s largest consumer markets for skin care products. Retail sales of skincare products and make-up products in China reached 169.1 billion yuan and 28.3 billion yuan respectively in 2016, with year-over-year growth of 5% and 12% respectively. Skin care is expected to reach 223.3 billion yuan in 2021 with growth driven by rising awareness of skin health and consumption upgrading Chinese consumers.  As one of the first hemp infused skin care brands in China, we are confident that CBD Biotechnology will lead Chinese market, with potential for global expansion.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ChineseInvestors.com

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• Company expects $9.6 million in revenues for first 12 months operating its health care services division
• Launching animal waste product in 4Q2017 aimed at offering improved environmental sustainability
• Forecasts 50 percent YOY growth for home interiors subsidiary in 2017

What do the health care, eco-friendly, and construction industries have in common? Start with their ability to generate a return on investment when a savvy partner is involved, and you don’t have to think too hard about the rest.

RJD Green Inc.’s (OTC: RJDG) merger and acquisition strategy places an emphasis on buying, partnering or entering joint ventures with companies that have a vibrant presence in any of the three above-identified market niches, and then helping those businesses maximize their profits and corporate quality. The company looks for long-term staying power, geographic reach and the capacity to expand into further markets. Its acquisition sights are set on companies with between $5 million and $40 million in yearly revenues. Those benchmarks help shareholders measure the potential for a return on their investments.

The RJD Green health care services branch specifically supports the medical billing market with proprietary software and IT services that help streamline electronic payment processing. Its IoSoft Inc. system has been integrated by Blue Cross, Aetna, CIGNA and other medical insurance providers.

“From ongoing negotiations that are occurring now, we expect to see more accelerated monthly contracts procured in the first calendar quarter of 2018,” IoSoft President Vincent Valentine stated in a September news release.

The company’s health care services division has already established eight new contracts that are expected to launch across the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, as further indicated in the release. The announcement resulted in a 12-month revenue forecast of $9.6 million.

RJDG’s Earthlinc Environmental Solutions subsidiary focuses on bringing environment-supporting technologies to market for both corporate and small-business needs, beginning with Animal Waste Management’s solutions to commercial poultry and hog industry challenges.

RJDG’s Silex Holdings targets building material products and services that are positioned to offer immediate growth in a unique geographic market, beginning with the production of counter tops, cabinets and related kitchen and bath products. Silex Interiors fills a market niche between retailers like Home Depot and local contractors that use their products, and the company has forecast revenue and profit growth of 50 percent over the previous year by the end of 2017.

Silex Interiors can operate at least four corporate locations and 12 to 18 franchises nationwide. Through such diversity of interests, RJD Green ensures its potential for sustainability and vitality in an often-challenging marketplace.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.RJDGreen.com

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• Goal is to combine PBIO’s patented Ultra Shear Technology (UST) with Phasex’ Supercritical Fluid (SCF) processing to develop stable, water-soluble nanoemulsions
• As part of this collaboration, PBIO and Phasex seek to develop stable, water-soluble nanoemulsions of nutraceuticals, including CBD-enriched plant oil
• CEO of PBIO sees collaboration leading to a ‘Value-add’ for Phasex customers and a highly profitable service model for both PBIO and Phasex

Pressure BioSciences Inc. (OTCQB: PBIO) recently announced a strategic collaboration with Phasex Corporation to develop stable, water-soluble nanoemulsions of nutraceuticals (http://dtn.fm/IWq4E). These nanoemulsions may exhibit improved absorption, greater stability, higher bioavailability and other strategic and medical advantages. The collaboration involves combining PBIO’s patented Ultra Shear Technology (UST) with Phasex’s Supercritical Fluid (SCF) extraction technology.

Emulsions are mixtures of two or more liquids (e.g., oils and water) that cannot be blended into each other without the addition of chemicals called surfactants. Emulsions represent an incredibly large existing market with a wide range of applications, including nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, industrial lubricants, paints and even food. Currently, most commercially-available emulsion products contain large oil droplets and high amounts of surfactants, which tend to make these macro- and micro-emulsions unstable and not suitable for human use. Conversely, scientific studies have shown that nanoemulsions (with very small oil droplet sizes) generally exhibit improved absorption, higher bioavailability, greater stability, lower surfactant levels and other clear advantages over macro- and micro-emulsions.

Many nutraceuticals begin as compounds contained in plants. When extracted, these compounds end up in the resulting plant oil. From there, they can be used as an oil or turned into an emulsion. Although there are many ways to extract specific compound-rich plant oil, SCF processing is generally considered the cleanest, safest and most environmentally-friendly method available today. Phasex has been using SCF processing for the extraction of compounds-of-interest from plants for over 40 years, and it is considered to be one of the U.S.’s foremost SCF extraction companies.

In a news release announcing the collaboration, Dr. Val Krukonis, a pioneer in SCF extraction and the founder of Phasex, said, “We are impressed with the potential of UST as a complementary technology to SCF extraction. Several customers are currently seeking new methods to turn hydrophobic oil extracts into stable, water-soluble formulations. UST offers the potential to solve this problem by producing stable nanoemulsions of oil-like products in water. Such formulations could potentially have enormous success in many markets, including inks, industrial lubricants, and cosmetics, as well as in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, such as medically important plant oil extracts.”

Richard T. Schumacher, president and CEO of PBIO, added that, “We believe the ability to subject liquids to UST following the Phasex SCF extraction and purification process would be a highly sought-after ‘Value-add’ for Phasex customers. Rapidly-expanding markets for non-psychoactive extracts of cannabis plant material, for instance, is an example of a potentially high demand application for our combined, synergistic technologies.” He noted that the collaboration could potentially result in a highly profitable service model for both PBIO and Phasex.

Dr. Edmund Ting, Senior Vice President of Engineering for PBIO, explained that nanoemulsions are currently the focus of research efforts worldwide. “Unfortunately, even with these increased efforts, scale-up to a cost-effective, industrial level nanoemulsion production process remains a significant challenge. To that end, we believe that UST has the potential to work through those challenges, and to become a cost-effective, industrial-level nanoemulsion commercial process,” he noted.

As potentially explosive as UST seems to be, though, it is not the only disruptive technology upon which investors in PBIO need to hang their hat or their potential for future returns on investment. PBIO is also seen disrupting the “cell lysis” market (http://dtn.fm/pCaa4) with one of its new high-tech instruments, the Barocycler 2320EXT, which splits cells, according to the site Equities.com. This product carefully cracks open cells at precise pressures to extract the DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids inside in a safe, exquisitely controlled and highly reproducible manner. All the while, care is taken to minimize the damage to the cell’s constituents in order to make them available to research scientists in the highest quality possible. After all, the results of scientific studies are only as good as the quality of the starting material (DNA, proteins, etc.). Equities.com added that the company’s innovative line of instruments and consumables, based on its patented pressure cycling technology (PCT) platform, could revolutionize how researchers approach their studies. The cell lysis global market is projected to grow to $3.84 billion by 2021, showing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3% from 2016, according to a report by MarketsAndMarkets (http://dtn.fm/hQ2yg).

Pressure BioSciences recently announced record revenue for Q3. See the full news release at http://dtn.fm/BsrK9

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.PressureBiosciences.com

• LTTGF sets sights on $80 billion U.S. lottery market
• Cryptocurrencies and online lottery disruption targeted by LTTGF’s blockchain plans
• Federal Reserve study: non-cash payments hit $178 trillion, led by quick growth of debit cards

LottoGopher Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: LTTGF) (CSE: LOTO) (FSE: 2LG) is positioning itself to excel in a cryptocurrency world as the U.S. and other countries increasingly become cashless.  The Los Angeles-based company is making online lotto gaming with cryptocurrencies attractive to consumers who increasingly make purchases with non-cash methods. LTTGF’s blockchain creation strategy could generate even more growth in this environment by adding a security to transactions utilizing blockchain technology.

LottoGopher recently announced its intention to build and launch applicable blockchain technologies as it relates to online lotteries. As part of this, the company has retained blockchain investor and media strategist Jeff Koyen as an independent adviser (http://dtn.fm/5Zx41). The proposed lottery blockchain could increase trust and visibility in the ownership of the actual ticket, he said, adding that a “Lottery Blockchain” could be beneficial to both traditional and online lotteries. In fact, Bitcoin News Service calls the combination of cryptocurrencies and online gambling a “match made in heaven” (http://dtn.fm/4rJOn).

James Morel, CEO of LottoGopher, said in reference to the development of blockchain technologies for LTTGF’s lottery services, “It has been and will continue to disrupt the way businesses operate in the foreseeable future, and we are in preparations now to leverage this technology for lottery-specific applications.”

LTTGF currently operates in the $6.3 billion California market (http://dtn.fm/oLb6N) as a lottery messenger service that permits buyers to buy state lottery tickets online via credit and debit cards, manage their accounts, and receive the latest state lottery news. Eventually, it plans to be operational in 22 more states within the $80 billion total U.S. national lottery market (http://dtn.fm/ubQQ2).

The Federal Reserve Payments Study of U.S. consumer and business spending habits, released in 2017 (http://dtn.fm/d6PBn), found that non-cash payments reached 144 billion payments totaling $178 trillion in 2015. By value, it saw non-cash payments grow by 3.4% from 2012-2015. As payments by check fell, debit cards grew fastest among credit cards — showing a $2.56 trillion valuation, with an annual growth of 6.8%. Clearly, Americans are spending more with credit and debit cards and less with checks and cash.

LTTGF is laden with celebrities. In addition to board member Kevin Harrington, ex-star of the Shark Tank TV show, its spokesperson is well-known actor William Shatner. Prior, he was a spokesperson for Priceline (NASDAQ: PLCN), whose stock skyrocketed in value during his association.

While Harrington is active on LTTGF’s board, Mark Cuban — the successful entrepreneur and also a Shark on the show — is investing in Unikrn, a blockchain sports betting platform, Fortune reports (http://dtn.fm/GmHR3). At the same time, he is investing in its UnikoinGold cryptocurrency. Last month, CoinDesk reported that Unikrn was awarded a gaming license in Malta, seen as presaging widespread online sports gaming in Europe (http://dtn.fm/NQu34).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LottoGopher.com

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• Major lithium producers not expected to make up impending shortfalls
• Standard Lithium nearly triples lithium assets to meet demand
• Company expediting activities to exploit global imbalance

The increasing demand and value of lithium have been reflected in the performance of lithium mining stocks over the last year. Lithium stocks have rocketed over the last twelve months propelled by insatiable demand for the alkali metal. Lithium has a broad range of industrial applications, from lubricants to glass and ceramics, alloys for lightweight metals, and now, progressively more, in Li-ion batteries.

Sixty percent of lithium use was used in industrial non-battery applications in 2015 while 25% was used in traditional batteries and fourteen per consumed for use in electric vehicles. Energy storage and e-bikes used less than 1% of output. A 2016 Deutsche Bank Markets Research Report (http://dtn.fm/Q66Fw) projected demand for 2025 is much different, not only in overall demand tonnage, but the percentages each application encompasses. By then the majority of lithium (38%) will be consumed by electric vehicles, 6% used for energy storage, and 14% for e-bikes. It’s no wonder that lithium demand has been projected to grow over 300% in the next six years.

Even with major producers ramping up production, serious shortfalls are expected. Shortages can only be made up by junior miners like Standard Lithium Ltd. (TSXV: SLL) (FRA: S5L) (OTCQX: STLHF). Standard Lithium is rapidly assembling a prodigious portfolio of U.S. based lithium brine assets and actively engaged in the further exploration and development of its Bristol Lake, Brine Project located in the Mojave region of California.  Standard Lithium’s Bristol Lake project initially encompassed 16,600+ acres of placer mineral claims, but with the company’s recently announced MOU with Tetra Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TTI), they have almost tripled the entire Bristol Dry Lake Lithium Project and now has up to 48,000 acres of placer mineral claims and private property lithium brine assets available for development.

Comprehensive geophysics gravity surveys over the Bristol Lake Project indicate potentially high concentrations of lithium-bearing brines present throughout the company’s mineral lease agreement claims and expansion of nearby assets are expected to produce equally promising results. With permits already in place for extensive brine extraction and processing, Standard Lithium is expediting activities to exploit the huge imbalance and meet the urgent need for new lithium sources.

With enormous market imbalances unlikely to be rectified by major producers, investors interested in riding the lithium wave should consider junior miners like Standard Lithium for potential significant capital appreciation.

For more information about the company, visit http://nnw.fm/standardlithium