On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards wrap up the World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship at Wynn Poker. That includes recapping winners from the $1,100 WPT Prime and Ladies Championship, the $1,600 Wynn Mystery Bounty (hear from Dave McGowan, who drew the $250,000 top bounty), and of course, Eliot Hudon beating out 2,960 entrants to win the tournament for $4.1 million. In fact, they offer a winner interview with the champ!
They also highlight Survivor‘s “Boston Rob” Mariano winning the RGPS Pro-AM at PokerGO Studio, late winners from the recently-completed EPT Prague, Bally’s becoming Horseshoe Las Vegas, and a look ahead to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) and PSPC.
Don’t forget to call the PokerNews Bad Beat Hotline at (+1 702-625-0166) to share your bad beats, which may be featured on a future episode of the show.
Listen to those stories and more in the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!
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As the calendar page turns to the New Year next weekend, so will a new page finally turn in the US online poker industry. On Friday, PokerStars announced that it will combine its Michigan and New Jersey player pools on January 1, 2023. It will be the first online poker operator to launch shared liquidity between those two states.
we hope that more will follow this great example”
“Our community will experience more breadth and depth of games, more tournaments with bigger prizes to win, amped-up promotions, and more choice,” said PokerStars US managing director Severin Rasset in the announcement. “To kick start, we are offering generous guarantees on our debut multi-state tournaments, that will no doubt provide lots of value for those who take to the tables. We worked closely with the regulators of New Jersey and Michigan, and we hope that more will follow this great example.”
PokerStars took down its games in the two states for more than 24 hours on December 12 and 13 as it conducted server maintenance to prepare for the joining of the two player pools. Since operations have resumed, players in both Michigan and New Jersey have seen identical private tournaments in the two states’ poker lobbies, indicating that interstate testing was probably underway.
Bigger and better tournaments
As Severin Rasset mentioned, PokerStars is celebrating the multi-state merger with a couple special tournaments on New Year’s Day, featuring a total of $150,000 in guaranteed prize pools.
The inaugural Michigan-New Jersey online poker tournament will commence at 6pm ET on January 1, 2023. This $100 buy-in event will have $100,000 in guarantees. The second, starting just a half hour later, has a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool and a low $10 buy-in. Players can begin registering for the tournaments on Tuesday, December 27.
As PokerStars is known for its huge selection of multi-table tournaments, one would expect a robust, full tournament schedule to appear on each site soon, with regular daily and weekly tournaments. With a larger player pool – PokerStars New Jersey has a seven-day average of 65 cash game players and Michigan has 170, according to PokerScout – the site should be able to offer prize pool guarantees that dwarf those of its competitors, at least in Michigan.
US online poker still small potatoes
Though legal, regulated online poker has been permitted for nearly a decade in the United States, this is just the second interstate online poker network in the country. The other is WSOP.com/888poker’s network, which combines 888-based platforms in New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada. PokerStars does not have a presence in either Delaware or Nevada, thus the reason why those states will not be included in the New Year’s union.
Michigan joined MSIGA in May
The above three states have been part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) for years, allowing them to share player pools and increase poker traffic. Michigan joined MSIGA in May, but it is still incumbent upon the poker sites to actually make shared liquidity happen. There is a WSOP.com in Michigan, but WSOP/888 have yet to combine it with the other states.
BetMGM has poker rooms in Michigan and New Jersey, which also includes the partypoker brand, but has not created its own interstate online poker network. It has been upgrading its poker software, though, reportedly in anticipation of combining player pools at some point in the future.
And then there is Pennsylvania. WSOP.com, BetMGM, and PokerStars all have sites in the Commonwealth, but because Pennsylvania is not part of the MSIGA, those poker rooms remain ring-fenced from their counterparts in other states.
The post PokerStars to Combine Michigan, New Jersey Player Pools on January 1, 2023 appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.
With 2023 just around the corner, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has shared some highlights of the industry’s performance in 2022. Despite the various setbacks, the industry managed to achieve another record year, just as predicted in Q1.
The Industry Experienced a Second Record Year
The AGA posted details about the performance of the gaming industry, outlining spectacular performances from commercial and tribal operators alike. Overall, the industry managed to surpass a revenue of $100 billion, beating 2021’s record.
These results were achieved in spite of the global uncertainty and macroeconomic difficulties, the AGA emphasized. While some analysts are still cautious about what the future might bring, the Association is optimistic about the upcoming 2023 and hopes that the industry will continue to flourish.
In addition, the AGA pointed out that there are now 31 states + Washington DC where wagering on sports is legal. Five more states have legalized sports betting but are yet to launch their markets.
Illegal Gambling Is Still a Problem
Unfortunately, not everything is rosy for the industry as illegal gambling continues to be a problem. According to the AGA, there are currently close to 600,000 illegal gambling machines in the US.
All of the illegal operations in the country have an estimated handle of a whopping $510 billion, with revenues sitting at around $44.2 billion. In total, it has been estimated that the black market causes the United States to lose $13.3 billion in potential taxes.
However, the industry and law enforcement are working hard to crack down on illegal businesses. US Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice promised to continue giving their all in the battle against the black market while protecting customers from harm.
The AGA Was Very Proactive
Meanwhile, the AGA is still hard at work protecting customers from harm. In 2022, the Association extended its Responsible Gaming Education Week initiative and expanded its Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly campaign.
The AGA also researched other aspects of the gaming industry and met with policymakers more than 140 times, hoping to repeal the sports betting federal excise tax. It also made progress on the slot tax threshold.
One of the highlights of AGA’s activity in 2022 was the G2E and G2E Asia events it hosted, allowing operators and providers to showcase their products. These industry fairs were attended by more than 25,000 industry pros, 350 exhibitors and a few top-ranking executives from some of the biggest companies in gaming.
AGA’s chief executive officer, Bill Miller, is looking optimistically to 2023, hoping to continue “telling gaming’s good story. He is confident that 2023 can be another amazing year for the industry.
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest is a Round 17 game of the 2022-23 Premier League that’s scheduled for Tuesday, December 27. This is going to be the first time these two meet at Old Trafford since 1998 when the Red Devils beat the Trees 3-0.
Something similar is expected for Tuesday’s game as well. Man United are seen as huge favorites in the eyes of the bookies. Are they going to justify the favorite role, or will we witness an upset? Let’s find out!
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest Odds
Moneyline
Moneyline
Odds
Manchester United
-350
Draw
+450
Nottingham Forest
+1000
Goals
Over/Under
Odds
Over 2.5
-149
Under 2.5
+120
When, Where, and How to Watch?
Place: Old Trafford in Manchester
Date: Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Time: 12:30 PM ET
How to Watch: NBC Universal
Man United’s First Game in the Post-Ronaldo Era
Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer a Manchester United player, but this doesn’t have to mean a catastrophe for the Red Devils. On the contrary, they did okay in almost every game in which he was out of the squad.
This includes their most recent EPL game – against Fulham on November 13 – which they won 2-1 with a late winner by Argentina teenager Alejandro Garnacho. It was their eighth win of the season, and they’re now at 26 points, which puts them in the no.5 place on the table.
The Red Devils are just three points behind Tottenham (who’ve played one game more), with a pretty good chance of overtaking their spot in the next week or two. The thing is that their Schedule in late December/early January looks really easy.
After the game with Nottingham Forest, they play the bottom-placed Wolves on New Year’s Day. Then, in their first game in 2023, they take on AFC Bournemouth.
Bad Days Returning to Nottingham
In November, Nottingham Forest played three games in total. They drew with Brentford at home in the Premier League, followed by a win over Tottenham in the EFL Cup, before beating Crystal Palace in the Prem. But then, the World Cup break came.
Can they get back to their pre-break form? Probably not, and it’s not just because they’re facing a tough opponent on Tuesday. It’s also because they have some serious problems with injuries. Six of their first-team players are sidelined, three of which are defensive/holding midfielders. The other three are defenders.
All of this means that the Tricky Trees are going to have some serious problems at the back in the game against Man United.
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction
The Red Devils will win this game and they’re going to do it in style. The banged-up defense of Nottingham Forest simply cannot stop Man United’s raging offense. A win by two or three goals is what we expect to see on Tuesday.
As a result, Hölle Games will have the opportunity to significantly grow its footprint across the continent and benefit from Slotegrator’s reach.
The studio itself is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and holds an ISO 27001 certification. Its products are already established in Europe with games such as Höllische Sieben, Fruits, and Jolly Wild all being part of the European iGaming market.
Hölle Games Gains Further Exposure with Slotegrator
All of Hölle Games’ titles are marked by a high level of gameplay depth and excellent graphics and are immediately recognized on the German market for one. Slotegrator will take the company’s product offer and popularize it in new markets as well.
Hölle Games Co-founder and CEO Robert Lenzhofer spoke highly of the cooperation with Slotegrator and its significance. He hailed Slotegrator as a straightforward organization that has emerged as a startup and quickly consolidated its presence in the industry.
For a young studio such as ours, to be recognized by so many powerful players of our industry and now getting a chance to prove ourselves with the wide network of Slotegrator partners, is truly an honor.
Hölle Games Co-founder and CEO Robert Lenzhofer
Hölle Games has had several big milestones to celebrate in 2022, with the Slotegrator partnership rounding up a busy year indeed. Hölle Games has been building up its footprint over the past months.
The company joined First Look Games, a solution developed to provide suppliers and companies with a quick and reliable way to distribute their products with affiliates and partners interested in promoting their titles. Hölle Games signed a similar partnership with SkillOnNet and is in the process of amping up its production pace.
Kindred’s board of directors may soon expand as the company’s Nomination Committee just proposed five new members. The company’s board until the next annual general meeting will likely consist of a total of nine members without any deputy members.
The Nomination Committee Proposed Five New Board Members
The Nomination Committee proposed the re-election of four of the current directors. The members that will remain on the company’s board are the following:
• Evert Carlsson • James H. Gemmel • Carl-Magnus Månsson • Heidi Skogster
Meanwhile, five new members were proposed to join the company’s board for the next one-year period. According to Kindred, these include the following:
• Cédric Boireau • Jonas Jansson • Andy McCue • Martin Randel • Kenneth Shea
Lastly, the Nomination Committee proposed the re-election of Evert Carlsson as the board’s chairman. Meanwhile, four members, namely Peter Boggs, Gunnel Duveblad, Erik Forsberg and Fredrik Peyron said that they will not stand for re-election.
A Look into the Proposed Members’ Backgrounds
Kindred published some information about the five people whom the Nomination Committee proposed. Cédric Boireau is a French citizen who has years of experience in the real estate and investment sectors, having previously worked for SAS Premier Investissement and Lagune Holding, an investment advisory company founded by him.
Since Boireau is a member of Kindred’s Nomination Committee, Kindred emphasized that he did not participate in the deliberations and the decision regarding his nomination.
Jonas Jansson is an experienced Swede who has previously worked for Kambi Group. He later joined Unibet/Kindred as the head of trading, a position he occupied for seven years.
Andy McCue hails from Britain and is currently chairing the board of Thérapie Clinic and Camile Thai. He has previously worked as the chief executive officer of Paddy Power, overseeing the M&A deal with Betfair. McCue also has a variety of other experiences with many companies.
Next up is Martin Randel, another Swede with significant experience as the founder, owner and board member of various companies. He is a veteran entrepreneur who will bring years of experience to Kindred’s board.
Lastly, Kenneth Shea, born in the United States, is the current director of investments at the real estate firm Hamilton Point Investments. With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, Shea will bring a lot of financial insight to Kindred’s team.
Meister Spoke about the Proposed Members
Keith Meister of Corvex Management who chairs the Nomination Committee spoke about the proposal. He noted that the major board changes should be communicated before the Notice of the AGM 2023 and the committee’s motivated opinion. For reference, the two documents will be published at the same time.
Meister said that he believes the proposed members have skills that will complement the company’s board. He noted that Boireau and Gemmel own almost 20% of the company, while Jansson and McCue have valuable experience in gaming. Shea and Randel, on the other hand, have financial experience that will help the company a lot.
The proposed new Board has the right mix of continuity: new directors representing large owners, proven industry leaders, and business leaders with capital markets, M&A, and entrepreneurial expertise.
Keith Meister, chair, Nomination Committee
In other news, Kindred just announced that it plans to open a new office in Bengaluru.
The Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously voted in favor of implementing updated cybersecurity regulations. The state’s casinos will need to introduce tighter control over their online operations to better protect against leaks of sensitive information such as client data. Industry representatives supported the changes, with most high-profile brands already featuring adequate data breach safeguards.
Online Security Breaches Are on the Rise
Cybersecurity has been a persistent issue for gambling operators since they first went online, as hackers relentlessly target the multi-billion dollar industry. A recent report by cybersecurity company Kaspersky revealed that Southeast Asia casinos were under constant attacks by Chinese malware, persisting for several years.
Western operators are in no less danger, as evidenced by two recent incidents with high-profile companies. In November, DraftKings found itself in hot water after uncovering that security breaches caused clients to lose up to $300,000 as their login details were allegedly compromised. A few days ago, BetMGM also announced that a potential cyber attack may have leaked personal information on an unspecified number of customers.
The Commission Opted for a More Relaxed Approach
With incidents rising in scope in scale, the Nevada Gaming Commission has taken preemptive measures, introducing updated rules for operators in the state. The reworked regulations give casinos a year to develop adequate cybersecurity solutions and procedures. Commission members opted to give companies relative freedom in implementing their new security features, but the new rules contain a few strict requirements.
All Nevada operators must perform yearly compliance reviews and inform the regulator within 72 hours of a security breach. Their reports should contain the cause and extent of the attack, as well as the company’s immediate response and planned countermeasures.
The Commission gave operators a lot of leeway with the new regulations, making them intentionally vague and open to interpretation. Since the rules mostly lack strict requirements, they leave casinos opportunities to cooperate with authorities like the FBI or other agencies before submitting a detailed report to the regulator.
Industry Representatives Offered Substantial Contributions
Several high-profile organizations supported the new regulations, recognizing the pressing need for heightened online security. Nevada Resorts Association president Virginia Valentine lauded the Commission for maintaining a constructive dialogue with operators. She added that several suggestions by association members made their way into the final version of the updated regulation.
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers also contributed to the end document with a list of proposed amendments that the Commission implemented into the document’s final draft. Even though the amended regulation is predominantly advisory, it is still an important milestone toward a more secure gambling environment prepared for the dangers of the modern age.
Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino officially announced the long-awaited relaunch of its high-limit Miralto lounge. The renovated play space underwent an extensive multi-million redesign, featuring many top-of-the-line amenities, appealing to wealthy bidders. The casino also plans to overhaul the rest of the slot and table game spaces to offer a more polished and engaging experience.
Miralto Remains a Premier Luxury Gaming Space
Borgata’s Miralto high-limit slot lounge reopens on December 23 after an extensive two-month rejuvenation project. The 8,300 square-foot space offers a hand-picked collection of over 100 slot games like the $500-dollar Red White and Blue Wild Star aimed at high-volume bettors. The lounge caters to the most discerning tastes, featuring private restrooms, exclusive cashiering services, and elegant, refined decor.
Director of slot operations at Borgata Demi Adebowale was excited to announce the lounge’s long-awaited reopening, welcoming clients to experience the updated interior and immerse themselves in a secluded high-limit slot experience.
Elevating the level of luxury Borgata offers demonstrates the ongoing commitment we have to remain the market leader.
Demi Adebowale, Borgata director of slot operations
The Miralto lounge is situated next to the hotel lobby, and its renewed interior features a cream, gold, and green color palette, accentuated by redesigned cabinetry. Frosted window panes and a golden framework separate the space from the rest of the floor, providing a secluded, luxurious place for patrons to enjoy an undisturbed betting experience.
A custom glass chandelier over 8 feet in diameter dominates the area’s central space. 3,456 individually cut, hand-placed pieces of glass draw in visitors, welcoming them to one of the premier high-limit slot lounges in the Atlantic City market. The space perfectly matches the elegance and sophistication valued by Borgata and gives a clue to the casino’s future projects.
Borgata Envisions Additional Extensive Updates
The Miralto renovation is the next step in Borgata’s plans to refresh its offerings. The Old Homestead Steak House reopens with Miralto, offering an unparalleled dining experience and extending its 100-year heritage of serving the finest cuts of beef. A newly designed dining room and expanded bar welcome new and returning guests to savor its legendary food and beverage menu.
Borgata also plans an extensive redesign of its 161,000 square feet gaming space, envisioning a dynamic and spacious interior complemented by comfortable seating and new arrangements. Ninety 55-inch televisions will allow fans to remain connected to their favorite games without interruptions. The casino is investing substantially in the future, recognizing the need to stay relevant within its market niche by keeping its offerings fresh and exciting.
The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida launched a legal proceeding against its insurer Great American Insurance Company seeking to recoup $5.3 million, which was swindled in an elaborate embezzlement scheme at its Miccosukee Casino & Resort in Miami-Dade County. Four employees, three spouses and a girlfriend were convicted of theft, computer fraud, and money laundering.
Beginning of the Story
In 2015, an anonymous tipster alerted casino officials about the fraudulent scheme. He told them that the slot technicians who had to service the video gaming machines at the casino found a way to manipulate the devices and get false credit tickets in order to create “ghost credits.” The said vouchers showed that they had won money and the employees were exchanging cash for these credits. The swindle operated between January 2011 and May 2015 when the tribe received the tip.
As the casino officials could not establish how the scheme operated and the money was stolen, they summoned the Miccosukee Police Department, but the police were not able to determine exactly how the gaming machines at the casino have been manipulated.
Then the tribe asked the FBI for help and it launched an immediate investigation. The federal agency warned the casino officials not to discuss with anyone the case until it was concluded. Upon the FBI’s request, the tribe contracted an internal auditor, a specialist in the gambling industry, to perform an investigation.
In August 2017, the hired auditor issued a report, according to which many employees tampered with the gaming machines in the casino to gain “ghost credits” for four years and swindled a total of at least $5,283,638.
In July 2019, when the FBI’s investigation ended, a federal Grand Jury issued an indictment of 63 counts and charged eight individuals with participating in the fraudulent scheme.
Lester Lavin was identified as the mastermind of the scam. He started working at the casino in 2003 and in 2009, he was promoted to video supervisor. In 2011, he started conspiring with his own supervisor and two of the video technicians to thieve money from the casino.
In August 2020, Lavin and another one of the defendants were sentenced to 51 months imprisonment. Another two defendants received a sentence of 37 months in prison.
Claim Submitted But Denied
In August 2019, the tribe submitted its $5.3 million claim when it was no longer prohibited from discussing the matter with others. It also provided all necessary information and documentation to Great American Insurance Company and the latter acted as if it was going to pay the claim. However, in April 2021, “with no previous warning,” the insurer denied the $5.3 million, because, allegedly, the tribe did not manage to give timely notice of the loss, and the policies, which are supposed to cover the loss, were canceled.
Per Great American Insurance Company, the tribe did not inform the insurer about the loss when it was discovered in May 2015. The tribe responded that it had not been allowed to talk about the case due to the then ongoing investigations.
The insurer has not responded yet in court to the tribe’s lawsuit. Both parties were not available to comment on the case.
The latest craze for AI-generated art, self-portraits and chats has got even the poker world abuzz, and here at PokerNews we couldn’t help but see what exactly what ChatGPT knows about poker.
For those of you who don’t know, ChatGPT is a language model that uses Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF), to interact with humans in a conversational manner. Below are some edited highlights from the conversations PokerNews had with ChatGPT.
So lets see exactly what this AI knows about poker, and whether it has any advice for PokerNews readers. Note: Everything in Italics comes straight from ChatGPT with minimal editing for brevity and readability.
How Does PokerStars Deal With Bots?
What do you think about poker?
An easy enough place to start — what does the AI think about the game that we all know and love?
“I think poker is a fun and exciting game that can be enjoyed by people of all skill levels,” said ChatGPT. “It’s a great way to test your strategic thinking and decision-making skills, and can be a social activity as well.
“There are many different variations of poker, so there’s always something new to learn and try.”
What do you think is better – live poker or online poker?
The age old question — feel the cards and hear the chips being shuffled, or multi-table from the comfort of your own home. We wanted to know the answer from ChatGPT, but they said there wasn’t a definitive answer to the question, with both live and online poker having their own unique advantages and disadvantages.
“Live poker allows players to interact with each other face-to-face, which can add a social element to the game.
“Online poker, on the other hand, allows players to participate from anywhere with an internet connection, which can be more convenient.
“Ultimately, the choice between live and online poker comes down to personal preference. Some people may prefer the social aspect of live poker, while others may prefer the convenience of online poker.”
Best Online Poker Sites – Play the Top Online Rooms
How do you get better at poker?
PokerNews has plenty of poker strategy articles to help you improve your poker skills, but ChatGPT also has their own ideas on how to get better at poker.
“One effective way to get better at poker is to practice and play as much as you can. This will give you the opportunity to try out different strategies and see how they work in real game situations.
“Another way to improve is to study and learn from experienced players. This can include reading books or articles about poker strategy, watching instructional videos, or joining a poker forum or community where you can discuss the game with other players.
“Additionally, it’s important to stay focused and maintain a good mental attitude while playing. This can help you make better decisions and avoid making costly mistakes.”
Do you think anyone can become a professional poker player?
The journey to becoming a professional poker player is long and arduous, and ChatGPT agrees that although it’s possible for anyone to achieve this goal, it’s by no means an easy task.
“Playing poker professionally requires a combination of skill, dedication, and luck. It’s important to have a deep understanding of the game, including the rules and strategies, and to be able to make quick and accurate decisions.
“Professional poker players also need to be able to manage their bankroll effectively and handle the ups and downs of the game.
“In addition to these skills, it’s also important to be able to maintain a positive attitude and stay focused during long and grueling sessions. Becoming a professional poker player is a challenging but potentially rewarding pursuit.”
What should be done about the use of bots and real-time assistance (RTA) in poker?
We thought we’d take the opportunity to ask the bot what they think about…bots.
“The use of bots and real-time assistance (RTA) in poker has been a source of controversy and debate within the poker community. Some people argue that the use of these tools gives an unfair advantage to players who use them, and that they should be banned in order to maintain the integrity of the game.
PokerStars “Up to the Challenge” of Combatting Cheating and Real-Time Assistance
“Others argue that the use of these tools is a form of skill, and that players who use them should be allowed to compete on an equal footing with others. There is no definitive answer to this question, and different poker organizations and venues may have different rules and regulations regarding the use of bots and RTA.
“Ultimately, the decision about how to handle these tools in poker is up to the individual players and the organizations that host the games.”
Quickfire Questions
In addition to the questions above, we couldn’t help but get ChatGPT to answer once and for all certain famous poker questions:
Who is the best poker player in history?
“There are many factors to consider when trying to determine the best poker player in history, and the answer is likely to be a matter of personal opinion.
“Some of the most successful and respected poker players in history include Johnny Moss, Johnny Chan, Stu Ungar, and Phil Ivey.”
Is Pot-Limit Omaha really “The Great Game”?
“While Pot-Limit Omaha is a popular and exciting variant of poker, it is ultimately up to individual players to decide whether they think it is the “great game” or not.”
Would you call an all-in if it was the first hand of the WSOP Main Event and you had pocket aces?
“It is generally considered to be poor strategy to go all-in with pocket aces on the first hand of a poker tournament, especially a high-stakes event like the World Series of Poker Main Event.”
Will Shillibier
Executive Editor E.U.
Will Shillibier is based in the United Kingdom. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German, and then studied for a NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism at Sportsbeat in Manchester. He previously worked as a freelance live reporter, and video presenter for the World Poker Tour.
