PN Podcast: Aliaksandr Shylko Wins PSPC; Guest Eric Persson Talks Hellmuth, Cash Games & More

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On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode of 2023, Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards wrap up the 2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC), which was won by Aliaksandr Shylko. Hear what the champ had to say after the win.

They also make predictions for the 4th Annual Global Poker Awards (both Connor and Jesse are nominated), talk about PokerStars’ plans for the US market, recap both the bestbet Jax Winter Open and Potomac Winter Poker Open, and discuss what happened when a player surrendered during heads-up play in one event that left poker fans scratching their heads.

Finally, Jesse has an in-depth chat with Maverick Gaming’s Eric Persson, who has shot to poker fame in the past couple of years due to his bold and boisterous play, not to mention his clashes with Phil Hellmuth and others in both televised and live-streamed high-stakes cash games. Hear from the man himself as he doesn’t shy away from telling it how it is.

Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!

Time Stamps

Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show — tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards on Twitter.

Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here!

Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here!

*Lead image courtesy of PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker.

Name Surname
Chad Holloway

Executive Editor U.S.

Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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PN Podcast: 2023 WSOP Schedule + Hear from Bonomo, Boston Rob & David Costabile at PSPC!
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“Ginormous” PCA Sets the Tone for 2023 Ahead of EPT Paris says Walsh

"Ginormous" PCA Sets the Tone for 2023 Ahead of EPT Paris says Walsh



One PokerStars Live event down — many, many more to come in 2023. The PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure are in the books, with the attention now turning to EPT Paris and beyond.

The year looks to be an action-packed one, not just for poker players and fans, but the diverse team that works behind the scenes to ensure events can be enjoyed by everyone.

A team that includes commentators such as Ambassador Nick Walsh who says he’s extremely excited about the live plans PokerStars has for the future.

The PokerStars Ambassador is the face of the PokerStars Twitch Channel, and recently joined forces with commentary veterans James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton. Whether inside or outside of the commentary booth, Walsh is predicting a really good year on the live felt.

Looking Ahead to Paris

“Particularly with Paris and Cyprus,” he told PokerNews. “The fact that there seems to be such an appetite for live poker, coming out of a prolonged time where we didn’t really have any live poker is so exciting.

Nick Walsh

“I’m not just the only person saying this! I’ve seen a lot of people in the industry, who I really respect, saying the same thing. It looks like things are heading in a really good direction and it just seems like live poker isn’t dead and it’s here to stay!”


Team PokerStars’ Nick Walsh Shares His 5 Tips for Tournament Package Winners


“But the French — they absolutely love poker. I’m still expecting a very, very large event”

The year kicked off with the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and the PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship — two massive events that Walsh was a part of.

“They were absolutely ginormous! I hope that persists [for the rest of the year]. And now it’s time for Paris after only a couple of weeks. But the French — they absolutely love poker. I’m still expecting a very, very large event.

Head to the EPT Paris Live Reporting Hub

“Not just because of where live poker is right now, but I know it’s been a while since we’ve had a stop close enough for the French to attend that wasn’t Monte Carlo. It’s a much more affordable destination — compared to Monaco at least!

“The events in the Bahamas really set the right tone for 2023, and heading into Paris I hope it continues just like that. I think we’re gonna have a really good year.”

EPT Paris 2023

Learning From the Best

Last year saw Walsh make moves from being just a streamer to joining the PokerStars Live commentary team, alongside veteran commentators James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton. Walsh says that this where the majority of his focus will lie for the coming year.

“Last year there was the evolution, so this year the focus is to smash [the live events] out of the park”

“With my new contract, I ceased to be purely a streamer and I started to take on a more official role as a commentator and actually being an official member of the team with James and Joe.

“Last year there was the evolution, so this year the focus is to smash [the live events] out of the park, bring the energy every single time and find my confidence a little bit as well.

“Getting to learn from James and Joe has just been a complete honor. I really consider those guys my mentors because they both have a certain style and a certain flair for commentary that I’m sort of slowly picking up, while trying to find my own voice at the same time.”

The Team Behind the Stream

Away from the commentators, Walsh says that there is a huge team working towards making the production the best as possible, whether that’s the camera operators, producers, backroom staff, or even just the dealers and tournament officials.

He says that no matter the event, the entire team put in the effort and the hours to ensure that productions and live events run smoothly.

“When we have big events like the PSPC, in particular, we have the staff to actually do things that we just don’t at other smaller events. But in all honesty, none of our events are small! All of them take a huge effort.

“But having that additional feature table at the PSPC just meant double the action for our viewers! Additionally, we had the staff for outer-table action, the editing staff putting together highlight or key hand montages — there’s a huge team of people all working together.”


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Even at smaller events, Walsh says that the production quality is so good, viewers scarcely notice any differences.

“I’m just really proud of everyone on the staff”

“Behind the scenes, we know when we’re a smaller team, but the interesting thing is that the viewer doesn’t and I think that’s a testament to how powerful the production team is. There may notice little elements that are missing from event to event, but a Prague EPT looks very similar to a Monte Carlo EPT.

“I’m just really proud of everyone on the staff. They are the production team that powers this beautiful thing that we create, and we’re just the ones that voice it. I’m just so grateful to work with those guys.”

Main TV Feature Table

Seeking Creative Opportunities for 2023

In addition to commentary, Walsh is looking to 2023 to get creative and perhaps create new streaming formats that seek to take the focus away from poker and put them more on people.

“I’ve been thinking of some sort of cash game situation,” he explained. “Where you have six cards up, six cameras — something like that. And the whole point is it’s more about asking guests their opinions on things, and poker is secondary. PokerStars such a big company, sometimes people forget that there are real people that really care about the game behind the scenes.

“A lot of the stuff that I’m creating for my own brand tries to take technical terms and ideas and really trying to make them a little bit more accessible, I think that’s really important.”

Name Surname
Will Shillibier

European Executive Editor

Will Shillibier is based in the United Kingdom. He started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019.

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.





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Card Peeks – Learn Card Peeks & Glimpses

Card Peeks – Learn Card Peeks & Glimpses


In this article, we’re going to explore one of the most powerful sleights available to crooked poker dealers or croupiers.

Knowing just a single card can provide an unbeatable advantage; there are dozens of methods to get a glimpse of a card and in the hands of expert players, a simple peek can reap enormous rewards.

Secret Knowledge

I’m always suspicious when casinos use technology to know the order of a deck they’re about to deal and past systems that used cameras and computers in conjunction with automatic shufflers were subject to all kinds of shenanigans if the casino or developers were so inclined to make adjustments to how those machines worked.

I’ll get into the problems and possibilities of this kind of scenario another time but just having information that could lead to an unfair advantage is dangerous if it can inform or change game procedure.

The way I like to put it to my friends on the other side of table is: If players are not permitted to know what cards are about to be dealt, why should the house have that information?

Knowing what card is about to be dealt could make an enormous difference to a player sitting at first base on a blackjack table who knows for certain that the first card out of the shoe will be an ace.

Equally, if a machine were to change its procedure according to the order of the deck, this could give the house an unfair advantage against the players.

Shuffling and dealing procedures are so important to protect everybody from everybody else and one of the key considerations when shuffling or dealing cards in a gambling situation is to ensure none of cards are accidentally or deliberately revealed.

Imagine sitting at a table while a dealer shuffles eight decks by hand, then knowing exactly what the first 10 or 12 cards are going to be. Or playing Texas Hold ‘Em and knowing whether or not you’re about to hit the flop.

How big an advantage would you have if you could deal a good card to yourself and a bad card to your opponent?

All of this without the aid of a marked deck.

The following examples presume a crooked dealer (a mechanic) working with one or more players against the balance of the table but these same moves can be used in many situations including when a cheater is working “single-o”.

From Bubbles To Greeks

The following dealer peeks are used to either gain information that could be used against other players or in conjunction with a second deal to manipulate cards into the perfect position; here we’ll look at some of the most common (and most effective) methods to get that glimpse.

The heel or “Greek Peek” is used as the dealer gestures with the left hand, which is holding the deck.

The top card is lifted at the inner left side by pressure exerted from the base of the left thumb.

There is a distinct knack to this that takes a while to accomplish but once the muscle is trained and the action reduced to a minimum, it’s possible to make multiple peeks as cards are dealt from the top of the deck.

Continuous glimpses while dealing is truly limited to a handful of experts who both know the secret and have dedicated hundreds of hours to perfecting it.

Yet the easier, single peek has proven more dangerous to players and casinos, whether used by crooked dealers to avoid busting a partner’s hand or by bust-out dealers (in the bad old days) to make sure they killed a player’s hand!

The “Bubble Peek” is more appropriate for games where the dealer is required to necktie or guard their hand when not dealing, which both protects cards from some moves but makes them more vulnerable to others.

The Bubble is so called because the left thumb pushes the top card to the right against the tips of the left finger, which prevents the card from moving and forcing the card to buckle at the outer right corner, exposing the card’s index if the deck is held at the right angle (perfectly aided by many casinos’ dealing procedure).

This is an excellent way to peek a card, but care must be taken not to leave a distinct bend in the card and the peek happens in an instant, the “Bubble” popping up and down in just a fraction of a second.

Variations on the Bubble Peek bend the cards in different directions depending on game procedure and a particularly subtle version only bends the back of the card just enough to see if the dealer has a “paint” on top (a court card), which can be more than enough information.

Left-handed dealers have their own methods for these peeks since they tend to deal from the right hand and the techniques just described would only reveal a blank corner!

Down Into The Deck

Similar moves exist to peek the bottom of the deck with the cards being slightly buckled as they’re picked up, allowing a glimpse of the bottom inside index.

Another glimpse requires the bottom card to be squeezed backwards, buckling it until the dealer can see the index; this may seem crude but performed correctly it is completely invisible to everyone but the crooked dealer.

Bottom squeeze

More advanced sleights allow the dealer to catch a glimpse of any card near the top or even a card in the middle.

Players can also glimpse cards during common table procedures with a particularly devious glimpse happening under cover of a cut.

In a loose game (in terms of procedure), when the dealer passes the deck, the cheating player cuts with two hands, estimating enough cards from the bottom for all the players plus one or two more.

If the bottom card is glimpsed before the cut, the player now knows a card that’s sure to hit the flop!

The danger with such a move is the bottom glimpse (which is hard to take when other players may be watching the cut), but there’s a little-known secret called the “Shutter Peek” where the top card is lifted at the inner end as the bottom half of the deck is being slapped on top of it.

Shutter peek

Performed correctly, the previous top card is lifted at the very instant it becomes buried under the bottom half and is only exposed for a fraction of a second.

So long as the number of cards placed on top allow for all the players plus a burn card, the glimpsed card is sure to reappear with the community cards.

The “shutter” is a fantastic move and knowing one card that’s coming in the flop is a powerful advantage but games that allow players to cut – especially with two hands – are much rarer these days.

Deeper Deceptions

These are just a handful of the most powerful and common ways to peek cards before they are dealt but when a crooked dealer is working in cahoots with players there are many more sophisticated strategies that can beat almost any game.

These methods have stolen millions from casino table games and even more from players in private games.

In my next article, I’ll discuss how these simple peeks evolved to create an unbeatable advantage.

Lead image: Shutterstock



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New York Congressman Aiming to Ban Online Sports Betting Ads

Ad blocker screen on a laptop


A controversial bill

A congressman from New York is determined to ban sports betting ads across the country. Representative Paul Tonko introduced a new bill on Thursday titled “Betting on Our Future Act” that aims to ban all forms of electronic and online sports betting advertising. He believes that sports betting-related ads can lure people, particularly young people, into developing an addiction.

only allow operators to advertise through more traditional methods

Tonko labeled the current advertising practices of online sportsbooks as “excessive” and “uncensored.” The basis of the bill is a federal law that banned cigarette ads. If the bill becomes law, it would only allow operators to advertise through more traditional methods like mail, billboards, and print media, which would have huge consequences for the entire industry.

Concerns over the impact of ads

Congressman Tonko has serious concerns about the impact sports betting ads have on young and vulnerable people. An information sheet about the bill cited a study from the International Center for Youth Gambling Programs & High-Risk Behaviors that stated 60%-80% of high school students have said they’ve gambled for real money.

According to a forecast last August by BIA Advisory Services, online gambling companies were on track to spend about $1.8bn in 2022 on local advertising in the US.

Calls to the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network are also on the rise, with the network receiving a total of 270,000 calls in 2021, a 45% year-on-year increase. According to estimates, about seven million people in the US have some form of gambling addiction.

Operators treading a fine line

Some sportsbook operators have gotten in hot water for their advertising practices. The Ohio Casino Control Commission has issued a number of fines since launching its legal sports betting sector in January. Penn Sports Interactive, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook were all found to have violated state regulations.

concern about sportsbook operators targeting young people

Regulators generally have particular concern about sportsbook operators targeting young people, specifically those in college. Some sportsbooks have marketing deals in place with colleges like Michigan State University and the University of Colorado.

A lot of sports betting ads feature former athletes or high-profile celebrities, which can appeal to a young audience, in particular. Many countries with more established sports betting sectors have significantly curtailed the showcasing of celebrities or athletes in sports betting ads. The NBA also recently said that it will be banning its partner sports betting operators from using the term “risk-free” in any ads across team or league-controlled platforms.

The post New York Congressman Aiming to Ban Online Sports Betting Ads appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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VSO Analysis: Las Vegas Full-Year GGR Higher Than Macau for First Time Since 2005

Aerial view of Las Vegas


Toppling the King

In a historic moment for the US casino hub, Las Vegas surpassed Macau in annual gaming revenue in 2022. It’s the first time that Macau has lost out to its American counterpart in 18 years, with Las Vegas last beating Macau by around $200m in 2005.

Nevada enjoyed its 22nd straight month of $1bn+ revenue

Both regions recently announced their full-year revenue results for 2022 and they paint a very different picture of pandemic recovery. Nevada enjoyed its 22nd straight month of $1bn+ revenue in December, bringing the state total to an annual record of $14.8bn. Las Vegas, the state’s leading performer, earned $8.28bn of that total, up 17% from 2021.

Meanwhile, in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau, things aren’t looking quite so rosy. It recorded GGR of MOP$42.2bn (US$5.3bn) in 2022, down around 51% from 2021 and the lowest single-year total since 2004. The result knocked Macau off the gambling hub top spot, with its total around 40% lower than Las Vegas.

Pandemic struggles

Las Vegas has regained its title with a little help from pandemic-related restrictions that continue to plague Macau’s casino operators. We can see the dramatic rise and fall of the Asian gambling hub by following its GGR from 2005 until 2022:

Comparison of full-year GGR revenue for Macau and Las Vegas 2005-2022

Casinos in Las Vegas closed in March 2020 following the onset of the pandemic and remained closed until June 2020, when they were able to reopen at reduced capacities. By mid-2021, most of the casinos were more or less back to full capacity. Visitor numbers and casino revenues rose sharply after the reopening, in contrast to what happened in Macau.

In February 2020, casinos in Macau closed for 15 days. They then remained open during the rest of the pandemic, aside from a short period in July 2022 when COVID-19 cases were on the rise.

Despite the limited closures, revenues fell to rock-bottom lows as severe travel restrictions cut off the region from its key customers. Between the start of the pandemic and January 2023, the travel limitations meant that it was not viable for people to visit Macau for mainland China, Hong Kong, or overseas. This led to very poor revenue figures for casinos, with numerous operators having to borrow money to boost liquidity due to mounting losses.

What does the future hold?

While Las Vegas beat Macau’s full-year GGR for the first time in 18 years, many people will wonder if this is just an outlier or if it will be the new norm. Analysts believe that it was just a one-off, as Macau is primed to rebound strongly following the easing of travel restrictions last month.

The Macau government has estimated that GGR in 2023 will be MOP$130bn (US$16.17bn). In January, GGR for the region was MOP$11.6bn (US$1.43bn), so if this level of monthly GGR continues, then the full-year results will surpass estimates, putting Macau ahead of Nevada’s 2022 GGR.

appears unlikely that it will surpass Macau again

While analysts are bullish that Las Vegas will have a strong 2023, it appears unlikely that it will surpass Macau again. Sin City will benefit from continuing increases in convention visitors, but concerns also exist about a potential economic slowdown. As such, many experts believe that significant double-digit growth percentages won’t be as forthcoming this year in Las Vegas.

The post VSO Analysis: Las Vegas Full-Year GGR Higher Than Macau for First Time Since 2005 appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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