WATCH: Sam Grafton says “EPT Paris is LONG Overdue!”

WATCH: Sam Grafton says "EPT Paris is LONG Overdue!"


PokerNews caught up with PokerStars Ambassador Sam Grafton during the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for a sitdown interview about his life as an ambassador, his journey to where he is now and whether he’s looking forward to upcoming PokerStars Live events in Paris and Cyprus!

A 12th place finish in the PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship saw Grafton pocket a cool $238,700 and he said it was great to run deep in such a prestigious tournament.

“It would have been nice to really close out and get one of those million-dollar prizes”

“In all my years of experience playing, there’s only been a few times that I’ve run really deep in a tournament as prestigious and exciting as the PSPC. So of course, as poker players, we’ve always got our eyes on that big first prize or a top-three finish.

“We always want a little bit more, and we can always play a little bit better. It would have been nice to really close out and get one of those million-dollar prizes.”

Grafton says that he’s playing “every single stake” in the 12 years that he’s been playing poker and that he says he’s enjoying educating a new generation of poker players.

“I am part of PokerStars and I want everyone who is at a PokerStars event to have a great time”

“I’ve been in every kind of situation you can be in, in terms of bankroll — being backed, being unbacked. Playing high stakes, playing low stakes. I’m really happy to just pass that on to other people who are a bit newer to poker.

“Players who aren’t used to being on a TV table or they’re not used to playing a 25k tournament. I think that’s just part of being a good person. And, of course, that feeds a little bit into the ambassadorial role. I am part of PokerStars and I want everyone who is at a PokerStars event to have a great time.”


Sam Grafton: The Five And a Half Million Dollar Man


The hunger to achieve is still there, Grafton says, and he wants to continue his success since the $5 million victory in the Coin Rivet Invitational last September.

“It just makes me more hungry to achieve. It’s quite an honour to be a PokerStars Ambassador and I put even more pressure on myself to do really, really well.”


Don’t Miss Out on These Player Experiences at EPT Paris


With a return to Cyprus already on the cards for later this year — and EPT Paris taking place this month — Grafton says he’s excited for more PokerStars Live events in 2023.

“EPT Paris is long overdue and I have great memories of Cyprus. I think it’s going to be a very special event.”

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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California Lawyer Spent $10m of Lender’s Funds Gambling and Living at the Wynn Las Vegas

Wynn Las Vegas


Living the high life

A California attorney who was working as an agent for a lending company allegedly spent $10m of company funds partying and gambling in Las Vegas. The British Virgin Islands-based LDR International Limited is now suing Sara Jacqueline King for fraud, breach of written contracts, and civil theft. King was supposed to be facilitating loans to US clients. 

using the money to fund “an extravagant lifestyle”

A Southern Division of the Central District of California petition filing outlines how King was actually using the money to fund “an extravagant lifestyle,” living at the Wynn Las Vegas casino resort for about six months and allegedly gambling constantly. LDR had sent loans to King Family Lending from January to October last year which were supposed to be given to third-party borrowers.

A significant scheme 

King Lending took funds for 97 loans worth a total of more than $10.2m. The court document alleges that the loan applications from supposed third-party borrowers were falsified and fake names and documents had been used. King’s license as a finance lender became inactive in April 2022. 

The lawsuit states that King has claimed she spent all of the money she took from the lender and that she “also is crossing state lines to engage in further frauds.” While King recently claimed that she has just $11.98 to her name, she was allegedly still submitting false loan contracts to the plaintiffs up to February 9. She now has 20 days to provide a response to the petition.

Constant deception

King appears to have been doing a lot to try to keep her fraud under wraps. She claimed that the collateral for the loans included luxury cars, yachts, jewelry, and precious coins, but this was not the case in reality. In an attempt to increase LDR’s confidence and trust in her, King would send photographs to the company showing off her supposed connections. This included a picture of her with NFL quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Tom Brady. 

King’s ex-husband substantiates the claims

The period after her license went inactive was allegedly the six-month spell through which she sustained her gambling and lavish lifestyle with the stolen money. King’s ex-husband substantiates the claims that his former partner carried out a massive fraud; he has allegedly now fled to Morrocco.

The post California Lawyer Spent $10m of Lender’s Funds Gambling and Living at the Wynn Las Vegas appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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Key differences between land-based and online casino

Key differences between land-based and online casino


Land-based casinos have been around for centuries. In the last two decades, casinos have become a regular online sight, and virtual games are popular with players. Both land-based and online casinos offer exciting gameplay, but they differ from each other in several ways. Keep reading to discover the key differences between land-based and online casinos.

Accessibility and Restrictions

Using an online casino gives players access to games wherever they are. They can also play the casino’s mobile version on a smartphone like an iPhone or a Samsung using a dedicated app or a mobile browser to enjoy their favourite games from any location with Internet access.

Being able to access online casinos so easily makes them convenient. While land-based casinos may not be as convenient in terms of travelling to them, they do house a variety of games and entertainment options under one roof. In some of these casinos, visitors can watch a live show, spend time playing table games, and have a meal in a restaurant all in one space. This range of activities makes a land-based casino a good choice for an easily accessible night out.

The availability/accessibility/selection

Both online and land-based casinos provide a variety of games, including slot machines and table games. Land-based premises tend to have fewer games due to space restrictions. There are no such restrictions when it comes to online virtual games. So, online casinos have a more extensive selection of games. For example, offerings like platincasino slots online include Megaways slots and jackpot games. There’s also a live casino that mimics the experience in a brick & mortar location. So, players can get traditional casino excitement in any location.

The security level

Modern online casinos have high levels of security, including SSL encryption. These casinos also have licences that guarantee they operate fairly. These security measures and licences ensure that a person is safe while playing online and has financial protection. Land-based casinos also have security measures and licences that ensure they operate fairly. They also have security cameras in place to monitor activity in the casino. Both online and land-based casinos operate a know your customer (KYC) process which means that players have to provide verification of their identity.

The overall experience

Overall, the experience of playing at an online casino is very different from that of visiting land-based premises. For example:

● Playing a slot game in a land-based casino involves using a free-standing machine and pushing buttons or pulling levers, whereas playing slots online involves using a keypad or touchscreen.
● In land-based casinos, playing involves an actual physical experience, whereas online, the experience is virtual.
● Online casinos are always available for players to enjoy, whereas travelling to a land-based casino takes time and effort and may not be convenient.
● Land-based casinos often have bars, restaurants, and live entertainment, which is not the case for online casinos.

Conclusion

The experiences of playing at an online casino and visiting land-based premises have some key differences. Playing online doesn’t involve travelling to a venue, whereas playing at a land-based casino does. Land-based casinos often house other entertainment that people can enjoy, whereas online casinos are all about playing games. Both online and land-based casinos are safe and secure, and they’re both interactive. The type of experience an individual opts for is down to personal choice.

The post Key differences between land-based and online casino appeared first on Casino News Daily.

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United Workers Union Warns NSW Government of Job Losses

United Workers Union Warns NSW Government of Job Losses


An influential Australian trade union has signalized to the New South Wales (NSW) government that the state’s intention to significantly increase casino duty rates from 1 July 2023 will result in lost jobs in the casino industry of the province. The state announced the tax reform at the end of the last year to begin on 1 July this year to increase funding for the regions that have recently been damaged by natural calamities.

Surprising support:

Although the United Workers Union may seem surprising support for the Star Entertainment Group, IAG reports that the Union’s executive director, Dario Mujkic, told the press that the government’s intention to punish Star for the failures to comply with anti-money laundering legislation may have adverse effects and consequences not only for the corporation but also for casino staff in the province.

Communities and businesses affected:

The government intends to use the funds generated through increased casino duty rates to help communities that have been affected by bushfires and floods in recent years. However, The Star’s operations in Sidney will be tremendously affected by these measures, as half of the company’s revenue came from the Sydney casinos during the fiscal year 2022. The move will simultaneously affect casino staff and may result in redundancies and fewer jobs available in the NSW casino industry.

Call for negotiations:

Therefore Mujkic called on NSW Treasurer, Matt Kean, to continue negotiations to try to come up with a mutually beneficial proposal. He said: “The New South Wales Treasurer hasn’t clearly thought through the potential impact of the proposed tax change on business operations and more importantly the workforce.”

Mujkic added: ”It’s time for the NSW treasurer to sit down and properly engage with The Star and the United Workers Union, repair the damage that has already been done, and agree on a path forward that is reasonable and does not put jobs at risk in any way.”

Adverse impacts:

Mujkic’s comments follow the recent Star’s announcement that The Star Sydney operations would be substantially impaired if the NSW state government implements the casino duty rates increase. The company expects that the change of casino duty rate would cost the company’s NSW operations in the range of US$277 million to US$1.12 billion.

“If implemented in their current form, the proposed duty rate increases would have a significant adverse impact on the profitability of The Star Sydney, further compounded by the changing operating and competitive environment as described above,” stated the company representatives. “In this scenario, The Star intends to undertake an urgent review of The Star Sydney’s operating model and assets, with a view to maximizing value for the group’s shareholders.”

Share value decline:

The proposed changes would, for example, introduce the 60.67% tax to poker machines in the NSW casinos despite the operator’s previous agreement with the government setting the tax rate at the range from 32 to 34 % until the year 2040. As the proposal suggests the casino duty charged at double the current rate, Star’s prospects are reflected by a significant decline in share value to as low levels as AU$ 1.29 this week, almost five times lower than the 2017 peak seen at AU$ 6.08.





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Rhode Island Could Get Online Casino Gambling in January Courtesy of Embattled Bally’s

Rhode Island Flag


Bally’s fights back

Bally’s busy week of New York casino bidding, brand divestment drama, and a massive 2022 net loss for its interactive arm continues, albeit with a potentially positive outcome.

plans to expand its gaming footprint in Rhode Island

The Providence-based gaming giant plans to expand its gaming footprint in Rhode Island by implementing online casino gaming.

According to GoLocalProv, Bally’s stated on Wednesday it would pursue both legislative and executive branch approval this General Assembly session to get legal iGaming across the line. The New England media outlet revealed the bill would take effect on January 1, 2024, “subject to the finalization of relevant regulations.”

Bally’s claims legalizing the vertical will boost state revenue and raise the profile of Rhode Island casinos in the robust New England gaming market, with a percentage of all online slots and table games revenue going to state coffers.

State in control

Bally’s latest business-boosting gambit emerged at a Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce function. The firm’s proposed bill would give the Rhode Island Division of Lotteries (RILOT) the authority to give the green light to online slots and table games hosted by Bally’s in its home-state properties, which include Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort, and Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel.

Bally’s Corporation vice president of government relations Elizabeth Suever stated that her company’s intent was to base its online casino drive on the legislation that got online sports betting in Rhode Island up and running.

give the State “complete regulatory control and the ability to ensure the integrity of the program”

Suever said this approach would effectively give the State “complete regulatory control and the ability to ensure the integrity of the program.”

In addition, the state would have the power to set terms and conditions for online slots and table gaming, which includes establishing rules for responsible gambling and system integrity.

Online and retail can work together

Bally’s was quick to staunch the fears that introducing online casino gaming would cannibalize brick-and-mortar casino revenue flowing into state coffers. The company cited a recent iGaming study by Spectrum Gaming claiming that “little to no switching of play from retail casinos to online casino gaming is expected.”

The online casino expansion plan follows a frenzied seven days for Bally’s. On Sunday, news emerged it had joined the competition for a downstate New York casino license. A day later, an investment deck revealed Bally’s was looking to sell its DFS brand Monkey Knife Fight, after its North American online arm posted a 2022 net loss of $426m.

The post Rhode Island Could Get Online Casino Gambling in January Courtesy of Embattled Bally’s appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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