Overall, the net revenue reported by Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) for the year ended December 31, 2022, hit $1.81 billion, a new record for the company. This result, when compared to the $1.6 billion figure reported in 2021, marked an increase of 13%.
Not unexpectedly, the net income reported by CDI in 2022 increased as well. The company hit a record net income of $439.4 million in 2022. When compared to the $249.1 million reported for the prior year period, the result from 2022 marked an increase of 76%. Similarly, adjusted EBITDA in 2022 also set a record hitting $763.6 million. When compared to the $627 million result reported in 2021, the latest result reveals that adjusted EBITDA grew by 22%.
A breakdown provided by CDI revealed that in 2022, the revenue from live and historical racing increased significantly. Back in 2021, the net revenue from that segment halted at $409.1 million, while in 2022, soared to $614.6 million. The net revenue from gaming also increased hitting $755.9, up from the $695.4 million result from 2021.
In contrast to the increase, the net revenue from TwinSpires decreased by nearly 4% to $436.4 million. The revenue reported from other operations also decreased, halting at $2.9 million.
It is important to mention that CDI acknowledged that the lifting of COVID-related restrictions impacted positively the company’s performance. In fact, it said that the 2022 Kentucky Derby was held without the restrictions that were in place the previous year.
Besides its full year 2022 results, CDI acknowledged multiple strategic achievements completed during the period. Back in November, the company closed the acquisition of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment LLC in a deal with a $2.75 billion price tag.
Before that, back in September, CDI completed the acquisition of Chasers Poker Room located in Salem, New Hampshire. This strategic move boosted the company’s plan for further expansion.
Again in September, CDI closed the takeover of Ellis Park Racing and Gaming. The acquisition included rights for a new historic racing machine (HRM) entertainment venue in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Earlier in 2022, CDI closed the sale of Calder land in June, while in February, it closed the sale of its Arlington Heights, Illinois property in a deal of nearly $200 million to the Chicago Bears.
In addition to its 2022 revenue, CDI released data regarding its performance for the fourth quarter. In Q4, 2022, the company reported net revenue of $480.1 million, marking a strong growth when compared to the corresponding period in 2021 when the revenue halted at $364.8 million. Adjusted EBITDA grew in Q4, 2022 as well, hitting $180.7 million.
Portugal’s online gambling association, the Associação Portuguesa de Apostas e Jogos Online (APAJO), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to reduce advertising on websites that infringe copyright.
The memorandum in question is promoted by the European Commission, which seeks to combat copyright infringing websites. This primarily targets online domains that stream or pirate content they do not have a license for. By taking action against such online entities, the MoU signees effectively limit the money that copyright infringers receive.
As outlined by the commission, the APAJO joins 29 stakeholders that are already working to bring advertising on piracy and illegitimate streaming sites down. These also include the Portuguese Association of Advertisers (APAN).
APAJO and the rest of the signees will work to promote better practices and develop initiatives and actions that improve IPR enforcement practices. The MoU has so far been successful in raising awareness that companies’ online ads may end up on sites that illegally disseminate copyrighted content.
The APAJO Is Committed to Playing by the Rules
Ricardo Domingues, the president of the APAJO commented on his organization’s commitment to taking action against copyright infringement. He explained that advertising is a core pillar of the regulated gambling industry. Because of that, it is crucial to advertise responsibly without funding shady sites that illegally distribute content.
Domingues explained that the iGaming industry is a relevant advertiser that is fully aware of the issue at hand. He noted that the members of his association know that when they promote their brands and activities, they also have the responsibility to promote good advertising and communication practices.
As operators in the regulated gambling sector, APAJO members know how important it is not to promote unlicensed content and bad practices. Domingues concluded that the APAJO and its members fully subscribe to the spirit and mission of the MoU. Because of that, the association promised to promote the memorandum to its partners and across its various activities.
The APAJO has long been committed to safety and regulation. In November, the association launched a campaign against illegal online gambling seeking to promote the legal market ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
During that campaign, the APAJO educated customers on the dangers of playing with unlicensed websites. It reminded players that when they play with illegal operators, their deposits, winnings and personal data are at risk.
The legal battle between Mansion Group, a leading online gambling operator that is globally recognized, and its former CEO, Karel Christian Mañasco, dates back to last year. Back then, the operator filed a claim against Mañasco with the courts in Gibraltar. In its claim, Mansion Group alleged that the former CEO abused his powers and misused company funds.
Mañasco’s tenure with Mansion Group dates back to 2010. In 2012 he was appointed to the role of CFO, while in 2017, Mañasco became CEO. A few years after that, in September 2021, Mansion Group suspended him, launching an investigation into alleged breaches of duty. After that, in December 2021, Mañasco resigned from the company.
“The application of the foregoing principles must be applied in the context that freezing orders are one of the court’s “draconian powers,“
reads a judgement released by the Court in Gibraltar
Now, the chief Justice and judge of the Supreme Court in Gibraltar, Anthony Edward Dudley, imposed a global freezing order of £5 million ($6 million) against Mañasco. The court acknowledged that such an order is known as one of its “draconian powers.” Yet, given the allegations against Mañasco and the possible risk of the assets, the Court considered this to be a proportionate measure.
“Mere reliance on the alleged dishonesty of the defendant is not, of itself, sufficient to found a risk of dissipation. The court must scrutinize with care whether what is alleged to have been the dishonesty justifies the inference of a real risk of dissipation,“
explains the recent Court decision
What Do the Allegations against Mañasco Include?
Besides breach of duty, allegations against the former CEO of Mansion Group claim that he used company money for personal expenditures, including six-figure bonuses. Mañasco allegedly paid himself a £427,500 ($514,000) bonus for the 2022 financial year, while in 2019, he received €327,033 ($346,400). Moreover, he allegedly collected a sum of £66,236 ($79,600) which was used for personal expenditures.
Further allegations claim Mañasco authorized or approved the payment of €2,508,035 ($2,656,420) and £127,073 ($152,700) to White Wizard Media Limited, a suspicious company from the Marshall Islands. Mansion claimed that it wasn’t involved in any business with the aforementioned company.
Additionally, Mañasco allegedly obtained multiple luxury vehicles, as well as expensive jewelry at the expense of Mansion. Last but not least, the claims against the former CEO include an accumulation of credit card payments at the expense of the company of some £249,951 ($300,400).
Any poker player that claims they never make a mistake is a liar. Even elite professionals do, on occasion, make an error in their decision-making. Mistakes are part and parcel of the game because No-Limit Hold’em is a game played with incomplete information, plus poker players are only human.
The WPT Global Blog has published several poker strategy articles of late as it attempts to help its vast customer base improve their skills. A recent article details common mistakes made by players; how many of them are you guilty of?
Overestimating Your Ability and Playing For Stakes That Are Too High
Many poker players believe they are much better at this game than they actually are. They often sit in games that they have no right to be in, fae off against players that are vastly superior to them, or play for stakes that are way outside the constraints of their bankroll. It is important to remain honest about your ability and sit in games that are suitable for your experience and available bankroll.
“Estimate your poker proficiency objectively,” suggests the WPT Global Blog, “and pick a table with a buy-in that aligns with your experience and your budget.”
By all means, take the occasional shot in a bigger buy-in game if you can afford to because the experience gained could prove invaluable in the long run.
“Playing at tables with more practiced players, even if you know you’re the odd player out, will still make for a great learning experience.”
Struggling to Break Out of the Micro Stakes? WPT Global Wants to Help
Playing Too Many Hands Out of Position Preflop
Often, it is a mistake made preflop that results in a costly error on later streets. Preflop is the easiest round to master in No-Limit Hold’em, so it is important to drill things down and get this stage perfect.
Playing too many hands and doing so out of position is a major leak in many players’ games; it is often a result of overestimating their poker ability because they believe they can outplay everyone. Do yourself a favor and muck the rubbish, troublesome hands when you’re out of position. Also, you should evaluate some of your stronger holdings depending on the action of other players at the table.
“Even if you get a strong hand, you should still think twice about whether to continue playing if your opponents, especially very tight players, start raising or three-betting preflop. This is especially important if you are out of position. A common mistake is to play too many hands preflop in early position.”
Cold Calling Too Much
If an opponent raises and you call the raise having not previously invested any chips in the pot, you have cold called. While there are certain scenarios where cold calling is the best play, cold calling opens you up to being squeezed by savvy opponents, often forcing you to fold and lose the chips you invested without ever seeing a flop. That is not the only issue with cold calling, according to the WPT Global Blog.
“Pots are almost more likely to become multiway after an early position cold call, lowering your equity in the pot.”
WPT Global Gives Tips For Playing a Loose-Aggressive (LAG) Style
Not Three-Betting Enough or Doing So Too Much
There is a fine balance between three-betting at an optimal frequency and doing so too much or too little. Both of those latter two are glaring mistakes.
Someone that three-bets too little will be much easier to read when they finally re-raise an opponent. The initial raiser will, probably correctly, decide the three-bettor has a very strong holding, which allows them to play perfectly.
Three-betting too much results in opponents labeling you as a maniac, so your three-bet will not get any respect, leading you to play bloated pots with smaller stack-to-pot ratios.
Limping – Don’t Do It!
Limping, or just calling preflop instead of raising, is a very passive move that you should avoid making. There are times when limping with a strong hand is a good strategy, but it should be avoided for the most part.
“By limping, you allow players after you to take more aggressive action by raising and re-raising. Limp-folding repeatedly in the hopes of simply seeing a lot of cheap flops can be costly over time.”
As a general rule, any hand strong enough to open the pot with a limp is strong enough to open for a raise.
Learn How to Calculate Pot Odds with WPT Global
Why Not Try Sharpen Your Skills at WPT Global Today?
Why not put what you have learned about common poker mistakes to the test during your next session at WPT Global? The online poker site has busy cash games where you can test new strategies, in addition to a massive selection of tournaments of all buy-in levels.
Download WPT Global via PokerNews today and claim your 100% up to $1,200 welcome bonus. New players depositing a minimum of $20 automatically receive this match bonus which is unlocked in $5 increments that are credited straight to the cashier, each time you contribute $20 to the cash game rake or pay in tournament fees.
Both tournaments and cash games count towards bonus unlocking; new players have 90 days from the date of first deposit to unlock and claim the full bonus amount.
The legal counsel who first joined the rest of the Las Vegas Sands Corp board members from the position of an independent director in July 2021 made the important announcement earlier in the month.
The Resignation Went into Effect on February 22
On February 17, Yibing Mao notified the NYSE-listed company that her resignation would go into effect starting February 22. Mao’s decision to leave the board of the global leader in the development and operation of world-class integrated resorts is strictly connected to her recent acceptance of a new role with a different company.
According to Las Vegas Sands, Mao was not involved in any disagreements with any of the board members or the management team that might have led to her decision to exit the board.
The former director spent almost two decades and a half as Marriott International’s global senior vice president and chief legal counsel for the Asia-Pacific region. From her office in Hong Kong, she was busy growing the company’s legal team from a pair of members to over 50 lawyers and support staff spread across seven offices. Mao was also involved in the acquisition of Starwood Hotels in 2016.
Las Vegas Sands Will Use the “Controlled Company” Exemption
Las Vegas Sands Corp added that Mao’s resignation has now caused the board to fall short of the necessary number of independent directors. This means that the company which is the parent company of Macau-based operator Sands China Ltd and of Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd will need to use the “controlled company” exemption from listing requirements under the governance regulations of NYSE.
The respective exception for controlled companies refers to the fact that these entities are exempt from the standard requirements of having a board of directors with a majority of independent members along with the requirements connected to compensation and nominating committees. Controlled companies are companies where over half of the voting power is held by either an individual, a group or a different company.
Accordingly, Las Vegas Sands Corp now qualifies as a controlled company since owner Dr Miriam Adelson and trusts along with other entities for the benefit of the Adelson family members have taken control of over 50% of the voting power of the company’s common stock.
Las Vegas Sands on the Look for Independent Directors
The company that specializes in developing resorts featuring luxury hotels, premium conference rooms and a rich plethora of entertainment options is now actively searching for new independent directors to join its board. It is likely that the company would direct its focus on an equally valuable Asia-facing director, given Mao’s important contribution to the growth of the company.
The board is currently chaired by chief executive officer Rob Goldstein since 2021, accompanied by president and chief operating officer Patrick Dumont, and directors Irwin Chafetz, Micheline Chau, Charles D. Forman, Nora M. Jordan, Lewis Kramer, and David F. Levi.
At the start of the year, Las Vegas Sands published its fourth quarter results for 2022, outlining its strong performance and revealing plans for more growth in 2023.
After another marathon session of more than 15 hours at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile, the latest marquee event of the inaugural 2023 PokerStars European Poker Tour Paris stop in the heart of the French capital has crowned a winner. Out of a field of 910 entries, two locals battled for the biggest slice of the €1,747,200 prize pool in the France Poker Series (FPS) Paris €2,200 High Roller.
It was a short-lived heads-up duel between Mohamed Mokrani and Antony Marchetti, as the former needed just ten hands to claim a marquee victory worth €305,300. Mokrani knocked out seven of his last nine opponents much to the delight of Marchetti, who earned pay jumps to a consolation prize of €190,450.
Also featured on the nine-handed final table were Norway’s Jon Kyte, and Italian poker veteran Francesco Delfoco while Brazil was represented by Wagner Ripper and Luis Celso.
Final Table Result €2,200 FPS High Roller
Place
Winner
Country
Prize (in EUR)
1
Mohamed Mokrani
France
€305,300
2
Antony Marchetti
France
€190,450
3
Wagner Ripper
Brazil
€136,050
4
Simeon Spasov
Bulgaria
€104,650
5
Jon Kyte
Norway
€80,500
6
Cedric Massaro
France
€61,900
7
Francesco Delfoco
Italy
€47,650
8
Luis Celso
Brazil
€36,650
9
Hugo Machado
Portugal
€28,200
When the action resumed at noon local time, there were 134 players remaining and they were culled down in dramatic fashion during a frantic opening stage. Among those to bow out during that period were the WSOP bracelet winners Ori Hasson and Alexandre Reard, the latter of which saw his pocket queens cracked by the pocket sixes of Lex Veldhuis.
There would be no happy end for the PokerStars ambassador either as he was eliminated shortly after in a three-way all-in. This time, it was Veldhuis with the queens and Mehdi Chaoui held eights, while both were covered by Maxime Bevers with pocket kings. An eight on the river ensured the triple up of Chaoui, who would rise towards the top of the leaderboard soon after.
The onslaught continued relentlessly with notables such as Sylvain Loosli, Anton Suarez, and Ken Okada all out in quick succession. Woojong Ha then came from behind with a dominated pair to eliminate Mauricio Ferreira Pais as well as Nariman Yaghmai only to see his fortune falter on the final five tables, too.
Gaelle Baumann and Emil Bise missed out on the final three tables, after which Bart Lybaert became the next casualty once the seat assignments were shuffled. For Baumann, the end came in a flip with ace-queen against the pocket nines of Delfoco. Stoyan Obreshkov and Marton Czuczor were the next two big names of the international poker scene who ran out of chips after that.
The fall from grace of Chaoui commenced when his pocket aces were cracked by the eight-five suited of Hugo Machado and the young Moroccan had to settle for 20th place. Day 1 chip leader Manuel Labous narrowly missed out on the final two tables, as did Ho Tien Cheung,
WSOP bracelet winner Alexandru Papazian and 2007 EPT Prague Main Event champion Arnaud Mattern followed to the payout desk as the late stages of the tournament became more tense. Ladislao Dalfo Batlle and Mark Buckley were ousted by Jeremie Zouari. The roller coaster ride of Michael Ferrer ended just shy of the final table, which was set after the eliminations of the two Frenchmen Luc Bindel and Zouari.
With an average of just 15 big blinds, the restart after that became a cagey affair without any flop for some 20 minutes. Chip leader Mokrani was responsible for the knockouts of Machado and Celso as he cemented the top spot right away. The domination of the Frenchman continued when his turned flush dented Delfoco as Mokrani before he also claimed the rest and suddenly held three times as many chips as the nearest follower.
The streak of Mokrani broke as Cedric Massaro fell to Simeon Spasov and Kyte flopped best only to get one-outered by eventual runner-up Marchetti. Brazil’s final hope, Ripper earned two double-ups and left Spasov short. The Bulgarian doubled once but then bowed out to Mokrani, who applied a lot of pressure with his overwhelming lead.
Once Ripper sent his chips over to Mokrani, much to the delight of the predominantly French rail in the early morning hours, it took just ten hands of heads-up play to determine a winner.
This concludes the PokerNews coverage of the 2023 FPS Paris €2,200 High Roller, but several other marquee events are still part of the exclusive live reporting schedule.
check out the rest of the ept paris coverage on the pokernews live reporting hub
For a long time, Las Vegas was known as an adult’s getaway. After all, a city doesn’t earn the nickname Sin City for nothing.
An adult’s playground it may be, but you’re just as likely to see a family walking down the Strip as you are a bachelor party.
Since the coronavirus pandemic Las Vegas has become very family friendly.
A recent survey by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) revealed that while only 5% of visitors brought their children with them to Vegas in 2019, a whopping 21% did in 2021.
If you are among those planning a trip to Las Vegas with kids, rest assured there are a lot of fun things to do.
Below we have listed our 10 favorites, five of which are completely free!
5 FREE Things To Do In Las Vegas
Watch the acts at The Midway, Circus Circus
Image: Judy Baxter/Flickr
Many visit The Midway at Circus Circus to play some of the over 200 arcade games on offer.
But instead of paying to play, why don’t you enter the world’s largest permanent circus for free and watch some amazing shows?
Sitting in the center of The Midway is the Circus Stage which hosts performances from a number of acts including high flying trapeze artists, clowns, and much more.
During the weekends, new acts come onto the stage every half hour and every single act is free to watch no matter the time or day.
Acts start at 1:30p.m. Monday – Thursday and 11:30 a.m. Friday – Sunday.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Image: The Strip Las Vegas/Wikimedia Commons
If any of you has a sweet tooth, then Hershey’s Chocolate World in the New York-New York Hotel and Casino is a must-visit destination.
Here, guests can customize their own chocolate bars, shop for some quirky chocolate gifts, and even star in their very own Reese’s peanut butter cup TV ad!
The store also stocks some exclusive chocolate flavors for those with adventurous tastes.
If you don’t fancy eating chocolate, wandering around is still going to take your breath away as you’ll be able to feast your eyes upon an 800-lb chocolate carving of the Statue of Liberty.
Fountains of Bellagio
Image: Studio Sarah Lou/Flickr
One of the most famous sights in Las Vegas, the fountains outside the Bellagio Resort and Casino are an iconic attraction.
Watching the fountains dance in time to music is an awe-inspiring sight that the whole family is bound to love.
In the evening, the show becomes even more dramatic with bright lights illuminating the beautiful jets of water.
Performances start from 3pm Monday – Friday and midday on Saturday and Sunday; the details of the shows can be found on their schedule.
The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort
Image: APK/Wikimedia Commons
Las Vegas can get very hot. Luckily there are plenty of fun ways for everyone to cool down.
One of the best ways is to step inside The Venetian, as a short walk through the resort will lead you all the way to Venice!
A shopping mall with a difference, Grand Canal Shoppes is styled like Venice with a canal running down its middle.
Children are sure to love the iconic scenery and the sound of singing gondoliers as they travel down the canal.
The shops are fantastic and there are plenty of restaurants nearby if anyone gets hungry.
Watch the Mirage volcano erupt (while it’s still here!)
Image: Wally Gobetz/Flickr
They say nothing lasts forever, and in Las Vegas this is doubly true.
When it was announced that a guitar shaped tower block was going to take the place of the Mirage’s volcano there was an outcry.
Fortunately, Hard Rock Resorts have agreed for the volcano to stay open into 2023.
At the moment, it erupts on the hour every hour from 7pm – 11pm every night.
Watch as fire and lava burst into the night sky, accompanied with a suspenseful soundtrack to complete the experience.
5 Ticketed Things To Do In Las Vegas
Discovery Children’s Museum
Image: Travel Nevada
A great destination for families with young children, the Discovery Children’s Museum is a brilliant hands-on, interactive experience.
Kids can play on a life-size pirate ship in the Fantasy Festival area or put their scientific skills to the test in Patent Pending.
Thanks to the Discovery Children’s Museum’s huge size, every child is bound to find something they love. There is even a special toddler section for the young ones!
Cost: Nevada residents $13:50; General admission $15.50; Children under 1 go free.
The Tank at Golden Nugget Hotel
Image: Heiko Tobien/Wikimedia Commons
Most Las Vegas hotels have their own pool, so why pay to visit one? The answer to that is simple, The Tank at the Golden Nugget Hotel is unlike any other pool in Las Vegas.
Children will love it because of the signature 30ft slide which goes through the middle of a 200,000-gallon aquarium. An amazing experience that no one could ever forget.
The pools themselves are clean and spacious and you can even peer into the aquarium while you swim.
For adults, The Tank offers a chance to relax and unwind away from the chaos of the city.
In our mind, that’s money well spent.
Cost: Free for Golden Nugget guests; Free for Las Vegas locals on select days; $15 per person for the day.
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
Image: kennejima/Wikimedia Commons
If The Tank doesn’t hold enough sea life for you then your only option is to visit the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.
This beautiful aquarium is home to over 2,000 animals including giant rays and sea turtles.
Staff are extremely knowledgeable and will be able to answer any questions about the animals that you may have. Extra special experiences, like feeding stingrays or sharks, can also be purchased.
Cost: (Pre-booked tickets) Adults $29.00; Children aged 5-12 $24.00; Children 4 and under go free.
Circus Circus Adventuredome
Image: John Biehler/Wikimedia Commons
While some attractions like the Circus Circus pool are a little dated, the iconic hotel and casino still has many features that visitors rave about. Among these is the Adventuredome.
Inside you’ll find adrenaline pumping rides like Chaos and Slingshot as well as classic attractions like bumper cars.
Kids must be over 48 inches tall to go on some of the rides, although experiences like the laser challenge and virtual reality rooms don’t have this height limit.
While free to enter, tickets or wristbands must be bought for rides. As adults often have to accompany children, it can get quite expensive.
Since making its debut way back in 1990, Tournament of Kings – a show and dinner at The Excalibur – has become a Las Vegas favorite.
During the 90-minute show you can expect to see knights jousting and fighting while wizards cast frightful spells.
With 30 actors and nearly as many horses, the show is one of the most impressive in Las Vegas.
Adults as well as children will enjoy cheering for their king while a meal of Cornish Game hen and potatoes – that must be eaten without cutlery – only adds to the fun.
Spribe, a provider of next-gen engaging iGaming titles, has signed a new content agreement with SKS365. The studio agreed to provide the latter company’s Planetwin365 online casino brand with Aviator, its most popular game yet.
Aviator is a simple yet effective crash game where players have to stop an airplane before it flies away. The higher the plane flies, the better the bet multiplier is. However, the risk of the plane flying away also increases.
The decision-making game puts players in control, thus improving engagement. The best thing is that players can make two simultaneous bets and cash them out at different times. This provides customers with a higher degree of flexibility, allowing them to adopt various strategies when playing.
In addition to all that, players can see other participants’ bets, making Aviator a truly social experience.
It is therefore not hard to see why Aviator took the online gambling market by storm. The exciting title is now the top crash game in the world and has five million active players a month. Aviator is now Spribe’s flagship title, helping its company grow in popularity and expand its global footprint.
Another Great Deal for Spribe
David Natroshvili, managing partner at Spribe, commented on the agreement. He reasserted that Aviator is currently the number one crash game in the world, saying that this is sure to make it a massive hit among Planetwin365 customers. Natroshvili celebrated the agreement with the Italian operator, saying that it will help Spribe further consolidate its presence in the country.
This is another great deal for Spribe, further establishing us as a leading provider of highly engaging and entertaining online casino content in the Italian market.
David Natroshvili, managing partner, Spribe
Meanwhile, Kristina Lozo, SKS365’s online casino manager, also commented on the agreement. She noted that her team is always looking to add quality online casino content to its portfolio. Lozo noted that her team is excited to work with a studio such as Spribe that is always at the top of its games.
Aviator is a blockbuster hit, and we are confident our customers will appreciate this game due to its ease of use as well as its social component.
Kristina Lozo, online casino manager, SKS365
In other news, SKS365 recently struck a long-term sports content agreement with the leading sports data specialist Sportradar. At the end of January, the gambling company also adopted Jacktime’s innovative BETCORE feature.
PartyPoker revamped its multi-table tournament schedule earlier this month, adding over 600 more tournaments throughout the week. Many of those new tournaments fall under the umbrella of Super Micro ($0.11-$0.49) and Micro ($0.50-$4.99) buy-in levels, with tons of the newly added tournaments featuring a progressing knockout format.
Online poker is not only about playing for the highest stakes and reeling in huge bankroll-boosting bounties. Online poker is for everyone, which is why PokerNews took a look at the best progressive knockout and bounty tournaments you can play at PartyPoker for under $5.
The Hyper-Turbo Bounty Battle
PartyPoker’s Bounty Battle tournaments several times per day, every day, and are the perfect way to test the PKO waters. A mere $0.11 is the cheapest Bounty Battle you can play, giving you a chance to play in a progressive knockout tournament without risking too much of your bankroll. Of course, playing in an $0.11 buy-in tournament is not going to yield large prizes, but each tournament at this level features a guaranteed prize pool of between $10 and $25.
Most of the Bounty Battle events play to a hyper-turbo blind structure, although there is a handful that is standard turbos. The shorter-than-usual clock, coupled with basement buy-ins, results in action that is fast, furious, and a whole lot of fun. Enter a Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty Battle if you fancy some insane action!
Bounty Battles comes with buy-ins of $0.11, $0.22, $0.33, $0.55, $1.10, $2.20, and $3.30. Those of you looking for the largest guarantees in this format need to jump into the $3.30 Bounty Battle 6-Max Hyper at 6:45 p.m. GMT or the $3.30 Bounty Battle 7-Max Turbo at 7:45 p.m. GMT because they guarantee a prize pool of at least $300.
PartyPoker Revamps MTT Schedule; Launches Two New Sunday Majors
Gear Up For the Bounty Hunter Tournaments
The Bounty Hunter tournaments are strikingly similar to the Bounty Battles, although they also feature events that play to a standard blind structure. Even the buy-ins are the same, ranging from a very affordable $0.11 and increasing to $3.30, with a whole host of levels between those two extremes.
As you would expect, the biggest guarantees are reserved for the $3.30 buy-in level games. You can battle it out for a slice of a guaranteed $500 every night at 10:00 p.m. GMT in the $3.30 Bounty Hunter 7-Max, and for a share of the $600 guaranteed pot at 11:15 p.m. GMT in the $3.30 Bounty Hunter 8-Max Turbo.
Delving Into PartyPoker’s Trio of New Weekend Majors
The Daily Legends Have the Biggest Prize Pools
It is the PKO editions of the Daily Legends that you want if you are hunting down the largest prize pools. These exciting PKO tournaments come with buy-ins of $0.55, $1.10, $2.20, and $3.30, and boast guarantees starting at $100 and increasing to a cool $1,000.
All PartyPoker Daily Legends feature the best blind structures, have reduced late registration periods, and limited re-entries, making for a fantastic progressive knockout experience. The $0.55 to $3.30 Daily Legends PKO come in 6-Max, 7-Max, and 8-Max formats, and run from 12:05 p.m. GMT through to 2:05 a.m. GMT every day.
The two biggest guaranteed tournaments are the $3.30 Daily Legends 8-Max PKO at 6:05 p.m. GMT and the $2.20 Daily Legends 8-Max PKO at 7:05 p.m. GMT; they come with $1,000 guarantees.
Do You Know The Fastest Way to Earn PartyPoker Cashback?
There are Some Awesome $5.50 Games to Consider
Although PokerNews looked at PartyPoker PKO tournaments costing less than $5, there are some superb $5.50 buy-in bounty tournaments you should consider checking out. They have guarantees of $150-$500 during the early hours, but the evening’s games have $2,000, $2,500, and $3,000 guaranteed amounts, with The Super $5.50 on Sunday boasting $7,500 guaranteed!
Start Your Quest For PartyPoker Micro Stakes PKO Glory With This Incredible Welcome Package
New PartyPoker customers can get their hands on a 100% match up to $600 welcome bonus plus up to $30 worth of free play in the form of SPINS tickets. Download PartyPoker via PokerNews, create your account, and decide how much you want to deposit.
Deposit $10 and you receive $10 worth of tickets over six days:
Day 1: 1x $5 SPINS and 5x $0.25 SPINS tickets
Day 2: 5x $0.25 SPINS tickets
Day 4: 5x $0.25 SPINS tickets
Day 6: 5x $0.25 SPINS tickets
Make your first deposit $20 or greater to receive the following package worth $30:
Day 1: 1x $5 SPINS and 5x $1 SPINS tickets
Day 2: 1x $5 SPINS and 5x $1 SPINS tickets
Day 4: 4x $1 SPINS tickets
Day 6: 2x $3 SPINS tickets
Your initial deposit is matched 100% up to a maximum of $600. The bonus releases into your playable account balance in 10% increments of the deposit amount, and you need to earn four times the bonus amount in loyalty payments within 90 days to release the full amount.
The bonus is slightly different for residents of the United Kingdom. Your deposit bonus is 100% up to £400, which comes with the same release rates. Your deposit of at least £10 comes with £40 of free play, consisting of:
Stories of witchcraft and wizardry have long been entrenched in folklore. From Merlin to Potter, Gandalf to Oz, magical mages have led us through stories of fantasy, betrayal, survival and rescue. From legends of literature, to starring on the silver screen, the wizard has been a mainstay in fantasy culture for centuries. Given the everlasting popularity of the evergreen enchanters, it is perhaps no surprise that wizard-themed slots have become so universally favoured. Here, we conjure up a review of five of the best wizard slots around!
Fire Blaze: Blue Wizard Megaways
Fire Blaze: Blue Wizard got the Megaways makeover in 2021 and quickly became one of the most popular games on Casino.com. The game is set in an enchanted forest, eerily lit by a full moon in the background. The artwork is complemented by a wistful soundtrack to create an almost spooky atmosphere.
The gameplay is slightly different to the usual Megaways offering as there are only five reels. This does not detract from the enjoyment of the game, as there are still up to 12,348 paylines and a healthy 96.47% RTP. In addition to this there are bonus features, free games and free spins to keep things interesting.
Fire Blaze: Red Wizard offers a fiery alternative to his blue cousin. In this red-hot offering from RareStone, the forest is given a foreboding red glow to set a rather spectral tone. The artwork consists of varying shades or red and purple to leave you in no doubt that maleficence is in the air!
Whilst the artwork may suggest maleficence, the gameplay does not! Here, the eponymous Red Wizard dons a red cloak and is the game’s wild symbol. There are also potion, raven and spell book symbols which can have varying pay-out’s for matching 3, 4 or 5. Of more interest, perhaps, are the Flaming Ball and Castle symbols. Match 7 or more Flaming Balls to ignite the Fire Blaze respin feature, while you need match just 3 or more Castles to trigger the free game feature.
Year of Release
2021
Game Developer
RareStone
RTP
96.49%
Bonus Features
Fire Blaze Respin, Free Games
Maximum Win
2,400x
The Pig Wizard
We have had boy wizards, great wizards, strange wizards, grey wizards and white wizards. Now, thanks to Blueprint Gaming, we finally have a pig wizard! The Pig Wizard is another edition in the developer’s ever popular “Jackpot King” series, and offers up a meaty 10,000x maximum win.
Our porky protagonist does not just offer a healthy maximum win! This fun slot also boasts four different bonus games for your enjoyment. There are enchanted mirrors, magic spells, spinning dice and even a porcine interpretation of Deal or No Deal!
Year of Release
2015
Game Developer
Blueprint Gaming
RTP
90.66-96.74%
Bonus Features
Four Bonus Rounds, Free Spins
Maximum Win
10,000x
Lucky Wizard
In Lucky Wizard, Red Tiger have reimagined the traditional Irish leprechaun as a green robed wizard. As is to be expected from a Red Tiger game, the graphics here are top-notch with bright colours and high definition characters. The soundtrack perfectly aligns with the theme of the game, giving it a fun, playful feel.
The symbols reflect the fusion of leprechaun and wizard mythology, so expect to see lucky horseshoes and four leaf clovers alongside spell books and magic hats. Four bonus features are available, which offer lucky reels, nudges and swaps, as well as random wilds.
Year of Release
2016
Game Developer
Red Tiger
RTP
96.14%
Bonus Features
Four Bonus Features
Maximum Win
800x
The Wizard of Oz
We travel from the Emerald Isle to the Emerald City for our final slot, as we’re off the see the wizard, to the wonderful Wizard of Oz! Developers, SG, have remastered the classic WMS game here to bring you back to the Yellow Brick Road. Characters from the classic movie are present here – both the good and the bad – from Dorothy to the Tin Man to The Wicked Witch of the West (and her rather more amiable sister, Glinda)
This is a fun game as you stroll down memory lane with the characters and story you remember from childhood. It comes with a potential 5,000x maximum win, two fun bonus games and a free spins feature. The Wizard of Oz may not offer the most advanced graphics on this list, but it does give us the iconic characters and story that we are all familiar with.
Year of Release
2022
Game Developer
SG
RTP
86.99%
Bonus Features
Bonus Rounds, Free Spins
Maximum Win
5,000x
So there you have our comprehensive list of the best wizard themed slots in 2023. Try these games out for yourself now in the Casino.com lobby!
The post The Best Wizard-Themed Slots 2023 appeared first on Casino.com Blog.
