Dubuque Ticket Wins Second Lotto America Jackpot in Iowa, Setting New Record

Couple Hits Two Keno Jackpots at the Same Time


A man from Davenport won the first Lotto America jackpot in Iowa in the spring of 2018. Now, five years later, it was time for the second Lotto America jackpot to reach the Hawkeye State. 

On April 1st, a very fortunate player who purchased a ticket in Dubuque managed to set a new record in the history of the lottery that started in 1985, matching all six numbers and giving them the choice to either grand a $40.03 million annuity or scoop up $21.28 million in instant cash.

The Winning Ticket Was Purchased at Eichman’s 

The lucky ticket was bought at Eichman’s, a restaurant and convenience store located in Dubuque. Stacy Eichman, who has been managing the venue since 1931, spoke about the great news, explaining that she was “still processing” the news that was difficult to comprehend, given the known odds of such a win ever happening. 

The winning ticket also brought Eichman’s a $5,000 bonus on behalf of the Iowa Lottery for selling the fortunate ticket.

Iowa Lottery chief executive officer Matt Strawn who is also vice chair of the Lotto America game group also expressed similar excitement regarding the news of the great win. 

Strawn explained that ever since July 2021 when the jackpot went on a growing streak, they kept explaining that the odds of someone winning the jackpot again in the state were equal to a player from a different state winning it. 

Now that the grand event has finally happened, Strawn said it was time to “celebrate for our winner, our retailer, and the Iowa Lottery.”

The Previous Lotto America Jackpot Record Was $22.82 Million 

In May 2018, a family from Minnesota bought a ticket that brought them $22.82 million, establishing Lotto America’s last record. 

The lottery that is considered Powerball’s smaller cousin sells $1 tickets and holds its drawings three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The two lottery games have very similar playstyles, asking players to choose numbers from two separate pools. 

However, there are a few differences between the two. For example, Lotto America has jackpots that begin at a smaller level. At the same time, the same game features easier odds of winning compared to Powerball. The odds to win the Lotto America jackpot are approximately 1 in 26 million while the odds to win the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million. 

While players can purchase Lotto America tickets from 13 different lotteries, Powerball tickets are sold by 48 lotteries.

All Lotto America jackpots need to be claimed at the Iowa Lottery headquarters located in Clive. Winners are encouraged to make appointments to make a claim.

Since the Iowa Lottery started in 1985, it has brought its lucky players over $5.4 billion in prizes, while attracting over $2.3 billion for the benefit of state programs helping veterans and their families via the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. 

The lottery also raises money to help the families of peace officers, firefighters, and corrections employees who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has recently reported a significant decrease in revenue and sports betting handle for February.



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Allwyn Sets Its Eyes on the Irish Lottery

Allwyn Sets Its Eyes on the Irish Lottery


The Czech operator started the year on a high note, scoring win after win. The company won the auction to take over the UK lottery, closed out the acquisition of the Camelot Lottery Solutions Group, and set itself up for further expansion. Recent news suggests Allwyn plans to compete for control over the Irish national lottery, solidifying its hold over the region.

The Operator Enjoys Substantial Momentum

As the newest official operator of Britain’s National Lottery, Allwyn gains access to a substantial market well worth the initial investments. The company plans to modernize the country’s lottery offerings, prioritizing customer safety and superior player experiences powered by cutting-edge tech. To that end, Allwyn announced a partnership with Vodafone to facilitate a mobile-first approach and revitalize the lottery’s aging infrastructure.

The Czech group’s other recent victory came after acquiring its primary regional rival Camelot. The move hastened Allwyn’s entry into the UK market, giving the company a substantial head start in its revitalization efforts. Since Camelot LS Group is based in Chicago, the deal significantly simplifies a potential Allwyn foray into the US market.

Entering Ireland Would Be Another Significant Milestone

Despite the potential for overseas expansion, Allwyn’s eyes remain set on the Old Continent. According to a recent report by the Financial Times, the operator seeks to further grow its influence across the British Isles by purchasing a majority stake in the Irish national lottery. However, the process is shaping up to be anything but straightforward. 

The Irish lottery is owned by The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), the same entity which previously held Camelot. The OTPP has opted for an auction, hoping the promise of untapped value and over a decade of lottery license left would attract sufficient investor attention.

High-profile operators like The Lottery Corporation, Française des Jeux, International Game Technology, and Scientific Games have already expressed interest, meaning Allwyn has an uphill battle ahead if it wants to compete. However, the company’s substantial experience, solid financials, and industry-leading solutions may be sufficient to give it an edge over the competition.

Allwyn Has All It Takes to Compete with Industry Heavyweights

The operator is well-prepared for a rigorous bidding process, relying on substantial revenue growth to fuel such expansion efforts. Allwyn’s preliminary 2022 financial results revealed a 23.8% year-on-year revenue growth, reaching €3.22 billion ($3.51 billion). With EBITDA also rising 20.8% to €1.17 billion (1.27 billion), Allwyn is more than capable of competing with other industry heavyweights.

The group can pursue plenty of other avenues besides Irish expansion. Allwyn’s substantial experience in countries like Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Italy has given the company insight into what it takes to succeed in diverse and challenging markets. With the Camelot acquisition complete, Allwyn can grasp the first available opportunity to expand its reach, whether in Ireland or overseas.



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The Netherlands Needs to Ban Untargeted Ads Because Self-Regulation Is Insufficient

NOGA Managing Director Reappointed for Another Two-Year Term


Franc Weerwind, the Dutch minister for legal protection, believes self-regulatory measures only have a limited effect on gambling advertising. The minister reasserted that further regulations are needed, saying that the government is still on track with its untargeted advertising ban.

From July 1, 2023, all untargeted ads will be in breach of local regulations. Within a few years, the Netherlands hopes to ban sponsorships in sports as well.

Unfortunately, gambling operators’ efforts to regulate their own ads have had limited effects. In addition, only members of certain trade associations commit to following these rules in the first place, Weerwind pointed out.

As a result, some companies continue to advertise without following any limits. Because of that, Weerwind thinks that self-regulation might not be sufficient. He provided the soccer World Cup as an example, noting that companies spent record amounts on advertising, despite being asked to advertise in moderation.

Weerwind believes that banning untargeted advertisements is a perfect solution. Italy, which adopted a full ban, accidentally channeled many players toward the black market. By contrast, the Netherlands hopes to shield only those who are vulnerable.

The minister said that certain advertising is necessary for people who wish to enjoy gambling in a safe and well-regulated manner. Because of that, banning untargeted ads seems like a good compromise.

The Netherlands Seeks to Get Advertising Under Control

The ban on untargeted gambling ads was originally expected to come into power on January 1 this year. However, public conversations regarding the law eventually pushed back the measure by a few months.

The Netherlands plans to gradually ban more forms of what is considered to be dangerous advertising, such as TV sponsorships and sports sponsorships. A ban on TV sponsorships is expected to come a year after the ban on untargeted ads has been implemented. Then, a year later, sports sponsorships will also be banned.

This arrangement will provide TV channels and sports teams with ample time to prepare for the eventual measure.

The Netherlands is a region known for its strict approach to gambling regulation. As a result, some people proposed a two-strikes-you-are-out model whereby an operator’s license will be suspended upon two violations. However, Weerwind opposed this model, saying that disproportionate punishments will not make licensees any less unruly.

According to Weerwind, overregulation can do more harm than good as it can undermine the relationship between regulators and operators and can channel players toward the black market.



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NPi to Migrate Virginia Lottery’s iLottery Program to the Cloud

NPi to Migrate Virginia Lottery’s iLottery Program to the Cloud


NeoPollard Interactive (NPi), the joint venture of Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)-listed Pollard Banknote Limited and Nasdaq-listed NeoGames S.A., announced that its operator partner, the Virginia Lottery, has become the first US lottery to operate an iLottery program completely based in the cloud.

The Cloud Solution Allows Better Service

The milestone industry achievement reached by the Virginia Lottery serves as a display of NeoPollard’s continuous commitment to enhancing its technology capabilities and meeting the evolving demands of its lottery partners and their players. NeoPollard is the first vendor in the iLottery space to operate its solution in the cloud.

Doug Pollard, co-chief executive officer of NPi, outlined the trust placed in NPi by the Virginia Lottery that allowed the completely cloud-based iLottery solution to be delivered, mindful of the business need “to continually refine” its offerings concurrent with emerging new trends in technology.

Delivering our iLottery solution through the cloud will enable us to better serve the Virginia Lottery and other iLottery programs that are powered by NPi.

Doug Pollard, co-CEO, NPi

Moti Malul, co-chief executive officer of NPi, pointed to the growth in traffic online due to “record-breaking jackpots over the last few years” as the main driver for iLottery programs to start looking for solutions that will enable them “to effectively respond to player purchase demand,” including solutions operating in the cloud.

By harnessing the enhanced capabilities that only cloud hosting provides, we can better support the growth of our lottery clients as they strive to meet and exceed player expectations.

Moti Malul, co-CEO, NPi

NPi’s cloud-based solutions include NeoDraw, the Central Gaming System (CGS) for draw games, NeoSphere, the player account management (PAM) and marketing system, and NeoPlay, the eInstant Remote Gaming Server (RGS) and the games hosted on it.

Migration to the Cloud Offers Scalability

Kelly T. Gee, executive director of the Virginia Lottery, outlined the lottery’s commitment “to providing a best-in-class experience” to its players, convinced of the benefits the cloud-based solution offered by NPi would bring to the lottery.

“Enhancing the scalability of our iLottery platform through the use of cloud technology demonstrates to our players that we place a priority on a seamless and reliable iLottery experience, all of which ultimately supports our mission to raise revenue for our public schools,” Gee commented.

The migration to cloud hosting will bring efficiencies related to the operation and maintenance of the Virginia Lottery’s iLottery program, allowing the lottery to instantly scale and accommodate large jackpot runs and volumes of promotions and campaigns.

With profits allocated solely for K-12 public education in the commonwealth since 1999, the Virginia Lottery has contributed more than $11 billion, as part of its commitment to giving back.

Earlier in the year, the parent companies behind the NPi joint venture signed a new operating agreement and amended the previous one to allow both partners to pursue future North American digital lottery opportunities in partnership, or independently.



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“soccerdad29”, “WinningForALivin” & “DakDakAce” All Top PA SCOOP Leaderboards

"soccerdad29", "WinningForALivin" & "DakDakAce" All Top PA SCOOP Leaderboards



The PokerStars US 2023 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) has wrapped up after several weeks of action in both the shared pool of New Jersey and Michigan and the PA SCOOP in Pennsylvania, which generated more than $2.9 million in prize money across more than a hundred events.

The PA SCOOP series produced several big winners, including four-time title earner “KnightsofNight”, who took down 13-M: $30 NLHE [6-Max, Big KO] for $2,539.63, 18-M: $30 NLHE [Rebuy + Addon] for $2,005.09, 20-H: $100 NLHE [6-Max, Win the Button] for $2,878.35 and 36-H: $200 NLHE [Deepstack Championship] for $7,508.69.

The biggest crushers of the series made their way to the top of the PA SCOOP Leaderboard, which awarded cash prizes to the top finishers in the Low, Medium and High categories.

Here’s a look at how the PA SCOOP Leaderboards ended up as the series comes to a close.

PA SCOOP Leaderboard
PA SCOOP Leaderboard

Find out more about PokerStars PA!

“soccerdad29” Tops PA SCOOP Leaderboard – High for $2,000

At the top of the PA SCOOP High Leadboard was“soccerdad29”, who racked up 440 points to earn the top prize of $2,000. A bulk of those points came from a victory in the $30,000 guaranteed 19-H: $250 NLHE [7-Max, Friday Night Championship] for $9,234.62.

“Dionysus1888” wound up in second with 365 points for $1,500 despite not winning any of the high events (“Dionysus1888” did take down 10-M: $30 PLO8 [PLO8] for $929.68), while “TheBigSlick74” ended up in third with 330 points for $750 after winning the $10,000 guaranteed 30-H: $100 NLHE [Turbo, 5-Max Total KO] for $4,630.83 and 06-H: $100 NLHE [Progressive KO, Sunday Warm Up] for $5,086.87.

“wnunley” earned 295 points to end up in fourth on the Leaderboard for $500, while the aforementioned “KnightsofNight” ended up in fifth with 280 points for $250.

PA SCOOP Leaderboard – High Top Five

  RANK PLAYER POINTS PRIZE
  1 “soccerdad29” 440 $2,000
  2 “Dionysus1888” 365 $1,500
  3 “TheBigSlick74” 330 $750
  4 “wnunley” 295 $500
  5 “KnightsofNight” 280 $250

“WinningForALivin” Wins PA SCOOP Leaderboard – Medium for $1,000

In the Medium events, “WinningForALivin” came out on top with 425 for the top cash bonus of $1,000 after a stellar series that included victories in 17-M: $30 NLHE [4-Max] for $1,489.86 and 35-M: $30 NLHE [Turbo, Main Event Trainer] for $1,547.69. “BMM2019” started off the series strong by winning 03-M: $30 NLHE [Kickoff Championship] for $2,666.68 and 04-M: $30 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO] for $1,651.49 on the same day and ended up runner-up for a $600 bonus.

“WuTangFinancial” successfully diversified their bonds with a victory in 09-M: $50 NLHE [6-Max, Battle Royale Championship] and wound up in third on the Leaderboard with 285 points for $400, while “TJ112298” was not far behind with 265 points for $300.

“KnightsofNight” once again found a spot on the leaderboard with 235 points for a $100 bonus, while the same bonus went to “Jesushadgr8abs”, “ChrundleTheGr8”, “Dionysus1888” and Chris “petcheetah101” Bilinsky, who last month took down a PokerStars PA Sunday Special for $11,309.

PA SCOOP Leaderboard – Medium Top Five

  RANK PLAYER POINTS PRIZE
  1 “WinningForALivin” 425 $1,000
  2 “BMM2019” 345 $600
  3 “WuTangFinancial” 285 $400
  4 “TJ112298” 265 $300
  5 “Schwibbs1” 250 $200
  6 “KnightsofNight” 235 $100
  7 “Jesushadgr8abs” 185 $100
  8 Chris “petcheetah101” Bilinsky 180 $100
  9 “ChrundleTheGr8” 175 $100
  10 “Dionysus1888” 175 $100

“DakDakAce” Comes Out On Top Of Low Leaderboard for $500

On the Low Leaderboard, it was “DakDakAce” who ended up on top with 460 points to take home a $500 bonus, while “Jesushadgr8abs” finished runner-up with 360 points for $300 after also finishing seventh on the Medium Leaderboard for $100.

“WinninForALivin” also made another appearance, finishing in seventh place with 180 points for $50 while also finishing atop the Medium Leaderboard.

Others who earned the same $50 included “chonkdaddy”, “jbrink22”, “Dionysus1888” and Barrett “AndrewYang2020” Lipkin, who took down 28-L: $10 NLHE [6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Adrenaline] for $735.01.

PA SCOOP Leaderboard – Low Top Five

  RANK PLAYER POINTS PRIZE
  1 “DakDakAce” 460 $500
  2 “Jesushadgr8abs” 360 $300
  3 “phillytaxguy” 255 $200
  4 “jblyo” 215 $150
  5 “werd3739” 200 $100
  6 “chonkdaddy” 180 $50
  7 “WinninForALivin” 180 $50
  8 “jbrink22” 175 $50
  9 Barrett “AndrewYang2020” Lipkin 165 $50
  10 “Dionysus1888” 165 $50





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Spelinspektionen Board to Continue Sporting Seven Members

Spelinspektionen Board to Continue Sporting Seven Members


The Swedish gambling regulator, the Spelinspektionen, announced that its board will continue to be comprised of seven members. The authority’s decision was greenlit by the current government, led by the Centre-Right Alliance coalition.

The Spelinspektionen provided a peek into its new board, showing that it will remain more or less the same as it has been until now. As announced by the regulator, from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, its board will encompass the following members:

• Per Håkansson – senior advisor
• Håkan Wall – psychologist
• Madelaine Tunudd – councilor
• Andreas Prochazka – lawyer
• Fredrik Holmberg – advisor
• Doris Högne Rydheim – advisor and ex-chancellor
• Camilla Rosenberg – general director of the Swedish Gaming Authority

Wall will continue serving as the board’s lead psychologist. Meanwhile, Tunudd will be the Spelinspektionen’s councilor. Prochazka will continue serving as the authority’s lawyer, while Holmberg and Rydheim help the regulator as advisors.

The Spelinspektionen also noted that Håkansson will be chairing the board. This is notably the only change to the regulator’s board.

The authority also noted that Rosenberg will maintain her seat and will continue to lead the body for another year. She has headed the Spelinspektionen since 2017 when gambling was still illegal and the regulatory body was known as Lotteriinspektionen.

The seven members will report to Niklas Wykman, Sweden’s minister of financial markets.

Sweden continues to be an attractive market for gambling providers. A few days ago, two new B2B companies secured licenses in the Nordic country. First, Relax Gaming secured a business-to-business license, making a foray into the Northern country. As a result, the company can now legally offer its products in the local market.

A few days later, Play’n GO managed to successfully renew its supplier license in the country. The company has been operating in the local market for a while and will be able to continue doing business there. This was furthermore a very important development for Play’n GO, which was originally founded in Sweden.

Last year, the Spelinspektionen announced that only a few gamblers prefer to play with offshore companies. According to a study, only 8% of Swedes pick unlicensed companies. Six percent, the Spelinspektionen said, did so voluntarily while two percent failed to identify an illegal operator as such. Meanwhile, 55% of respondents said that they would always prefer playing with legal companies because of the safer gambling tools they provide to players.



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South Korea’s Foreigner-Only Casinos Record Impressive Profits

South Korea’s Foreigner-Only Casinos Record Impressive Profits


Surging economic growth appears to be the theme across many popular Asian gambling destinations, as Macau also recorded a sharp rise in revenue. Its slow recovery after the COVID pandemic allowed other gambling hubs like Korea to flourish, challenging the Chinese territory’s previously undisputed regional monopoly.

The Region Suffered Tremendously during the Pandemic

Korea and Macau’s casino industries closely paralleled each other during the early pandemic, suffering tremendously from the border closings and lack of overseas visitors. Since 17 out of Korea’s 18 casinos only accepted foreigners, travel restrictions nearly destroyed them overnight. Macau fared slightly better, relying on a slow but steady flow of local bettors.

As the world started to recover, the tables began to turn. China’s Zero COVID policy significantly hindered recovery efforts, allowing other gambling destinations across Asia to pick up the slack and attract the influx of foreign bettors seeking to spend their money. Korean casinos happily obliged, fueling the ongoing stellar growth.

Asian Gambling Is on Its Way to a Full Recovery

Paradise Co, South Korea’s premier foreigner-only casino operator, reported triple-digit growth as revenue rose 130% over March 2022 to KRW42.7 billion ($32.5 million). These results continue the positive trend from the start of the year. The first three months of 2023 saw Paradise Co’s revenue soar 152% year-on-year, reaching KRW135.2 billion ($103 million). Table game profits performed even better, growing 252% to KRW1.26 trillion ($960 million).

The positive trend appears to hold across Asia, as Macau also enjoyed a meteoric rise in revenue. March GGR smashed projections soaring nearly 250% above the March 2022 results. Revenue for the first three months of the year hit MOP$34.6 billion ($4.29 billion), representing a 95% year-on-year increase. Packaged tours from China played a substantial role in the recovery, helping the region return to normal business operations.

The Resurgence Offers New Opportunities

Despite the similar resurgence in gaming revenue, South Korea and Macau’s gambling industries have little in common. Korean casinos maintain their focus on attracting foreign visitors and rely heavily on integration with the country’s thriving tourism sector. Meanwhile, over 90% of Macau’s tourists traditionally come from mainland China and Hong Kong, with foreigners viewed as a welcome addition.

While each approach is suited to the country’s strengths, the pandemic showed the value of diversification. Macau is trying to diversify its offerings beyond gambling to become a more family-friendly international destination. However, with other developed markets like Korea offering arguably better tourism experiences, the Chinese territory has to carefully consider where to invest its resources to keep up with the competition.



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Parsec Capital Acquires Majority Interest in Enteractive Media, Plans Nasdaq Listing

DoubleDown to Acquire SuprNation in a €33m All-Cash Deal


Parsec Capital Acquisitions, a special purpose acquisition company, has acquired a majority interest in Enteractive Media, a gaming affiliate company. Parsec Capital said that it plans to acquire the remaining Enteractive shares in the future, turning the company into a wholly-owned subsidiary.

The current deal follows a previous merger announcement and overrides the actual merger between Parsec and Enteractive. Following the current acquisition, Parsec is expected to change its name to GameChangerz Media.

The rebranded firm will apply for a Nasdaq listing in the near future. As announced by the two companies, the newly-formed entity will be “the parent company to a variety of innovative, industry-leading businesses and platforms supporting the gaming, gambling, and entertainment industries.”

Parsec Capital Changes Team Following the Acquisition

Parsec Capital reshuffled its team following the acquisition. A few directors, namely Alec Burger, Daniel Elwell, Edmund Moy, Patricia Trompeter and William Readdy, resigned from their positions. The company then welcomed Kelly Kellner and Terry Debono as directors. Paul Haber, meanwhile, will continue serving as the company’s chief financial officer and director.

In addition to his role as a director, Kellner was named as Parsec’s new chief executive officer. He addressed the completion of the recent acquisition, saying that his team is now prepared to proceed with its plans to create a disruptive new gaming company.

The completion of the acquisition means we are now ready to move forward with our vision of creating a game-changing media and gaming company that will create shareholder value through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

Kelly Kellner, CEO, Parsec Capital Acquisitions

Parsec promised to provide further updates when it forms its international corporate strategy, management team and plans. The company will also release an announcement when it has more news about the timeline of its planned Nasdaq market listing.

Enteractive is a media company that focuses on the iGaming and sports betting sectors. The company leverages multiple platforms to engage countless viewers, which helps it monetize its super affiliate business model.

GameChangerz Media has existing agreements with some of the biggest and most influential suppliers within the industry. These include major companies, such as 888 Poker, Sportradar, Americas Cardroom, Active International, Boom Gaming, Betcris and Chaos Integrated, among others.



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Betting With Bonnie – Gambling With An Edge

Putting Bills Into a Machine


Bonnie and I’ve been together for about 10 years — with our ninth wedding anniversary coming up next month. We knew each other, more or less, for about five years before that in that we both belonged to the same square dance club. Bonnie would come with her husband Fred and I would be there with Shirley. There were about 100 “regulars” and we all knew each other. Each “square” consisted of eight dancers who would dance together for about five minutes, and then the squares would get shuffled and you’d dance with another group of dancers. While I thought Bonnie was a nice lady, I had no thoughts of us ever hooking up together. We were both married and I thought Shirley and I would be together so long as we both lived.

Fred, Bonnie’s husband of 47 years, died from cancer in early 2012, and Shirley shocked me in late 2012, saying her lung health precluded her from living with anybody who was ever around smokers. Without going through all of the details, she moved to California, I stayed in Vegas, we separated our assets and filed for divorce. It 100% was not what I had planned nor what I wanted, but this was the situation I was in.

After sitting at home feeling sorry for myself for a few months, eventually I started going out. The square dance club was a comfortable place. Everybody knew both Shirley and me, didn’t take sides, and were relatively sensitive to the struggles I was going though. For quite some time, I danced with several of the ladies, including many with regular partners who would dance with me once or twice each night. Bonnie was one of many I danced with. I basically could dance as often as I wanted — no strings attached.

Time heals all wounds, they say, and over time I began to be myself again. They were starting an “advanced” square dance class and independently Bonnie and I each decided to take it. There were relatively few single dancers in the class, and in my opinion Bonnie was by far the most attractive single lady there. I wasn’t ready for dating yet, nor was she, but I convinced her that a “dance partners only” relationship for a while was a good idea. Eventually, of course, it turned into more.

It was well known in the club that I was a gambler and video poker teacher. Each time a new series of classes started, I’d announce it at the club and probably 40 of the club dancers attended one or more classes through the years. Bonnie liked gambling, but she was very frugal. She would limit her gambling trips to once a month with friends, and her gambling budget was $3 a night. She never won.

While I did hope to find one special lady, I wasn’t in a big hurry. I had a “list” of what I definitely wanted and what I definitely wanted to avoid and high on that list was financial responsibility. Even after Shirley and I split what our accumulated wealth, I still had a fairly sizeable bankroll and was not interested in any woman with serious financial problems. I didn’t need for a woman to be wealthy. I could afford a wife. I just didn’t want someone who was broke and likely to go through whatever assets I had. A lady who always lost at gambling would be automatically disqualified from my search.

Unless it was only $3 per month.

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Michigan’s Cy Church, a Fixture on the MSPT, Passes Away Unexpectedly

Michigan’s Cy Church, a Fixture on the MSPT, Passes Away Unexpectedly



The poker world received sad news over the weekend as Cy Church, a respected up-and-coming mid-stakes grinder from Michigan, passed away unexpectedly.

“It is with great sorrow that we share this heartbreaking news. Our world was shattered Friday when our precious son Cy left to begin his journey,” his family shared on social media. “He had so many who loved him as we have; he was a kind, gentle soul. We have shared this news with those we know were especially close to him, but there are so many that we could not contact everyone individually.

It continued: “We have been so blessed to have him in our life here on earth. While we cannot fathom creating future memories without him, we take comfort in knowing his ancestors have greeted him with open arms in his new life. We welcome your prayers for our family in this time of grief. We are taking the time we need to grieve this unthinkable truth, and if we cannot respond to everyone, please know that your prayers and well wishes mean so much to us and are carrying us through this heavy time.”

A Fixture on the MSPT

Cy Church
Cy Church

According to the Hendon Mob, Church amassed $342,414 in career tournament earnings dating back to 2016. The majority of that — $263,498 to be exact – came on the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) where Church was a familiar face at the felt.

Over the course of his short poker career, he had 17 MSPT Main Event cashes including three final table appearances. Back in October 2016, he finished runner-up to Brett Blackwood in the MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship for a career-high $$114,701, and more recently he had two more final table appearances back in 2021.

In January of that year, he finished fourth in the MSPT Grand Falls for $33,972, and then in May followed it up with a third-place finish in the MSPT South Dakota State Poker Championship in Deadwood for $53,340.

“As a child, my grandpa taught me to play five-card draw and this was my first experience with poker,” Church previously said in an interview for MSPT Magazine. “I wasn’t reintroduced to the game until I went to jail. We had a little bit of free time and would play for commissary items such as ramen noodles and honey buns. It was a fun way to kill time. Little did I know; the game would become a big part of my life.

Church also had cashes at the World Series of Poker, WSOP Circuit, Chicago Poker Classic, Wynn, Venetian, Heartland Poker Tour, and more.

Cy Church
Cy Church being profiled in MSPT Magazine.

Poker World Reacts

The sudden passing of Church was shocking to many poker players, especially those in the Midwest who had the opportunity to get to know him on the felt.

“You will be so missed! Thank you for all the great memories, on and off the table. May your beautiful soul rest easy,” wrote Halie Flack, the daughter of the late Poker Hall of Famer Layne Flack.

Two-time MSPT champ Jason Zarlenga said, “Horrible news…Cy and I spoke at almost every poker spot. Always upbeat and happy…prayers and condolences to the family. Gone way too soon.”

The MSPT also shared the following statement with PokerNews:

“When it came to tough competitors on the MSPT, Cy Church was right up there with the best of them. He was very nearly the MSPT Michigan State Poker Champion back in 2016, but some bad luck had him coming up one spot sort. Even so, he played like a champion that day, and it wasn’t the last time he competed for a title. We will miss seeing Cy and his unmistakable smile on the tour. The MSPT offers its condolence to Church’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

Cy Church
Cy Church
Name Surname
Chad Holloway

Executive Editor U.S.

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





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