In any sports discipline, there are people who dream of getting scouted. Someone who spots the talent and immediately knows that they will be the next big thing.
Now imagine that happening in the poker world. Well, that’s exactly what happened to well-known French player Moundir Zoughari after his recent exploits at the Marrakech Poker Open (MPO) — but there’s a twist.
From Marrakech to Cyprus
The recent Marrakech Poker Open was a huge success, not only for tournament organizers but Zoughari himself. After winning the MPO High Roller for ~€55,000, Zoughari followed it up with a second-place finish in the MPO Monster Stack.
After his two deep runs, Zoughari spoke with PokerNews, and had an emotional reaction to his recent success.
“I knew I was the fish at the table, which makes this win even more beautiful”
“I knew I was the fish at the table, which makes this win even more beautiful,” he said. “Winning in Marrakech has a special significance too: I got married here, I know everyone at the casino, and the field was very difficult.
“It’s amazing. There are emotions that you can’t explain,” he said. “I never normally cry, but I couldn’t help it, it was so intense.”
The result of these tears? A six-figure payday courtesy of Karl Chappe-Gatien.
Who is Karl Chappe-Gatien
Chappe-Gatien is a French day-trader and High Stakes poker player. He allegedly lost 35% of his net worth in the collapse of FTX. His best poker result was a third-place finish in the 2022 Coin Rivet Invitational for $2,600,000.
Having been touched by Zoughari’s reaction, Chappe-Gatien contacted him with an unexpected and extraordinary proposal: $100,000 to play with at the next Triton Poker Series.
How to Make Money Backing (aka Why You Probably Shouldn’t Back Anyone)
Held at the beautiful Merit Royal Diamond Hotel in Cyprus from May 10th to 25th, the Triton schedule has 15 tournaments on the schedule with buy-ins ranging from $20,000 to $200,000. Zoughari will have the chance to play his first high roller tournament, rubbing shoulders with some of the best poker players in the world.
Details of the $100,000 “Deal”
There are some caveats to the deal that was agreed between Zoughari and Chappe-Gatien, but the offer is certainly more generous than restrictive:
If he wins up to $100,000, Moundir gets to keep all of it
If he wins between $200,000 and $500,000, he gives back $100,000
Between $600,000 and $1,000,000 in winnings, he will give back $200,000
Over $1,000,000 in winnings, Moundir will return $300,000 to Chappe-Gatien
So how will Zoughari get on? Will he continue his recent hot streak or just enjoy the ride in sunny Cyprus? Let us know in the poll below!
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. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.
Casinos have been the backdrop for scores of movies featuring gambling over the years. From A-list heavy blockbusters like Ocean’s Eleven and The Sting, to independent features like Croupier and Rounders, cinema and the casino have been productive bedfellows. Okay, now dim the lights, open the curtains, grab that popcorn. The trailers are over and the main feature is about to begin. Are you sitting comfortably? Here is our top ten list of the greatest casino movies ever!
10. Rain Man
Barry Levinson’s remarkable film about the Babbitt brothers won five Academy Awards when it was released in 1988, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. It tells the story of Charlie Babbitt (Cruise), a selfish and abrasive young man who discovers he has an older autistic brother named Raymond (Hoffman) after their father’s death. Seeking to gain access to his father’s inheritance, Charlie kidnaps Raymond from the institution where he lives and takes him on a road trip across the country. As the two brothers bond over their shared experiences and Raymond’s extraordinary abilities with numbers, Charlie begins to re-evaluate his priorities and learns to love and appreciate his brother for who he is.
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
Quote: “A journey through understanding and fellowship.”
9. The Sting
The Sting is another multi-Academy Award winning film (bagging seven Oscars in total) that follows the story of two professional grifters, Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) and Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman). The pair concoct an elaborate scheme to avenge the murder of their mutual friend by a powerful gangster. Their convoluted plan involves creating a fake horse racing betting parlour in order to swindle the mob boss, with twists and turns aplenty along the way.
Directed by: George Roy Hill
Stars: Paul Newman, Robert Redford
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Quote: “All it takes is a little Confidence.”
8. The Cincinnati Kid
Steve McQueen is at his most watchable in this classic story of a young gambler, Eric ‘The Kid’ Stoner, a talented young poker player who aspires to be the best. He gets his chance when he is challenged by the legendary poker player Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson) to a high-stakes game. Along the way, he falls in love with a lounge singer (Ann-Margret) and has to navigate the dangerous world of gambling and the shady characters that inhabit it. Directed by Norman Jewison, the movie is widely regarded as a classic in the gambling movie genre.
Directed by: Norman Jewison
Stars: Steve McQueen, Edward G Robinson, Ann-Margret
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
Quote: “His luck is a temptation to every woman.”
7. 21
21 is based on Ben Mezrich’s 2003 book, Bringing Down The House, about a group of MIT students who used their math skills to try and card count their way to a fortune in Las Vegas. The 2008 movie follows Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a brilliant student who is recruited by a charismatic professor (Kevin Spacey) to join the team. As they become more successful, the stakes get higher and the risks greater, leading to conflicts and betrayals.
Directed by: Robert Luketic
Stars: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 36%
Quote: “In Vegas, you can become anyone you want.”
6. Rounders
Considered by Poker players to be the best film ever made about the game, Rounders is a 1998 American drama film that follows the story of Mike McDermott (Matt Damon), a law student and aspiring poker player who must balance his passion for the game with his responsibilities to his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol) and his best friend (Edward Norton), a reformed gambler with a debt to a Russian mobster. Mike’s chance to make it big comes when he faces off against Teddy KGB (John Malkovich), a legendary player with a reputation for being unbeatable. Directed by John Dahl, the movie has become a cult classic and is known for its accurate portrayal of the underground poker world.
Directed by: John Dahl
Stars: Matt Damon, Edward Norton
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 65%
Quote: “You’ve got to play the hand you’re dealt.”
5. Casino Royale
No top ten of casino movies can be complete without at least one James Bond film. Released in 2006, Casino Royale was Daniel Craig’s first appearance as Bond and arguably his best. The movie follows Bond as he earns his license to kill and is tasked with taking down a financier of international terrorism in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro. Along the way, he falls in love with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), a treasury agent who is sent to provide the money for the game. Directed by Martin Campbell, the movie is known for its intense action sequences and stunning cinematography. In the book, a game of baccarat between Bond and Le Chiffre sorts the boys out from the men, while in the film, Texas Hold’em is the game with license to thrill.
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Stars: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Quote: “Everyone has a past. Every legend has a beginning.”
4. Ocean’s Eleven
Ably directed by Steven Soderbergh, this fast-paced heist film follows the story of Danny Ocean (Clooney), a recently paroled ex-convict who plans to rob three Las Vegas casinos at the same time. To do this, he assembles a team of eleven skilled criminals, each with their own expertise, including Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon), and Frank Catton (Bernie Mac). Their plan involves complex and elaborate schemes to bypass the casinos’ high-tech security systems, and they must overcome obstacles and setbacks along the way.
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Quote: “Nobody else would have dared it because nobody else would have the nerve.”
3. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Who better to take on the classic Hunter S Thompson novel of excess, psychedelic drugs, and a trip to Las Vegas than film-maker Terry Gilliam? We follow journalist Raoul Duke (Depp) – a thinly-veiled portrait of the artist – and his attorney Doctor Gonzo as they travel to Vegas in 1971 to cover a motorcycle race. Along the way the pair ingest epic amounts of drugs and come across a cast of bizarre characters. The further they descend into their drug-induced haze, the more surreal and nightmarish their journey becomes.
Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Stars: Johnny Depp, Benecio del Toro
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%
Quote: “Buy the ticket. Take the ride.”
2. Croupier
The movie that launched Clive Owens’ Hollywood career sees him playing Jack Manfred, a struggling writer who takes a job as a croupier at a London casino to make ends meet. Although initially detached from his surroundings, Jack becomes drawn into the world of gambling and the casino’s rather shady operations, and also gets involved in a love triangle. As Jack becomes more and more embroiled in the murky waters of the casino his life starts to come apart at the scene, leading to a conclusion that most viewers will not have seen coming.
Directed by: Mike Hodges
Stars: Clive Owen
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Quote: “Life’s a gamble.”
1. Casino
“Casino” is a 1995 American crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese, which tells the story of Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a gambling expert who is chosen by the mafia to run the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. With his childhood friend Nicky Santoro (Pesci) as his enforcer, Sam successfully manages the casino, but trouble arises when his wife Ginger (Sharon Stone) starts cheating on him and his own gambling addiction spirals out of control. As tensions rise between the casino and the mob, and the FBI starts investigating their activities, Sam and Nicky’s relationship deteriorates and turns into a combustible rivalry.
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
Quote: “No one stays at the top forever.”
The post The Best Casino Movies of All Time appeared first on Casino.com Blog.
Online gambling came to West Virginia in 2019, becoming the fourth state in the US to legalize online betting and casino games. As one of the newer regions to introduce legalized gambling, online casinos are launching in the Mountain State all the time, with more to come – but for those who are already there, what are the best online casino apps to use?
Here at PokerNews, we want to make things easier for our players, so in this article, we’re giving you the lowdown on the best casino apps in our humble opinion. Plus, we’ll take you through what makes these online casinos the best, including the features and benefits you can expect to find when you download a casino app from one of these brands.
There are a few things that online casino players are looking for when choosing a casino app, and in this age of advanced technology, there are numerous options to choose from when picking your favorite. Games are essential, but you should also consider the safety and security that a mobile app offers, especially when sharing your personal details. We’ll look at all these elements in our guide and how you can download and play on the best casino apps available in West Virginia.
Find the Best Casino App for West Virginia
West Virginia Casino Apps Comparison – A complete overview
Want to jump straight into which casinos make the cut? Here’s our overview and comparison of the top 5 online casino apps available in West Virginia:
Casino App Feature
FanDuel
DraftKings
BetMGM
Borgata
Caesars
How to Play
Download Now
Download Now
Download Now
Download Now
Download Now
Editor’s Rating
9.0
8.9
8.8
8.7
9.0
Areas Available
NJ, PA, MI, WV
NJ, MI, WV
NJ, PA, MI, WV
NJ, PA, WV
NJ, PA, MI, WV
Free Download?
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Minimum Deposit
$10
$10
$10
$10
$10
Minimum Withdrawal
$10
$20
$10
$10
$10
Withdrawal Fee
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Payment Methods
Card, Bank & more
Card, Bank & more
Card, Bank & more
Card, Bank & more
Card, Bank & more
Games Available
500+
500+
600+
400+
100+
Sign-up Bonuses
Play Now
Play Now
Play Now
Play Now
Play Now
The Best Casino Apps in West Virginia 2023
Just to expand on the casinos listed above, here are a few more details on the top casino apps in West Virginia. Click the links to see our reviews on each of these online casinos.
FanDuel Casino: FanDuel are one of the top sportsbook providers, but their online casino is also well worth a look. Their online casino in West Virginia extends to mobile apps for both iPhone and Android.
PokerStars Casino: PokerStars are well-known as a huge brand, covering both Poker and Casino, and their mobile app more than measures up. You’ll find casino games, a live dealer platform and more than enough slot games for anyone.
PokerStars Casino isn’t currently available in West Virginia, but you do have the option of playing for free on their PokerStars Play App, which brings free poker and casino games into the hands of West Virginia players.
BetMGM: BetMGM Casino is an offshoot of MGM Resorts, and brings one of the iconic names in casinos to the online world. You’ll find all the games you would expect with the WV online casino and mobile app and a usable and reliable platform.
DraftKings Casino: DraftKings are similar to FanDuel, in that they are possibly well known for sports betting. However, we’ve found their casino offering to be comprehensive, and they are now offering WV players the chance to get involved with their mobile casino app.
Caesars Casino: One of the icons of the gambling world, but the online casino and mobile app from Caesars are also worthy of your attention. Caesars was one of the first entrants into the state and are an excellent option for West Virginia-based players.
The Best Real Money Casino Apps in West Virginia
Although West Virginia is one of the more recent states to legalize online gaming, there are quite a few options for casino mobile apps. But which is the best for real money gambling? Here are our top 3 real money online casino mobile apps.
First out of the gate in this category is FanDuel Casino and their casino mobile platform. FanDuel is rated #1 for casino apps in the US right now and the quality platform they’ve introduced for West Virginia doesn’t disappoint if real money casino games are your thing. Download now to experience their real money games, and get involved in slots, blackjack, and other table games.
Second on our list is BetMGM Casino and the West Virginia casino app. The BetMGM WV mobile app offers a great casino experience, but with the convenience of your mobile device, and for real money games, you can play exclusive slots, live dealer games, and a good selection of table game favorites.
Third up in the real money stakes is Bet Rivers Casino in West Virginia. Not only will you find the usual suspects in the games selection (fantastic slots and casino games), but the casino app is also integrated with sportsbook, so if you’re a sports betting fan, you can easily move between the two platforms.
The Best Free Casino Apps to Play for Fun in West Virginia
Gambling with real money is a lot of fun, but equally, the world of free online games is also exciting, particularly on mobile. In recent years we’ve seen Social Casinos start to become more and more popular. If you’re new to Social Casinos, these are mobile apps and gaming sites with a link to social communities like Facebook, but crucially where you can play for free. If you’re a casino newbie or want to improve your expertise at a particular game without risking any of your own money, these sites are really useful. They also present an option if you’re a resident in a state or region where real money gambling is not yet legal.
If you want to investigate the best free casino game platforms, here are 3 great social casino apps to check out:
Chumba Casino Not strictly speaking an ‘app’ in the truest sense, Chumba Casino is still a massive name in the free gaming world, and their mobile site has over 100 games. When you sign up to play, they will give you 2 Million Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins which makes a nice welcome. Chumba Casino uses a coins system for their games and with Sweeps Coins, you can redeem any winnings for real cash prizes.
Luckyland Slots LuckyLand Slots is available and free to play for most US-based players and provides numerous options for free casino gaming. Similar to Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots has a coins system in place for gaming. Standard Play is available on LuckyLand Slots using Gold Coins, and Promotional Play uses FREE Sweeps Coins. Sweeps Coins can often be obtained with Gold Coin purchases and other means involving the Luckyland social networks.
Slotomania Slotomania has mobile app options for both iOs and Android, and has over 20m users globally! You’ll find a great selection of free to play slots, and in-house casino rewards.
The Best Android Casino Apps to Play in West Virginia
This section of our guide is all about the best casino apps for Android devices, so by downloading one (or more!) of these apps, you’ll get access to the best casino games on your Android phone or tablet. These are the Android online casinos that we recommend, specifically for the promotions, bonuses, and casino games available.
FanDuel Casino Android App At the risk of repeating ourselves, we once again have to highlight FanDuel Casino and their Android app for West Virginia. The FanDuel mobile app has been available to a number of states already and they’ve now extended this to West Virginia. There’s seamless integration with the sportsbook platform, and the casino experience includes Blackjack, Roulette, and a raft of slots.
BetMGM Casino Android App BetMGM offers a great Android app to complement their WV desktop site. The app offers a great user experience for Android device users, looks fantastic, and the casino games are some of the best.
In terms of offers and rewards, BetMGM players will get access to the ‘M Life Rewards’ loyalty scheme through the mobile app. This scheme rewards casino players every time they wager on specific games, and the app makes these rewards accessible to all.
Borgata Casino Android App Like its sister sites, BetMGM and PartyCasino, we’re fans of the Borgata Casino Android app, and it’s an excellent option for West Virginia players. You can experience a variety of jackpot slots (some with huge payouts) and a range of benefits on tap. We also saw a competitive welcome offer for new players which is available through the app.
The Best iPhone Casino Apps to Play in West Virginia
Similar to Android apps, it’s easy to get distracted by the volume of mobile apps available on iOs. Here we’ve narrowed down the best of the best to our Top 3. These are the best iPhone apps for online casinos operating in West Virginia.
DraftKings Casino iPhone App We found the DraftKings Casino experience to be one of the best apps available for iOs, mainly because the sportsbook is integrated into the app. We also liked the game selection available and the reliability of the platform itself. You’ll see all your favorite casino games on offer, including slots, Blackjack, and other casino table games.
FanDuel Casino iPhone App Like its Android counterpart, the FanDuel iOs app is an excellent accompaniment to the casino desktop site and offers the same great user experience for players on the go. There are hundreds of slots to get involved in, live dealer games, and accessible customer service options should you need them.
BetMGM Casino iPhone App
With over 470 casino games on offer, it’s easy to see why BetMGM is near the top of the tree for iPhone casino apps. The game selection on offer is hard to beat, and we also found some competitive welcome offers for new players when researching this guide.
Online Casino Apps in West Virginia FAQs
Are online casino apps legal in West Virginia?
Yes they are!
What is the best casino app to play for free in West Virginia?
Our pick of the best apps in West Virginia are: FanDuel Casino, DraftKings, BetMGM, Borgata, and Caesars.
How do I download a casino app in West Virginia?
Take a look through our article and click the links next to each casino brand.
Does PokerStars Casino have an app in West Virginia?
Currently, PokerStars Casino is not licensed to operate in West Virginia but watch this space as the casino market in WV is growing all the time. You should check out PokerStars Play as a good alternative that is free to play.
Does BetMGM Casino have an app in West Virginia?
Yes it is. BetMGM is now available in West Virginia and is a great option on either iOs or Android.
Does Borgata have a casino app in West Virginia?
Yes it does. Borgata Casino has a great app for West Virginia casino players.
What is the largest casino in West Virginia?
This is a hard question to answer as the West Virginia casino scene, but both FanDuel and BetMGM can claim to be the biggest in the state.
What is the best casino app signup bonus in West Virginia?
We found a variety of casino bonuses when looking at the different mobile casino apps available in West Virginia. Your first step should be to take a look at our article for the best online casinos in WV, which will give you a flavor of the bonuses on offer.
The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.
Ontario’s legal iGaming market just celebrated its one-year anniversary after opening on April 4, 2022. And in that time has delivered roughly C$35.6bn ($26.41bn) in total wagers and approximately C$1.4bn ($1.04bn) in total gaming revenue, positioning the province among the top five jurisdictions in North America.
That, considering the less than inspiring figures in iGaming Ontario’s (iGO) first public report of market performance, where on 31 gaming websites, 18 regulated operators generated just shy of C$4.1bn ($3.1bn) from April 2022 through June 2022 and total gaming revenue came in at C$162m ($124m). There are now more than 70 websites offering sports betting, casino games, and poker in Ontario.
Ontario’s Regulated Online Gaming Market
Bordering the U.S. and the Great Lakes, the province in east-central Canada, where there are now safe and legit online casinos to play at, was the very first to launch an open, regulated iGaming market where a number of private operators of online casinos and sportsbooks were allowed to legally take bets, after years of activity by “grey” operators – regulated and licensed outside the country.
“Ontario’s igaming market has displaced the pre-existing unregulated market and made Ontario a recognized leader internationally in this industry since its launch in April 2022,” proclaimed Attorney General Doug Downey.
“We are truly proud of this strong, responsible, competitive online gaming model. I want to especially commend the strong leadership of Executive Director Martha Otton, Board Chair Dave Forestell and the rest of the team at iGaming Ontario for helping us transform Ontario into a global leader in the sector.”
According to iGO’s recent report, over 1.6 million active player accounts – on online casino websites run by more than 40 operators it currently has agreements with – have made the Canadian province one of the largest iGaming markets on the continent. Considering the industry opened with just a dozen operators, that’s quite an achievement.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) internet gaming subsidiary’s examination of player choices and market trends over the last year show that, on average, the monthly spend for each individual player account is approximately C$70 ($51.92).
AGCO has certified 5,000-plus games for use in Ontario, not including results from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC), which is responsible for the Proline brand retail and online sports betting products in the province.
“Every player who places a wager with a legal operator is doing so in a safe, regulated, and protected environment,” said Otton. “I want to thank the players, our 40-plus operators and our government partners for placing their trust in us. Together we can help this market continue its strong performance.”
Ipsos Survey
Further evidence that the market opening has seen players shift from gambling on unregulated sites to regulated sites that are in compliance with player protection and game integrity standards in Ontario. This shifting of sites can be in a survey conducted last month by market research company, Ipsos.
Commissioned by the AGCO and iGO, the results of the survey were released by the former on Tuesday at the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) panel discussion event at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Of the more than 1,100 Ontarians surveyed, 85.3 percent of respondents who gambled online in the province over the previous three months, said they did so on regulated sites. According to the AGCO, an estimated 70 percent of online gambling took place on unregulated sites prior to the launch of the market.
The most popular sports to bet on, per the report, were basketball at 28 percent, soccer at 15 percent, football at 14 percent, hockey at 9 percent and baseball came in last at 8 percent. Meanwhile, slots led in the online casino category with 48 percent of all casino wagers. Live dealer table games were at 32 percent and electronic table games were left with the remaining 19 percent.
Also speaking at the April 4th CGA event, AGCO Chief Operating Officer Dave Phillips, said, “Those numbers speak for themselves. That’s a truly substantial shift. These are very encouraging numbers, where we are after the first year, but we have a lot of work to do.
“For so many years, so many voices out there said this couldn’t be done, that Canada’s gaming laws posed too many barriers to permit the creation of a truly competitive marketplace, that the unregulated market had become too entrenched, too beyond reach, and that it would be impossible to create a strong effective system of regulatory oversight.”
Will Other Provinces Follow
Considering the success of the year-old market, the question is can we expect more Canadian provinces to follow Ontario in legalizing online gambling?
At the CGA event, there was an air of optimism that other provinces will follow suit and open up even though operators appear to be content in Canada‘s most populous province.
“Twelve months from now I don’t see any reason, based on the great work that Ontario has done, that we can’t see one, if not more, jurisdictions in Canada following their lead,” said Benjie Levy, head of PENN Interactive and president and chief operating officer of theScore.
On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode, Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards introduce two members of the new PokerNews Stream Team on Global Poker. Hear interviews from both Anthony “AcePoker” Caldiero and Kyle Anderson including how they discovered poker and their plans for the future.
The team also discusses the fun April Fool’s Day prank involving Robbi Jade Lew, recap winners from the recently-completed U.S. Poker Open (including a big with by Phil Hellmuth), and highlight winners from the WPT Prime, Merit Poker Carmen Series, and the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) bestbet Jacksonville.
Plus, the 2023 Wynn Summer Classic schedule is out and there are some events you’ll want to note on your calendar. Finally, PokerNews remembers poker players Thayer Rasmussen and Cy Church, who both passed away this past week.
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!
DraftKings might have its headquarters in Boston, but that didn’t stop the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) from putting the kibosh on the sports betting firm’s plan to allow legal betting on the 2023 Boston Marathon.
The MGC on Thursday denied DraftKings’ request as all four members of the commission voted against it, citing concerns by the organizers of the world-famous 26-mile, 385-yard road race.
MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein shared an email from Scott Stover, chief marketing officer for the operators of the marathon, the Boston Athletic Association (BAA).
The email stated that at this juncture there wasn’t enough time for the BAA and its third parties “to coordinate and fully ensure proper protocols are in place to support such a proposal for wagering on our event.”
BAA’s concerns include “ensuring event security[…]”
Stover’s email continued that until his body can complete the proper checks, the BAA’s concerns include “ensuring event security and potential influence on the outcome of the race.”
The post Regulators Deny DraftKings’ Request for Legal Sports Betting on Its Hometown Boston Marathon appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.
Bet365 Poker is running a promotion during April that could result in you fighting it out for a share of €5,000 across a trio of freeroll poker tournaments. Two €1,000 freerolls and a €3,000 free-to-play tournament are waiting for you to win tickets, and getting your hands on those all-important tickets is a relatively simple task if you have a penchant for online poker tournaments.
Episode 4: €200,000 Superstack Missions
You’ll need to get your grind on if you want to get win a ticket to the first €1,000 freerolls because the qualification period ends at 11:59 p.m. BST on April 16. The missions for Episode 4 revolve around the €200,000 guaranteed Superstack tournament, a multi-day event costing only €25 to enter. You can play in as many Day 1s as you wish, and your chip stacks are combined into one massive stack if you progress to Day 2 more than once.
The first two missions challenge you to first qualify for the €200,000 Superstack, which you can do from €0.20, with the second mission asking you to eliminate five opponents from any Day 1s you play before 11:59 p.m. BST on April 16. Complete this pair of missions, and you get to fight it out in the E4: €1,000 Part 1 Freeroll at 5:30 p.m. BST on April 17. The freeroll is a 2x multi-entry freezeout, so complete both missions to win two tickets and give yourself the best chance of glory.
The other three missions for Episode 4 run until 11:59 p.m. BST on April 30. Eliminate 10 opponents from €200,000 Superstack Day 1s, play in 15 satellites to the tournament, and play in five Day 1s to receive a ticket to the E4: €1,000 Part 2 freeroll, a 3x multi-entry freezeout at 5:30 p.m. on May 1.
Mission Name
Mission
Qualifying Period
Reward
First In
Qualify for the E4 €200,000 Superstack Day 1s
Until 11:59 BST on April 16
E4: €1,000 Part 1 Freeroll
Hunting Grounds
Knockout five players in E4 €200 Superstack Day 1s
Until 11:59 BST on April 16
E4: €1,000 Part 1 Freeroll
Alpha Predator
Knockout 10 players in E4 €200,000 Superstack Day 1s
Until 11:59 BST on April 30
E4: €1,000 Part 2 Freeroll
Step by Step
Play 15 satellites to E4 €200,000 Superstack Day 1s
Until 11:59 BST on April 30
E4: €1,000 Part 2 Freeroll
Stack Builder
Play in five E4 €200,000 Superstack Day 1s
Until 11:59 BST on April 30
E4: €1,000 Part 2 Freeroll
Episode 5: Top 50 Series Missions
Episode 5 kicked off on April 7, and runs alongside Episode 4. The fifth episode features three missions relating to what Bet365 Poker calls its Top 50 Series tournaments.
Before 6:45 p.m. BST on April 24, play in any two of the €150,000 Gtd Main Day 1s to receive a ticket to the €3,000 Episode 5 Freeroll. The €150,000 Gtd Main has several starting flights, each costing €50 to enter. Like the €200,000 Superstack mentioned earlier, you can combine any stacks that progress to Day 2.
If you plan on hitting the satellites for any of the tournaments bearing the E5 in their name, make sure you first start the relevant mission because playing in five such satellites before 6:45 p.m. BST on April 24 awards you a €3,000 freeroll entry.
The third and final Episode 5 mission sees you enter all three of the €50 buy-in €50,000 guaranteed Sunday XL events. They shuffle up and deal at 6:30 p.m. BST on April 9, 16, and 23. Play all three to capture a €3,000 freeroll ticket, with that freeroll commencing at 5:30 p.m. BST on May 1.
Mission Name
Mission
Qualifying Period
Reward
Double Shot
Play any two E5 Top 50 €150,000 Gtd Main Day 1s
Until 6:45 p.m. BST on April 24
€3,000 Episode 5 Freeroll
Step by Step
Play 10 satellites to E5 tournaments (min. €3 buy-in)
Until 6:45 p.m. BST on April 24
€3,000 Episode 5 Freeroll
Triple Crown
Play all three E5 €50K Gtd Sunday XL MTTs
Until 10:30 p.m. BST on April 24
€3,000 Episode 5 Freeroll
Start Your Bet365 Career With a €365 Welcome Bonus
You need a Bet365 Poker account to get involved in the Cheltenham Champions promotion. Those with an account can fire up the Bet365 Poker software, opt-in, and start meeting the entry requirements. Anyone reading this without an account can download Bet365 Poker via PokerNews and become eligible for a sizable welcome package.
Regardless of your initial deposit size, new Bet365 Poker customers receive a €365 redeemable bonus that releases into your account as you play real money cash games and tournaments. You receive 10 Status Points for every €1 or £1 you contribute to the cash game rake or pay in tournament fees.
The first two €2.50 bonus payments will be released into your playable balance once you earn 25 and 50 Status Points, respectively. The following 24 increments land in your account each time you earn 100 Status Points, with the remaining instalments redeeming after every 250 Status Points earned.
In addition to the €365 bonus, you also reel in a €1 Twister ticket, a free spin on the Welcome Prize Wheel, and some special welcome missions where you earn one-off prizes
There are thousands of online poker tournaments taking place every day, which is far too many to keep track of, even for the most organized of people. You lose out on a potential big score every time you fail to register for a tournament.
Like hockey legend Wayne Gretzky once famously said, “You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.” If you find yourself not registering for poker tournaments because you can’t decide which are deserving of your attention, the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar could be the perfect weapon for your arsenal.
PokerNews Launches Online Poker Tournament Calendar (OTC)
PokerNews launched the Online Poker Tournament Calendar in mid-March 2023, and many of our readers are already enjoying this fantastic free poker tool to plan ahead and create a grinding schedule, or fire up some events they weren’t aware were in-play or about to start.
Think of the PokerNews Online Poker Tournament Calendar as your one-stop shop for tournaments taking place at 888poker, PartyPoker, andPokerStars‘ dotcom clients. There are plans to add more of the best online poker sites to the calendar, including online poker sites in New Jersey, Ontario, and other restricted markets, so watch this space.
OTC is Super Simple to Use
Open the PokerNews Online Poker Tournament Calendar, and you will instantly notice how easy and simple it is to use. Leaving the filters as they are displays all the tournaments that are currently in late registration or upcoming; there are many of them! The filters are self-explanatory and are ideal for narrowing down your search as you look for your perfect poker tournament.
For example, you may want to know all of the Omaha tournaments costing $15 or less taking place at PokerStars today. Click the PokerStars checkbox, select Omaha, choose Today in the Start Date, and slide the buy-in slider to $15, and that is exactly what you will see in front of you. Of course, you can set the filters to whatever takes your fancy.
Once you have found a tournament you want to play, you can either head to that online poker site’s tournament lobby, or click register to create an account with the site using PokerNews‘ links. Doing so grants you access to the biggest and best online poker bonuses available anywhere.
Try the Online Tournament Calendar Over the Easter Weekend
This weekend is the perfect time to try the PokerNews Online Poker Tournament Calendar because many of you reading this article have some time off work with it being the Easter weekend. Why not put the Online Poker Tournament Calendar through its paces and find yourself an Easter treat? You never know, you may become a poker champion and win big in a tournament you wouldn’t have known about had it not been for our free-to-use calendar!
The Cleveland Guardians’ social media team deleted a post where it talked about José Ramírez being chased by armed bettors in his youth. As it turns out, the Dominican athlete did indeed experience something similar in his youth but the remark and its phrasing were rather inappropriate on top of being exaggerated.
The now-deleted post stated that Ramírez used to play in a gambling league when he was thirteen. The young player, now known for his calm and unfazed demeanor, was forced to work hard to earn some money for his family.
Unfortunately, the post claimed, certain situations would infuriate bettors, which would, in turn, chase Ramírez home with machetes and guns.
In certain circumstances, bettors would gamble on a player to have a positive outcome. If they didn’t come through, they would be chased home by gamblers with machetes and guns.
Deleted Cleveland Guardians tweet
The Team Eventually Deleted the Post
The Cleveland Guardians’ post was both exaggerated and inappropriate. It stems from an interview between the Dominican player and the Bally Sports journalist Andre Knott where Ramírez spoke about his youth.
The player said that Dominican bettors would often put pressure on the players. He noted that many people in the audience would scream threats to hurt players if they do not perform well. For example, when Ramírez was only thirteen, one bettor on the stands took out a machete.
While he didn’t “chase the players home,” the fan allegedly tried to intimidate the athletes.
The story shared by the Cleveland Guardians seems to have been very exaggerated in order to attract more attention from fans. It seems like the social media team eventually realized how crass this exaggeration was because it ended up deleting the post.
The Pressure Built Ramírez’ Character
Luckily, Ramírez is now one of MLB’s top guns and doesn’t have to worry about the alleged bettors with guns and machetes. The athlete plays third base for the Cleveland Guardians and has been selected to the All-Star game four times.
Many love Ramírez for being much calmer than other players. The Dominican always seems prepared to make plays that go down in history. Ramírez attributes his calm nature to the pressure he had to deal with when playing in the Dominican Republic. While the player never said that he was “chased home by armed bettors,” he still felt serious pressure from bettors, which helped him build his character.
The iconic Grosvenor Victoria Casino is set to be packed to the rafters with poker players between April 12-23 because the 888poker LIVE London Festival is in town on those dates. “The Vic” has hosted countless top-tier poker festivals over the years, and the London venue is primed to crown yet more worthy champions.
888LIVE London features more than a dozen satellites and tournaments with buy-ins from £140 up to £2,000. The festival gets underway on April 12 with one such satellite, a £150 buy-in affair that awards seats in the Mystery Bounty and Mini 888 events.
A Live Mystery Bounty Event
Your first chance to sink your teeth into a money-awarding event comes on April 13 when the first of four flights in £240 Mystery Bounty tournament kick-off. 888poker is the online poker site that has embraced the Mystery Bounty format, so it makes perfect sense that they are running one in the live poker arena.
Expect a few hundred budding poker players to take a shot in the £440 No-Limit Hold’em Mini 888 event. Similarly-sized 888poker tournaments have proven popular ever since 888poker dived into the live poker world, and this tournament should be no different.
The high rollers reading this article should keep April 19-20 free because a £2,000 High Roller is scheduled. Last time 888poker ran a similar high roller event in London, Jack Hardcastle came out on top of a 96-strong crowd and banked £57,098.
Exclusive PokerNews 888poker Freeroll Passwords for April 2023
Big Turnout Expected For the 888LIVE London Main Event
Of course, it is the £1,100 buy-in 888LIVE London Festival Main Event that has everyone excited, and this is the tournament PokerNews‘ industry-leading live reporting team will be on the ground reporting from start to finish. There are a trio of starting flights between April 20-21, including a turbo-structured Day 1, with the champion crowned some time on April 23.
Main Event satellites are available at The Vic and online at 888poker, with online satellites starting at a super-low £0.01! Head to 888poker now and turn a penny into a shot at the big time.
888poker ran a £1,000 buy-in event almost exactly a year ago, which was part of the London High Roller Festival. Some 259 players bought into it, and Lorenc Boci outlasted them all. Boci received a cool £50,582 after a heads-up deal with runner-up Francis Obadun (£52,000)
888poker LIVE London Schedule
Date
Time (BST)
Event
Wed 12 Apr
7:00 p.m.
£150 NLHE Mystery Bounty + Mini 888 Satellite
Thu 13 Apr
3:00 p.m.
£240 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1A
Fri 14 Apr
3:00 p.m.
£240 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1B
Sat 15 Apr
3:00 p.m.
£240 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1C
9:00 p.m.
£240 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1D Turbo
Sun 16 Apr
12:00 p.m.
£240 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 2
3:00 p.m.
£444 NLHE Mini 888 Day 1A
7:00 p.m.
£140 NLHE Main Event Satellite Cashout
Mon 17 Apr
3:00 p.m.
£444 NLHE Mini 888 Day 1B
7:00 p.m.
£220 NLHE High Roller Satellite Cashout
Tue 18 Apr
12:00 p.m.
£444 NLHE Mini 888 Day1C Turbo
4:30 p.m.
£440 NLHE Mini 888 Day 2
7:00 p.m.
£220 NLHE High Roller Satellite Cashout
Wed 19 Apr
12:00 p.m.
£220 NLHE High Roller Satellite Cashout
3:00 p.m.
£2,000 NLHE High Roller Day 1
3:00 p.m.
£200 NLHE The Dash Rumble
5:00 p.m.
£440 NLHE Mini 888 Day 3
Thu 20 Apr
12:00 p.m.
£1,100 NLHE 888Live London Main Event Day 1A
2:00 p.m.
£2,000 NLHE High Roller Day 2
7:00 p.m.
£140 NLHE Main Event Satellite Cashout
Fri 21 Apr
12:00 p.m.
£1,100 NLHE 888Live London Main Event Day 1B
9:00 p.m.
£1,100 NLHE 888Live London Main Event Day 1C Turbo
Sat 22 Apr
12:00 p.m.
£1,100 NLHE 888Live London Main Event Day 2
2:30 p.m.
£330 NLHE The Big Shot
Sun 23 Apr
12:00 p.m.
£1,100 NLHE 888Live London Main Event Day 3
12:30 p.m.
£330 NLHE The Big Shot Day 2
1:00 p.m.
£150 NLHE Seniors Event (50+)
3:00 p.m.
£300 PLO 4/5/6 Card Bounty
7:00 p.m.
£55 NLHE Ladies Event
Adrian Garcia Wins 888poker LIVE Madrid Main Event (€92,000)
888poker LIVE London Streaming Schedule
In addition to PokerNews‘ elite-level live reporting from the 888LIVE London Main Event, the 888poker Twitch channel is streaming from April 20 until the series’ conclusion. Tune into the awesome 888poker Twitch channel to watch the action from the final day of the High Roller, and the thrilling Main Event.
888poker is also streaming the eagerly anticipated Royal Squad special SNG on April 21, part of the promotion of the same name. You and two friends could be heading to London armed with £10,000 package consisting of three tickets to a football match, three seats in the 888poker LIVE London Main Event, and a seat in the aforementioned Royal Squad SNG alongside 888poker Pros!
Date
Time (BST)
Event Streamed
Thu 20 Apr
2:30 p.m.
High Roller Day 2
Fri 21 Apr
4:00 p.m.
Royal Squad Special SNG
6:00 p.m.
Main Event Day 1B
Sat 22 Apr
12:30 p.m.
Main Event Day 2
Sun 23 Apr
12:30 p.m.
Main Event Final Day
Check Out the PokerNews 888poker Review
Now is the perfect time to join 888poker. If you have not already done so, remember to download 888poker via PokerNews and create your free account.
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