She Don’t Know What She’s Doin’ but She Tries to Do Her Best

Putting Bills Into a Machine


Author’s Note:  I wrote a similar blog recently, with some readers requesting more information. I think there’s enough different between that piece and this one to make this one worthwhile. 

The title of today’s blog comes from a mid-90s song “Baby Likes to Rock It” by the Tractors. I’ve liked that lyric since I first heard it when the song was new, and think that it’s a perfect fit for explaining Bonnie’s gambling.

Bonnie and I had known each other through a square dance club for several years before we got together, but were both married and weren’t more than casual friends. I announced to the square dance club the start of every video poker class semester, and probably half of the more than 100 club members attended one or more of my classes.

Bonnie never attended my classes before we began dating. Although she enjoyed gambling (allowing herself to lose up to $3 during a once-a-month trip), she had no clue as to what advantage gambling was all about. Even though she attended more than 100 class sessions after we hooked up, she can’t tell you what pay schedule to look for or how Deuces Wild strategy is different from playing Jacks or Better correctly.

She’ll be 80 years old in a few weeks and I have no illusions that I could teach her to play correctly. If she didn’t learn anything in 100 class sessions, what more could I say?

Slightly more than a year ago, I began to study and play advantage slots. This was good for us as a couple because she could help me with this. Within limits.

Without going into a lot of detail, advantage slots are those where some of the time, depending upon some meters, the knowledgeable player has the advantage. Many are like video poker progressives, sometimes with four or more progressives on the same game. But some slot progressives go off every 100 to 300 games or so on average. This is an entirely different experience than a royal flush progressive which goes off every 35,000 hands or so. Plus, once you identify when a machine is in a positive state, it’s simply a matter of hitting the button until the progressive goes off. Bonnie can hit a button as well as I can. Within limits.

There are 30 or so different types of slot machines that I examine. No casino has all of these titles. Some casinos have no such machines or only a few. Some casinos have a lot. 

Scouting is a major part of advantage slot play. This is very different than scouting video poker machines. Once you discover that a particular pay schedule of Deuces Wild, for example, is at a casino, that machine will probably stay there. Next time the casino has a point multiplier or other promotion, you know that machine likely will be available.

With slots, it’s not just the existence of the machine that matters — although that is a necessary part of it. It’s how high the progressives are right now. Depending on the type of machine, some games are in a positive state dozens or hundreds of times per day. And if it’s not positive now, maybe it will be in an hour. The more play by slot players who don’t recognize when a machine is or isn’t in an advantage state, the more often a game will become positive.

Often a given machine will have 20 separate stakes at which you can play. You might be able to choose, for example, whether to play for 1¢, 2¢, 5¢, or 10¢ and within each denomination maybe 100 coins, 200 coins, 300 coins, 400 coins, or 500 coins. You can play this machine for several different amounts between $1 and $50 per spin.

And each of these combinations might have four jackpots often labeled Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega — although other titles are common as well. If the correct strategy is to play the game when the Mini is at least 15 or the Minor is at least 25 or . . ., you must check a lot of numbers when you come up to a machine. Twenty different combinations of denomination/coins and four jackpots per combination. It takes a while.

If Bonnie and I come up to a bank of suitable games with two empty machines at it, she is very good at sitting at one of the machines while I go and check the other. This gives me the opportunity to check both machines without another player getting one of them while I’m checking the other. 

I’ll remind her of what the playable numbers are. Using the previous hypothetical example, if I tell her to look for a Mini at 15 and/or a Minor at 25 (along with other numbers for the other jackpots), she’ll identify cases where the Minor is 16 and tell me that it’s above 15 so it must be a play. No, I explain. The 15 only applies to the Mini jackpot. The Minor jackpot has its own number. I’ve told her these numbers several times, but they don’t stick in her mind.

When I find a playable game, I’ll sit Bonnie down at it, tell her to insert $500 or some other amount of money, make sure her card is inserted, and give her instructions such as “Keep playing until you hit the Minor jackpot.” And then I go off and check nearby machines. Sounds simple enough. Right?

Well, a lot can go wrong. On one machine, it’s possible playing for $3 a hand is worth 102% and playing for $1 a hand is worth 84%. If Bonnie sets her water bottle down at the wrong place, she might change denominations. Not on purpose. But it has happened more than once.

  By the time she hits the Minor jackpot, she might have forgotten she’s supposed to stop playing and so she continues to hit the button. If she does this, she’s now playing a game worth considerably less than 100%. 

Or if she hits the Mini jackpot before she hits the Minor (a common occurrence), she’s not sure whether she should continue to play or not. To me, this is simple. If I tell her to keep going until the Minor is hit, that means hitting any of the other jackpots does not affect the decision to keep playing. But something frequently gets lost in the translation. If she’s not sure, I strongly encourage her to ask. 

Sometimes player cards time out. If a game has a long bonus round, at some casinos the card will no longer be registering by the time the bonus round has completed. Bonnie pays no attention to this and continues to play without getting slot club points.

For these and other reasons, I watch her closely. Even if I’m checking other machines, every two minutes or so I check back to see how she’s doing — if she’s on the right game, if the player card is registering, whatever. 

Bonnie gets bored after a while. There are a number of good games that can take an hour or more to complete once you find them. I avoid these games when she’s with me. At such times, I limit my search to games that typically finish in 15 minutes or less. Yes, I’m giving up considerable EV at such times, but it’s better to keep her interested and happy. Probably 80% of my slot play is without her, and at those times I check a much wider variety of machines than when she’s with me.

Fortunately, she doesn’t mind being corrected. And she likes to win. All the wins and losses come out of a gambling bankroll that I control (with part of that money going into the household expenses account), but sometimes when we win, she gets a cash or gift bonus. Which, not surprisingly, she likes very much.

I trust her completely financially. I don’t believe she’ll steal from me. She’s had plenty of opportunity to do so and never has. I do not trust her in the sense of her being able to make successful gambling decisions unsupervised.

I don’t think she’ll ever be a full-fledged decision-making gambling partner. Her mind simply doesn’t work that way. But several hours a week, it’s something enjoyable that we can do with each other. It’s a whole lot more interesting to her than me going off and playing video poker by myself.

We’re together for the duration, and I accept who she is and what she can do and can’t do. So, we’ll continue to do what we’re doing. And continue to enjoy it.

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Foxen, Weissman, and Black Among Venetian March DeepStack Showdown Winners

Foxen, Weissman, and Black Among Venetian March DeepStack Showdown Winners



From Mach 6-April 2, Venetian Las Vegas played host to the March DeepStack Showdown, which offered more than $3 million in guaranteed prize pools across 42 events. When all was said and done, the series catered to 4,989 entrants (not including satellites) and awarded $4,119,408in prize money. However, the Venetian did have to eat $153,550 in overlay in their $1,600 NLH Mysrtey Bounty event, which was won by one of the biggest names in poker – more on that below.

Among those to claim titles were David Larson (Event #9: $500 Epic Stack Freezeout for $14,463), Jason Bral (Event #12: $400 PLO for $4,300), and Samy Dighlawi (Event #19: $500 Epic Stack for $10,500). Also, the Czech Republic’s Karel Kratochvil was a two-time winner of the festival. First, he topped a 123-entry field to win Event #13: $400 NLH Epic Stack for $9,296, and two days later navigated an 82-entry field to win Event #17: $400 NLH Epic Stack for $7,885.

Similarly, Giorgii Skhulukhiia claimed two titles first besting a 474-entry field to win Event #28: $1,100 Ultimate Stack for $80,554, and then three days later topping a 308-entry field to win Event #33: $600 Ultimate Stack for $31,097. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the following day Skhulukhiia won the Wynn’s $200 Daily for $5,083.

All those scores follow Skhulukhiia’s March 9 victory in the Wynn Millions $3,000 NLH Event for $124,300. Check out his winner photo glamor shots:

Giorgii Skhulukhiia
Giorgii Skhulukhiia

Here are some other notable winners from the series.

Check out the Venetian Poker Room Review on PokerNews here!

Alex Foxen Ships $1,600 Mystery Bounty Event

Alex Foxen
Alex Foxen

On April 2, Event #39: $1,600 Mystery Bounty fell short of its $1,000,000 guarantee, meaning the 594 entrants enjoyed a $153,550 overlay. Of the $1 million in the prize pool, $347,500 was paid out in bounties, while the rest was reserved for the top 75 finishers.

Some familiar names to cash Kenny Huynh (12th – $7,370), Justin Young (13th – $7,370), Jonathan Dimming (19th – $5,102), Eric Baldwin (20th – $5,102), Kfir Nahum (25th – $5,102), Ryan Riess (28th – $4,342), Farah Galfond (34th – $4,342), John Morgan (39th – $3,754), and J.J. Liu (49th – $3,296).

The final table was filled with crushers including Cole Ferraro (8th – $14,289), James Romero (7th – $18,334), and Calvin Anderson (5th – $31,472), but in the end, it was Alex Foxen defeating David Goodman in heads-up play to win the tournament for $109,010 plus any bounties he collected along the way.

Event #39 Final Table Results

Place Player Hometown Prize
1 Alex Foxen Las Vegas, NV $109,010
2 David Goodman Las Vegas, NV $78,335
3 Valentyn Shabelnyk Ukraine $57,039
4 Timothy Pai San Jose, CA $42,086
5 Calvin Anderson Las Vegas, NV $31,472
6 Tommy Tran Las Vegas, NV $23,856
7 James Romero Las Vegas, NV $18,334
8 Cole Ferraro Las Vegas, NV $14,289
9 Wo Zhu San Francisco, CA $11,295

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Joey Weissman vs. Bryan Piccioli in Event #3

Joey Weissman
Joey Weissman

Earlier in the series on March 9, Event #3: $2,500 NLH Ultimate Stack saw 441 entrants battle for a $996,660 prize pool, which was paid out to the top 56 finishers. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Dylan Linde (10th – $14,996), Philip Shing (16th – $10,084), Michael Wang (19th – $8,458), Martins Adeniya (23rd – $8,458), and 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Ryan Riess (24th – $8,458).

The final table was filled with some familiar names in MSPT champs Dan Colpoys (8th – $23,650), James Romero (6th – $39,489), and Thomas Boivin (5th – $52,105). However, in the end, it was a pair of top poker pros in Joey Weissman and Bryan Piccioli duking it out heads up with the former ultimately prevailing to win the tournament for $180,774.

Event #3 Final Table Results

Place Player Hometown Prize
1 Joey Weissman Las Vegas, NV $180,774
2 Bryan Piccioli Las Vegas, NV $129,848
3 Niko Koop Germany $94,502
4 Evgenii Fidchuk Ukraine $69,699
5 Thomas Boivin Belgium $52,105
6 James Romero Las Vegas, NV $39,489
7 Cameron Drucker Las Vegas, NV $30,345
8 Dan Colpoys Weymouth, MA $23,650
9 Andres Morales Boca Raton, FL $18,696

Jarvis, Becker & Poe Among 2023 Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza I Winners

Taylor Black Gets Job Done in Event #6

Taylor Black
Taylor Black

On March 11, Event #6: $800 NLH Ultimate Stack had 301 players generate a $207,690 prize pool that was paid out to the top 39 finishers. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Paul Gunness (10th – $3,569), George Heim (13th – $2,989), Vladimir Grechnikov (22nd – $1,991), Brandon Eisen (25th – $1,817), Patrick Truong (36th – $1,695), and Alexander Nachtwey (39th – $1,695).

The tournament ended when poker pro Taylor Black defeated David Yokoyama in heads-up play, a victory with a $41,340 payday.

Event #6 Final Table Results

Place Player Hometown Prize
1 Taylor Black Las Vegas, NV $41,340
2 David Yokoyama Wailuku, HI $29,210
3 Jacob Ferro Crystal River, FL $20,974
4 Elvis Toomas Sunland, CA $15,545
5 Ivan Ruban Russia $11,664
6 Jean Ortega Henderson, NV $8,858
7 Gerald Morrell Castle Rock, CO $6,855
8 Austin Wilson American Fork, UT $5,407
9 Cheang Yoo Seattle, WA $4,349

Venetian March DeepStack Showdown Winners

Venetian card guard

Date Tournament Entries Prize Pool Overlay Winner Hometown Prize
6-Mar Event #1: $1,600 NLH Epic Stack 180 $257,400 $0 Chris Hundley Kirkland, WA $26,242
  Event #2: Mega Satellite            
9-Mar Event #3: $2,500 NLH Ultimate Stack 441 $996,660 $0 Joey Weissman Las Vegas, NV $180,774
  Event #4: Mega Satellite            
  Event #5: Mega Satellite            
11-Mar Event #6: $800 NLH Ultimate Stack 301 $207,690 $0 Taylor Black Las Vegas, NV $41,340
9-Mar Event #7: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor 51 $12,750 $0 6 winners N/A $1,500
10-Mar Event #8: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor 68 $17,000 $0 6 winners N/A $2,000
11-Mar Event #9: $500 NLH Epic Stack Freezeout 137 $57,814 $0 David Larson Las Vegas, NV $14,463
11-Mar Event #10: $300 NLH Bounty 40 $10,000 $0 Yani Benitez France $2,121
12-Mar Event #11: $500 NLH Epic Stack 124 $52,328 $0 Andrew Rodgers Henderson, NV $13,554
12-Mar Event #12: $400 PLO 41 $13,940 $0 Jason Bral Beverly Hills, CA $4,300
13-Mar Event #13: $400 NLH Epic Stack 123 $40,959 $0 Karel Kratochvil Czech Republic $9,296
13-Mar Event #14: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor 48 $12,000 $0 5 winners N/A $1,920
14-Mar Event #15: $400 NLH Epic Stack 72 $23,976 $0 Howard Schuman Brightswaters, NY $7,341
14-Mar Event #16: $300 NLH Bounty 35 $10,000 $1,250 Rocco Amorosso Stony Brook, NY $2,463
15-Mar Event #17: $400 NLH Epic Stack 82 $27,306 $0 Karel Kratochvil Czech Republic $7,885
15-Mar Event #18: $300 NLH Bounty 62 $15,500 $0 Salvatore Genovese Marina, CA $1,894
16-Mar Event #19: $500 NLH Epic Stack 110 $46,420 $0 Samy Dighlawi Temecula, CA $10,500
16-Mar Event #20: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor 63 $15,750 $0 6 winners N/A $2,000
20-Mar Event #21: $600 NLH Ultimate Stack 372 $187,860 $0 David Yokoyama Wailuku, HI $30,825
17-Mar Event #22: $400 Big O 61 $20,740 $0 Randy Gonzales Jr. Chino, CA $5,745
20-Mar Event #23: $400 NLH Seniors 131 $43,885 $0 William Golden Fort Myers, FL $11,228
20-Mar Event #24: $300 NLH Bounty 86 $21,500 $0 Cornelius Vervloet Canada $2,597
23-Mar Event #25: $400 NLH Ultimate Stack 468 $154,440 $0 Joseph Loebach Surprise, AZ $27,456
21-Mar Event #26: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor 79 $19,750 $0 12 winners N/A $1,254
  Event #27: Mega Satellite            
26-Mar Event #28: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Stack 474 $455,040 $0 Giorgii Skhulukhiia Russia $80,554
  Event #29: Mega Satellite            
  Event #30: Mega Satellite            
26-Mar Event #31: $500 NLH Epic Stack 120 $50,640 $0 Sejo Kasic Las Vegas, NV $13,162
26-Mar Event #32: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor 57 $14,250 $0 5 winners N/A $2,000
29-Mar Event #33: $600 NLH Ultimate Stack 308 $155,540 $0 Giorgii Skhulukhiia Georgia $31,097
27-Mar Event #34: $400 PLO Bounty 39 $13,260 $0 Alex Gil New York, NY $3,309
  Event #35: Mega Satellite            
29-Mar Event #36: $1,100 NLH Epic Stack 115 $110,975 $0 CJ Peake Trotwood, OH $26,000
  Event #37: Mega Satellite            
  Event #38: Mega Satellite            
2-Apr Event #39: $1,600 NLH Mystery Bounty 594 $1,000,000 $153,550 Alex Foxen Las Vegas, NV $109,010
  Event #40: Mega Satellite            
  Event #41: Mega Satellie            
2-Apr Event #42: $600 NLH Epic Stack Freezeout 107 $54,035 $0 Carlos Chadha-Villamarin Alexandria, VA $14,679

What’s Coming Up Next?

The Venetian is already hosting their 2023 DeepStack Extravaganza II, which kicked off on April 2 and will run through May 21. That series will offer more than $2.2 million in guaranteed prize pools across 70 events.

Click here for a look at the full DeepStack Extravaganza II schedule.

*Images courtesy of Venetian.

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  • The @VenetianPoker March DeepStack Showdown catered to 4,989 entrants and awarded $4,119,408.

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Chad Holloway

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





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David Docherty Turns $109 into €365,000 After 2023 Irish Open Main Event Victory

David Docherty Turns $109 into €365,000 After 2023 Irish Open Main Event Victory



The 2023 €1,150 Irish Open Main Event wrapped up in the early hours of Tuesday, April 11, with Scotland’s David Docherty emerging as the champion following a long final day of play.

Docherty walked away with the trophy and €365,000 ($398,780) up top, as well as taking his place in Irish poker history. He won the biggest-ever Irish Open Main Event and the largest poker tournament ever held in Ireland after 2,491 entrants took their shot at glory.

Those players created the whopping €2,428,475 prize pool, of which Docherty claimed the lion’s share. It was quite the return on investment for the Scotsman as he bagged his Main Event seat for just $109 after qualifying through an online satellite on PokerStars.

The six-figure payday was the largest of Docherty’s career and has taken him over the $1 million mark in Hendon Mob total live earnings. He’s cashed for $1,125,249 in total in live tournaments which has seen him move up to fifth in the Scotland All-Time Money List.

€1,150 Irish Open Main Event Final Table Winners

Position Player Country Prize
1 David Docherty Scotland, United Kingdom €365,000 ($398,780)
2 Declan Rice Ireland €228,700 ($249,866)
3 Panagiotis Mavritsakis Greece €161,500 ($176,446)
4 Tom Waters England, United Kingdom €124,500 ($136,022)
5 Andy Black Ireland €95,500 ($104,338)
6 Eugeniu Barbaros Moldova €73,500 ($80,302)
7 Carl Shaw England, United Kingdom €56,500 ($61,729)
8 Henri Ojala Finland €43,500 ($47,525)

Final Day Recap

The final day began with just 16 players returning, but the field quickly shrank. Seamus Cahill was eliminated on the first hand of the day, and he was soon followed to the payout desk by the likes of Vincent Sanchez, Kevin O’Donnell, Kevin Swayne, Thomas Murphy and former professional soccer player Steve Watts.

Benny Glaser, the winner of the Irish Open Luxon Pay €5,000 High Roller, bowed out in tenth place after his ace-king was beaten by the dominated ace-jack of Irish Open Main Event runner up Declan Rice.

Then the unofficial final table of nine quickly became the official final table of eight after WSOP bracelet winner Carl Shaw ousted Jamie Wynne with eight-four offsuit.

Finland’s Henri Ojala was the first official final table casualty after he lost a flip to Irish poker legend Andy Black. Ojala was all in preflop with a suited ace-queen but could not win the race against Black’s pocket eights.

Andy Black
Andy Black

Shaw then departed in seventh place after his ace-ten could not leapfrog the ace-jack held by Tom Waters, following another all in preflop encounter.

Start of day chip leader Eugeniu Barbaros then ran pocket eights into Panagiotis Mavritsakis’ pocket kings for the sixth-placed payout of €73,500 ($80,302).

Home crowd favorite Black was then the next player to bust after getting a little bit out of line from the big blind. Rice limped in from the small blind with ace-eight and called when Black moved all in with six-deuce. Black paired up on the flop, but Rice made a straight on the river to bring the Main Even to its final four players.

Rice continued to mow over the competition as his ace-king remained best against Waters’ ace-ten to make it three-handed. Docherty then confirmed his spot in heads-up play after he felted Mavritsakis with pocket tens.

Declan Rice
Declan Rice

After 50-minutes, an intense split pot sweat, and a hand that brought it all even again, Docherty won a huge double up to take a commanding chip lead.

A few moments later, Docherty called Rice’s big blind shove and his king-ten held up to win the tournament. Docherty grinned and threw his hands up in delight and had a look of pure joy on his face as he lifted the Irish Open Main Event trophy.

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Matt Warburton
Name Surname
Calum Grant

Editor & Live Reporter

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum’s proudest poker achievement is winning the only tournament he has ever played in Las Vegas, the prestigious $60 Flamingo evening event.





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Poker Pro Defeats ChatGPT in Heads-Up Match

Man holding holographic "AI" symbol


In the latest chapter of “man versus machine,” poker pro Paul Watson came out on top after playing ChatGPT in a heads-up match at Club 52 in Florida. The advanced artificial intelligence (AI) language model showed an understanding of the game of poker, but ultimately lost $117 to Watson.

Euell Smith, the dealer in the game, said he was excited about what he saw. Talking about ChatGPT’s solid performance, he said: “The possibilities for AI in the future are limitless, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.”

ChatGPT started to repeatedly say that it was unable to play poker

Event organizer James Robinson explained that the computer was able to understand the cards it was dealt and knew that it was playing a poker game. It gave instructions to either fold, check, call, raise, or go all-in. After about an hour, though, ChatGPT started to repeatedly say that it was unable to play poker, so the game came to an end.

The computer system didn’t have any prior preparation. Robinson is confident that additional prep will make for a more competitive game in the future. It looks like Watson is already on board for a rematch in May.

The post Poker Pro Defeats ChatGPT in Heads-Up Match appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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The 5 Biggest ‘Racinos’ in the World

Racino race track and casino combination


A racino would typically be described as the dream of all gamblers, as its facility provides an avenue for them to enjoy the best of both worlds as they get to participate in gambling in the casino while horses race on the track outside.

Long ago, the racetrack wasn’t getting a lot of attention from punters, but with the advent of the racinos, this particular niche of iGaming has continued to grow more significant, with bettors willing to place their bets on the horses or dogs, and still enjoy the thrill of playing traditional casino games.

Racinos these days have so much to offer players. As the industry continues to expand, more features and amenities, such as multiple games, restaurants, hotels, etc., are being incorporated to make it a more attractive form of entertainment.

You’ll find racinos in many places all over the world, but some of the largest and best to visit for a pleasant experience and a safe gambling experience include the following:

1.   Oaklawn Racing Casino and Resort

Oaklawn Racing Casino is located in Hot Springs National Park and is one of the only two casinos in Arkansas. This casino gaming venue features a 200-room boutique hotel with a fitness centre, luxury spa, dining restaurant, bar, and other entertainment options.

The racino is active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and hosts its live thoroughbred racing from late January to May. Other year-round gaming activities include race and sports booking, video poker, reel games, thousands of slots, and live dealer table games, such as blackjack, Three Card Poker, and more.

2.   Delaware Park Casino and Racino

Delaware Park is a large gaming facility with many gambling options, including live seasonal thoroughbred racing, live table games, a 25-table poker area, year-round international simulcasting, and much more.

Slots at Delaware Park accepts bets from a half-cent to $50 denomination. The multifaceted casino comprises slot machines of different shapes and sizes, including electronic table game varieties. Delaware Park is open 24 hours a day from Monday through Saturday, and from 6 am to 12 pm on Sundays.

3.   Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino

Located in South Florida, Gulfstream Park is an entertainment hub that blends sports, casino gaming, live shows, and other recreational activities. Its well-known racetrack is home to several establishments, such as bars, a theatre with a sitting capacity for 800 people, and luxurious suites.

Gaming options at Gulfstream Park include electronic table games and slot machines allowing players to enjoy their game even when social distancing is necessary. Delaware Park casino and racing features include redeemable gift cards for slot tickets, food, and a first aid centre.

Note that the legal age to wager on slots in this casino is 21 years and above.

4.   Indiana Grand Racing and Casino

Located approximately 30 miles southeast of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, Grand Racing and Casino is an entertainment facility that offers a mix of over 2000 reel, video, and poker slot machines, including bonus slots and jackpots. Players have the luxury of choosing from the many games available such as Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, and others.

Punters can also enjoy thoroughbred and quarter horse racing for seven months out of the year. Also, off-track betting on both local and international horse races is available.

5.   Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino

The Prairie Meadows became the first racino in the United States in 1995 and is home to several live racing sports and simulcast action. Prairie Meadows has evolved over the years from a simple racetrack to a fully-fledged racino with something for everyone, from live horse racing to live action at the casino’s 44 tables, featuring blackjack, craps, DJ Wild Poker, Double Draw Poker, as well as over 2000 slot for slot lovers.

Prairie Meadows runs its season from April through October and also offers simulcast racing from some of the best tracks in the country, including Belmont, Arlington, and Churchill Downs, to mention a few.

Whether you’re a slot lover or get the thrill from the racetracks, racinos are a great avenue to explore your gambling itch and more. Feel free to visit one of these racinos listed above to experience sports; gambling is one of the largest racinos in the world.

The post The 5 Biggest ‘Racinos’ in the World appeared first on Casino.com Blog.

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What Happened to Katrina Bookman? – Winner Denied $43 Million

What Happened to Katrina Bookman? – Winner Denied $43 Million


Sure, casinos are all about having fun, but at the end of the day we’re all in it to win it.

And if a machine told you that you’d hit the jackpot you’d be ecstatic – your life would change forever.

So you can imagine the excitement when Katrina Bookman entered Resorts World Casino in New York and hit a win for almost $43 million

But when she came to withdraw her winnings, she was informed by a casino employee that the slot machine had malfunctioned, and she had won nothing.

What could have become the biggest slot machine jackpot in US history soon became an unparalleled ordeal for Bookman…

What Happened At The Casino?

On that fateful day over six years ago, Bookman headed to Resorts World Casino in New York.

She was playing Sphinx Wild, a popular slot game by a reputable software provider, and put just 40 cents into the machine.

It’s impossible to imagine how she must have felt when the machine alerted her to a jackpot win of $42.9 million.

Hitting the big time that day in late August 2016, Bookman saw the luck for her whole family change – earmarking $1 million for her aspiring barber son.

Envisioning his dreams of a family barbershop come to fruition, she could barely wait to tell him the news.

However, the slot machine’s alarm bells were no match for those in Bookman’s head when she joyously went to collect her winnings.

Turning her away empty-handed, casino management asked her to review the venue’s “official ruling” and return the following morning.

Disturbed, as she turned to return home, she overheard a staff member saying Bookman “didn’t win nothing.”

After a sleepless night, Bookman returned to Resorts World Casino clutching the winning ticket.

To her horror, she was instead offered a complimentary steak dinner and the alleged $2.25 Sphinx Wild winnings she was owed, thanks to a machine malfunction.

This would be a heartbreaking result for anyone, but it was particularly hard news for Bookman – raised in foster care, homeless as a teenager and later a single mom to four kids – to take, as she hasn’t had it easy in life.

Image: WABC

“I kept thinking about my family. The struggle I’ve been through; it’s hard to cope,” she told WABC in a tearful interview.

For someone who could really do with a break, the machine’s malfunction seemed particularly cruel.

The Court Case

Bookman turned the casino down and instead took them up on a date at the Queens County Supreme Court, where she aimed to sue Resorts World Casino, partners Genting New York LLC, and software provider IGT for $42,949,672.76 in damages

What would have been the largest slot machine jackpot in US history was fast becoming a record-breaking nightmare.

Bookman, who was denied the full payout, cited that the torment of the saga affected her nervous system and left her “embarrassed, anxious and depressed.” 

Her attorney Alan Ripka challenged the accused, arguing that she was entitled to $6,500 (the maximum slot machine win) at the bare minimum. “The machine takes your money when you lose. It ought to pay it when you win,” retorted Ripka.

However, the defendant refused the claim, instead apologizing to Bookman for the inconvenience the ‘malfunction’ had caused. 

“You can’t claim a machine is broken because you want it to be broken,” Alan Ripka told CNNMoney.

“Does that mean it wasn’t inspected? Does it mean it wasn’t maintained? And if so, does that mean people that played there before [Bookman] had zero chance of winning?”

The New York State Gaming Commission said the machine had been displaying a disclaimer that read: “Malfunctions void all pays and plays.”

Image: WABC

Checking out Resorts World’s casino floor games menu, the legendary Sphinx Wild machine is still earning its keep to this day amongst the thousands of titles in the New York complex.

Not only that – there are even updated variations of the slot now available, such as Sphinx and Sphinx 3D.

Where Is Katrina Bookman Now?

Though we have searched for any clue as to what became of the trial, as of 2023, there is no evidence to show who won the case.

It is entirely likely that the prosecution was either dismissed or is still ongoing (as many cases still are, thanks to COVID-19 delays).

However, using a historical example of a similar trial, Pauline McKee, a 90-year-old grandmother from Illinois, was spinning her way to slot heaven on the Miss Kitty game at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. 

To her astonishment, she rang in a slot jackpot of $41 million. 

Enjoying casino games throughout her life, the seasoned gambler was skeptical but had high hopes of being proven wrong.

Much like Bookman, McKee was damningly told that she had not won a dime close to the supposed jackpot due to a slot machine malfunction, so the argument was taken to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Unfortunately, the defendant (Isle Casino Hotel) won the case, claiming that on-screen rules state that ‘Malfunction voids all pays and plays.’ 

Though devastating, real-life examples are sometimes necessary to remind gamblers that random number generators (RNGs) operate the wins of slot machines.

You can’t predict their outcome, with big losses just as likely (if not more) than massive jackpot wins.

Plus, with daily wear and tear, this makes occasional technical malfunctions just as likely as moderate jackpots that do pay out. 

Regardless, we hope fortune shines in Katrina Bookman’s favor and this high roller hell doesn’t taint her fighting spirit.

Lead image: Katrina Bookman via WABC



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Five Fantastic Reasons Why You Should Play on TigerGaming

Five Fantastic Reasons Why You Should Play on TigerGaming



TigerGaming is an online poker platform that offers players a wide range of games. The platform is popular among players for its user-friendly interface, extensive game selection, and competitive promotions. TigerGaming also offers a variety of other gaming options, including casino games and sports betting.

The platform is available for both desktop and mobile devices, and players can choose to play either through the downloadable software or directly from their internet browser.

And if that’s not enough to tempt you to hit the TigerGaming tables then here’s five more reasons why you should check out the site.

1. Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0

TigerGaming’s Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 is a promotion that offers players the chance to win a potentially life-changing prize if they lose with a strong hand. To participate, players must opt-in and play at designated Bad Beat Jackpot tables.

If a player loses with four-of-a-kind deuces or better, they can win a portion of the Bad Beat Jackpot. The losing player receives the largest share, while the winning player and other players at the table also receive a portion of the prize. The amount of the prize pool varies depending on the promotion, but it can reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

TigerGaming offers Poker Leaderboards that allow players to compete for additional cash prizes while playing their favorite games. The leaderboards track the number of hands played and the amount of rake generated by each player in a given month. Players can earn points by participating in cash games and tournaments, and the top-ranked players at the end of the month can win a share of the prize pool. The amount of the prize pool varies depending on the promotion, but at the moment, players can grab a share of $100,000 in leaderboard prizes!

Simply log in to the poker platform and find “My Missions” (“Contest” on mobile) in the lobby, and opt-in for your preferred leaderboard of the day. The leaderboards are a great way for players to compete against each other while earning additional cash prizes, and they add an extra level of excitement to the already thrilling games on the TigerGaming platform.

3. $1 Million Windfall Jackpot

TigerGaming offers a unique promotion called the $1 Million Windfall Jackpot, which is a fast-paced poker game that offers players the chance to win a massive prize pool. The game is a three-handed sit-and-go tournament with a random prize pool multiplier.

The maximum prize pool is $1 million, making it one of the most significant jackpots in online poker. To participate in the $1 Million Windfall Jackpot, players must opt-in and pay the $10 buy-in to the game. The game is available on both desktop and mobile devices and is a great way for players to potentially win big while enjoying a fun and exciting poker game.

4. Pad Your Bankroll With $1,000 in Bonus Money

TigerGaming is waiting for you with open arms and is offering all PokerNews readers the chance to bag themselves a 100% up to $1,000 welcome bonus to kickstart their careers at this long-running online poker site. Download TigerGaming via PokerNews, create your free account, and make a deposit of at least $50, and TigerGaming will match your initial deposit 100% up to a maximum of $1,000.

You must email TigerGaming’s excellent support team, who will activate your welcome bonus. Send an email to [email protected], stating your account number, deposit amount, plus the date and time of your deposit, along with a mention of the bonus code “NEWTG” within 24 hours of making your deposit, and your bonus will be activated within 24 hours.

Once activated, you have 30 days to release as much bonus into your playable balance as possible. The bonus is released in $5 increments each time you contribute $50 to the cash game rake or pay tournament fees.

5. No Download Required

TigerGaming offers players the convenience of playing their favorite poker games directly from their internet browser without downloading any software. The instant play feature is available for both desktop and mobile devices, and players can access it by simply logging into their TigerGaming account from their preferred browser. The platform is compatible with various internet browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. With the instant play feature, players can enjoy the same level of functionality, security, and game selection as the downloaded version of the platform, making it a great option for players who prefer not to download any software onto their devices.

Have You Claimed Your $1,000 TigerGaming Bonus Yet?

List of Restricted Countries

Please be aware that residents of the following countries cannot play at TigerGaming. The list is updated regularly, so it pays to frequent the terms and conditions page on the TigerGaming website.

Afghanistan Angola Australia Belgium Bulgaria
Central African Republic Cote Divoire Cuba Democratic Republic of Congo Eritrea
France French Guiana French Polynesia French Souther Territories Guinea
Guinea-Bissau Hungary Iran Iraq Lebanon
Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Mali Malta Myanmar
Netherlands Netherlands Antille Panama Republic of Korea Sierra Leone
Slovenia Somalia South Africa Sudan Syrian Arab Republic
United Kingdom United States US Minor Outlying Islands Virgin Islands Yemen
Zimbabwe        
Name Surname
Calum Grant

Editor & Live Reporter

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum’s proudest poker achievement is winning the only tournament he has ever played in Las Vegas, the prestigious $60 Flamingo evening event.





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Top 5 Dutch Live Casino Games ▶️ Outstanding Immersion and Features

Live Roulette Games in the Netherlands


How to Play the Best Dutch Live Casino Games

While the best Dutch live casino games work similarly to online RNG table games, there are some differences. First, they are typically found on a separate page at the best online casinos in the Netherlands. To access them, you must register and click on a banner, which transports you to a lobby with all available live dealer games. Note that some tables have working hours, so browse carefully. Once you pick a table, you can place a bet and enjoy the game.

As the games aim to simulate the authentic experience of land-based casinos, you only have a short amount of time to place your bets before the round starts. However, there are detailed rulesets and statistics, which you can use to form various roulette strategies. Additionally, you can communicate with the live dealer or other players.

Most importantly, you should ensure you play at reputable sites. They are licensed by the Kansspellautoritiet, feature the latest SSL encryption technology and work with responsible gambling organisations to combat addiction. Remember to prepare a budget and check the bet limits of each table, as some are better suited for high-rollers. You can even play the top NL live casino games on all mobile devices.

Types of the Best Live Casino Games in the Netherlands

The best live casino games in the Netherlands are played with real dealers and streamed from studios and casinos that aim to replicate the authentic casino experience. As such, you can find various game types, from classic table games to unique game shows. With so many options, it can be difficult to find the right one. As such, we have sorted some of the best titles in the following table based on their most vital aspects:

There are many other excellent games, although these are some of the most popular. Live table games, such as roulette and blackjack, are favoured among players in the Netherlands, but game shows are still beloved for their beautiful décor and unique gameplay. Many of the titles are even among the best live casino games, so you can be certain of their quality.

Before you play live online casino games in the Netherlands, you should check if any tables are available. Some games hold infinite players, and some are separated into tables with limited space. You should also ensure a stable internet connection and an updated device if you wish to play on mobile, as it will prevent buffering or low-quality videos.

1. Lightning Roulette – 97.30% RTP

Roulette games are among the top 5 Dutch live casino games, and Lightning Roulette stands at the top. Developed by Evolution, this is a European roulette with an excellent bonus feature and a great RTP of 97.30%. Its bet limits can accommodate casual low rollers and high rollers seeking excitement similar to the best high-stakes live roulette titles.

📛 Name: Lightning Roulette
🤑 RTP: 97.30%
👨‍💻 Developer: Evolution
📅 Release Date: 03.04.2018
💵 Bet Limits: €0.20 – €5000
🎮 Type: Live Roulette
🎁 Bonus Features: Lightning Multiplier
📱 Mobile Compatibility: Yes

The game works the same as any other European Roulette title. You have a table with classic betting options and a racetrack with called and neighbour bets. For easier strategies, you can browse statistics and save your favourite bets. However, the lightning multiplier feature makes Lightning Roulette stand out among the best Dutch live casino games.

Randomly, several numbers will be struck by lightning and receive multipliers of up to 500x. Only straight bets benefit from these multipliers, so players have to plan carefully when placing their bets. While you have limited time to place bets, you can freely observe the game and familiarise yourself with the rules, similar to the best top NL live casino games.

2. Crazy Time – 95.50% RTP

Those looking for a unique experience can try the exciting Crazy Time gaming show. This colourful game show features a friendly host, an RTP of 95.50% and wide bet limits. Its spectacular décor immerses you into the game, and the Crazy Time bonus feature even transports you to a delightful CGI world. Dutch players can also chat with the host while the game is ongoing.

📛 Name: Crazy Time
🤑 RTP: 95.50%
👨‍💻 Developer: Evolution
📅 Release Date: 10.06.2020
💵 Bet Limits: €0.10 – €2500
🎮 Type: Game Show
🎁 Bonus Features: Multipliers, Cash Hunt, Coin Flip, Pachinko, Crazy Time
📱 Mobile Compatibility: Yes

The gameplay resembles Dream Catcher, as players bet on the wheel, stopping on a specific segment. That can result in a prize or the activation of a bonus game. Similar to the top slots with bonus games, there are four minigames, ranging from the interactive Cash Hunt to the enormous Crazy Time wheel with multipliers going up to 20,000x.

Before each round, a multiplier will be applied to a random segment. That can either increase the prize of numbered parts or boost any potential rewards in the bonus rounds. While newcomers can enjoy the energetic atmosphere and simple gameplay, veterans will be impressed by the unique bonuses. It is undoubtedly one of the best live casino games in the Netherlands.

3. Lightning Blackjack – 99.56% RTP

Blackjack is popular among those who play live online casino games in the Netherlands for its relaxing atmosphere and strategic elements. That is why Lightning Blackjack adds to the strategy with its exciting gimmick. The bet limits are ideal for players of all budgets, so even high rollers can test this unique title, with potential prizes that could rival even the biggest gambling wins in the Netherlands.

📛 Name: Lightning Blackjack
🤑 RTP: 99.56%
👨‍💻 Developer: Evolution
📅 Release Date: 10.11.2021
💵 Bet Limits: €1 – €5000
🎮 Type: Live Blackjack
🎁 Bonus Features: Lightning Multiplier
📱 Mobile Compatibility: Yes

The basic gameplay is similar to regular blackjack, with the ability to make insurance, dealer stands on all 17 and no doubling after a split. However, the real excitement comes with the multipliers. Unlike Lightning Roulette, the multipliers are applied to specific results and will affect the next game. They can go up to 500x, but you must add a 100% mandatory fee equal to your initial bet.

If you place a larger bet than your previous one, any excess winnings will be paid out according to standard rules. Additionally, a multiplier can be saved for up to 180 days, so you can leave a game if necessary. These features create one of the best live dealer games in the Netherlands, accommodating both casino veterans and beginners while providing a quality game similar to the best blackjack card games.

4. Dead or Alive Saloon – 97.02% RTP

Aside from the classic table games, the top 5 Dutch live casino games include some innovative game types. Dead or Alive Saloon has an RTP of 97.02% and wide bet limits that accommodate all budgets. It also features a great wild west bar décor with atmospheric music in the background, making you feel as if you are reliving the history of Las Vegas.

📛 Name: Dead or Alive Saloon
🤑 RTP: 97.02%
👨‍💻 Developer: Evolution
📅 Release Date: 30.11.2022
💵 Bet Limits: €0.10 – €1000
🎮 Type: Card Guessing
🎁 Bonus Features: Multiplier, Double, Bounty
📱 Mobile Compatibility: Yes

Players must guess which of the 52 standard cards will be drawn to play the game. They can place bets on entire suits or individual cards. If you guess the card correctly, you win a 19:1 payout. However, the deck has a total of 104 cards, which includes several multipliers. They can go up to 100x and stack, but they must be drawn before a standard card.

Finally, there is a double card, which doubles the current payout, and the Bounty card activates a bonus round. Click on one of three wanted posters, and you can win a random multiplier up to 200x. Dead or Alive Saloon’s simple but unique gameplay is ideal for NL players of all skill levels, allowing them to enjoy the atmosphere and chat with the dealer, making it one of the top NL live casino games.

5. Boom City – 96.43% RTP

Fans of dice games won’t feel left out with the best Dutch live casino games. Boom City is an excellent title that combines game shows with dice games, having a 96.43% RTP and wide bet limits. The game consists of a 6×6 grid with two big dice in containers. At the start of each round, the containers shake the dice, with the gold one determining the vertical position and the blue one determining the horizontal one.

📛 Name: Boom City
🤑 RTP: 96.43%
👨‍💻 Developer: Pragmatic Play
📅 Release Date: 27.07.2022
💵 Bet Limits: €0.10 – €5000
🎮 Type: Dice Game
🎁 Bonus Features: Dice Battle, Power Up, Boom or Bust, Lucky Drop
📱 Mobile Compatibility: Yes

Players can bet on getting a 1x, 2x or 5x reward or one of the bonus games. Dice Battle rolls the dice three times to create multipliers, with both the winner and loser getting prizes. Lucky Drop has several columns with increasing multiplier prizes, while Boom or Bust has you advancing through the grid and winning rewards until you hit a bust.

Landing on a red “bust” symbol will result in a loss, but getting the Power Up feature will change it into a winning symbol. When combined with the bonuses, the Power Up feature can lead to prizes of up to 20,000x, rivalling even the best game show slot machines. It is an excellent game with a fun atmosphere and friendly dealers, making it one of the top NL live casino games.

Extra Dutch Live Casino Games

While our list covers some of the most popular titles, there are plenty of other great game types among the best live casino games in the Netherlands. To ensure players have a good idea of what to expect from live dealer operators, we have prepared the following list with a few other popular games:

  • 🕹️ Lightning Dice
  • 🕹️ Monopoly Live
  • 🕹️ Immersive Roulette
  • 🕹️ Crazy Coin Flip
  • 🕹️ Super Sic Bo
  • 🕹️ Lightning Baccarat
  • 🕹️ Football Studio

From classic table games to game shows, Dutch players can be confident that all the games are exceptional. According to the recent NL online gambling trends, live casino games are growing in popularity, so players can expect even more unique titles in the future. As each title features distinct gameplay elements and bonuses, it is a good idea to read the rules carefully to have the best experience with the top NL live casino games.

The Software Providers of NL Live Casino Games

Without the outstanding work of live casino developers, players wouldn’t be able to play live online casino games in the Netherlands. Many of the titles available at Dutch online casinos are provided by the best developers on the market, such as Evolution, Pragmatic Play and more. You can find some of the most popular developers in the following list:

  • 🤵 Evolution
  • 🤵 Pragmatic Play
  • 🤵 Playtech
  • 🤵 Ezugi
  • 🤵 Authentic Gaming

Regardless of your preferences or budget, you can be confident that all the best live dealer games in the Netherlands are exceptional. The live dealers and other players add an excellent social aspect, while the stylish décor creates a fun atmosphere. While there are many relaxing table games, there are also plenty of titles with unique gimmicks to keep veterans and casual players entertained.

While live casino games are a new addition to the history of Dutch gambling, they have quickly become a popular addition, and we hope more casinos will add them in the future. In the meantime, you can check out our article on the ten things to know before making an NL online casino account, so you can avoid any issues.

Dutch Live Casino Games FAQ

Before we wrap up, we will answer all your pressing questions about the top 5 Dutch live casino games. You can learn more details on each game’s bonus features and promotions and see how to play them. We will also cover their software providers and the best aspects of each title.

1️⃣ How to play live online casino games in the Netherlands?

To play any of the best Dutch live casino games, you will first need to register at an online casino. Once you’ve found a reliable operator, you must go to the live casino lobby and browse the available games. Most live games are compatible with mobile devices, so you can join a game anytime.

2️⃣ Which NL live dealer game is best for low rollers?

While most of the best live casino games in the Netherlands accommodate low rollers, Crazy Time is the best title for such players. It features a low minimum bet limit of €0.10, and the simple gameplay is ideal for beginners. The game also allows players to communicate with the dealers and with each other while featuring many exciting minigames.

3️⃣ What is the most unique Dutch live dealer game?

One of the best new live dealer games in the Netherlands is Dead or Alive Saloon. Unlike other card table games, the goal here is to guess which card will be drawn next. The deck features 104 cards, which include bonus and multiplier cards, and is shuffled after every round. You can even stack multipliers for extra prizes.

4️⃣ Are there any live blackjack casino games in NL?

Yes, players can find many relaxing blackjack games, ranging from classics, such as Power Blackjack, to the unique Lightning Blackjack. What makes this title stand out is the lightning multipliers, which can boost the winnings of your next game. As these multipliers are tied to specific results, they add an extra layer of strategy.

5️⃣ Can I play Evolution live casino games in the Netherlands?

Yes, among the many great live casino developers, you can play live NL casino games from Evolution. This Swedish provider is renowned for its unique and high-quality titles, with exceptional streaming quality and great features. Aside from that, you can find plenty of other developers among the top NL live casino games.



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Opinion: Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidate’s Plan to Use Sports Betting to Bolster School Security Shows State of America

Gun control protest


Sports betting equals school safety

Kentucky Republican gubernatorial candidate Alan Keck is lobbying to use legal sports betting tax revenues to increase funding for school safety. That’s right, the implication is that gambling on sports is now the way to save children’s lives.

ensuring that our kids, our teachers and our administrators get home safe every day”

“There is simply nothing more important than ensuring that our kids, our teachers and our administrators get home safe every day,” Keck said during a social media unveiling of his plan.

Keck proposed the idea last Thursday, one week after a bill to legalize sports betting emerged victorious in the state legislature. Democratic Governor Andy Beshear swiftly signed the bill into law once it went before him.

What’s really going on

While sports betting is the talk of the town on a national scale, school shootings are swiftly benumbing a country that is learning to accept them as unfortunate circumstances rather than avoidable tragedies. 

According to a Washington Post article updated on April 3, there have been 377 school shootings since the Columbine massacre on April 20, 1999. Security.org says in an article updated January 2023 that there have been 392 deaths and 1,119 injuries in K-12 shootings since the same starting point. 

Researchers from Harvard Medical School also found that gun violence costs the country $557bn every year (2.6% of the national GDP), most of which goes to quality-of-life loss payments to victims and their families.

That sad reality has not come without effort from the top level, though. The U.S. educational security market exceeded $3.1bn in total value in 2021, and more than 90% of schools have electronic emergency notification systems. Roughly the same percentage of schools also have security cameras according to Omdia, a technology research and consultancy company.

Despite the increased funding, Keck believes that Kentucky can do a better job protecting its children if it can increase its allocated spending total through the legalization of sports betting. He aims to redirect the funds’ current planned flow, a majority of which is to the state public pension fund, to school safety.

Early estimates suggest that the Bluegrass State will claim an extra $23m in annual funding through legal sports wagering. Several proponents believe the figure could be even higher than that, perhaps on the back of impassioned locals that know they can save another child’s life if they bet on the Wildcats tonight. 

Long-term instability

Republican Senator Max Wise, the running mate of fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Craft, is also a profound supporter of increased school safety in Kentucky.

Just two weeks ago, neighboring Tennessee was victimized by a shooting at The Covenant School, a Christian elementary school in Nashville. 

Guns have also been the leading killer of children in America since 2020, when they overtook car accidents. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER database, 19% of youth deaths in 2021 were from firearms.

American lawmakers have been stymied by opposing lobbyists and political gridlock

But whereas school shootings are rarities in other countries in large part because of gun laws, American lawmakers have been stymied by opposing lobbyists and political gridlock. Government spending designated to help school safety is not guaranteed to make an impact at its desired end, either.

“[School safety spending is] a roller coaster,” said Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services. “There’s no long-term consistency.” 

Trump pointed out that spending often comes in the form of one-off grants aimed at glaring weaknesses rather than overall infrastructural developments. He also said that millions of dollars can turn into “peanuts” when spread across an entire state, forcing local legislators to look for other answers—hence the sports betting-based debate in Kentucky.

Keck’s efforts will hinge largely on his success in the upcoming race for the governorship. January sampling from polling and analysis company FiveThirtyEight revealed that Beshear had a solid advantage despite the state increasingly growing in favor of the GOP.

So remember: win or lose, you place that bet tonight. You might be the one to stop another family’s mourning.

The post Opinion: Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidate’s Plan to Use Sports Betting to Bolster School Security Shows State of America appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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Top 5 Gambling Movies You Must Watch

Top 5 Gambling Movies You Must Watch



We’ve shown you our lists for the best poker and casino movies of all-time. Now it’s time to bust out our five favorites from the overall gambling space.

There are many outstanding ones to choose from, some of which narrowly missed the cut but still deserve some recognition. Adam Sandler’s Uncut Gems (2019), Martin Scorsese sports drama The Color of Money (1986), James Caan’s The Gambler (1974), and the underrated Hard Eight (1996) are all excellent films that are worth checking out. But they fell just short of the PokerNews list of top five gambling movies ever created.

Other gambling related movies that didn’t make our list include those that we’ve already covered in previous pieces, including poker’s greatest movie, Rounders (1998), and one of the best movies ever, period, Casino (1995).

PokerNews’ Top 5 Casino Movies of All-Time

Top 5 Gambling Movies

There are literally thousands of movies that involve gambling in some capacity, which made it difficult to create this list. You’ll notice a trend among our top five gambling movies of all-time, and that is we lean heavily on sports and comedy. Call it a personal preference if you must, but these are some exceptional films that we think you’ll enjoy.

If you haven’t seen any of these, do so ASAP. All the info you need on how to access the following epic flicks is written below. We’re thinking outside the box a bit for the best gambling movies ever produced. You might be a bit surprised at some of the films we included, and perhaps you may not have even considered some of them “gambling” movies before. Anyway, here we go!

#5 – The Hangover (2009)

You might not think of The Hangover as a gambling movie, but there’s certainly a gambling component to it. Few lovers of comedy haven’t seen this 2009 flick that features a star-studded cast of characters (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Heather Graham, and Zach Galifianakis, to name a few).

The basic premise of the movie is a group of friends drive out to Las Vegas for a bachelor party (where else would you go for that?). Things get out of control and the groom-to-be, Phil (Cooper), goes missing a day before he’s supposed to be home getting hitched. A hilarious search to find Phil ensues, and it comes down to the wire if they’re going to get Phil to the altar in time.

The Hangover, a blockbuster hit, grossed $467 million at the box office and won a Golden Globe for Best Comedy in 2009. Rotten Tomatoes critics give it a 79% score, which is quite high for a raunchy comedy.

While most see The Hangover as a comedy, and it is, there’s some high-stakes gambling that takes place. When the group, dubbed “The Wolfpack,” desperately needed to come up with money immediately, Galifianakis, who played the socially awkward Alan, learned how to count cards and made a boat load at the blackjack table.

Is The Hangover Realistic?

Sure it is. Just visit the Las Vegas Strip on any given weekend and you’ll encounter a number of bachelor and bachelorette parties that get way out of hand. Perhaps, the plot was a bit over-the-top when it comes to the “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” motto (no matter how intoxicated you get, you probably won’t actually end up on the roof of Caesars Palace). But there’s some accuracy to what goes down during a dude bro Vegas bachelor party.

How Can I Watch The Hangover?

You can watch this comedy classic via a number of ways. There’s always the DVD/Blu-Ray option, or even better, you can stream it on Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Vudu, Google Play, or the following:

Is The Hangover on Netflix?

Yes, The Hangover is available on Netflix, along with many other epic gambling and comedy movies.

Is The Hangover on Disney+?

At this time, no, The Hangover is not available to stream on Disney+.

#4 – The Cooler (2003)

William H. Macy (Fargo, Pleasantville) is one of the most talented actors of all-time. In The Cooler, he put on one of his most brilliant performances playing a down-on-his-luck character named Bernie Lootz.

The movie, released in theaters in 2003, tells the story of Lootz, who found one useful skill in life, and that was to play the role of a “cooler” at a casino, run by Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin). When a gambler was on a heater, Kaplow would send over Lootz to bring that guest bad luck and end a winning streak.

Reviews of The Cooler are mostly positive and critics give it a 77% composite score on Rotten Tomatoes. Ron Livingston, Maria Bello, and Paul Sorvino play key roles but it is Macy who truly carries this movie that packs a big punch.

Is The Cooler Realistic?

If you’re superstitious, you will likely consider The Cooler a realistic movie. Otherwise, you’ll probably see it more as just an entertaining movie that isn’t realistic.

How Can I Watch The Cooler?

The Cooler is on Blu-Ray and DVD, for starters, along with numerous streaming devices, including Amazon Prime, Spectrum TV, Roku TV Channel, Vudu, and more.

Is The Cooler on Netflix?

The Cooler is among the stacked Netflix lineup and has been for quite some time.

Is The Cooler on Disney+?

You cannot watch The Cooler on Disney+, unfortunately.

#3 – Sour Grapes (1998)

Sour Grapes, starring Steven Weber and Craig Bierko, is one of the most underrated and forgotten comedies from the 1990s. The iconic and hilarious Larry David of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm fame directed the film, which is about two relatives who feud over who deserves the money from a slot machine jackpot.

Ignore the 27% Rotten Tomatoes score because this is a fun and funny movie that addresses a common issue among the gambling community.

Two cousins — Weber and Bierko — embark on a weekend trip to Atlantic City. While seated at a slot machine, Bierko’s character (Richie Maxwell) asked his cousin named Evan Maxwell for two quarters. He immediately hit a $430,000 jackpot and felt that because he played the machine he deserves all the money, minus the 50 cents he borrowed from his cousin.

Evan, however, comedically feuded with Richie over the money as he believed he was deserving of half the jackpot. Who ends up getting the money? Watch the movie and find out.

Is Sour Grapes Realistic?

It’s realistic in that if that scenario played out in real life, both parties would likely feel as if they deserve all or a chunk of the money. Imagine handing someone two quarters and they hit a massive jackpot right in front of you. It would be difficult to refrain from asking for a portion of the winnings.

How Can I Watch Sour Grapes?

You can pick up Sour Grapes in your local $5 bin at Walmart or wherever you buy cheap DVDs and Blu-Rays. Or, you can stream it on Vudu, tubi, AppleTV, or Amazon Prime.

Is Sour Grapes on Netflix?

No, Sour Grapes is not currently streaming on Netflix but it has been on there in the past.

Is Sour Grapes on Disney+?

Sour Grapes is not part of the Disney+ package.

#2 – Eight Men Out (1988)

Eight Men Out (1988), starring John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd, and Charlie Sheen, is an all-time classic, especially for baseball fans. It is based on the true story about the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox, a World Series team that had eight players intentionally tanking games because they were paid off by bettors to do so.

Rotten Tomatoes gives this cult classic, one of the best baseball movies ever created, an impressive 87% score.

Dubbed the “Black Sox,” the movie portrays one of the most famous (or, infamous) baseball teams of all-time. More than 100 years later and baseball historians are still talking about one of baseball’s biggest scandals ever.

D.B. Sweeney plays “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, the most famous and talented player from that 1919 White Sox team. Cusack, in typical fashion, puts on an excellent performance as Buck Weaver, one of the ringleaders on the team who helped convince the other seven players to follow his lead.

Is Eight Men Out Realistic?

Well, yes, because it is based on a true story. That said, the days of professional baseball players taking a dive to satisfy a bet are over because they’re paid millions anyway.

How Can I Watch Eight Men Out?

It isn’t difficult to find a copy of Eight Men Out at your nearest electronics retail store or Walmart/Target. It’s also free on tubi and Pluto, along with streaming apps such as Amazon and Vudu, and you can download it on Google Play, Roku, or iTunes.

Is Eight Men Out on Netflix?

Eight Men Out is available for streaming on Netflix and has been for quite a while. Don’t expect it to be gone from the Netflix lineup any time soon either.

Is Eight Men Out on Disney+?

Much like most gambling-related movies, Disney+ doesn’t currently have Eight Men Out in its lineup.

#1 – White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

White Men Can’t Jump isn’t just an epic gambling-related movie. It’s one of the best movies regardless of category from the 1990s, arguably the greatest decade for movies.

Rotten Tomatoes has it scored at 77%, which is solid but a travesty considering it’s one of the best sports movies ever. For those who love gambling or grew up playing pick-up basketball, it’s simply a movie you have to love and watch at least once or twice a year for the rest of your life.

Woody Harrelson plays the role of the underestimated Billy Hoyle, a white basketball player who hustles black athletes on the court. Billy’s act is to show up to the court looking nerdy and then betting on himself to win a game of one-on-one. One of the players he hustled was Sidney Deane, played by the great Wesley Snipes. Billy and Sidney would become friends and team up to take on anyone willing to put up the money to play a game of two-on-two.

Is White Men Can’t Jump Realistic?

Yes, it is a realistic-ish movie. If you need proof, check out “The Professor,” a white under-sized real-life basketball player just like Billy Hoyle who has made a living hustling people on the basketball court.

How Can I Watch White Men Can’t Jump?

Given that White Men Can’t Jump was released in 1992, you could always dust off the old VCR and pop it in. If that doesn’t work, there are plenty of stores such as Walmart and Target where you’ll likely find a copy on DVD or Blu-Ray. Or, you can get it on various streaming apps such as Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Vudu.

Is White Men Can’t Jump on Netflix?

For quite some time, White Men Can’t Jump has been accessible with a Netflix subscription.

Is White Men Can’t Jump on Disney+?

Yes, this legendary sports and gambling movie is part of a Disney+ subscription package.





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