Chris Moneymaker was introduced prior to the start of Day 1d at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. A couple minutes later, two players had already dusted off their stacks.
The all-time WSOP Main Event attendance record was broken on Thursday, a record held since 2006 (8,773 players), the year Jamie Gold won it for $12 million.
As we await to see just how many players will be registered on Day 1d, plenty of excitement is taking place inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, starting with two epic hands moments following “shuffle up and deal.”
Player Loses Kings vs. Aces Twice on Day 1 of Main Event
Two Players Out Instantly
Poker player Scott Fitzhugh (@fitzpoker), who was at the table, shared a video of the first hand on Twitter. One player was all in with pocket kinds against pocket aces, which held up. The pocket kings dusted off a full 300 big blind stack, and $10,000, one hand into what will be a 10-day tournament.
Early double ups in a marathon tournament such as the Main Event don’t guarantee anything, but they sure are nice for the player who takes it down.
2023 World Series of Poker Hub
Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here.
In the second immediate bust-out, the PokerNews team was called over to a table with a massive pot brewing. With close to 18,000 already in the middle on a board showing Q♣8♠2♠9♦, Mikolaj Zawadzki checked from the big blind to Jamie Smith in the hijack who bet 12,000.
Zawadzki tossed in chips for the call and the 5♥ completed the board. Zawadzki checked again and Smith moved all in for 44,000. Zawadzki went deep in the tank, contemplating his decision for more than four minutes, until eventually sliding his stack forward to make the call.
Smith tabled Q♥Q♦ for top set and Zawadzki looked sick as he rolled over 8♥8♦ for middle set as he made his way to the exit on the very first hand. If there’s any consolation for Zawakdski, at least he wasn’t the only player to bust right off the bat.
Jamie Gold wanted it to happen, and it did. The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event has set an attendance record with 8,774 entrants and rising at the time of publishing, during Level 1 of Day 1d.
In 2006, Gold’s world championship year, the field hit 8,773 players, a record that stood for 17 years. Last year, the WSOP came close to cracking that record, but inevitably fell just a bit short at 8,663 entries, making it the second largest Main Event in history.
2023 World Series of Poker Hub
Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here.
Prior to announcing “shuffle up and deal” before Day 1a, the former Main Event winner told PokerNews he not only expected the attendance record to be broken, but that he hoped it would happen. He got his wish.
It Was Going to Happen Eventually
When Gold won the Main Event in 2006, the poker industry had reached all-time highs in terms of popularity. After attendance dropped off a bit over the next decade, some felt the record would never be broken. So much for that.
In 2019, there was a significant spike in turnout for poker’s most prestigious annual event with 8,569 players, up 9% compared to the previous year. Then COVID hit, forcing the cancellation of the traditional Main Event in 2020. In 2021, the year Koray Aldemir won, attendance had dropped to 6,650 players due to vaccination restrictions.
Entering the 2023 WSOP, there was an expectation among the WSOP staff and many poker experts that this year’s Main Event would break the record. So, there wasn’t a huge surprise to anyone. But perhaps just how quickly it occurred may have been a surprise to some. Registration is still open for quite some time, and now there’s some buzz around the tournament not only surpassing 9,000 players, but potentially hitting 10,000.
Jack Effel, Vice President of the World Series of Poker, expects the WSOP to “continue to grow and grow.”
“When you see a really big World Series of Poker, it’s a good sign that poker’s going to continue to grow,” Effel told PokerNews.
Effel believes there are multiple contributing factors as to why the WSOP has continued to grow so much in recent years, up to its current point where not only the Main Event has broken records, but also many other bracelet events this summer.
“There’s so many exciting moments (at the WSOP) — Phil Hellmuth winning his 17th bracelet, some things as a poker player that are unimaginable,” Effel continued. “I think the WSOP’s a special place. I think it’s something that can’t be replicated and you have to be there.”
Effel didn’t make a prediction on how many entries the field will have once registration closed, but he did say it will be “a huge number.”
Many players discovered poker by playing around their kitchen tables with friends and family. These home games are as American as apple pie. Although playing poker in a live setting is a great experience, online poker has many advantages over its brick-and-mortar counterpart, especially if you play online poker on the WSOP App for free.
There are dozens of online poker sites and apps on the internet for budding poker players and seasoned grinders to choose from, so why should you opt for playing poker online on the WSOP poker App? For starters, the WSOP App is the official online poker app of the World Series of Poker, the most famous and most-trusted name in the poker world.
Obviously, there is much more to a poker app than having the backing of a stellar name, and the WSOP App is a superb online poker product in its own right. Here are four reasons – there are many more – why the WSOP App is for you if you enjoy playing online poker.
Play on the WSOP Poker App today!
The WSOP App Is Completely Free to Play
Embarking on an online poker career can be daunting because there is every chance that you will lose the money you deposit. As a rank amateur, your skills will not be up to scratch, meaning you are guaranteed to make plenty of mistakes, and those mistakes cost you cash game chips or your stack in a tournament.
The WSOP App is entirely free to play, making it perfect for newcomers or those on a budget. You will still find seasoned, solid players using the WSOP App playing poker for the pure joy doing so brings.
Of course, it is possible to make in-app purchases of more virtual chips, but there are so many ways to receive free chips through the WSOP App, and you can win some extraordinary amount of chips through games and tournaments that you may never feel the need to buy more chips.
You Can Play on the WSOP App from Almost Anywhere
You may be aware that real-money online poker is not available everywhere. This is the case in the United States, the Canadian province of Ontario, and other countries such as France, Italy, and Spain.
The WSOP App is not gambling because it is a free-to-play online poker product that does not award monetary prizes. Considered a social gaming app, the WSOP App is available worldwide
Online Poker is Much Faster than Live Poker
The speed of play is one area where online poker blows live poker out of the water. Live poker is great fun, but it can sometimes be tedious due to how slowly each hand progresses.
Where live poker is slowed down by the dealer physically pitching cards and each player having to act, online poker software takes care of this in mere seconds, with the games running on the WSOP App up to three times faster than in an actual casino.
The faster speed means you can fit more hands in the same space of time, allowing you to gain much more experience than you would playing at a card room. Furthermore, because the WSOP App deals the games quicker, you can jump into a free-to-play game for 10-15 minutes and enjoy as many hands as you would have done in an hour’s live poker playing.
The WSOP App Has a Vibrant Social Community Feel
Although the WSOP App games and tournaments are often fiercely fought over, this social online poker app has a wonderful community spirit. The app is full of people who love playing poker for the sake of playing poker, which creates a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Being available worldwide means you get to play cards with people from all walks of life and from places you may not have heard of before!
Then there is the incredible WSOP App Thrill Team, a roster of elite-level professional poker players who can be found playing cash games and tournaments for free. Imagine being able to rub shoulders with the likes of Vanessa Selbst, Patrik Antonius, 2022 WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad, and Samantha Abernathy in a free-to-play poker setting. You cannot enjoy that experience anywhere else.
Yesterday, July 2nd, it was revealed that OlyBet Group, a famous brand of Olympic Entertainment Group AS (OEG), has signed a beneficial agreement with the World Series of Poker to bring the ultimate poker experience to Northern European poker fans, meaning it will host the WSOP Circuit Tournament in September in the Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Hotel.
WSOP tournament to be held in Northern Europe for the first time:
For the first time ever, the widely-known WSOP Circuit Tournament will be organized in Northern Europe. Together with its partners WSOP and GG Poker, OlyBet will organize the WSOP Circuit Tournament in Tallinn, which will run from September 14th to 24th and will include 12 WSOP “ring events” and a 1 million euros guaranteed prize pool for the Main Event.
Commenting on the upcoming tournament, Gregory Chochon, Vice President of the World Series of Poker, said: “We are delighted to partner with OlyBet to bring the excitement and passion of the WSOP Circuit Series to Estonia for the first time in circuit history. The WSOP legacy is full of exciting and historic moments and we are happy to bring this iconic poker festival to Estonia.”
Corey Plummer, Chairman and CEO of Olympic Entertainment Group and OlyBet Group, added: “I am thrilled to bring WSOP action to Northern Europe. Passion for live events is part of the culture and strategy at Olympic Entertainment Group and OlyBet. We are already hosting the largest poker festival in Northern Europe with the KingsofTallinn and we expect to go further with the excitement and thrills of having this WSOP Circuit events.”
About:
Headquartered in Tallinn, Olympic Entertainment Group AS (OEG) is a flagship entertainment provider in 6 Eurozone markets, involving Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovakia and Malta. It has over 150 casinos and hotels and over 80 sports bars, involving the Hilton Tallinn Park, Voodoo Grill Restaurant, and the OlyBet sports wagering and online brand. Its goal is to provide the best gaming entertainment experience possible via first-class customer service and market-leading innovation and design.
The company’s famous OlyBet and Olympic brands are market leaders with top product offerings, exclusive content, outstanding customer service and live entertainment united with renowned global hotel brands such as Hilton, Grand Hotel Kempinski, Radisson Blu, and Intercontinental.
As for OlyBet, it is the official sports wagering partner of the NBA and NHL leagues and a European partner with ACF Fiorentina and Real Betis. Additionally, OlyBet’s Brand Ambassador in the Balkan region is Luka Modrić.
Thousands of PokerNews readers have already joined our free Discord channel, and are enjoying the benefits that brings. They not only get to stay up-to-date with the latest news and promotions from the poker world, but they compete in freerolls and value-added tournaments throughout the month.
Members of the PokerNews Discord servers are in for a treat on July 9 because PartyPoker is guaranteeing at least one package to the upcoming Grand Prix Bratislava Poker Festival, worth €1,500, will be won by one of them. Perhaps that winner will be you?
The PokerNews Grand Prix Bratislava Poker Festival Package Sat shuffles up and deals at 6:30 p.m. BET on July 9. Don’t worry if you a little late because late registration remains open until the end of the 12th level; those levels each last eight minutes.
The buy-in for this PokerNews-exclusive tournament is a mere €2.20, although you can re-enter up to four times during the late registration period should you get a little too frisky and dust off your 50,000 starting stack! Blinds start at 250/500/60a and are 2,000/4,000/500a if you leave it to the last second before buying in.
One €1,500 package is guaranteed, with any prize money accumulated after the €1,500 being distributed by PartyPoker’s standard payout structure. Should you crazy cats enter in droves and splash around with re-entries, there is every chance a couple of packages will be awarded. Get your hands on the top prize and you’ll be heading to Bratislava to play in the €500,000 guaranteed PartyPoker LIVE Grand Prix Bratislava Main Event armed with:
€550 Main Event buy-in
€250 towards your travel expenses
Five nights’ accommodation
We want to restrict this exciting tournament to our Discord members to reward them for their loyalty and for helping our server grow. This is why the tournament is password-protected, and the only way to receive that all-important password is to become a PokerNews Discord member; it is completely free to do so!
You will not only find the password for the Bratislava satellite but be able to compete in all the PartyPoker freerolls throughout July and beyond, in addition to PokerStars, 888poker and WPT Global, with more sites being added soon!
Check Out the Grand Prix Bratislava Schedule
The Grand Prix Bratislava Poker Festival runs from July 18-23, and is brought to you by the brains behind PartyPoker LIVE and the Irish Poker Tour. More than a dozen events adorn the schedule, meaning if you do win this €1,500 package for €2.20 and it doesn’t go to plan, you can jump into one of the many other tournaments while you are in Slovakia!
Good news for the Seminole Tribe: the tribe will be able to offer digital wagering in Florida.
Seminoles won – for now:
After the panel that consisted of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia had a meeting regarding the sports betting case that included two parimutuels who were against the U.S. Department of the Interior, the outcome was good for the tribe. As the Sports Handle reports, the legal experts think that the Supreme Court will probably appeal to the decision, nevermind the final outcome.
The tribes across the whole country were worried about this case since it could make a great impact on the whole tribal gaming community. The monopoly granted to the Seminole Tribe will greatly affect the other tribes as well.
The member of the tribe commented: “The Seminole Tribe of Florida is pleased with today’s unanimous decision. It is a positive outcome for the Seminole tribe and the people of Florida and for all of Indian Country. The tribe is fully reviewing the decision to determine next steps.”
Non-compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act:
Everything began in May 2021, more than two years ago. Back then, the state of Florida allowed the Seminole tribe to include digital sports betting in its offering as long as they used the server placed on the tribe’s land for betting flows. However, the parimutuels disagreed with that decision, claiming that this compact isn’t in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Act can be used for regulating gambling on tribal territory.
However, the Act was written back in 1980, before the era of the internet, and this is the reason why digital betting isn’t included in it, therefore, not regulated.
Even famous Hard Rock is interested in the case, claiming that they’re trying to “bring safe and trusted sports betting back to Florida,” as the famous company wrote on Twitter. The Seminole Tribe already launched its Hard Rock Digital platform, even before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved it in November 2021. Two courts took it down, but it was live for 34 days before this decision.
It’s still unknown if the tribe will try to launch the platform one more time, but one thing is clear: there are a lot of disagreements and confusion related to this compact. What will happen at the end, and what will it mean to the whole Indian community in the States? Nobody knows, but everything is possible.
The second leg of the 2023 PokerStars United Kingdom & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) sees the popular mid-stakes live tour head to the seaside town of Blackpool in the United Kingdom. Known more for its pleasure beach and nightlife, Blackpool has hosted several major live poker events before, but never something with the grandeur of the UKIPT.
UKIPT Blackpool runs from July 11 through July 16 at the Grosvenor G Casino. Fourteen events and satellites are scheduled between those dates, including a £1,100 buy-in Main Event, which the PokerNews Live Reporting team will be providing coverage from start to finish.
The UKIPT Blackpool Main Event features a trio of flights, two with 40-minute blinds and a third with a 20-minute turbo structure. Regardless of which Day 1 you play, you sit down behind a generous starting stack of 30,000 chips, and play to a structure where the blinds start at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante.
Late registration remains open until the end of the tenth level, at which point there is a 75-minute dinner break, and play concludes on each flight once only 15% of the field remains. Should you dust off your stack while late registration is open, up to three re-entries are permitted per flight.
Although there are no previous UKIPT Blackpool Main Events to draw comparison from, one would expect a six-figure top prize for the champion.
2023 UKIPT Blackpool Schedule
Date
Time
Event
Buy-in
Tue 11 Jul
4:00 p.m.
UKIPT Cup Day 1A
£330
8:00 p.m.
Qualifier to Main Event
£120
Wed 12 Jul
2:00 p.m.
UKIPT Cup Day 1b
£330
8:00 p.m.
UKIPT Cup Turbo Day 1c
£220
9:00 p.m.
Qualifier to main Event
£120
Thu 13 Jul
2:00 p.m.
UKIPT Blackpool Main Event Day 1a
£1,100
2:00 p.m.
UKIPT Cup Final Day
6:00 p.m.
Qualifier to Main Event
£120
9:00 p.m.
NLHE Freezeout
£220
Fri 14 Jul
12:00 p.m.
Qualifier to Main Event
£120
12:00 p.m.
UKIPT Blackpool Main Event Day 1b
£1,100
6:00 p.m.
UKIPT Blackpool Main Event Turbo Day 1c
£1,100
9:00 p.m.
Qualifier for £2,200 High Roller
£240
Sat 15 Jul
11:30 a.m.
Qualifier Freeroll
£0
12:00 p.m.
Qualifier for £2,200 High Roller
£240
2:00 p.m.
UKIPT High Roller Day 1
£2,200
2:00 p.m.
UKIPT Blackpool Main Event Day 2
7:00 p.m.
8-Game
£220
8:00 p.m.
NLHE Freezeout
£220
Sun 16 Jul
12:00 p.m.
UKIPT High Roller Final Day
12:00 p.m.
UKIPT Blackpool Main Event Final Day
2:00 p.m.
NLHE Bounty (£100 bounties)
£220
4:00 p.m.
Deep Stack Freezeout
£550
Other events on the PokerStars UKIPT Blackpool schedule include the £330 UKIPT Cup, a £2,200 High Roller, a £220 8-Game, £220 Bounty event, and a handful of satellites and freezeouts to complement the key tournaments.
Learn more about the PokerStars Power Path
Discover what makes the PokerStars Power Path so awesome
Win Your Way to UKIPT Blackpool
Main Event and High Roller satellites are available at the Grosvenor G Casino, Blackpool, during the festival, but you can win your way into the UKIPT Blackpool Main Event for pennies online at PokerStars.
The final satellites take place on July 9, so do not waste any more time if you plan on bagging a seat before heading to the seaside.
You should also check out the amazing Power Path promotion that recently launched. Starting at only $0.50, the four step program opens to doors to every PokerStars player being able to have a chance of playing in a prestigious tournament.
For example, one of the prizes for capturing a Silver pass is a UKIPT Blackpool package, consisting of a £1,100 Main Event buy-in, a £330 UKIPT Cup entry, plus £580 in cash for expenses.
Get your hands on a Power Path Gold pass and one of the prizes is a UKIPT passport, giving you entries to the Blackpool, Brighton, London, Edinburgh, and Nottingham UKIPT Main Events, plus £2,800 for expenses!
Find PokerStars on the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar
The PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar is a free tool that shows all of the upcoming and in-play tournaments you can enter at PokerStars, and do so from the comforts of thePokerNews site. Several filters are available to help you narrow down the perfect online tournament for you and your bankroll. Why not give it a shot today?
It’s Game, Set, and Match for competitors as bet365 Casino is serving up the best offer of the season with its Grand Slam 100k Giveaway!
While the best battle it out on the court this summer, play for grand prizes of your own at the bet365 Live Casino, renowned for its exceptional array of table games, including Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Craps & more.
With this exciting promotion only running for a limited time, without further adieu, let’s find out how you can win the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway.
How to Join the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway at bet365 Casino
Avoid making an unforced error by following these instructions, which will explain how to get involved in the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway for your chance of winning top prizes up to £5,000.
1. Create an account at the bet365 Casino using the button below. 2. Opt-in to the promotion on the bet365 Live Casino site. 3. Stake £15 or more on a range of selected live games. 4. Earn one prize draw ticket for each £15 each stake. 5. You will be entered into one of two prize draws for the chance to win a share of £100,000!
Join bet365 Live Casino & Play the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway
Which Table Games are Eligible for the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway?
As one of the biggest operators in the business, bet365 Casino & bet365 Live Casino have a huge number of dedicated tables where you can play all your favorite casino classics. With so many casino games eligible for the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway, we’re sure you’ll find something to thrill you. Let’s take a look at some of the big-time contenders.
Play Blackjack at bet365 Casino
An exhilarating casino game, there are many dedicated Blackjack tables at the bet365 Casino, where any play will be eligible towards the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway. Trying to make your cards total as close to 21 as possible, Blackjack players compete against the dealer with the closest hand winning the betting round. Bet365 Casino is a great place to play Blackjack and even better when you’re competing for the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway!
Play Baccarat at bet365 Casino
Replete with all the glamor and sophistication you’d expect to find at Center Court in Wimbledon, Baccarat is a brilliant casino game with some great live-dealer tables at the bet365 Casino. A simple guessing game, a Baccarat player can either wager on their own hand or the Banker’s hand with a range of different bets and strategies. Great fun in a live casino setting, play Baccarat at bet365 Casino for your chance to get involved in the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway.
Play Roulette at bet365 Casino
Immersive, adrenaline-pumping fun, Roulette is another casino game offered at the bet365 Casino, which is eligible for the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway. With tons of dedicated tables, Roulette enthusiasts will find a natural home playing at bet365, placing their bets and watching the ball turn tantalizingly on the spinning wheel.
Plenty More to Play at bet365 Casino
Although we’ve picked out some of the best games to play at bet365 Casino, there are loads more on-site that are also eligible for the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway promotion. Why not get on-site or on the app and see for yourself? You might find your new favorite game!
What are the Terms & Conditions of the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway?
Every promotion and bonus has its own terms & conditions, and the Grand Slam 100k Giveaway is no different. Make sure you familiarize yourself with all the information you need to take advantage of this golden offer.
The promotional periods run on the following dates: 00:00 GMT on 3rd July 2023 until 23:59 GMT on 9th July 2023 & 00:00 GMT on 10th July 2023 until 23:59 GMT on 16th July 2023.
You must opt in once to be eligible to take part in the prize draws. You must stake a minimum of £15 in cash on any Live Casino game, excluding Live Buffalo Blitz,Live Everybody’s Jackpot, and Live Hi-Lo, to earn one ticket to the next prize draw. Only stakes made via Casino and Live Casino contribute; all other stakes, including those made on Live Casino games launched via Sports, Games or the Poker client do not contribute. You will then earn one additional ticket for every further £15 staked on eligible Live Casino games, up to a maximum of 500 tickets per promotional period.
You can win a maximum of one cash prize in each prize draw. Any prizes not won in the prize draw will be reallocated among qualifying players.
Prize winners will be credited within 72 hours of each promotional period ending. All prizes will be credited as cash and you will have seven days to accept. To accept your cash prize, you must log in to your Live Casino account, open a game and click Accept.
This offer is only available to new and eligible customers. Registration required.
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.
The 37th day of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas was all about the $10,000 buy-in Main Event. With Day 1c of Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship expecting to be huge, and the blind structure so amazing that comparatively few players bust before day’s end, no new events shuffled up and dealt.
Online Event #13: $5,300 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller Championship concluded inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The 408-strong field was whittled down to a more manageable six players on July 3, with those six surviving players concluding the tournament in a live setting.
Florida native Sam Soverel was the player that came out on top, helping himself to his second WSOP bracelet plus $393,516 in prize money. Soverel defeated Hungary’s Gergely Kulcsar heads-up, halting Kulcsar’s impressive comeback as he sat down as the short stack.
Christopher Brammer Bags Biggest Main Event Day 1c Stack
Christopher Brammer
More than 3,000 players turned out for Day 1c of Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship, taking the total attendance to over 5,200 with one flight remaining. The impressive turnout means that the 8,773 field of the record-breaking 2006 WSOP Main Event is within reach, as Day 1d should be the busiest flight of the four Day 1s.
Only 2,326 players had chips requiring bagging and tagging after the completion of five two-hour levels, and none of those Day 1c survivors had more chips than Christopher Brammer (386,100).
Brammer already has a WSOP bracelet, having captured the bracelet award in a €5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo event at the 2017 WSOP Europe festival. Brammer has several million in online poker tournament earnings and over $2 million from the live arena. The popular Brit has now put himself in a prime position to add yet another massive score to his resume.
2021 WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad
Six former WSOP Main Event champions chose Day 1c as the flight to become a two-time Main Event winner. Four of those continued the trend of past champions reaching Day 2. Joe McKeehen (111,500), Tom McEvoy (90,400) Scott Blumstein (71,900), Espen Jorstad (62,000), and Ryan Riess (68,100) all successfully navigated their way through the Day 1c shark-infested waters.
However, disaster struck for reigning champion Koray Aldemir, who ran kings into aces during the final three hands of the night.
Plenty of stellar names will keep Aldemir company in other events, having busted from the Main Event at various points of the penultimate start day. Maria Ho, Vanessa Selbst, and nine-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel will have to wait until 2024 for another shot at WSOP Main Event glory.
As you would expect, from such a bumper field, scores of elite-level professionals punched their Day 2 tickets. Josh Arieh (181,200), Phil Laak (146,100), Mustapha Kanit (142,400), Ronnie Bardah (121,400), and Stephen Chidwick (105,000) each finished their flight with six-figure stacks.
Others to look out for on Day 2abc include Richard Gryko (159,100), David Prociak (157,400), Brian Rast (113,400), Joao Simao (99,200), Joao Vieira (89,600), Sergio Aguero (85,500), Karina Jett (73,400), and Timur Margolin (17,200).
Sergio Aguero
Aguero holds legendary status in football (soccer) circles. The former Argentina striker is the all-time leading goal scorer for Manchester City of the Premier League; a heart condition forced the diminutive forward to retire in December 2021. Aguero bagged up a respectable 87,000 at the close of play and could be a dark horse going into Day 2 and beyond.
Day 1d kicks off at 12:00 p.m. local time on July 6, and it could well be the best-attended WSOP Main Event flight ever. Seventeen-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth is expected to buy-in fashionably late, at around 4:00 p.m. local time, dressed as The Greatest Showman, with a lion costume-sporting Dan Cates accompanying Hellmuth to the tables; don’t you just love the WSOP? The plan is the play five 120-minute levels.
Event #76: 10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship Day 1c Top 10 Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
1
Christopher Brammer
United Kingdom
386,100
483
2
Michael Banducci
United States
292,600
366
3
Lawrence Chang
United States
280,900
351
4
Roman Valerstein
United States
273,300
342
5
Michael Pinto
Netherlands
266,600
333
6
Daniel Kirsch
Canada
252,800
316
7
DID NOT REPORT 11
United States
248,100
310
8
Adrian Buckley
United States
245,000
306
9
Patrick Beuter
United States
244,200
305
10
Keith Cummins
Ireland
244,000
305
Will the WSOP Main Event Attendance Record Be Broken?
Everything points towards the 2023 WSOP Main Event being the best attended in the 54-year history of the World Series of Poker. Through the first three of four flights, an unofficial 5,237 players have bought in, compared to 3,653 by this stage in 2022. That represents a 43.36% increase on the 2022 turnout, which was the second-largest WSOP Main Event in history with 8,663 entrants (information about daily entrants in the 2006 WSOP Main Event is scarce.)
Flight
2022
2023
Difference
Percentage Change
Day 1a
896
1,039
143
+15.96%
Day 1b
897
1,118
221
+24.64%
Day 1c
1,860
3,080
1,220
+65.59%
Day 1d
3,295
TBC
TBC
TBC
The current record holder, the 2006 WSOP Main Event, drew in 8,773 players, meaning Day 1d on July 6 “only” needs 3,537 entrants to set a new record.
What to Expect on Day 38 of the 2023 WSOP
Most of the poker world’s attention will be fixated on Day 1d of Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship, and rightly so. However, there is another tournament taking place, Online Event #14: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo, so expect some of the Main Event entrants to fire up this tournament on their smartphones and tables.
You will next get to see some fresh live events on July 7 when Event #77: $777 Lucky 7’s and Event #78: $1,500 Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha commence.
Welcome to the complete guide of the best free slots you can play online today!
Like their ever-popular paid counterparts, the amount of free slots & online casinos numbers in the thousands; this makes finding the free slots that are worth your time difficult.
Consider this page your complete guide to free slots and the best games to play without paying. You’ll find out what free slots are and how to pick the best game, alongside discovering some of the best free slots providers in the business, like Chumba Casino or Luckyland Slots.
First, we need to quickly detail what free slots are and how they differ from other online slots.
What are free slots?
Free slots are free-to-play online slots played with virtual currency rather than real money. They operate similarly to regular online slots, but free slots tend to invest more in the entertainment factor as you can’t win real money in the games.
Free slots are separate from a demo or free version of real money slots. Most slot games can be trialed for Gold Coins or another virtual currency, giving players a risk-free chance to ascertain if the slot game is for them. These free slot trials are usually reduced to some degree compared to their full real-money versions. However, when it comes to free slots, there aren’t real money versions, so you get the real experience as the developer intended every time.
This section of free online games spans everything from instant wins to free slots and free poker games, but free slots always manage to draw in the crowds. With an account with a top-class free slot platform and your virtual currency at the ready, these are the best free slots for you to try online.
How to Choose the Best Online Free Slot Games
With so many choices out there, it can be overwhelming to pick a free slot game to play.
However, please take advantage of our expertise at PokerNews, as we will outline the decision-making process you should employ to ensure maximum enjoyment from your free slot play.
1. Choose a great free slot casino to play at. 2. Check you can play on your desired device – desktop, mobile, tablet, etc. 3. Investigate the choice on-site and pick a theme that interests you. 4. See if any promotions or bonuses can enhance your free play. 5. Investigate the choice on-site and pick a theme that interests you. 6. You’re all set! Play and enjoy the best free online slot games around.
The Best Online Free Slot Games Providers
Almost as important as the free online slot is the online casino, which provides players with their pick of games.
Different casinos will offer a range of free games and table games to complement their slot machine offering. However, for the purpose of this article, we will focus on those that purely offer the best selection of free slot games, running through the amount of casino slot games, their quality, the bonuses & promotions on-site, and a general comment of the quality of the social casino or online casino.
Play Online Free Slot Games at Chumba Casino
An exceptional online social casino for playing free slot games, Chumba Casino uses a system of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to operate their many free-to-play slots. Known for the quality of its slot games, Chumba Casino regularly offers Free Coins & Bonuses to players for use on free slots, including Sweeps Coins, which can be accrued and redeemed for real prizes.
Play at Chumba Casino
Play Online Free Slot Games at Luckyland Slots
Next up is Luckyland Slots, which, as the name suggests, is an expert in providing a range of brilliant free slot games. Luckyland’s total number of slots ranges well into three figures, offering free slot players fantastic choices when selecting the games they want to play. Across a huge number of exciting themes, Luckyland Slots uses a Gold Coins & Sweeps Coins system for running their free-to-play games.
With stunning graphics and the chance to redeem Sweeps Coins for real prizes, Luckyland Slots is a great choice for free slot enthusiasts.
Play at Luckyland Slots
Play Online Free Slot Games at House of Fun
Developed by Playtika, House of Fun is a terrific online gaming brand with a fantastic range of free slot games. Offering a seamless iOS & Android app, House of Fun has classic 3-reel and modern 5-reel spinners that include multiple pay lines and exciting bonus games. After all, with 200+ free slot games to try out, we’re sure you’ll find something you like!
Play at House of Fun
Play Online Free Slot Games at Slotomania
A brilliant free slots casino, Slotomania boasts some of the best games around and is one of the world’s largest casino apps. Renowned for its brilliant bonuses, Slotomania guarantees a daily reward and regularly offers great signup offers to kickstart your free slot play. Available on desktop and app, Slotomania is well worth checking out.
Play at Slotomania
Play Online Free Slot Games at Sweepslots
An exciting social casino, Sweepslots offers dozens of free slot games alongside a range of dedicated casino tables. With its easy-to-use game software, the site uses a combination of Gold Coins & Sweeps Coins for its free slots play. Featuring tons of exciting slot themes, it’s a great social casino for players to try out.
Play at Sweepslots
Play Online Free Slot Games in the USA
Calling all American free slots players! Free slot games are very popular across the US and can be played at a number of fantastic casinos. All the sites listed in our article allow US free slot players, plus more are available at our Free Online Games hub. Check out some of the most epic free slot games & other free online games around from state-of-the-art developers.
Play Online Free Slot Games in the UK
UK players can also enjoy the thrill of free slots at a range of online casinos. Great brands such as Slotomania and House of Fun provide the free slots thrills, meaning Brits won’t miss out on any of the exhilarating free slot machine action.
Play Online Free Slot Games Elsewhere
Based in the rest of the world? There are some great free slot games for you to play too! Follow the link and find free-to-play slot sites in your location from some truly outstanding developers. With a wide range of reviews, alongside some sought-after offers and bonuses, you’ll be free slot spinning in no time at all.
The Most Popular Online Free Slot Games UK
See below a collection of the most popular free slot games available to UK players. Housed at some of the most reputable free-to-play casinos around, if you’re from Old Blighty, you’ll be sure to love these fantastic spinners.
The Most Popular Online Free Slot Games US & ROW
See below a collection of the most popular free slot games available to US & Rest of the World players. Housed at some of the most reputable free-to-play casinos around, you’ll be sure to love these fantastic spinners.
Playing Free Slot Games on Mobile
Many free slot games are available on a range of devices, including desktop, mobile, and tablet. Large operators, in particular, are likely to offer either a dedicated mobile app or a mobile-optimized site for those on the smaller screen. The ability to play free slots on the go is a massive draw for many players, who have rightly come to expect a fantastic mobile or tablet experience in recent years.
What is the difference between Free Slots & Real-Money Slots?
There are a number of differences between free slots and real-money slots, an understanding of which will be crucial for deciding which mode you wish to play.
Firstly, and most obviously, there is no risk attached to free slot games as you are not risking any money to play. Conversely, this means you cannot win money either.
Secondly, because of the lack of real-money stakes, many players like to use free slots to practice or gain a greater understanding of how staking and bonus features work.
Thirdly, although deposit bonuses and sign-up bonuses exist in both forms, real-money slots are likely to provide more generous lucrative incentives to sign-up players. However, there are still some great free slot bonuses around too.
Finally, as free-to-play slots do not constitute real-money gambling, there may be less stringent sign-up requirements or restrictions depending on your jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions – The Best Online Free Slot Games
Can you win real money on free slots?
You cannot win real money on free slots themselves, but many free slots websites offer real money prizes because you can buy virtual currency for real money.
Here’s a guide to how you can get real prizes on free slots platforms.
Where can I play free slots online?
You can play free slots online at LuckyLand Slots, House of Fun, Slotomania, and Chumba Casino. However, depending on your geographical location, some of these free slot platforms may not be available to you.
Can I get a bonus playing free slots?
Some operators may offer a sign-up bonus or other bonus offering coins for free play slots. However, it is crucial to note free slot games are to be played for fun and not a real money prize.
