On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode, Chad Holloway and Connor Richards wrap up the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP), which includes diving into some numbers, recognizing a new cash record, and discussing the rise of 2023 WSOP Player of the Year Ian Matakis.
Chad then sits down with 2023 WSOP Main Event champ Daniel Weinman, who topped a 10,043-player field to win the most prestigious event in poker for $12.1 million. The poker pro talks about what it was like to win, what he did to celebrate, and how poker may return to a more prominent role in his life. He also addresses speculation that a three-handed deal was struck and explains why he returned to his day job just days after becoming poker’s world champion.
Chad and Connor also break down Ari Engel capturing his thirteenth WSOP Circuit gold ring, The Hendon Mob Mid-Major Championship at Thunder Valley Casino, and both Yin Tao and Steve O’Dwyer winning big at WPT Korea. Toss in updates on the upcoming PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp and 15th Annual Ante 4 Autism Charity Event, and there’s something for everyone in this episode of the PokerNews Podcast.
Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!
Time Stamps
July PokerNews Freerolls
Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show — tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards on Twitter.
Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here!
PokerStars, a prominent brand under the Flutter International umbrella, has recently announced the appointment of Kevin Harrington as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Harrington, who currently holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Flutter International, will now take charge of PokerStars’ growth and performance in the next phase of its journey.
This strategic move comes as PokerStars expands its reach into more regulated markets than ever before. With Harrington at the helm, the company aims to enhance its wide portfolio of online products and live events, catering to the diverse needs of its ever-growing community.
While stepping into his new role as CEO, Harrington is no stranger to the PokerStars brand. Having been an integral part of the company for the past three years as the Chief Commercial Officer, he brings a wealth of experience and understanding of the business.
Kevin Harrington’s journey with Flutter International began in 2012, and over the years, he has been actively involved with various divisions, including Betfair and PaddyPower teams. This extensive exposure has equipped him to lead PokerStars with a unique blend of leadership skills and a genuine passion for the game of poker.
In response to his new appointment, Harrington expressed his excitement, stating, “This is such an incredible time to be a part of the PokerStars story, with so many exciting plans for our players on the horizon. I’m proud to be taking on this role alongside a strong and passionate team as we work together on PokerStars’ future, and I’m looking forward to meeting more of our players at our upcoming events, including EPT Barcelona.”
Industry Insiders: Steve Preiss Becomes VP of PokerStars North America
The new CEO’s vision for PokerStars involves building on the platform’s success and leveraging the brand’s recognition to forge ahead in the competitive online gaming market. With a dedicated team and a dynamic leader at the forefront, PokerStars is well-positioned to deliver innovative and captivating experiences to its vast player base.
As the online gaming landscape continues to evolve, PokerStars seeks to retain its status as a leader in the industry. Kevin Harrington’s appointment as CEO reflects the company’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of cutting-edge gaming technology and providing unparalleled gaming experiences for players worldwide. With a seasoned executive like Harrington at the helm, the future of PokerStars looks promising, and players can anticipate exciting developments that will elevate their gaming adventures to new heights.
Check Out PokerStars Tournaments On The PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar
If you need some help keeping track of the tournaments and events on PokerStars, you can use the newly launched PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar. This free-to-use tool shows you what tournaments are available to play and allows you to register for them without leaving the PokerNews website!
Anyone can learn how to play Baccarat. It is a casino game with some of the best odds, perfect for new players with no need for strategies or skills.
Let’s start with the Baccarat rules!
The Objective of the Game
Playing Baccarat is straightforward. It’s a guessing casino card game! You bet on the Banker’s hand or the Player’s hand to win. The objective is to predict which of the two hands will come closest to nine. The hand with the highest points wins.
Baccarat Breakdown
Before you start playing, here are all the key elements of the game:
Baccarat Table
The Baccarat Table may look complex but is far from it. Baccarat tables have 7 to 14 seats, depending on the version. There’s also a dealer’s area. Despite the number of players, only two hands are dealt: the Player’s and the Banker’s.
Three Betting Areas
Each player gets a spot where they can place their bets. Players don’t receive any cards and don’t need to do anything other than decide who they wish to bet on. Three bet boxes are available above their number on the felt table top, one for Player, Banker, and Tie.
The Dealer
At the center of the table, you will notice the dealer. He or she is responsible for dealing cards and calculating the winnings and losses.
The Commission Box
The dealer takes a 5% commission on winning bets on the Banker’s hand. A long rectangle with numbers tracks all commissions next to the bank in full Baccarat. Other tables have a commission circle next to each betting area. Each number represents a player, and the dealer marks it when a player owes commission until they pay and leave the table.
Baccarat Rules
In Baccarat, each player can bet on either the banker or the player. There’s a possibility to bet on a tie, but we’ll cover that later. Each bet has a payout of 1:1. Once all the bets are placed, the dealer draws four cards – two for both the Player and the Banker. The cards dealt are then calculated, and whichever card sum is closest to 9 (but not over it) wins.
Baccarat is often referred to as a simplified version of Blackjack. Many baccarat variants, such as Punto Banco, Chemin de fer, or mini Baccarat, mostly play the same. The main difference is whether the player and the dealer can alternate between being the banker.
So, let’s talk about the two betting options: Banker Bets and Player Bets.
Two Betting Options
Betting on the Player doesn’t mean betting on yourself. Many players can play Baccarat by betting on the same player. In other words, betting on the player means betting on a different set of cards.
Viewing the Banker and Player as colors may put things in perspective. Think Red and Blue or Black and White.
The cards are dealt to each side by the dealer, and whichever side has better cards wins. This also means that there isn’t a single Baccarat Strategy that can ensure you win each round. There are, however, betting strategies to help you manage losses and mathematically improve your chances.
Info about winning tie bets
If players bet on a tie and win, they get paid 8:1 odds. However, betting on a tie isn’t always recommended due to low probability.
An 8:1 bet may be tempting, but like those odds, the chances of that happening is low. That’s why betting on the Player or the Banker is much safer and keeps you playing longer.
Baccarat Card Values
In Baccarat, point calculation differs from most games. A special rule states that the highest score is nine. No hand value can exceed it. The cards in a Baccarat game are worth as follows:
Cards 2 – 9 are worth their face value
Aces are worth one point
10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth no points
If the banker and the player have the same total sum, it’s a tie! In that case, all the bets are returned to the players unless they wagered on a tie bet in the first place.
Adding up points
When adding up points in Baccarat, once the value reaches a double digit, the second digit becomes the hand’s actual value.
Example: 10 becomes 0, 11 becomes 1, and so on.
When the total points reach 10 or more, drop the first digit to get the hand’s score.
Example: A hand of 9 and 6 adds up to 15, which becomes a 5-point hand.
The winning bet is placed on the hand closest to 9.
4 Easy Steps to Play Baccarat
Start with a game plan: Set a budget beforehand and stick to it.
Place your bet: Before dealing the cards, bet on either the Banker’s hand, the Player’s hand, or a Tie.
Learn how a round works: Two cards are dealt for the Banker and the Player’s hands. Understand when a third card might be drawn.
Know the winning hand: After the hands are played, the one closest to 9 points wins.
The Third Card
In some cases, neither the player nor the banker has a total sum over 5. This scenario necessitates drawing a third card for each side. The player receives the third card first.
Third Card Rules For The Player
When the Player’s hand totals 8 or 9 points, it’s considered a natural win. No extra cards are drawn.
The Player’s hand stands on point totals of 6 or 7.
A third card is drawn if the Player’s total is anywhere between 0 to 5 unless the Banker has 8 or 9.
After receiving it, the banker draws a third card based on a few rules of his own.
Third Card Rules For The Banker
If the banker sum is less or equal to 2, they draw a third card regardless of the player’s third card.
If the banker sum is 3, they draw another card unless the player’s third card is an 8.
If the banker sum is 4, they draw a third card if the player’s third card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
If the banker sum is 5, they draw a third card if the player’s third card is 4, 5, 6, or 7.
If the banker sum is 6, they draw a third card if the player’s third card is either a 6 or a 7.
If the banker sum is 7, they stand and may not draw a third card.
Banker Bet – you should always bet on this!
By now, you should have a good idea of how Baccarat works. You might already be considering betting on the player or the banker (the tie bet isn’t worth betting on). So, which one should you bet on?
The banker, of course!
So why bet on the banker? Simple! The banker bet has slightly better odds of winning than the player bet.
First of all, the banker draws AFTER the player. This may not matter in the long run, but it has a lower house edge. This is especially true when the third card is drawn because the banker’s hand gets the advantage because of all the additional rules.
The banker wins, under normal circumstances, about 51% of games. Because of this, a 5% commission is normally charged for each banker bet won. Without this commission, many baccarat players (who bet on the banker) would win more than the casino would like.
However, even with this 5% commission, the banker bet is a better deal with its low house edge of only 1,06% (as opposed to the Player house edge of 1,24%).
How To Play Baccarat: The Winning Hand
Once the deck has been dealt and the hands played out, victory goes to the hand closest to a sum of 9 points. A hand never exceeds three cards! In the unique event of a tie, neither hand claims victory nor suffers defeat. The dealer neatly gathers the lost bets and generously rewards the winners.
Note, there’s a subtle 5% commission on winning bets solely on the Banker’s hand. This is the secret sauce of the casino’s profits from Baccarat. These commissions are carefully logged in the dealer’s commission box each time they’re incurred. After each successful Banker’s hand, they are collected. Like most casino games, a game of Baccarat has a way of upholding the house edge.
Where Can I Play Baccarat Online?
You can play Baccarat online in almost any online casino. If you aren’t sure where to begin, check out our list of some of the best Bitcoin online casinos with baccarat games.
A new law starting in 2024 will require US citizens to apply for further authorization beyond a passport when visiting many European nations, and it will impact travel for the thousands of poker players who do so each year.
For those heading to Barcelona, Cyprus, or Prague for upcoming European Poker Tour (EPT) events before the end of the year, there won’t be any issues. The law doesn’t go into effect until January 1.
What Poker Players Need to Know
At present, a passport is required of US citizens when entering and returning from a foreign land, including European nations, for pleasure or to play poker. That will continue to be the case, but come 2024 there’s going to be another step in getting approval to visit 30 European countries.
Even if you’re a regular traveler abroad, starting in 2024 you must apply for authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). You can do so online at the ETIAS website where you’ll also pay a $7.79 administration fee. According to the site, approval will be done instantly in most cases, so it is a simple pain-free process except for those who may have some travel restrictions.
Once approved, it will be valid for three years. Tourists can visit a European Union (EU) nation for a period not exceeding 90 days within a 180-day period.
Who Should Apply?
For those traveling to popular poker tournaments in 2024 such as the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) or most EPT destinations, it would be wise to apply for ETIAS authorization well in advance.
Citizens of the United States aren’t the only current visa-exempt travelers who will be required to apply prior to traveling to the 30 ETIAS European nations. Those in 57 other countries will have to do the same. Canada, Brazil, South Korea, New Zealand, and Mexico are among those countries.
Travel only to nations within the EU will be impacted. As such, this does not apply to United Kingdom travel. The full list of ETIAS travel authorization requirement are as follows:
Nationals of the United Kingdom will also be required to obtain ETIAS authorization when traveling to the EU nations. Those who are nationals of the EU nations will not have to apply for authorization when traveling country to country, however.
When applying for ETIAS authorization you must provide passport information, occupation, dates of planned travel, personal information, and disclose your criminal background, if one exists.
Back on July 21, PokerStars USA kicked off the Sunset Series for players in the New Jersey/Michigan merged market and Pennsylvania segregated market. The turbo-structured series, which will run through July 31, offers the opportunity to qualify for upcoming live events at Live! Philadelphia.
In addition to a full slate of great online tournaments – 36 in total with buy-ins starting as low as $5 – there are also three special Summer Series satellite qualifiers:
The $5 buy-in $550 Summer Series Package on July 23
The $10 buy-in $1,100 Summer Series Package on July 28
The $20 buy-in $2,200 Summer Series Package on July 30
The winner of each of those qualifiers will win the following live package:
Buy-ins to the Live! Philadelphia $550, $1,100, $2,200 tournaments
$700 in expense money
5-star Hotel accommodation for two
Access to unique player experiences during the events
Everything You Need to Know About PokerStars Summer Series at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia
Dan “Dr Dad 1819” Schill Claims a Title
In the merged market of New Jersey and Michigan, “Zlajamiest” was the lucky winner of the July 23 $5 buy-in $550 Summer Series Package, so they will be headed to Philadelphia next month.
Meanwhile, it was a good couple of days for “OJ Limpsinnnn” who laid claim to a pair of titles early. First, they topped a field of 383 entries to win Event #1: $10 NLHE [PLE/PLO Mix – PLO Warmup], $1K Gtd for $631.88, and then the following day bested 153 runners to win Sunset Series 4: $30 PLO [PLO 4-Max], $2K Gtd for $850.51.
More recently on Wednesday night, Dan “Dr Dad 1819” Schill navigated a 220-entry field to win Sunset Series 19: $20 NLHE [Hyper-Turbo, Progressive KO, Zoom PKO], $3K Gtd for $936.12. A biomedical researcher at the University of Michigan, Schill studies bipolar disorder as his day job. When he’s not busy putting his doctorate in cell and developmental biology to use, the 32-year-old father can often be found streaming his online poker play on Twitch.
As for his screen name, 1819 is a combination of two years – 2018 when he received his Ph.D. and 2019 when his son was born.
It’s not the first time he’s found success on PokerStars USA. In April 2022, he won the SCOOP Event #32-M: $50 NLH for $1,928, and in May 2022 finished second in a $250 PokerStars High Roller for $4,324.
“Winning my first series event on PokerStars Michigan during SCOOP this year really stands out to me,” Schill told US Poker at the time. “I do a majority of my volume on PokerStars, so it was awesome to get a series win there and get in a Tweet from the official PokerStars USA account.”
Lestingi & “LetMeWin3437” Sail Into Sunset on PokerStars PA
Over on PokerStars PA, 15 Sunset Series events have taken place so far with buy-ins ranging from $5 to $100 and guarantees climbing up to $8,000.
There have been a few notable winners already, including 2021 COOP champion Vince “FuglyFunGuy” Lestingi, who nabbed a victory by taking down Sunset Series 13: $20 NLO [Progressive KO, NLO KO], $1.5K Gtd for $556.82 after navigating a field of 133 players.
Other notable winners include 2020 PACOOP winner “LetMeWin3437” (Sunset Series 8: $50 NLHE [Turbo, Special Sunset Chance], $8.5K Gtd – $2,326.98) and “GeneralSpanks” (Sunset Series 9: $20 NLO [Turbo, NLO], $1.5K Gtd – $482.76), who in March won two titles in the PokerStars US 2023 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP).
There’s still plenty of action to come during the 2023 PokerStars PA Sunset Series, including the $55,000 guaranteed Sunset Series 31:$100 NLHE Sunday Special on July 30 and the $10,000 guaranteed Sunset Series 32: $200 Turbo High Roller the same evening.
The PokerStars USA Sunset Series will wrap this Sunday, and once it does PokerNews will bring you a full recap from both the MI/NJ merged market and the segregated Pennsylvania market.
This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.
AC says: You can never go wrong learning about bets that you shouldn’t make. Several are discussed in this article and the examples are good. The author’s assignment of a 15% disadvantage for blackjack beginners is too high, likely coming from a comment in the classic book, The Theory of Blackjack, in which author Peter Griffin pegs the disadvantage for “the world’s worst blackjack player” — a hypothetical player who hits stiffs against dealer small cards, never doubles down, etc. — at about 15%. Griffin goes on to cite his study indicating that the public in general plays at about 1.4% worse than basic strategy, which would put the disadvantage closer to 2%-3%. The worst among them might be in the 4%-5% range. Regardless, the advice in this article to learn basic strategy is on the mark. I particularly like that author Sean Chaffin includes blackjack games that charge an ante to play (found mostly at tribal operations). I’ve never seen the ante games included in articles on this subject and that bad bet absolutely qualifies for inclusion.
This article was written by Sean Chaffin in association with 888Casino.
SUCKER BETS: 10 OF THE WORST AND BAD BETS IN A CASINO
Rolling bones, angling for a nice blackjack, or seeing that roulette wheel land just right. There’s nothing quite like a little gambling to get the blood flowing and bring on some nice feelings of excitement and anticipation.
But why just throw money away? Everyone has seen some poor sap making some of the worst wagers in the casino, metaphorically lighting that cash on fire as the house makes use of a hefty casino edge to separate this player from his hard-earned money.
Of course gamblers can do as they like with their own money and occasionally even defy long odds to collect some winnings. But for those who want to keep some of that cash in their pocket or wagered on some of the better options, here’s a look at some of the worst bets in a casino (note: these are in no particular order). Some come with long odds, big house edges, and some are just unwise because of the opportunity cost.
Poker players across Europe and around the world are set to descend on King’s Resort in Rozvodov, Czech Republic, for the 2023 World Series of Poker Europe festival. The 2023 WSOP Europe features 15 bracelet-awarding events with combined guaranteed prize pools tipping the scales at an impressive €15 million!
Players heading to King’s Resort will win not a cent less than €15 million, up from €12 million in 2022. However, if the European WSOP continues the trend of record-breaking attendances seen in Las Vegas this summer, there could be a lot more cash splashing around in Rozvadov between October 25 and November 14.
2023 World Series of Poker Europe Schedule
Dates
Event
Buy-in
Guarantee
Oct 25-30
#1 WSOPE 2023 NLH Opener
€350
€1,000,000
Oct 27-31
#2 WSOPE Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Max
€550
€300,000
Oct 29-Nov 4
#3 WSOPE Mini Main Event
€1,350
€2,000,000
Oct 31-Nov 1
#4 WSOPE 2K Pot Limit Omaha
€2,000
€300,000
Nov 1-6
#5 WSOPE NLH Colossus
€550
€1,500,000
Nov 5-6
#6 WSOPE 5K Pot Limit Omaha
€5,000
€500,000
Nov 6-7
#7 WSOPE NLH 6-Max
€1,650
€300,000
Nov 6-7
#8 WSOPE NLHE GGMillion$
€25,000
€1,000,000
Nov 7-8
#9 WSOPE NLH 1K Mystery Bounty
€1,100
€300,000
Nov 8-9
#10 WSOPE 8-Game Mix
€2,000
€100,000
Nov 9
#11 WSOPE NLH Turbo Bounty Hunter
€1,100
€300,000
Nov 9-10
#12 WSOPE 50K NLH Diamond High Roller
€50,000
€1,000,000
Nov 10-15
#13 WSOPE Main Event NLH European Championship
€10,350
€5,000,000
Nov 12
#14 WSOPE NLH Turbo Freezeout
€1,000
€200,000
Nov 12-14
#15 WSOPE 2023 NLH Closer
€550
€200,000
As with previous editions of the WSOPE, the 2023 series kicks off with the €350 Opener, which carries a €1 million guarantee. Last year, King’s guaranteed €500,000 yet paid iut €734,359 after 2,454 players bought in. Italian Fabio Peluso captured the event’s bracelet plus a €106,020 score. The first of several flights commences on October 25.
A trio of Pot-Limit Omaha events are scheduled. They cost €550, €2,000, and €5,000, with the latter promising at least €500,000 in the kitty. PLO is massively popular at King’s, so expect last year’s 223 attendance to be blown clean out of the water.
Two bounty tournaments, a €1,100 buy-in €300,000 guaranteed Mystery Bounty, and a €1,100 buy-in €300,000 Turbo Bounty Hunter add an element of surprise to the schedule, while €100,000 guaranteed 8-Game Mix event will surely attract the best mixed game specialists to the Czech Republic.
Those who love high stakes No-Limit Hold’em tournaments are also well-catered for. November 6 sees the €25,000 buy-in €1 million guaranteed GGMillion$ event shuffle up and deal. Last year, this event was named the Platinum High Roller, and saw Paul Phua come out on top of a 67-strong field to bank €482,433.
The €50,000 Diamond High Roller returns on November 9, hoping to surpass last year’s 45 entries. Turkish star Orpen Kisacikoglu defeated Sam Grafton heads-up in 2022, reeling in a €748,106 payout in the process.
Of course, the €10,350 buy-in 2023 WSOP Europe Main Event European Championship is the tournament every poker player dreams about winning. This year’s Main Event boasts a €5 million guarantee on its prize pool, but there will be far more money at stake, that is for sure.
The 2022 WSOPE Main Event attracted 763 entrants, who created a €7,248,500 prize pool that the top 115 finishers shared. All nine finalists saw at least €108,024 land in their bank accounts. Those finalists included Timothy Adams, Alexandre Reard, Barny Boatman, and a certain Shaun Deeb, who finished third for €607,531.
Sweden’s Omar Eljach got his hands on the Main Event’s bracelet and €1,380,129 in cash after defeating Frenchman Jonathan Pastore (€852,949) heads-up.
Plenty of WSOP Circuit Action For Europeans
There is a ton of WSOP Circuit action on European soil before the WSOP Europe festival gets underway. £7 million is guaranteed across 15 circuit ring-awarding events in London, United Kingdom, between July 27 and August 13, before King’s Resorts hosts another international circuit stop featuring 12 ring events and €3 million worth of guaranteed prize pools.
Keep your internet browser locked to PokerNews for all the WSOP Europe and other poker news you can handle.
There has been a seemingly endless supply of poker action on Global Poker, and that’s certainly been the case since The GOAT V series kicked off on July 17.
The GOAT V series, which runs through August 6, consists of 216 Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins events with a combined 941,000,000 GC and 2,056,500 SC in guarantees and 216 trophies up for grabs.
Action will culminate on August 6 with two Main Events, including the 99,000 entry GC Main Event with a GC 40,000,000,000 guaranteed prize pool and the Sweeps Coins Main Event which is SC 99 and has a SC 200,000 guarantee attached.
Currently, “TARK” leads the GOAT Sweeps Coins Leaderboard with 1,107.51 points, followed by “pitsmeout” (1,100.88) and “waxydabs” (809.19).
GOAT Sweeps Coins Leaderboard Standings
RANK
SCREEN NAME
VALUE
1
“TARK”
1,107.51
2
“pitsmeout”
1,100.88
3
“waxydabs”
809.19
4
“bigTILTcity”
690.63
5
“cosen3”
681.93
6
“dcolorvvs1”
647.5
7
“MenaceABQ”
621.93
8
“jb2828”
614.67
9
“Toastxp”
613.95
10
“Balenciaga”
609.17
Here’s a look at some of the biggest winner’s so far during The GOAT V series on the social poker site.
“Jigsore”, “Whytry2169” & “Rhino1978” Among Early Winners
Read More About The GOAT V Series!
One of the first events of The GOAT V series was GPC GOAT 01-H: NLHE, which boasted a GC 24,000,000 guarantee and drew 291 entries. At the end of it all, it was “Jigsore” who walked away with the trophy and the top prize of GC 5,054,670.
The next day, “Nognog” got through a field of 210 runners to take down the 20,000,000 guaranteed GPC GOAT 02-H: PLO event, proving their Pot-Limit Omaha chops to win GC 4,390,000.
The good fortune for Global Poker players was just beginning. Later in the series, “Whytry2169” took down the GPC GOAT 04-H: NLHE GC 20,000,000 Guaranteed [Bounty] – Fortune Cookie Day event to win GC 4,025,088 after navigating a field of 278 players.
Meanwhile, on the Sweeps Coins side of things, “Kimekong” took down the SC 40,000 guaranteed GPC GOAT 01-H: NLHE to win SC 7,540, while “Bodikilla” took down the SC 20,000 guaranteed GPC GOAT 02-H: PLO for SC 4,090.
“Kimekong”
Other winners so far in the series include Gold Coins champions “1BadBeat1” (GPC GOAT 06-H: NLHE GC 15,000,000 Guaranteed [Deep] – Hammock Day – GC 4,388,040) and “EMP67” (GPC GOAT 13-H: NLHE GC 20,000,000 Guaranteed [Bounty, 6-Max] – 3,892,633) and Sweeps Coins winners “BirdieEagle1972” (GPC GOAT 09-H: NLHE SC 100,000 Guaranteed [1R1A] – SC 20,768.68) and “Rhino1978” (GPC GOAT 13-H: NLHE SC 25,000 Guaranteed [Bounty, 6-Max] – 4,580.86).
But the biggest action is still to come with the Main Event getting underway on August 6. Be sure to check out those Main Events for a chance to earn pieces of the GC 40,000,000 and SC 200,000 guaranteed prize pools.
Assorted Global Poker’s The GOAT V Series Gold Coins Winners So Far
The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) wasn’t the only game in town over the summer. From June 29-July 3, the $1,100 buy-in, $1,000,000 GTD PokerNews Cup Mystery Bounty proved to be a tremendous hit as 2,331 entrants completely obliterated the $1 million guaranteed prize pool by more than doubling it at $2,261,070, the largest prize pool in Golden Nugget history.
The PokerNews Live Reporting Team has been busy capturing all the action in our live updates, and they’ve witnessed some hands go down that proved to be either entertaining, game-changing or just flat out brutal.
This article is brought to you by Global Poker. Global Poker offers fun and exciting social casino games, including traditional poker games, table games, and other slot machine options. It’s legal and free to play almost everywhere in the US and Canada.
Play now and discover the world’s best social casino!
Hudson Flops a Boat and Loses
Oliver Bunting
On Day 1a of the tournament, it was Level 8 (500/1,000/1,000) when reporter Calum Grant caught a big hand. The under-the-gun player opened before Spencer Hudson jammed for around 26,500 on his direct left. Oliver Bunting called off his 22,000 stack from middle position, which prompted the original raiser to fold.
Oliver Bunting: A♣A♠ Spencer Hudson: J♠J♣
Bunting was way ahead with his rockets until Hudson made a full house on the K♣K♠J♥ flop to become the huge favorite. The 6♦ turn changed nothing. However, the K♥ river improved Bunting to a superior full house while counterfeiting Hudson. Bunting collected the pot after the wild runout to leave his opponent on crumbs.
It wouldn’t be the last time a flopped boat proved no good in the tournament.
Flopped Boats are Cursed in PokerNews Cup
Harrison Ashdown
In Level 4 (200/400/400) on Day 1b, Grant saw Gloria Vallejo open to 1,100 from middle position and was called by Harrison Ashdown from the big blind.
The A♥4♣4♥ flop checked through to the 8♣ turn. Ashdown bet 1,400 and was called.
Sparks then began to ignite on the 9♣ river. Ashdown checked and Vallejo fired out 3,500. Ashdown made it 20,000 and then faced a jam for 32,900.
Ashdown went deep into the tank, listing the hands that beat him as well as the hands that he beat.
He began counting out his stack and called.
Vallejo tabled 9♥9♠ for a rivered full house of nines full of fours. Ashdown looked sickened as he had the A♦4♦ for fours full of aces, and sent his hand into the muck.
The hand is similar to a pot played between Spencer Hudson and Oliver Bunting yesterday. Hudson’s flopped jacks full of kings against Bunting’s aces. However, a third king on the river gave Bunting a superior full house.
Check out the Golden Nugget Poker Room review here on PokerNews!
Zolnai Makes Incredible Hero Call in Biggest Pot of the Day
Peter Zolnai
On Day 2, it was Level 23 (15,000/30,000/30,000) when Peter Zolnai opened to 45,000 from early position and called when Lucas Sfez three-bet to 140,000.
Zolnai opted to lead for 40,000 on the 7♣3♣2♥ flop and called again when Sfex made it 150,000.
Zolnai continued to fire for 100,000 and called once more when Sfez raised too 390,000 on the 6♣ turn.
Zolnai then slowed down on the K♠ river and checked. Sfez emptied the clip for 530,000 total. Zolnai covered him but went deep into the tank.
Several minutes passed by before the clock was called, but as soon as the TD approached the table, Zolnai committed his stack.
Sfez sheepishly showed J♥10♣ for complete air. Zolnai had just a pair of fives with his 5♥5♦ and scooped in the biggest pot of the day.
Sorrentino Doubles Through Kennedy with Quads
Raffaele Sorrentino
Also on Day 2 in the same level, reporter Liam Gannon saw Anthony Kennedy raise to 60,000 from early position and Raffaele Sorrentino called from the cutoff.
The flop came 7♣5♦2♦ and Kennedy continued for 50,000, which Sorrentino called.
On the turn 2♥, Kennedy continued once more for 145,000 and Sorrentino went into the tank before putting in the call.
On the 4♣ river, Kennedy moved all in for 750,000 effective and Sorrentino called immediately.
Raffaele Sorrentino: 2♣2♠ Anthony Kennedy: 4♦4♥
Kennedy had boated up on the river to make fours full of twos, but he was drawing dead after Sorrentino had turned quad twos, allowing him to take down a massive pot against the Day 1a leader.
See all the winners from the 2023 Grand Poker Series here!
Double Elimination at Final Three Tables
Andreas Chalkiadakis
On Day 2 in Level 28 (50,000/100,000/100,000), just 27 players remained when Gannon caught a monster of a hand. It began when Tim Garles raised to 200,000 from early position and Nikolaos Angelou three-bet to 450,000. Andreas Chalkiadakis moved all in for 775,000, Forrest Raleigh moved all in having all players covered, Garles folded and Angelou called to put himself at risk for 1,900,000.
Andreas Chalkiadakis: A♣Q♣ Nikolaos Angelou: Q♠Q♥ Forrest Raleigh: J♦J♥
The flop of 6♣10♣3♣ saw Chalkiadakis excitedly walked over to his rail as he had flopped a flush leaving both of his opponents drawing very thin. The turn peeled off a J♠ leaving Angelou drawing dead to the main pot and only one out to survive while Raleigh found a myriad of outs to scoop both. The river 3♠ was one of those outs and Raleigh knocked out two players in one hand with his rivered full house.
Kelly Spikes a River Ace to Survive
Johnny Kelly
On Day 3 at the final table, it was Level 32 (150,000/300,000/300,000) when Johnny Kelly, the eventual champion, won a game-changing hand that helped propel him to victory. As Gannon reported, Vid Zagar raised to 600,000 in middle position and Kelly moved all in for 3,325,000, which saw action fold back around to Zagar who went into the tank before deciding to call.
Johnny Kelley: A♣A♥ Vid Zagar: 10♦10♣
One ten had already been tossed in the muck as had an ace. The board ran out 10♠Q♣3♥4♥A♠ and the English rail went wild as Kelly spiked his one-outer on the river to survive.
Johnny Kelly is the 2023 PokerNews Cup champion!
Poker’s “Coming Home” as Brit Johnny Kelly Wins 2023 PokerNews Cup ($176,540)
America’s Number 1 Social Casino Has Launched Chumba Bingo.
125bn Gold Coins & 2.5m Sweeps Coins available every month
Fantastic 75-Ball Bingo, 90-Ball Bingo & Bingo Blast to play.
Heads down and cards at the ready, Chumba Casino has just launched Chumba Bingo, a fantastic new free online bingo platform at the USA’s favorite social casino.
With three incredible Bingo games to play totally free of charge, Chumba Bingo promises to be a terrific addition to Chumba Casino’s stable of free slots and casino table games.
Offering 75-Ball Bingo, 90-Ball Bingo, and Bingo Blast, this range of Bingo games promises to keep players on the edge of their seats with interesting variations.
In this article, we will introduce Chumba Casino, tell you how you can play bingo online for free, and explain some of the incredible guaranteed prizes up for grabs at Chumba Bingo on Chumba Casino each month.
For B-I-N-G-O Chumba Casino is your name-o!
How to Get Started at Chumba Casino
Anyone looking to enjoy free online bingo will first need to register for an account at Chumba Casino.
You’ll be making a great choice as Chumba Casino is already home to over 1 million players who joined to play the best free slots and casino games available. This figure is sure to grow even further with the introduction of Chumba Bingo.
Chumba Casino stands alongside other fantastic social casinos like LuckyLand Slots, which offer players the chance to win real prizes from free online games.
Chumba Bingo at Chumba Casino will operate the same Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins system used by all its other free casino games on-site.
For those unfamiliar, Gold Coins is the standard coins system used at Chumba Casino, which you can use for standard play. These coins hold no monetary value and can be obtained for free or by buying them to extend your free casino play. When purchasing Gold Coins, you may often receive Sweeps Coins as part of the transaction, depending on the promotion Chumba Casino is running at that time.
Free Sweeps Coins cannot be purchased, but if obtained, you can redeem your winnings for real prizes such as cash or gift cards. Chumba Bingo players at Chumba Casino will be able to play Sweeps Coins games, which, if successful, could lead to the chance to redeem cash prizes.
You can sign-up for an account at Chumba Casino by clicking the button below and start playing free online bingo today.
Where can I play Chumba Bingo at Chumba Casino?
A legend of free online gaming in North America, Chumba Casino is at this time available in most of the US and Canada, where it is one of the most popular social casino sites!
In the meantime, if you are based elsewhere and want to play fantastic free online bingo and other casino games, please find our complete list of the best free online games & social casino sites.
Play Chumba Bingo Here!
How to Play Chumba Bingo at Chumba Casino
Now that you know what Chumba Casino is, how it works, and how to sign up, let’s look at the fantastic new free bingo games on Chumba Bingo and how you play them.
Play 75-Ball Bingo at Chumba Casino
One of the most popular Bingo variants in the US, 75-ball bingo features high-octane gameplay on a five-by-five grid. Offering traditional straight-line patterns and blackouts, 75-ball Bingo at Chumba Casino also provides the chance to call more intricate designs like arrows or diamonds.
With progressive jackpots available at Chumba Bingo, massive prizes are always available when you play free 75-Ball Bingo at Chumba Casino.
Play 90-Ball Bingo at Chumba Casino
A thrilling game of simplicity and fun, 90-Ball Bingo is an engaging free online bingo format available at Chumba Casino. Featuring multiple chances to win in every game, players can hit one line, two lines, or all three lines (a Full House) for the biggest prizes.
Play 90-Ball Bingo today at the biggest social casino in the US, Chumba Bingo at Chumba Casino.
Play Bingo Blast at Chumba Casino
Fast-paced, frenetic, and fun, Bingo Blast is a superb variation on traditional bingo that is 3 to 4 times shorter than the average game. Prioritizing speedy gameplay, Bingo Blast delivers free online bingo players straight to the exciting conclusion of a game, where lines are made and pulses race.
Exhilarating and all-action, Bingo Blast is a phenomenal bingo game available for free at Chumba Bingo on the Chumba Casino desktop & app.
Chumba Bingo Bonuses at Chumba Casino
Feeling excited about starting your Chumba Bingo journey at Chumba Casino?
We don’t blame you! Moreover, we’re especially excited about the whopping 125bn Gold Coins & 2.5m Sweeps Coins guaranteed to Chumba Bingo players every month – a new promotion for this fantastic new platform.
This stands alongside existing offers where you can kickstart your play today with a fantastic sign-up bonus available to new players. Chumba Casino is currently offering 2 Million Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins for FREE for all new sign-ups – including those at Chumba Bingo.
With hundreds of exceptional free casino games and slots on site, as well as bingo, get started at Chumba Casino with a bonus by clicking the button below.
Chumba Bingo – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Chumba Bingo available on mobile devices?
Yes. Chumba Bingo is available through the dedicated Chumba Casino app, which is available for free on iOS and Android operating systems.
Can I win real money playing Bingo at Chumba Casino?
Chumba Casino is a free social casino that uses Gold Coins and free Sweeps Coins. Accruing enough Sweeps Coins will allow a player to redeem these for cash prizes.
Is Chumba Bingo at Chumba Casino free?
Yes! Chumba Bingo at Chumba Casino is totally free and is a fantastic free online bingo platform.
