As revealed by iGB, Germany’s Higher Administrative Court of Rhineland-Palatinate, recently ruled against a blocking order issued by the country’s gambling regulator against Lottoland, an online lottery provider based in Malta. The Court followed an appeal as the GGL previously ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to Lottoland, claiming the operator and its subsidiaries offered services illegally in the country for a number of years.
In an unexpected turn of events, the Higher Administrative Court deemed GGL’s order, which dates back to October 2022, as “clearly unlawful.” The Court explained that the gambling regulator did not have the authority to enforce such block and demand ISPs to block the access to Lottoland and its subsidiaries.
At the same time, the Court explained that ISPs cannot be held responsible under the current legal framework for content that is provided or broadcasted via a third party. This is with the only exception if the ISPs are directly involved in the process.
GGL’s Clash with Lottoland
Upon probing Lottoland last year, the GGL claimed that its offerings are illegal. This is because the operator and its subsidiaries offer betting on the outcome of different lottery games, which, under the gambling regulation in Germany isn’t allowed. Back in October, the GGL said it wants to protect consumers from harm and asked ISPs to IP block the operator and its subsidiaries in an effort to discontinue their offering in the country.
The enforcement call came a few months after the regulator started operating. Ultimately, the gambling authority sought to decrease the number of illegal offerings to protect Germans from gambling-related harm.
But neither ISPs nor Lottoland was happy with GGL’s enforcement action at the time. The operator issued a statement disputing GGL’s label of an “illegal operator.” At the time, the company said that the GGL breaches the gambling regulations by issuing a blocking order. Moreover, Lottoland pointed out that it had applied for a license in Germany as well.
Lottoland also explained that its services and products are operating in line with the freedom of services regulation within the European Union. Additionally, the operator flagged that the German regulations breach EU treaties.
Commenting on the latest results, PAGCOR chairman and chief executive, Alejandro Tengco, suggested that the gambling industry in the country could see a return to its pre-pandemic levels before long, and possibly this or next year, although no specificity on the timeline was offered.
The Worst Is Behind, Economic Boon Is Ahead
Tengco spoke in the context of the regulator’s latest financial results for the full year of 2022. During the reported year, the company saw a significant boost in its overall revenue, notching up a 66.2% growth year-over-year.
Revenues stood at close to $1.10 billion (PHP59 billion) with a 68.7% increase in income from gambling operators – roughly $1 billion (PHP55.1 billion) according to the official report. The markedly better performance throughout 2022 was not a chance thing either.
The Philippines embarked on a long and sinuous road to recovery, which involved taking risks and ensuring that the economy was prepared take a new spike in infections. That is why the Philippines restored international travel in February and lifted most of the remaining COVID-19 measures throughout March and April.
Mask mandates were finally struck down by the country’s new president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in the fourth quarter. Tengco noted that PAGCOR is hardly the only Asian gambling hub to have experienced a rebound, noting that Singapore and even Macau have also made a strong recovery.
But a full recovery has still not been achieved. Tengco noted that the removal of lockdowns has dramatically improved revenue as well as boosted growth and realized pent-up demand, which are the main levers of gambling operations in the country. PAGCOR reported that it had contributed $641 million (PHP34.7 billion) during 2022 towards the state coffers, making it one of the biggest taxpayers in the country.
Conscientious Taxpayer but Targeted by Politicians
Yet, for all the good PAGCOR has been doing for the treasury, the regulator has been targeted by politicians insisting that the current model does not work and that casinos in the country ought to be privatized and run by private companies, which would result in a boost to the central government’s budget through tax collection and job creation.
While revenue contributions have been consistent, PAGCOR has faced other issues. Crime is a perennial problem, for example, with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators the main emanators of such issues. PAGCOR has vowed to crack down on any offenders in a bid to restore public trust in its ability to bring down rogue operators.
Illegal POGOs have been the source of diplomatic tensions and domestic criticism that PAGCOR is now keen to rectify. The integrity of operations of the gaming industry remains a top priority, the regulator assured.
As other neighboring states have already legalized betting, including Virginia and Tennessee, North Carolina is equally keen to catch up and do so quickly. This may yet happen with the support of prominent lawmakers from the state such as Phil Berger, who thinks this is the year when the state finally succeeds.
North Carolina is Hesitant about Betting, But Gathering Momentum
There is no shortage of lawmakers who are now taking a close look and throwing their support for various measures to see the sports betting industry state-regulated and bound by a legal framework.
Efforts have been most successful in the Senate, with Senate Bill 688 making it out of a floor vote with 26-19 in favor, but eventually failing with a close margin during a House vote with a slim 49-52 disadvantage in 2021.
Much has changed since then, and while some neighbors are still holding out states and not in a hurry to regulate sports gambling, North Carolina seems to be realizing that betting is already happening – whether it’s regulated and contributed to the state’s tax is down to lawmakers to decide.
New Faces Means New Hopes for Sports Betting
The legal makeup is different this year, with 12 new senators and 26 new representatives who may be more open to the idea of pushing sports betting laws. The fact that more than 30 other states already have is definitely building up the pressure for local states to follow suit as well.
Many are also warning about the dangers of not legalizing sports gambling. According to Senator Jim Perry, one of the sponsors of SB 688, residents of North Carolina already participate in various sports betting contests – and many do so illegally.
To criminalize an activity that is already legal in the majority of the country, says Perry, would not be productive. Of course, there are concerns. Most opponents insisted that gambling is addictive and it endangers communities and lives, but fail to acknowledge that problem gambling is an issue even now but not enough funding is directed this way.
Putting a levy on gambling companies to contribute to problem gambling treatment and research, and ensuring that robust consumer safeguards are in place is a better way to tackle the issue than avoiding it altogether. So far, though, there is no legal momentum gathering up in the form of a bill – just chatter.
One rumor is that the state may be expanding gambling with up to nine new casinos that will also end up hosting sports betting. This year’s legislative session is running through August 31, offering legislators plenty of time to debate the matter, though.
This is mostly the courtesy of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) which has released its full summer schedule, offering a revamped list of events, and some of the biggest prize pools that have been seen to date.
WSOP Expects Big Things from the 2023 Main Event
Responding to an upsurging interest in the game across the country, WSOP has decided to invest more into its Main Event, which could feature the biggest prize pool in the organization’s history to date. This year’s poker bonanza will unfold between May 30 and July 18 and take place at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.
There will be a total of 95 bracelet events and the Main Event will be taking place on July 3 through July 17. Not only that, but one lucky participant will earn free entry into the next 30 Main Events. Overall, WSOP is bracing for what the organization has described as its biggest attendance yet.
This is thanks to a number of factors, not least the removal of COVID-19 restrictions, the pent-up demand for live poker, and not least – the continuously improving profile and popularity of the game in the United States, and beyond. Commenting on the upcoming events, WSOP SVP & executive director Ty Stewart said:
With the momentum generated from the WSOP’s debut on the Las Vegas Strip last year, we expect a record-breaking WSOP and World Championship at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas in 2023.
WSOP SVP & executive director Ty Stewart
Record Guaranteed Entries Now Available
Stewart spared the Main Event no flattery, arguing that “this is the year” to go to Las Vegas and play. WSOP is definitely putting in a lot of effort to ensure that interest exceeds expectations, with 600 seats into the main event guaranteed through qualifications hosted by GGPoker, a prominent online poker website, and platform.
WSOP.com is also hosting additional series for another 112 guaranteed seats. Nevertheless, the bulk of entries comes from players who are more than happy to pay for the Main Event upfront and cover expenses associated with traveling and accommodation for a chance to take a shot at the multi-million prize pools. No details about what the prize pool for the Main Event would be is available right now.
SG:certified, a company that helps operators with their safer gambling and sustainability needs, has announced a new partnership with the Association of Certified Gaming Compliance Specialists (ACGCS). Under the agreement, the association will provide SG:certified’s employees with the training needed to improve its clients’ practices.
ACGCS Will Provide the Consultancy with Training
As agreed, ACGCS’ training courses will be integrated into the sustainability specialist’s platform. Thanks to this, the organization’s experience will reach more operators, ensuring a safer gambling ecosystem.
The agreement also covers ACGCS’ Certified Gaming Compliance Specialist (CGCS) certification. The latter provides casino workers with training and tools across 60 topics, helping them minimize risks and prevent fraud such as money laundering. The deal will reinforce SG:certified’s offer, further bolstering its compliance-related portfolio.
The consultancy fields a team of experienced compliance veterans that are committed to helping gaming companies earn and maintain licenses and certifications. The company’s mission is to make the gambling industry more sustainable by providing a tried and tested platform to operators, regulators and providers.
By accessing SG:certified’s platform, companies within the industry can have their businesses assessed. In addition, the consultancy offers a wealth of resources for training compliance staff.
The Two Parties Share a Vision
The founder of the Association of Certified Gaming Compliance Specialists, Dr Ian Messenger, commented on the agreement, calling it “an ideal partnership” for both organizations. He noted that both parties’ teams are focused on social responsibility and helping others with compliance matters.
I hope that this partnership helps increase discussions around social responsibility and compliance in the industry.
Dr Ian Messenger, founder, ACGCS
Svend Aage Kirk, an SG:certified partner who joined the company in November 2022, also shared his thoughts on the occasion. He noted that the ACGCS has made impressive strides with its certification. Kirk believes that the two companies share the same mindset and goals, which is why he is happy about this partnership.
This shared desire to bring a positive impact to the gambling industry made them [ACGCS] the ideal partner. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.
Svend Aage Kirk, partner, SG:certified
SG:certified believes that sustainability isn’t a destination but a journey. The company’s motto is that there is no need for each company to reinvent the wheel, which is why it helps its partners make their journeys as impactful as possible.
A few days ago, the consultancy welcomed the experienced Maris Catania as its new safer gambling senior consultant. She joined the company with an immediate effect and is already helping to keep SG:certified’s content relevant and effective.
The first session of the newest Galfond Challenge likely wasn’t too surprising to most who have followed the careers of Phil Galfond and Dan “Jungleman” Cates.
Thursday’s four-hour pot-limit Omaha (PLO) battle on WSOP.com Thursday concluded with Galfond securing a $1,000 win, which is actually $10,000. The two online poker pros intended to play $100/$200 stakes but were limited to $10/$20 due to some deposit issues with the poker site. They’re still technically playing the high-stakes version and the losing player after 7,500 hands are complete will owe the winner 10 times the deficit.
Read the PokerNews Review of WSOP.com Here!
Galfond Challenge Back in Action
Galfond, who streamed the challenge on his YouTube channel, admitted during the early parts that he wasn’t playing his best and that he was a bit tired. However, he didn’t use that as an excuse for a small early deficit he faced as he mentioned his opponent was also tired.
One hand that helped propel Cates into a modest lead involved Galfond raising from the button on the river with the second nuts (a straight), but then having to fold to a pot-sized three-bet. The Run it Once poker site founder was convinced the move likely meant he was up against the nut straight, but he would then find out “Jungleman” was only representing the nuts, but in actuality had just top pair.
Dan Cates
There were 21 pots that cracked $1,000 ($10,000, technically). Each player bought in for $2,000 ($20,000) to start on both tables they played, and were required to add on any time they dropped below the initial buy-in.
Galfond’s most costly hand of the day came with on a board of when he raised pot on the river to around $1,700 only to be snap-called by , as “Jungleman” had trips and his pocket queens served as blockers to a straight.
But the Run it Once poker coach won his fair share of monster hands, including one $4,100 pot that was all in on the turn with Galfond holding top set against a flush and double-gutter. The river bricked and the online poker pro formerly known as “OMGClayAiken” took down a crucial pot.
Galfond, who admitted on Twitter his “rust showed” and that even though Cates took the loss, he felt like he was outplayed.
Just finished my first rumble with the @junglemandan. I won $10k, but think he got the better of me today.
— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond)
The two skilled poker pros will return to action at 8 a.m. PT on Friday and Saturday. Both players will live-stream the match. Galfond has never lost a Galfond Challenge.
His wins have come against online poker players “VeniVidi1993,”“ActionFreak,” Chip Leader Coaching founder Chance Kornuth, and shortened matches against Bill Perkins and Brandon Adams.
The new standalone Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions are aimed at sportsbook operators looking to enhance their risk management, marketing, and trading abilities. The fresh tools will help Sportradar’s in-house operators optimize their commercial performance. The new suite complements the company’s current Managed Trading Services.
Unlocking Real-Time Insights to Supercharge Operations
Sportradar’s innovative use of AI technology will enable operators to better understand their customers and business. At the same time, the new suite will provide them with the necessary tools to increase the efficiency of their operations in risk management, trading, and marketing.
In terms of risk management, sportsbook operators will get to process enhanced levels of betting ticket information. In return, this will help them better evaluate the risks tied to certain sporting events, bets, or player accounts while limiting their financial exposure.
With the help of Live Time Delay Offset, operators will get to generate personalized bet acceptance delays. For better trading purposes, operators can use Insight Tech Services to generate customized wagering odds based on their liabilities via Alpha Odds, betting markets, and more accurate prices to boost their margins and improve customer experience.
Sportsbook operators can also use Sportradar’s new tools to improve their risk management via Automated Player Profiling.
Sportradar’s managing director managed betting services Paolo Personeni spoke about the launch of the new services. He mentioned the “hyper-competitive betting market” and the pressure that sportsbook operators are subject to when looking to increase their performance and create deeper and more engaging bonds with customers.
Harnessing the Power of AI and Machine-Learning
The 2001-based company that is fully committed to excellence, top-quality services and reliability currently has 3,700 full-time staff members spread across 20 countries. Sportradar has inked partnership deals with over 1,700 customers in more than 120 countries and it is also the official partner of a large number of important sports organizations and bodies, including the National Baseball Association, the National Hockey League, the Federation Internationale de Football Association, and others.
By mixing Sportradar’s leading AI and impressive amount of sports betting data in the industry, Sportradar constantly creates innovative solutions and products dedicated to simplifying operators’ work and increasing their performance.
Insight Tech Services is the freshest AI-driven set of tools created by the company with the purpose of allowing operators to lead a more efficient sportsbook in-house while delivering tailored services that cater to the interests of individual customers.
Last November, Sportradar won the Data Service Provider of the Year award at the American Gambling Awards.
No guest this week as we answer questions from our mail bag.
We welcome your questions – send them to us at [email protected], or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.
The 2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) attracted 1,014 players, a mix of poker pros and amateurs, many of who got in after winning a Platinum Pass. Also sprinkled throughout the field were a number of celebrities including UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, Survivor all-star “Boston” Rob Mariano, and David Costabile, who currently plays Mike “Wags” Wagner on Showtime’s hit show Billions and also portrayed Gale Boetticher on Breaking Bad.
So how did one of the busiest actors in Hollywood find his way to the PSPC?
“Let me tell you a story – early, early days. In the pandemic, you remember that? We were all inside and there was a celebrity charity tournament that was set up through PokerStars,” he told PokerNews. “And I got invited to that and through Brian Koppelman, who was my boss at Billions, and Hank Azaria was running it I won the tournament.”
The tournament he was referring to was the Stars CALL for Action powered by PokerStars Charity Tournament in May 2020. Costabile defeated a field filled with A-list celebrities – including Breaking Bad co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul – to win $100,000 to donate to World Central Kitchen, a charity that supplies food to those who most need it.
“They’re working really hard in Ukraine to give people food and it’s an amazing organization,” Costabile explained. “I was so happy to be able to give them $100,000, I mean, that was awesome. Also, at that particular time, there was so much need going around. I really believe strongly in their cause.”
Other celebs to participate were Amy Schumer, Michael Cera, Jon Hamm, Neymar Jr., Don Cheadle, Jeff Garlin, David Schwimmer, Edward Norton, Macaulay Culkin, Lisa Kudrow, Teri Hatcher, Kevin Pollak, David Arquette, Liam Payne, Ricky Williams, Jack Black, and Jason Alexander, among many more.
David Costabile Wins Stars CALL For Action powered by PokerStars – Charity Tournament
PokerStars Comes Calling
More than two years after his online win, Costabile was approached by PokerStars about the idea of coming down to the Bahamas and participating in the PSPC via a Platinum Pass.
“They called and said, ‘You can win poker events, why can’t you come and win this poker tournament?’ And then I said, ‘Yeah, can I come and win this poker tournament?’ Then interestingly enough, that didn’t happen this time. But I’m one for two. right? So, that’s Hall of Fame. What’s the best batting average in the Hall of Fame? I might just call it a day. I mean, that might be my last tournament. You know, I won the first one, lost the second.”
He continued: I’ve played in smaller tournaments. I’ve certainly played in online tournaments before back in the Middle Ages. It was not on this particular scale and not so heavy with the professional poker players, the people who can spend their whole time playing poker. That’s where it gets trickier for someone who just admires poker. I like to watch poker, I play poker, but I am not a professional. I’m a professional actor. You just got to know where you fit, how your puzzle piece fits, and then apply it.”
As for the PSPC, Costabile was in the thick of things for most of Day 1. When asked if there were any big hands or spots, he didn’t hesitate.
“Here’s some advice for you as a poker player that I learned – when you’re short stacked with about 20 big blinds and you’re under the gun and you’re playing with people who are leagues ahead of you and you get queens, instead of trusting your instinct that says to you, ‘I should probably go all in at this point,’ you think to yourself, ‘Maybe I’ll get tricky.’ That feeling of I should get tricky. That’s not a good feeling. That’s not the voice to listen to.”
Costabile, who lost that hand with pocket queens, wound up falling towards the end of Day 1 in Level 8 (600/1,200/1,200) while playing at the feature table. He got his last 8,200 in holding in the small blind and was up against Antoine Saout‘s in early position and Daniel Neilson holding in the hijack.
The two active players checked down the board of and Saout made a club flush to scoop. Costabile said farewell to his table mates before exiting the stage.
“There’s nothing like being on television and having to play poker with people who are incredibly accomplished, who then recognize that you are the mark at the table and really, really want to get you,” Costabile said. “It was fun. When they weren’t trying to attack me, they were all very kind.”
David Costabile in PSPC action.
What Character Would Make the Best Poker Player?
Costabile has played some classic characters over the years – including Daniel Hardman in Suits and managing Editor Thomas Klebanow on The Wire – so which one does he would make the best poker player in real life?
“I think Wags would probably be a great high-stakes cash player.”
“Well, I do think Gale would probably, he was a great mathematician, so he would probably be a great tournament player,” said Costabile. “I think Wags would probably be a great high-stakes cash player.”
As for Costabile himself, he seems to be a little more like Wags than Gale, meaning he’s far from quiet and reserved, rather a bit more boisterous and engaging.
“I’ve got to go back to New York and shoot a scene on Friday and so maybe I was a little more like Wags in that tournament,” he admitted. “We’re in the middle of shooting our seventh season of Billions and we’ll be finished around the end of May, and then I don’t know, I’ve got other things that I’ve just shot last year.”
Cameo in NBC’s The Office
David Costabile at the PSPC feature table.
Another role that Costabile played was as “The Banker” in an episode of The Office, largely regarded as one of the best comedies of all time. PokerNews couldn’t resist asking the story behind his appearance on the legendary mockumentary sitcom.
“Rainn [Wilson] and I are very good friends and we had been friends since college. We all had auditioned for The Office when it first came out and Rainn got it. It was awesome for him,” Costabile explained. “I did not audition for Dwight, I auditioned for Jim. Not going to get that.”
“There’ll be more poker. I’m wounded but I’m not out.”
He continued: “There was a group of us that were out working in Los Angeles at the time and we all auditioned … In the beginning, it was a really slow grind and NBC really kept it surviving and then it grew into something huge, which was awesome for them. I really had Rainn lobbying for me to be on the show. I really wanted to be on the show before it ended, so I got in, which was good.”
Costabile’s PSPC experience may not have ended in quite the same fashion as his charity tournament experience nearly three years earlier, and while he joked that walking away at this point would leave him with a good record, there’s a solid chance the poker world will see more of him.
“Oh, yeah, there’s gonna be poker for sure,” he said with a smile. “I’ll do some more studying. I’ll really reconsider queens again, but there’ll be more poker. I’m wounded but I’m not out.”
The World Series of Poker has released the full schedule for the 2023 iteration of the calendar’s most prestigious poker festival. Running May 30-July 18, the 2023 WSOP will be comprised of 95 events, the most ever, plus 20 online events for the New Jersey/Nevada network and seven each for the ring-fenced Michigan and Pennsylvania markets.
the largest capacity in the Series’ 52-year history
For the second straight year – and likely far into the future – the WSOP will be jointly hosted by Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally’s) on the Strip. The WSOP boasts that this year’s version will have the largest capacity in the Series’ 52-year history, with 608 tables and 200,000 square feet of convention space.
The 2022 World Series of Poker attracted just shy of 200,000 entrants (197,626) and set a record with $347.9 million in total prize pools across 89 events. With six more tournaments in the live portion of the WSOP, expect records to fall.
Gunning for the Main Event record
One record that was not toppled last year was that of the Main Event field. With 8,663 entries, the $10,000 Main Event fell just short of the 2006 mark of 8,773. The WSOP is determined to shatter that target in 2023 with a string of promotions dubbed “Main Event Mania.”
Main Event Mania will be celebrated at casinos around the world, as the WSOP will host a Global Qualification Weekend May 20-21. Over a dozen casinos are already on board on four different continents, each of which will run live satellites for the Main Event during the two days.
Both US and “international” players will also have loads of chances to qualify online. For those in the States, WSOP.com will run the “112 Seat Sprint” June 25-July 8, guaranteeing at least 112 seats into the Main Event through a variety satellite tournaments. On GGPoker, players in the rest of the world can compete for one of 500 guaranteed Main Event seats (plus another 100 on ClubGG.net). The total is more that twice the number of Main Event seats GGPoker awarded last year.
win a Main Event seat every year for the next 30 years
As an added incentive, the World Series of Poker is offering an insane prize: a seat in the Main Event “for life.” If the Main Event field breaks the 2006 record, all players in the tournament will be entered into a drawing on July 8 to win a Main Event seat every year for the next 30 years.
New events and schedule highlights
There are nine new events on the 2023 WSOP schedule, including $1,500 Badugi and $1,500 Big O, which is five-card Pot-Limit Omaha hi-lo split (say that five times fast). The most interesting new tournament, though, is the $300 buy-in Gladiators of Poker, the cheapest event in the history of the WSOP. And to make it even better, it comes with a $3 million guaranteed prize pool.
The second day is when things start getting wild.
The WSOP will really hit the ground running, stacking the front of the schedule with some highlight events. As always, the very first tournament is the $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em event, followed by the $25,000 High Roller Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em event a few hours later. The second day is when things start getting wild. On May 31, both the $1,000 Mystery Millions – in which one player will win a $1 million bounty – and the Tournament of Champions begin. The Mystery Millions has four starting flights, one each day from May 31-June 3, and bounties begin on Day 2.
The Tournament of Champions, which returned last year after a decade hiatus, has moved from the end of the World Series to the beginning. The $1 million freeroll is open to players who won a WSOP Circuit ring in a live event or an online circuit event from July 20, 2022 to May 22, 2023, WSOP Online 2022 winners, and 2022 WSOP Europe bracelet winners.
The post Complete 2023 World Series of Poker Schedule Released, Begins May 30 appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.
on a board of 
when he raised pot on the river to around $1,700 only to be snap-called by 
, as “Jungleman” had trips and his pocket queens served as blockers to a straight. 
in early position and 
in the hijack.
and Saout made a club flush to scoop. Costabile said farewell to his table mates before exiting the stage.
