Ending a long controversy

The UK government is finally ready to bring an end to the drawn-out saga involving gambling sponsors in the English Premier League (EPL).

prohibit gaming companies from securing front-of-shirt sponsorship for all 20 EPL teams

A soon-to-be-released white paper on gambling reform that was first expected during former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tenure is not expected to call for a banishment on all gambling sponsorships in sports. However, it will prohibit gaming companies from securing front-of-shirt sponsorship for all 20 EPL teams.

Eight teams currently employ front-of-shirt gambling sponsors and would be forced to find new partners if the vote passes.

The future of EPL gambling sponsors 

The idea of the government and the Premier League itself banning gambling sponsors has been floated heavily for the past year or so. 

Ex-PM Johnson had a majority of the plan agreed to before he stepped down from office on July 7 of last year. His immediate replacement, Liz Truss, showed little interest in the matter during her 44-day tenure before she, too, stepped down.

the new culture minister could need time to get up to speed

Now, with new PM Rishi Sunak in position, and despite a recent reshuffling of his cabinet, the highly anticipated white paper should be ready for a review in a few weeks. Outbound ​​gambling minister Paul Scully said the new culture minister could need time to get up to speed before the white paper can be publicized. 

Last summer, it was reported that teams would support a ban on gambling sponsors if certain criteria were met. The teams wanted a three-year transition period to ensure that their books were not flipped on their heads and they had adequate time to find new sponsors. They also wanted recognition from the government that they were taking on financial loss and could not support lower soccer leagues to the same degree.

Last spring, 20 English Football League (EFL) and non-league teams wrote to the government calling for a ban on betting sponsors. An anti-gambling group also made its voice heard in the summer calling for a similar restriction.

Objections to a ban

A discussion on gambling reform has been in the works since as early as 2020. Even now that it seems as close as ever, there are still several major problems present.

The biggest roadblock involves the teams that currently enlist gambling sponsors. Invoking a ban immediately could significantly hurt these teams’ finances and lead to a ripple effect that harms the lower tiers of English soccer.

“The commercial reality is that to teams outside the top six, such sponsors offer clubs twice as much financially as non-gambling companies,” Aston Villa’s fan consultation group said in a letter after meeting the Villa CEO Christian Purslow in January.

Another problem involves the future of promoted teams. Middlesbrough, currently third in the Championship, has been sponsored by Unibet for years. Their arrangement would not only be put into jeopardy but outright outlawed, should the club achieve promotion to the EPL this season.

While the drama continues to swirl, the heat is being turned up on the pitch. League leaders Arsenal regained a two-point lead over second-place Manchester City and still has a game in hand. According to FanDuel, however, City (-110) is still expected to win the league, while the Gunners are just behind at +100.

Manchester United is only five points off the top and could also stick its nose in the title race. Tottenham, Newcastle United, and the surprising Fulham squad are all challenging for the final Champions League spot, but surprisingly, eighth place Liverpool is the sportsbooks’ pick to secure that spot.

The post UK Government Ready to Ban Gambling Sponsors in EPL, but Not in Every Sport appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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Reno, Nevada-based Monarch Monarch Casino’s Colorado online sportsbook has been levied a fine of $400,000 for accepting proxy bets from nearly a dozen bettors. The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission imposed the penalty because taking or placing bets for another person is illegal in Colorado. The sportsbook is operated out of Monarch Black Hawk Casino in Black Hawk, Co.

The bets were taken over the company’s sports betting app, BetMonarch. The company announced on Thursday that it would switch its geolocation provider from the current app provider, Stadium Solutions – a provider of sportsbetting platforms owned by Entain – to a near monopoly holder in the vertical in the United States, GeoComply.

According to an article found on CIOReview, a leading print and digital magazine for enterprise technology vendors & buyers, the State of Delaware also uses Stadium enterprise solutions but makes no mention of geolocation services. The review appears to claim that the company provides a platform to 17 of 21 sportsbetting host systems in Nevada.

Geolocation Not Usually so Easily Defeated

Geolocation services normally track the GPS location of a mobile phone and use other data such as nearby WiFi traffic to identify the phone’s location within a state’s boundaries with near absolute certainty. Proxy betting is one of if not the only ways to defeat the safeguards. Proxy betting is also used in land-based casinos, especially in Asia, to defeat travel restrictions as well as for unscrupulous actors to collect commissions on bets placed by high rollers from out of the area.

The breaches were purportedly discovered by the operator in June and self-reported to the regulator, resulting in the negotiated settlement.

The ensuing investigation found that more than $60,000 in wagers were placed for customers by three Monarch employees over about a year and a half spanning January 2021 through June 2022. Almost 80 bets were placed for 11 bettors in violation of the prohibition.

The company’s online sportsbook manager reportedly placed 60 of those bets after accessing the registered gamblers’ accounts. The manager and two other lead persons in the sportsbook division were suspended when the activity was discovered and later all three were fired.

Most of the bets came from players who were out of state at the time the bets were placed. Due to federal laws criminalizing interstate sports betting, geolocation services are critical to a provider’s compliance with state law as laws in every state are only passed to allow intra-state sportsbetting if operators can guarantee no out-of-state bets can be placed.

It’s unclear how the switch to GeoComply from Stadium will solve the problem going forward due to intellectual property rights and trade secrets. The Stadium system was defeated fairly easily and Geocomply may have other layers of security as it is a stand-alone solution whereas Stadium’s was part of an entire enterprise solution and management system.

System Didn’t Analyze Transactions Deeply Enough

However, the settlement agreement stated: “Stadium did not analyze geolocation transactions to detect the use of multiple device IDs and unrealistic location ‘jumping’ in order to identify potential proxy bets for out-of-state patrons.”

In the aforementioned CIO review, it stated that the “CEO of Stadium Solutions emphasized the complexity involved in creating [the]

holistic solution, with multiple validations to be performed even before a wager is taken while <sic> efficiently and accurately completed within milliseconds.”

In one case at Monarch, a patron in Florida contacted the sportsbook manager to help him place a bet and within minutes the gambler had sent his username and password to the manager in an SMS.

The bettor was able to make a deposit and within minutes a bet was made through his account. Investigators were able to determine that the manager placed the bet on his own work cellphone from within the state’s boundaries with the manager’s home address recorded via GPS at that time.

Several months later the same client sent the manager screenshots of the bets he wanted to place and nearly 50 bets were placed from within Colorado.

The settlement agreement stated: “Many of the screenshots displayed the time, which was two hours ahead of Mountain time, indicating [the patron]

was not in Colorado.”

The client was interviewed nearly a year later and admitted to officials that he was in Florida when the bets were placed. It’s unclear if any federal crimes are being investigated at this time.

Monarch received a $5,000 fine for each illegally placed bet as well as another fine of $5,000. The company has 10 days to pay half of the fine with the other half suspended for two years unless another violation occurs in that time.

Source: Monarch Fined $400K for Proxy Betting, Switches to GeoComply for Geolocation Services, Casino.org, February 17, 2023

The post Monarch Violations Result in $400K Fine – Changes Geolocation Provider appeared first on Casino News Daily.

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It seems to be clearer than ever that sportsbetting is going mainstream.

That’s right! The Sportsbook Revolution continues!

As if a Super Bowl ad featuring Rob Gronkowski weren’t enough to make this clear – although it’s funny to note that, in this case, the revolution will, in fact, be televised – an even bigger brand is currently getting in on the action.

We’re speaking, of course, about a little sports concern you may have heard of called the National Basketball Association.

Better known as the NBA, this sporting and cultural powerhouse is used to making major news just about every day, whether from the latest marquee trade,

What It Means for the AGA… and Their Program

For years now, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has been on the forefront of gambling issues in North America. For all the nonsense that politicians tend to spout on issues of regulation, legalization, and support for problem gambling issues, it’s always deeply refreshing to see this organization promote the growth of gambling in as sustainable and thoughtful a way as possible.

In 2019, they launched their Have a Game Plan: Bet Responsibly campaign. Now, in the NBA, they have a partner with one of the largest platforms (and followings) imaginable!

Their goal is to educate fans and gamblers on the the campaign’s four core principles. These are:

• Set a budget and stick to it.
• Keep it social
• Know the odds
• Play with legal, well-regulated

In terms of content, the aim is to include in-venue, broadcast, digital, and social media promotion to ensure widespread access to this information.

It’s been proven time and time again that access to safe gambling resources makes a big difference in protecting vulnerable players from problem behavior.

With the AGA putting their money where their mouth is, and involving one of the world’s most meaningful brands, it seems reasonable to expect even better results.

What It Means for the NBA

On one level, the NBA’s daily business is so full of major headlines that this announcement barely functions as a blip on their radar screen.

After all, there are literally hundreds of news-worthy basketball-related stories every single day! Whether it’s the season, the post-season, or the off-season, the players and execs never seem to sleep…

… and neither does their fan base! In that context, how big a deal can it really be for the league to take part in this initiative?

One another level, though, this is a big statement on what the League thinks that the coming years have in store. Indeed, this isn’t the first time the League has made moves or deals signaling that they indeed see sports betting as the wave of the future.

After all, of all the major American sports organizations, the NBA has long held its ear closest to the ground in terms of larger societal trends – whether supporting players’ stance for the Black Lives Matter Movement (especially when compared with the NFL’s response, rich in racist dog whistles, blacklistings, and more), or encouraging social media branding for its players and franchises (again, especially when compared with the slothful MLB approach). So it shouldn’t be all that surprising that they are making this statement of faith in the future of sportsbook in American life.

In short, the NBA is broadcasting to anyone who cares to listen that they expect sportsbet gambling to become a fixture in American life…

… even more than it already is!

League brass clearly expects more legalization, less strict regulation, and a future in which sportsbook is truly commonplace. And when that happens, they want to be on the right side of history!

What It Means for Sportsbook

Time is a funny thing. As of the time of this writing, it would seem that the NBA is by far the most powerful actor in this story – I mean, we are talking about a multi-billion dollar brand with some of the world’s greatest athletes and celebrities on the payroll, as well as one of the world’s most beloved entertainment products!

Likewise, the AGA has been around since 1995, boasts an impressive membership list, Board of Directors, and proven track record of successful advocacy for gambling issues.

Compared to these two institutions, how important is sports betting, really?

Indeed, taken as a snapshot, it would seem that the sportsbook community is by far the weakest, least influential of the three organizations involved here.

But. Pull back the lens a bit, and things start to look a very different.

Imagine what the world might look like one, two, or three decades from now. Yes, it’s extremely likely that the NBA will remain a massively profitable, extremely culturally relevant force.

Yet, if current trends continue, betting on sports is unlikely to continue to play such a niche role.

Remember that gambling on sports is nothing new! Private oddsmakers, bookies, and a whole cottage industry of sportsbook enthusiasts have always been readily active wherever sport and civilization thrived.

What’s new in our age is the movement towards legalization and regulation!

It finally seems that some politicians, towns, regions, and states are realizing that the profits from betting on sporting events do far, far more good going towards local governance than into the coffers of black market operators, disreputable companies, and/or organized crime. People are finally starting to accept that sportsbook is here to stay… and that it’s better off regulated in the sunlight of public life, than unregulated, invisible, but funneling money into all the wrong places.

All of this would seem to indicate that we should expect sportsbetting to become a legitimate multi-billion industry of its own in the coming years!

In its own subtle way, the NBA is telling us that they believe this to be the truth of things. And the brightness of this future is definitely one we can get behind!

Nemo struggles to hustle in NYC

FIDE Master, Woman Grandmaster, and WPT Global ambassador Nemo Zhou tried to put together a video hustling some New York chess players, but things did not quite go as planned. Players who were hoping to see Nemo return to high stakes action after her poker controversy last year will be disappointed as she appeared unable to find an opponent for the video.

Nemo’s most recent reel, posted to her Instagram chess account on Tuesday, shows her trying to drum up some action. In one instance, she walks around a park and approaches a game asking, “Hi. Would you be down to play?… No… Oh, Okay.”

Streamer vs. hustler is a popular sub-genre of chess video, and one that Nemo dabbled in previously. Unfortunately for Nemo, this time she had already blown her cover.

Two more players turn her down for a game in the Instagram video. Eventually, Nemo realizes that the word is out on her. “I should not have played Paul first,” she says with regret.

To rob Peter, don’t play Paul first

In November 2022, Nemo released a streamer vs. hustler video on her Youtube channel in which she took on a player known as “Russian Paul.”

known in the New York chess scene as one of the “end bosses” of New York City chess hustling

Paul won the match, but it was hard fought and came down to time in the end. Unfortunately for Nemo’s future hustling prospects, Russian Paul has a reputation. He is known in the New York chess scene as one of the “end bosses” of New York City chess hustling.

Nemo’s streaming success and FIDE rating have given her fame, but among New York woodpushers, giving Russian Paul a run for his money gets you notoriety.

A poker scandal

Nemo’s notoriety isn’t limited to the world of chess gambling.

Plenty of chess players, including world champion Magnus Carlsen, have transitioned to poker. Nemo’s move to poker was derailed recently when she was subject to criticism over a giveaway competition.

Zhou awarded the prize to her poker coach, Alex “Thallo” Epstein

Zhou, a newcomer to the game, won a $12,400 WPT package prize package in an online tournament in November 2022 and decided to give it away to one of her YouTube subscribers. In the end, Zhou awarded the prize to her poker coach, Alex “Thallo” Epstein.

She was allegedly dating Epstein at the time and leaked messages from Thallo appeared to show him attempting to sell the package before the draw. These circumstances led to accusations that the the giveaway was rigged.

Can we all agree that these @WPT / @wpt_global giveaways have been a disaster for the community, and should never happen again?

While the Nemo/Thallo situation was the most blatant and worst example, several other giveaways were “questionable” at best.

Very bad look for poker.

— Todd Witteles (@ToddWitteles) December 3, 2022

Zhou initially responded that she would “not feel bad about giving [the package] to the person I think deserved it most.”

She eventually deleted her initial response and apologized, writing that she had “messed up.” She added that she had just “wanted to share [her poker success] with Thallo, who has invested hours and hours helping me improve my game” and got “carried away.”

Zhou eventually re-ran the giveaway with Epstein excluded from the competition, somewhat mollifying her critics.

Since then, she has largely gone back to producing the kind of chess content on which she initially built her career. However, viewers can probably expect there to be a lot fewer streamer vs. hustler videos going forward.

The post Chess Streamer and Controversial WPT Global Ambassador Nemo Zhou Makes Rookie Error Hustling Chess appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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The idea of becoming a professional gambler is a dream for many people who like to have a flutter regularly.

Partly, this is thanks to Hollywood’s obsession with gambling as shown through movies like 21, Rounders, and Casino Royale.

Unfortunately, the reality is quite different.

Fast cars, perfect poker hands, and vodka martinis – shaken not stirred – aren’t always guaranteed. 

There are also a lot of steps you must take before becoming a professional gambler. These include decisions about what type of bettor you should be and how you are going to manage your bankroll. 

To help you understand all the steps we’ve put together this detailed guide. As you’ll see, there’s a lot more to being a professional gambler than Hollywood suggests…

Steps To Becoming a Professional Gambler

It will take experience, patience and time before you are ready to bet for a living. There’s no point in sugar coating it. That is what it means to be a professional gambler.

As you would work at a regular “proper” job, you must do the same with betting.

It will take experience, patience, and time before you are ready to bet for a living. There’s no point in sugar coating it, hard work is what’s needed. 

Most of your time as a budding professional gambler should be spent on developing the following three practices:

1. Learning And Studying

No matter how, where, or when you gamble, studying is extremely important.

If it’s sports, there is always another soccer match or horse race to watch. For poker players there are always opponents to study and odds to calculate. 

👉 Top 20 Texas Hold ‘em Books You Need To Read ASAP

Studying is so important because it is only with knowledge that you can make the best decisions possible and maximize your chances of winning.

For example, a certain racehorse trainer might always target a particular event at a certain track. Or there could be one football club that is a bogey team for another.

These are variables you need to know.

If you don’t have a full understanding of the odds behind every bet then you can’t make the best decisions. Poor decisions will ultimately lead to you failing as a professional gambler.

The learning will never stop throughout your career, so if you don’t like putting in the work you should abandon your dreams of being a pro gambler now.

2. Preparing For Total Commitment

Knowledge is only useful when paired with commitment.

Remember, this is professional gambling we’re talking about. You can’t expect to be successful if you are half-hearted with it.

For example, twin brothers Gavin and Alex Walker watch four or five matches a day when betting on soccer. This dedication to their craft saw them make £440,000 in an 18-month period.

If you want to have similar success you have to treat gambling as your full-time job. Turn up every day and put the work in.

No excuses. 

3. Learning How To Leave Emotions Out Of It

As a professional, your betting decisions must be based on cold, hard logic.

There is no room for sentimentality in successful gambling, so make sure to follow your head, not your heart. In other words, make the logical bet, not the emotional one.

Closely tied to logical decision making is avoiding superstition.

Lucky charms and rituals may be comforting to you, but even professional gamblers don’t win all the time.

The difference between a pro and the average bettor is that they get things right more often than they get them wrong. Being overly superstitious might prevent you from doing this.

Leaving your luck charms at home and not betting on your favorite sports team is one thing but when it comes to casino games, letting go of your emotions is even more important. 

After all, you can’t expect to be a successful poker player if you can’t keep your cool.

Leave your emotions at the door and focus on the job at hand.

The Types Of Professional Gambler

Not all professional gamblers are the same.

To succeed in the casino, you need to be able to count cards and bluff well, but those attributes won’t help you if you like betting on sports.

Here is a rundown of the types of professional bettors:

1. Matched Bettor

Almost every online gambling site has a sign-up offer or welcome bonus that acts as an incentive for you to join.

This has led to the rise of the matched bettor, gamblers who make their money through so-called “free bets”. The beauty with such bonuses is that you don’t risk any actual capital.

While stakes aren’t returned from any wagers placed with free bets, anything made off them is pure profit. 

Of course, the downside of matched betting is that it can’t go on forever; you can only be a new customer of sportsbooks once. 

What’s more, bookmakers who realize what you are doing may limit, restrict or even completely remove additional promotions, prematurely ending your run of free bets.

2. Horse Bettor

Long before soccer was the most popular betting sport, professional gamblers were seen on racecourses all around the world.

Horse betting is known for being incredibly statistical.

In fact, some of the richest gamblers in the world have made their money by building algorithms that analyze vast pools of statistics to determine who is the true favorite.

Of course, an understanding of how handicapping works is also important. This is because most horse races run are handicaps.

Thanks to both exchange betting and the widespread use of statistical models by today’s gambling syndicates, the average bettor can now see which horses are being backed and which are being bet on to lose. 

This presents alternative ways for professional gamblers to make money: Follow the syndicates or take on favorites – who typically lose around two-thirds of the time.

3. Sports Trader

Talking of the exchanges, that point about horse racing applies to sports betting in general.

As you can bet for or against sporting outcomes, it is often likened to financial traders playing the stock markets.

You can buy into the sports bets you like by backing them and sell the ones you don’t by laying them not to happen.

What exchanges allow you to do is supplement any bets you have made through fixed odds sportsbooks. That means you can cover all your bases. This is a wise move.

Clever professional gamblers are always trying to create scenarios where they cannot lose.

You can closely follow what is happening on the exchanges before choosing the exact right time to back or lay an outcome.

Developing this sense of timing is the key to sports betting success.

4. Arb Bettor

That brings us on to arbitrage betting, or “arbing” for short.

By betting across multiple platforms and sportsbooks, it’s possible to find mathematical differences in the odds offered by various sportsbooks.

Hunting down those margins allows you to back and lay the same outcome on a sporting event, guaranteeing you a profit regardless of the final result. 

As you are gambling across different websites and betting services, you need to keep very good records of your wagers. This prevents confusion.

Arbing, much like matched betting, is something that the bookies frown upon though, so you don’t want to get caught doing it.

5. Card Counter

Card games like blackjack are all about counting.

As each hand is dealt and played, you need to know which cards are on the table and which have yet to appear.

You’ll also need to keep track of all the cards that have been previously played as well as calculating future probabilities.

In other words, you need to be a math whizz.

Although not illegal, casinos will also ban anyone they think is card counting as it’s a form of advantage play.

If you are thinking of trying this virtually, you can’t. The deck is shuffled after every hand is played, preventing you from counting cards.

👉 How Casinos Catch Card Counters And Why You Should Avoid Trying It

Pros And Cons Of Being A Professional Gambler

As with any job, there are upsides and downsides to betting for a living.

You should carefully consider the pros and cons of becoming a professional gambler before trying it as a career:

Pros

• If you enjoy sports or card games, then it won’t feel like work.
• Satisfaction of beating the bookmakers.
• Life changing sums of money (only if you are fully committed and successful).

Cons

• Risk of being shut down by the bookies or thrown out of a casino at any time.
• You can always take your business elsewhere, but the marketplace has become smaller.
• Research and knowledge are needed and must be kept constantly up to date, which might turn treasured pastimes, like watching sport, into something of a chore.
• You can also lose a lot of money – there are no guarantees with gambling.

3 Top Tips That All Professional Gamblers Follow

On the road to betting as a pro there are some handy bits of advice you’d do well to follow.

These tips are ones that many professional gamblers have learned over the years.

1. Practice Good Bankroll Management

Although there should be more profits than losses, managing your betting bank balance is essential.

Smart bettors will withdraw some of their profits while leaving themselves something to play with for future bets. 

Failing to remove profits can see you wager and lose all your capital. This would spell the end of your gambling career.

2. Look At The Bigger Picture

It is well worth looking beyond the soccer match, horse race or sporting event you are currently betting on to see what is going on elsewhere.

Even though you’re not wagering on this other match, you might learn something or even find a potential punt for the future.

It’s the same with casino games. Try to see everything, listen to everyone. You never know when some valuable information might come your way.

3. Bet Within Your Means

Even as a pro, there is one golden rule: Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Keep to your budgets and within betting limits. Sticking to these is vitally important as overstretching can lead to financial ruin.

We know it might be tempting to try and win your losses back after a bad day, but you will probably just dig a deeper hole.

Accept the loss, move on, and don’t overstretch. 

Fancy Being A Professional Gambler?

So, there you have it. Anyone who wants to bet for a living needs incredible knowledge and dedication.

Professional gamblers can’t take shortcuts and must study the sports or card games they play thoroughly. 

Ego and emotions must be left at the door when it comes to decision making. Logic and data should take their place.

There are several gambling professions to choose from. Each has its skills and attributes, not to mention pros and cons. Be sure to pick yours wisely. 

If, after learning all this, you are still set on betting as a pro, then all that’s left to do is wish you the very best of luck!

Gambling is a very popular pastime among celebrities and prolific figures and has been for many years. Even King Henry VIII was an avid gambler back in the Tudor time period. Many celebrated public figures partake in games that involve high stakes and very large bets, in both traditional games like poker, to one-off matches like sporting events. Some have apparently lost millions on their hobbies, whereas others have reportedly won some of the largest jackpots available.

Of course, this is all speculation as we have no way of knowing what specific games these celebs play or if the reported figures are exaggerated at all. With that being said, here are the top 5 celebrity gamblers in no particular order.

1. Michael Jordan

Many sports figures throughout history have had a keen interest in gambling, and Michael Jordan is no exception. Recognised as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, his main hobby outside of his work involves betting large sums of money on recreational gambling. It is suggested that this interest began as early as during his university years, when he would gamble with fellow students at North Carolina.

It is reported that he has lost millions of dollars to his enjoyment of gambling throughout his life, with his game of choice being those related to golf. Whether it be a minor card game, or a classic table game, Michael Jordan is seemingly placing a bet if he is not on the basketball court. It’s not uncommon for many celebrities to place large wagers on their favourite games, but when it comes to basketball players; Jordan seems to be out betting his fellow team members.

2. Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton is a name that you might not have expected to see on this list, but the socialite and businesswoman is an avid gambler. Since her teenage years, the television star has been seen on the underground poker circuit with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio (who is also on this list). Her love of gambling has stayed consistent throughout the years; she famously celebrated her 31^st birthday at the tables.

Paris Hilton has been able to bag a couple of sizeable jackpots over the years but has sadly had some even greater losses. In one game back in 2006, she lost her customised Bentley to an unfortunate poker hand. We’re sure she can financially recover, but it does make you wonder what goes on during these behind-closed-curtains celebrity tournaments!

3. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the richest athletes on the planet. His successful boxing career has led to an increased enjoyment in placing big-money bets on sports games. He regularly shares these bets with his sizeable fan base on social media, so if you are interest in any specific figures, they are all posted for fans to see.

He has been nicknamed ‘Money’ due to his increased activity sharing online, however despite showcasing his mega wins online, it was reported that one year he lost close 50 million dollars! The five-division champion places insane bets frequently, so it doesn’t surprise anyone that he has lost so much on his sports betting endeavour.  

4. Matt Damon

Matt Damon is an actor best known for his roles in the film Good Will Hunting and the Bourne franchise. He even starred in a film called Rounders which focused on the world of high-stakes card games, particularly in the underground gambling scene. This is not unlike Damon’s real-life experience when it comes to post work activities, as it appears that he makes a habit of participating in Texas Hold’em games with fellow celebrity gamblers.

His interest in after hours gambling seems to be more private than some of the other names on this list, so we are not quite certain on his success/loss rate currently. We do however know that most of these games take place in luxury hotels, in rooms where most of us probably aren’t allowed into. So, I don’t think there’s much chance of seeing him out and about on the gambling floor!

5. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is more of a secretive A-list celebrity, but his gambling enjoyment has made its way into public knowledge due to his participation in games with other public figures. He is a passionate gambler that frequents some of the most exclusive casinos both in Monaco and Las Vegas.

His interest in the pastime piqued when he was just 15 years old and saw his father’s game. Since this time, he has become somewhat of an expert in gambling accumulating one of the best track records of any famous gambler. According to some reports, he appears to have won around 33 million dollars through a combination of casino games and poker tournaments.

These celebrities show that regardless of fame or fortune, many enjoy gambling whether they win or lose!

The post Top 5 Celebrity Gamblers appeared first on Casino.com Blog.

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Content creators

On March 3, the fourth GPI Global Poker Awards will honour players, content creators, and industry figures across 29 categories. Hosted by Jeff Platt, the ceremony will take place in the PokerGO studio at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on PokerGO. 

the people who have entertained us throughout the year

In Part 1 of my guide to the event, I made my predictions in the player-focused categories. Now in Part 2, I will turn my attention to poker’s content creators. These are the people who have entertained us throughout the year – whether it be via countless Twitch streams, the vicarious thrill of their vlogs, their eloquent words, the wisdom or humour that they can jam into 280 characters, their capturing of a moment in time, or in the case of The Chip Race, the sexiness of their voices. 

Simply put, these are the people who look at the poker space and make things. In one form or another, they are artists. To borrow from the great sculptor Alberto Giacometti: “The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.”

‘Content creation’ is a very pretentious term. ‘Content creator’ is even more masturbatory. So let’s take a closer look at all of these w*nkers. 

Best Streamer

• Kevin ‘kevinmartin’ Martin (Canada)
• Ben ‘Spraggy’ Spragg (UK)
• Jonathan ‘apestylespoker’ Van Fleet (USA)
• Lex ‘LexVeldhuis’ Veldhuis (Netherlands)

This will be a rerun of last year’s final with the same four streamers battling it out. Despite having ended his partnership with Twitch, Lex is still the King of Poker Streamers, his audience numbers surpassing all others year in year out. Last year, however, my personal favourite Benjamin ‘Spraggy’ Spragg dethroned him, keeping the coveted prize with Team Pokerstars. Either man would be a worthy winner again but my instinct is that this prize might go elsewhere this year. 

infusing entertainment with education

Apestyles and Kevin Martin are both tremendous communicators, infusing entertainment with education on their streams. The former is an online poker OG who has remained at the top of the game for almost twenty years while the latter is a reality tv star who has brought his audience on a journey from fun player to genuine crusher. 

In what is perhaps the most competitive category, I think it might be Martin’s turn to claim the award:

Best Vlogger

• Jaman Burton (USA)
• Mariano Grandoli (ARG)
• Brad Owen (USA)
• Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau (USA)

Grandoli in, DePaulo out. Otherwise it’s a rerun of last year. Can Brad Owen go back-to-back-to-back? Yes, and he probably will. That being said, the talented Yau and my personal favourite Burton will give him a run for his money. So too will Grandoli and his 123K YouTube subscribers. 

Twitter Personality

• Phil Galfond (USA)
• Will Jaffe (USA)
• Jamie Kerstetter (USA)
• Marle Spragg (USA)

Last year, I said how there would never be another winner of this award so, after she won it again, it should be renamed ‘the Jamie Kerstetter Award’ and then she can no longer win it. 

VegasSlotsOnline News spoke to Kerstetter and the following exchange ensued:

VSO: “So, what do you make of your competition this year?”

Kerstetter: “I’m just really confused how two vloggers and Farah’s husband snuck into the category I paid Eric Danis to create for me.”

VSO: “And how does it feel to be constantly recognized for your 280 character work but never for your ten day broadcasts?”

Kerstetter: “Best broadcaster? Again?…

Wow, I’m pretty sure they accidentally left my name in there from last year.”

All joking aside, I actually believe that there will be a new winner of this award. Will Jaffe’s ‘tough convos’ bit have been the funniest thing in the poker space for quite some time and this year he took it up a notch. 

Rising Star in Content Creation

• Natalie Bode (USA)
• Caitlin Comeskey (USA)
• Jesse Fullen (USA)
• Lexy Gavin-Mather (USA)

This is a new category and definitely the smartest addition by the GPI Global Awards team. There are established talents with big audiences in poker. Therefore, it is wholly appropriate to parse out the up and comers and give important recognition to breakout talents in the content space. 

Natalie Bode is a smart and funny sideline reporter who has worked for PokerGo this past year. Lexy Gavin-Mather is an excellent vlogger who specialises in hand history reviews. Jesse Fullen is a social media guru who has successfully brought his skills from other industries to become quite the character in the poker space. 

While all of these guys are undoubtedly rising stars, I think there is a standout person in this category who combines smart writing, comic timing, and genuine acting chops. Caitlin Comeskey’s chameleon-like impressions of members of the community earned her a Best Video Content nomination and I think she is a shoo-in to bink this prize. 

Best Media Content: Written

• Tim Fiorvanti (USA) for WPT.com: Andrew Moreno Made Good on a 15-Year Dream
• Connor Richards (USA) for PokerNews: The Endlessly Creative Side of Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel
• Jennifer Shahade (USA) for the Wall Street Journal: How Becoming a Poker Pro Helped Me Accept a Personal Tragedy
• Robbie Strazynski (Israel/USA) for Cardplayer Lifestyle: In the Name of the Father, the Son… and the Poker

A problematic category that needs to be broken up. Poker books desperately need their own category, at least every two years. Another way to solve this could be to have a ‘Best Strategy Content’ award, allowing poker strategy books to compete with strategy video series and seminar material. This should be voted on specifically by an informed group (similar to how only the GPI Top 100 vote for Toughest Opponent). 

Regardless, the finalists all did great work. Fiorvanti wrote a beautiful piece on Andrew Moreno’s journey. Richards delved into another side of poker legend Erik Seidel with the help of his friend and poker protégé Maria Konnikova. Strazynski offered up some nostalgia with a personal story of his father journeying to Las Vegas as the recipient of a WPT Wynn package.

giving us access to her process in the face of tragedy

My favourite, however, is a stunningly honest and raw Wall Street Journal article by Jen Shahade. Shahade is a terrific writer, evidenced by her numerous books and articles. She possesses a keen eye for what details to leave in, giving us access to her process in the face of tragedy and the battle that takes place between mind and the emotional self when we are confronted with situations outside of our control. The subject matter of this piece is close to my own heart and it was important to see somebody put beautiful words to a heart-breaking experience. 

Best Media Content: Photo

• Antonio Abrego (USA) for PokerGO: “Oooooooooooo yeah!”
• Hayley Hochstetler (USA): Glantz Pulls Million Dollar Bounty
• Alec Rome (USA) for PokerNews/WSOP: Schindler Wins First WSOP Bracelet
• Spenser Sembrat (USA) for PokerNews/WSOP: “That First Bracelet Feeling”

Their looks are laughable… unphotographable… but occasionally poker players can be the subject for a favourite work of art. Great poker photographers operate in the shadows, playing their own volume game as they swish between tables in search of a great shot. 

This year’s nominations for best photo are eclectic, capturing different emotions in a single image. Abrego and Jungleman combine for a macho-manly offering. Hochstetler depicts an explosion of emotion which as I recall followed a moment of supreme composure by the slowroll-loving Matt Glantz. Sembrat caught the moment that Michael Jukich leapt onto the table after winning his first bracelet:

My pick, however, is Rome’s moody rendering of the recently accused cheater Jake Schindler. Reminiscent of an Edward Hopper painting, he cuts lonely figure at the end of a tournament that he just won. A hollow man enjoying a hollow victory:

Best Media Content: Video

• Caitlin Comeskey (USA): A love letter to the investigation parody
• Joey Ingram (USA): Emergency Investigation: Garrett vs Robbi on Hustler Live
• Gregory “Greg Goes All In” Liow (Canada): Poker vlogger who doesn’t understand that the voice over is done in post
• Marle Spragg (USA): Solvers

This is another strange category that pits apples and oranges. The solution for this one would be to split it into long and short form. Another way to do it would be to honour an individual video but also a person’s body of work over the course of the year. (The same would be apt for writing and I would like to see the return of the Best Journalist category). 

Liow, Spragg, and Comeskey belong in the short form category as would someone like Will Jaffe who is my personal favourite and had half a dozen worthy entries this year. If it were just between the three more easily comparable bits, I’d give the edge to Comeskey for the variety of talent on show.   

Joey’s seemingly endless ‘Investigation’ streams gripped most of the poker world

However, it isn’t between those three and Joey’s seemingly endless ‘Investigation’ streams gripped most of the poker world in the aftermath of ‘that hand’ and the twists and turns that followed. I don’t think there is much chance of beating him in this category so expect the 2018 Journalist of the Year to add to his trophy case:

Best Podcast

• Only Friends Podcast (Matt Berkey (USA), Melissa Schubert (USA), Landon Tice (USA) & friends)
• Poker in the Ears (James Hartigan (Ireland), Joseph Stapleton (USA) for PokerStars)
• PokerGO Podcast (Timothy Duckworth (Australia), Donnie Peters (USA), Remko Rinkema (Netherlands) for PokerGO)
• The Chip Race Poker Podcast (David Lappin (Ireland), Dara O’Kearney (Ireland), Barry Carter (UK) for Unibet Poker)

I’ve said this before but ‘Thinking Poker’ is an OG in the poker podcast space and its omission year after year needs to be rectified. 

Dara O’Kearney and I are honoured that ‘The Chip Race’ has been nominated for a record third time. Last year, we interviewed 97 people from the poker world, producing more content than ever with 20 episodes of the main show, 25 episodes of ‘The Lock-In,’ and 13 strategy videos:

Defending champions ‘Poker In The Ears’ will certainly fancy their chances. The PokerGO podcast is shortlisted for the second time, having previously been up in 2019. My hunch, however, is that the trophy will go to new kids on the block ‘Only Friends.’ 

Producing around 190 episodes in 2022, Matt Berkey, Melissa Schubert, Landon Tice, Conrad Simpson, Christian Soto, and pals stream live most weekdays from the Solve For Why studio, offering the viewers/listeners a hang-out vibe as they weigh in on the topics of the day. 

In Part 3 of my definitive GPI Global Poker Award guide next week, I will look at the categories honoring poker’s leading industry figures. 

The post A Definitive Guide to the GPI Global Poker Awards 2023 – Part 2: Content Creators appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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If you are planning your next family vacation, romantic gateway or business trip, consider Dakota Dunes Resort as your future destination. With great recreational facilities and numerous cultural activities, this venue ranks among the top native casinos in Canada. Keep reading to discover more about the casino, hotel, restaurant, golf course, and other exciting aspects of this magical place.

Whitecap First Nation – Modern & Progressive Community

The Whitecap Dakota First Nation (WDFN) is located just 26 kilometres south of Saskatoon, a charming city in Saskatchewan, Canada. With their hard efforts and modern vision, the members of this community have managed to preserve the Dakota culture by implementing their long-established traditions in their nation-building agenda.

One of the main goals of the WDFN community is to create a premier tourism resort where people can indulge in the local culture and experience the welcoming atmosphere of the Dakota people. This concept has resulted in the development of the Dakota Dunes Casino, the Dakota Dunes Golf Links, the Dakota Dunes Resort, as well as other recreational facilities.

Dakota Dunes Casino Hotel – Magnificent Resort & Great Amenities

The Dakota Dunes Hotel is the latest venue built as a complement to the existing Dakota Dunes Casino. The complex comprises a hotel, restaurant, lounge, and other fancy amenities. In the table below, we have outlined the

The resort is located in the Dakota Unceded Territory, which is a unique scenic location with a magnificent view over the dunes and a tranquil atmosphere. By coming here, you can indulge in the cultural habitat of the locals and enjoy their hospitality and warm welcome. Book one of the stylish rooms or suites and enjoy the deluxe amenities that you will find inside.

If you want to unwind and relax, don’t hesitate to try out the indoor rooftop pool or hot tub while admiring the spectacular views of the South Saskatchewan River Valley. In addition, you can also take advantage of a luxurious spa experience with hand or stone massage. The resort also features a fitness centre, meeting space, a lobby market, and a gift shop.

Dakota Dunes Casino – Top-Notch Entertainment

Saskatchewan is one of the many states across Canada where you can find great land-based casinos. Don’t hesitate to plan your trip to this destination as Saskatchewan’s gambling facilities are working in full force. One of them is the notorious Dakota Dunes Casino, to which this blog is dedicated.

The Dakota Dunes Casino was founded in 2007 and is now the largest Indian casino operating in Saskatchewan. Located on a hilltop, the casino measures approximately 80,000 square feet and offers a great view over the South Saskatchewan River Valley Basin. The Dakota Dunes Casino hours of operation are between 10 a.m. and 4 a.m. daily.

Dakota Dunes Casino near Saskatoon is a great choice if you are looking for top-notch entertainment, as it offers thrilling games, delicious meals, and friendly customer service. Players can choose from over 620 slots and 18 exciting table games. What is more, the casino offers an electronic table game system called The Circuit. It allows gamblers to play fun electronic table games.

Playing at Dakota Dunes Casino is safe as all games and promotions are regulated by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA). The latter is a non-profit organization that acts as a governing body for all casinos in Saskatchewan. SLGA operates in accordance with the Canadian gambling laws.

Dakota Dunes Casino Restaurant – Variety of Dining Options

You won’t find a Dakota Dunes Casino buffet, rather, you will stumble upon something much better. If you are looking for the Dakota Dunes Casino restaurant, you will be surprised to find out that there are four dining options that you can choose from. Whether you are in the mood for a sit-down meal or just want to grab something quick in between games, you are covered. Look at the list below and pick your favourite spot, or

Dakota Dunes Casino Entertainment

Dakota Dunes Casino offers more than a gambling experience. Here, you can also enjoy various live performances and concerts as part of the entertainment offers. Purchase tickets for some of the upcoming shows and enjoy live performances of your favourite artists. A fun night is just what you need to end a day of gambling in the casino.

If you are looking for more gambling options while in the province, you might want to try out some of the best online casinos in Saskatchewan for 2023. Access your favourite games just one click away from your computer, phone or tablet.

Dakota Dunes Golf Links – Premium Course

Dakota Dunes Golf Links operates since 2004. The spacious golf course is laid throughout natural sand dune formations which is also how it got its name. Golfers will be pleased to play here because of the beauty of the prairie sky and the green vast fields of the golf course. Take your time to try out any or all of the 18 holes.

If you are tired after and want to grab a bite, then head to the Dakota Dunes Dining. The on-site restaurant offers delicious dishes like the popular Bison Burger and Bannock. Relax with a cold beverage in hand on the new Clubhouse’s spacious outdoor patio. If you want to take part in one of the tournaments or purchase the latest golf product, head to the Pro Shop.

Dakota Dunes Casino Conclusion

After carefully exploring all the Dakota Dunes venues we must say that we are really impressed with the quality of the services and the good job that the Whitecap Dakota First Nation has done. Whether you are coming here for a vacation, the gambling experience or on a business trip, you will not leave disappointed. Beautifully decorated hotel rooms, great dining options, and exciting gambling experiences are only a few of the things providing a superior atmosphere compared with the best Canadian casino sites.

If you liked the Dakota Dunes Casino and are keen on exploring other resorts and casinos in Canada, another great stop would be the River Cree Casino.This exciting resort will deliver a unique experience for you and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have tried to cover the most important information in the FAQ section below. Make sure to use the quick links if you want to jump back to a paragraph and read more about the information that you are looking for.

“The biggest hand in televised US poker history”

Everyone is talking about the No Gamble, No Future million-dollar cash game on PokerGO from Sunday. During the Day 3 stream of the epic “Cash of the Titans” series, poker pro Patrik Antonius went head-to-head with casino owner Eric Persson in a pot that ended up being the biggest hand in US televised poker history.

The pot hit $1,978,000 by the time Persson had moved all-in and Antonius called. Just over a million dollars of that was profit for Antonius, and $971,000 of that profit came out of Persson’s stack.

the sort of charismatically obnoxious player that makes him an ideal personality

Persson is undoubtedly attractive to programs like No Gamble, No Future because he is the sort of charismatically obnoxious player that makes him an ideal personality, in reality TV terms. He gives shorter attention spans something to look at and listen to when the cards run cold.

However, he is also attractive to showrunners for two other reasons: Persson is possessed of modest talent and deep pockets. This combination is the perfect chum to bring in the sharks like Daniel Negreanu’s heads-up coach MJ Gonzales and poker superstar Patrik Antonius – it is whale chum.

Persson’s rise to TV stardom

Eric Persson came to the poker world’s attention during his Phil Hellmuth-tilting performance in the first round of PokerGO’s PGT Poker Showdown in April 2022. The personality clash that took place saw Persson give as good as he got from the poker brat, then a bit extra. Most unforgivably of all in Hellmuth’s eyes, Persson went on to win the match.

Ever since his Poker Showdown debut, Persson has become a regular on the high stakes streaming circuit. But he has not always been the most profitable of players.

Outside of poker, Persson owns Maverick Gaming, a company that operates 27 casinos across three states. Some small percentage of his profits have disappeared across the table of poker live streams such as Live at the Bike, Hustler Casino Live, and the World Poker Tour. He’s also appeared on multiple PokerGO shows including High Stakes Poker, where his donations have also been considerable.

Along the way, Persson has left a history of crazy high stakes hands and bold plays that are best summed up in list form, with video clips where available.

Persson’s biggest hands

It all started with a pair of hands. His own. Flipping Hellmuth the bird.

In June 2022, Persson misread the board in a pot worth $459,600:

In December 2022, Persson lost a $600,000 stack on Live at the Bike trying to pull off a bluff with jack-four offsuit against a flopped set:

Not that it’s all bad. There was the time Phil Ivey tried to bluff him for $110,000 when he was holding a flush.

Then of course the $1.98m hand from this weekend:

After all that, it’s hard to know if Persson is the biggest whale in poker, but he’s certainly well worth watching more of just to find out.

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