Deeb accepts buyout

Three weeks ago, we all saw the selfie and I for one swooned like a southern belle. Shaun Deeb was on track and looking great heading into the final four months of his $1m prop bet with Bill Perkins. The six-time bracelet winner and former WSOP Player of the Year didn’t just post a thirst trap. He also shared a dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan showing 23.9% body fat percentage.

Entering the challenge, he weighed in at 306 pounds and had a body fat percentage of around 40%.

In March 2023, Deeb wagered $100,000 at odds of 10-1 that he could get his body fat down to just 17% by the start of the 2024 WSOP. Entering the challenge, he weighed in at 306 pounds and had a body fat percentage of around 40%. Perkins’ $1m was obviously a massive incentive, but nonetheless it was a tall order and most people gave him little to no chance of getting there.

Well last night, according to Deeb, he and Perkins agreed on a buy-out to the tune of $800,000. The bet is officially over, but Deeb is determined to hit his goal anyway. He has even offered to take bets on himself if anybody doubts his conviction. It would be a brave person to wager against a man who, after this, will surely go down in history as one of the great prop bettors.

Poker players love weight loss and body fat props

These types of weight or body fat bets have been all the rage in poker for several decades. Back in 2010, six-time bracelet winner Ted Forrest bet Mike Matusow that we could go from 188 pounds to under 138 pounds in just two months. With $2m on the line, Forrest ended up making the weight although the bet was never resolved.

In 2017, Matt and Jaime Staples won $150,000 from Bill Perkins after completing a very creative bet at generous odds of 50-1 . The brothers were given one year to weigh within one pound of each other. At the beginning, Matt was 134 pounds and Jaime was 304 pounds but on March 25, 2018, they both weighed in at exactly 188.3 pounds.

In 2022, Doug Polk wagered $200,000 against Perkins that he could drop from 27.7% body fat to 13.85% in 12 months. On February 10, 2023, Polk conceded defeat after only getting down to 15.1% body fat.

An escape hatch

After victory against Polk, Perkins must have fancied his chances of taking another six-figure sum from a poker pro after he locked in the bet with Deeb. Body fat bets are notoriously more difficult because you need to be meticulous with the type of diet and the type of exercise that you do. You need to cut carbs, but continue to eat healthy fats and lots of protein. Cardio workouts are not as effective as weight-training.

from 306 pounds to 221 pounds, losing well over half of his body fat

Aware of what was needed, though, Deeb hired a team who knew how to get him there. On January 25, he posted a topless photo and a scan which showed that he had gone from 306 pounds to 221 pounds, losing well over half of his body fat along the way. Three weeks on, both of those figures have continued to drop, prompting Perkins to pursue an escape hatch.

Yesterday, Deeb tweeted the outcome of some negotiations he had completed with Perkins on Friday, February 16. He said:

“Last night after discussion with my wife Ashley, we decided to accept the buyout from Bill Perkins for $800K. I can’t thank him and Charlie enough for the bet they offered – it gave me the motivation to prove everyone wrong. I’m still working toward my goal of 17%. I’m going to get there to show my kids that if I can do this, they can do plenty of things people say are too hard or impossible. I initially thought to not announce the buyout since I am determined to reach the goal, but too many people have side action to not let them know that Bill bought out and at what %.”

Determination was always his secret weapon

Deeb was understandably in triumphant mood and still bullish about his chances of hitting the target.

“If anyone doubts me on still getting there”, he said, “I’m open to taking a lot more bets on myself.”

Speaking exclusively to VSO News just moments after the announcement, Deeb added: “If I want to do something, I will do it. From Day 1, I was very committed. I was actually ready to start ozempic before the bet was offered so let’s just say I had already made up my mind.”

It is clear that from the outset that it was Deeb’s determination that was his secret weapon. I asked him about tough days along the way, but he immediately played it down, saying:

I knew the long-term EV, so I had my eye on the goal whole time.”

“Nah, it was never too hard. My trainer, nutritionist, doctor and massage therapist all kept me at peak performance levels throughout. Being an MTT pro for 20 years, I knew the long-term EV, so I had my eye on the goal whole time. I honestly had very few cravings which made it easy. I cheated fewer than ten times and when I did cheat, I only grabbed a minimum amount of the snack.”

Deeb ended his statement by making an offer to help others in the community: “Anyone who needs advice on their own goals, feel free to reach out – if I can’t help I can direct you to someone who can.”

He turns 38 in just ten days and is very conscious of the fact that he has turned his health around at a crucial point in his life. He also wants to be a role model for his kids, so seeing this 17% body fat goal through is important for him beyond any additional bets that may get booked from here on out.

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Entering a new market

DraftKings has reached a deal to acquire the online lottery ticket app Jackpocket in a deal worth $750m. The Boston-based company announced the agreement on Thursday, for which around 55% of the payment will be cash and the remainder stock.

the top US provider of digital lottery services with scalable and proprietary technology

The press release describes Jackpocket as the top US provider of digital lottery services with scalable and proprietary technology, a quality management team, and a strong brand. Both boards approved the deal, which will now need the relevant regulatory approvals to proceed.

DraftKings plans to dip its toes into the country’s lottery sector, as well as cement its position in the online casino and sports betting markets. According to the release, the firm believes the acquisition will help boost customer lifetime value thanks to the opportunities to cross-sell the customer bases.

Boosting efficiency

The US lottery market is a lucrative one, with nationwide lottery sales in the 2022 fiscal year hitting $108bn. DraftKings estimates the deal will create up to $340m in additional revenue in the 2026 fiscal year.

Jackpocket is currently available in more than 16 US jurisdictions, including New York, New Jersey, and Texas. It takes a cut of the deposits that users make into their accounts. Customers can digitally access their tickets through Jackpocket and winnings of less than $600 are credited to their account automatically. Meanwhile, those with bigger wins will receive physical tickets.

Commenting on the acquisition, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said that the company is excited to become part of “the rapidly growing US digital lottery vertical.” He believes the move gives DraftKings customers another product to enjoy, as well as improving marketing efficiency in a similar way to how it leveraged its daily fantasy sports customer base when launching sportsbooks.

Jackpocket CEO Peter Sullivan also praised the agreement, saying that it will continue to make it more convenient and fun to buy lottery tickets in a responsible manner.

Strong results

DraftKings announced its Q4 2023 results on Thursday, with revenue rising 44% year-on-year to $1.2bn and its adjusted EBITDA at $151m. Monthly unique payers (MUP) were up 37% in Q4 2023, while average revenue per MUP increased by 6%. Net loss for the recent quarter dropped from $242.7m to $44.6m year-on-year.

mobile sportsbooks in 24 states and online casinos in five states

DraftKings is optimistic about the year ahead, upping its revenue forecast to $4.9bn from $4.65bn. The operator currently has mobile sportsbooks in 24 states and online casinos in five states, with further launches on the horizon. DraftKings’ share price finished the day up 1.3%.

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No commitment made

Commissioner Tick Segerblom has said that Clark County “never signed a contract” with Formula One for its November race in Las Vegas.

we never committed to three years, to my knowledge”

Speaking Thursday with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Segerblom said: “It turns out we never signed a contract — that was all with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). So everybody keeps saying that we’ve got three years. We never committed to three years, to my knowledge.”

Segerblom had intended to bring the issue up at a Tuesday meeting with the Board of Clark County Commissioners, but a Clark County spokeswoman has said it will be heard at a future meeting.

Each year until 2025, the LVCVA pays $6.5m to put on the F1 race with Liberty Media, the parent company of the F1. Notably, while Clark County approved the racing event for at least ten years, officials didn’t contractually agree for it to take place each year.

Lack of communication?

For the first race to go ahead, Formula One asked Clark County to pay half of the $80m to get the 3.8-mile race track ready.

F1 will have to take on the full brunt of the cost

However, it remains to be seen whether the county will pay the $40m. F1 has already paid the money for the infrastructure work, so if Clark County doesn’t pony up the rest, F1 will have to take on the full brunt of the cost.

Speaking on the matter, Segerblom said: “We haven’t agreed to anything.”

Even though they had to approve many of the plans, county commissioners feel as though they’ve been the last to find out what’s going on. Yet, according to Betsy Fretwell, Chief Operating Officer for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, they have worked closely with county officials as they work toward the 2024 race.

Lost revenue

The November race will continue to remain a hot topic for all concerned. The main concern for local businesses is the potential loss of millions of dollars, similar to what they say happened in 2023. Last year, a group of nine businesses approached the LVCVA seeking reimbursement of an estimated $23m it claims to have lost in revenue.

The nine companies want the LVCVA to establish the recovery fund over claims that vehicular and foot traffic nosedived over six months because of multiple road closures and entrance blockages.

With businesses allegedly seeing a decline of over 50% in their usual revenue during the 2023 race, companies could continue to feel skeptical about the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

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From February 19th to February 25th, to mark the official beginning of the Year of the Dragon, Everygame Poker is excited to reveal that it has decided to award its active slots players with 25 free wagers on the recent dragon-themed hit title The Dragon Warriors, originally developed and launched by Tangente Technology. Additionally, each of the aforementioned active players will get their respective free spins automatically as soon as they sign in to the aforementioned game, which may be found within the Tangente tab in the casino games portion of the site. With these 25 free wagers, players may earn up to $300, but only if they choose to place a wager of a maximum of 25x!

But that’s not all; as players may also look forward to the popular Blackjack Quest held each month.

Action-packed game:

The Dragon Warriors is a slot with a Chinese theme. The plot of the game involves the warriors of the ancient China fighting against the fearless, powerful dragon. In terms of features, there is a Progressive Multiplier, which is activated when after each non-winning spin, the Win Multiplier grows for the following spin – a maximum of 25x. Then there are the Scatters, which may reward a maximum of 25 free spins.

However, players may wager a maximum of $225 per spin.

The exact details of the promotion regarding this slot are:

25 FREE BETS ON THE DRAGON WARRIORS

All players that have made a deposit in previous 30 days are eligible.

No deposit required.

Wagering requirement: 25X. Max win: $300.

Description of Blackjack Quest:

Also next week, throughout the Blackjack Quest that occurs every month, players may earn a bonus reward of $50 if they collect 1 Clubs Blackjack, 1 Colored Blackjack and 2 Natural Blackjacks. In addition, the betting requirement for this is 25x.

Everygame Poker joins the Valentine’s Day celebrations and offers up to 100 free spins:

In other news, for this recent Valentine’s Day, Everygame Poker gave out free spins on three of the players’ favorite slots, including Gold Canyon, Reels of Wealth and Stampede. Also, the operator has offered 30 additional free spins to players who make Mastercard deposits during the free spins week.

But the romantic mood has turned into an exciting experience with free Blackjack wagers and additional free spins awarded in the Valentine-inspired Hearts Desire slot game. All players who have deposited in the last 30 days were automatically eligible for these bonus spins. The fruit-themed slot offers impressive gameplay, with any spin winning 1 of 4 progressive jackpots. The game features the Golden Hearts scatter that may trigger five free spins and the Pink Crystal Hearts scatter that multiplies winnings up to 5x to provide an unforgettable gaming experience.

51 days of poker fun

Poker players can get out their calendars, as the 2024 World Series of Poker schedule has been released. Running May 28 through July 17, the 55th edition of the WSOP features 99 live bracelet events and will again be hosted by both Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas on the Strip.

If you’re a poker player, there is simply no experience on earth like the World Series of Poker.”

“Records are made to be broken, so our motto this year is bigger and better,” said Ty Stewart, Senior VP and Executive Director of the WSOP, in Friday’s announcement. “With our best schedule ever and more than 100 additional poker tables, we look forward to welcoming legends, first-timers and everyone in between. If you’re a poker player, there is simply no experience on earth like the World Series of Poker.”

The WSOP Main Event, won last year by Daniel Weinman, will begin on July 3 with the first of four starting flights. Survivors from the first three flights will play on Day 2ABC on July 7, while those who make it through Day 1D will play on Day 2D on July 8. The Main Event will then continue for a week until taking a break on July 15 before the two-day final table, July 16-17.

New events promise wild action

As is always the case, there are several new events this year. One of the craziest promises to be Event #41: $1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em / Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot. In a bomb pot, everyone contributes a set amount to the pot before the hand, sort of like an ante. The pre-flop betting round is then skipped and the action proceeds immediately to the flop. And as it sounds, in a double board game, two sets of community cards are dealt; players can win one or both. Needless to say, there will be a lot of action in this tournament.

former Main Event champions will get to play for free, but there is a price for that privilege

The very first event of the 2024 WSOP will not be the Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em tournament like it usually is, but rather a new $5,000 Champions Reunion No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout. All former Main Event champions will get to play for free, but there is a price for that privilege: they will be targeted. Anyone who eliminates a former Main Event champ from the tourney will receive a free entry into the 2024 WSOP Main Event.

Other new events include a $5,000 Seniors High Roller, a $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament starting the same day as Main Event Flight 1D, and the $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship No-Limit Hold’em event, which begins July 11. All told, there are nine new events this year.

2023 WSOP shattered records

Leading up to the 2023 WSOP, organizers were extremely confident that records would be broken, including the long-standing Main Event field record of 8,773, set in 2006. Their confidence was justified, as the 2023 Main Event destroyed the previous record, coming in at 10,043 entrants; Weinman’s prize of $12.1 million was also the largest in Main Event history.

$402,808,892 in total prize pools, obliterating the previous record

In all, the 2023 World Series of Poker broke a dozen records. There was $402,808,892 in total prize pools, obliterating the previous record of $347,941,800 set in 2022. 32,282 places were paid across the festival, also a record.

And from the 214,641 total entries in 2023 came a record number of events with prize pools coming in at over $1 million, breaking down as follows: $1 million (77), $2 million (50), $5 million (19), and $10 million (six). Additionally, 36 players won more than $1 million in a single prize, the most ever at the WSOP.

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In blackjack, every decision we need to make has a mathematically correct answer – the one that gives us the most likely positive outcome. By using basic strategy blackjack charts, we can ensure we always make decisions that keep the house edge as one of the smallest of any casino game.

In other words, using the below charts will help to keep the Return To Player percentage between 99.5% and 99.8%, so let’s get into it.

Using Our Blackjack Strategy Charts

On each blackjack cheat chart, you’ll find the dealer’s up card along the upper section of the table, and your possible starting hands down the left side.

The blackjack strategy charts are shown in the order that you should make your decisions in.

1. First, you want to look at surrender, if it’s even an option.
2. Then, if you have pairs, you’ll want to consult the split chart.
3. At that point, if you have a soft hand, meaning one of your cards is an ace, you will refer to the soft totals hit or stand chart.
4. And finally, you work your way to the hard totals hit and stand chart.

When you’re ready to play, simply download our free printable blackjack charts.

Blackjack Surrender Chart

Surrender isn’t always offered, and when it is, it’s usually what we refer to as Late Surrender. It’s the option to throw away your hand after the first two cards are dealt, and after the dealer has already checked for blackjack. If you choose to do this, you only lose half your bet.

In Early Surrender, you can choose to toss away your hand before the dealer checks for Blackjack. This can be a very powerful but seldom-seen rule change. In the chart above, I am referencing Late Surrender.

• Basically, with 15 you surrender against a 10, but only if it’s not made up of the 8 and 7.
• You always surrender any 16, other than a pair of 8s against a dealer up card of 9, 10 or 11. 
• With a pair of 8s, you only surrender against a dealer ace if the rule requires them to hit soft 17.
• With a 17, you only surrender against an ace.

Blackjack Split Chart

When you split, you must be aware of whether you can then double if you get dealt two cards that our chart tells you to double. This is simply called Double After Split (DAS).

In the above chart, you should only split the hands highlighted in blue if the game rules you are playing do, in fact, allow you to double after the split; otherwise, move on to the Hit/Stand tables.

• You always split aces and 8s.
• 9s are split against everything but a 7, 10 or an ace.
• 7s are split against 2 through 7.
• 6s are split against 2 through 6, though against a two up you should really only split if you are allowed to double after.
• Never split 5s.
• Only split 4s against a 5 or 6 if you are allowed to Double After Split.
• With 2s or 3s, only split against 2 and 3 if you can DAS, and against 4 through 6 regardless.

Hit or Stand Chart – Soft Totals

Use this chart if one of your cards is an ace. But, before we get into whether to hit, stand or double with a soft hand, note that some blackjack games only allow you to double certain cards like 10 or 11. My advice is to stay away from those games. You will see our blackjack hand chart notes to double if allowed.

• With A2 and A3, you should double against a 5 or 6, otherwise hit.
• With A4 and A5, double against 4, 5 or 6, otherwise hit.
• With A6, you can double against 3 through 6.
• With A7, you can double against 2 through 6, stand against 7 or 8, and hit against 9, 10, ace.
• With the A8, you double against a 6 and stand on everything else.
• And with A9, you stand against everything.

Hit or Stand Chart – Hard Totals

A hard total is a hand that does not contain an ace.

Low hands (5 through 8) that aren’t pairs or soft hands are hit until at least twelve, regardless of the up card. Then, once we get to twelve, we can begin to use our blackjack basic strategy chart. You will double down some 9,10, and 11 value hands.

• 9s are doubled against a 3 through 6 up card. Otherwise, you hit.
• 10s are doubled against the dealer’s 2 through 9. Otherwise, you hit.
• And with a total of 11, you always double.
• With hands totaling 12, stand on 4, 5 or 6. Otherwise hit. 
• With a 13, 14, 15 or 16, stand against 2 through 6 and hit the rest.
• On any other hand with totals of hard 17 or more, you stand.

Printable Blackjack Charts

Use our printable blackjack strategy charts to make it easy to remind yourself of the best move to make when next playing online or in a casino. Just hit download to save each individual blackjack chart PDF to your phone or desktop, ready to refer to whenever you need them. Or, once downloaded, use the printer icon to print the PDFs.

FAQs About Basic Blackjack Strategy Charts

What is a blackjack strategy chart?

A basic blackjack strategy chart tells us exactly how to play each hand in the mathematically correct way. This information is presented in an easy-to-understand chart that shows how to play each hand.

How do you read a blackjack chart?

It’s important to remember that we need to walk through the hand in a certain order. Surrender if allowed, splitting pairs, playing soft hands, double downs, and finally, hitting or standing. The dealer’s up card is across the top, your hand is on the left-hand side, and the table is filled with how to play that exact hand.

Are blackjack charts allowed in casinos?

Yes! You can always use your blackjack chart whether you’re at a casino or playing blackjack online. Playing these hands perfectly will make a big difference to your bottom line, so never be ashamed about using a blackjack cheat chart to help you.

What is the best blackjack strategy?

The best strategy can change based on the number of decks being used and various rule changes from one casino to the other. These slight changes can alter how our blackjack strategy chart looks and how you should play. For more on blackjack strategies, read our in-depth guide.

Should you always hit 12 in blackjack?

The math is very clear: you want to hit a 12 against a dealer 12 or 13, and honestly, it’s really a coin flip against 14. Many folks may disagree, but I wouldn’t lie to you, and neither will your strategy chart.

Why not put these charts to the test and practice playing blackjack for free? And then play online blackjack for real money when you’re ready.

BetMGM, the famous international sports betting and iGaming operator, has announced the establishment of a strategic partnership with X, the huge social network formerly known as Twitter before it was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk.

The agreement will see BetMGM become the exclusive live odds and sports betting partner for X. This is the very first partnership of this kind between a large sports betting and online casino operator and a global social media brand. The odds provided by BetMGM and the operator’s branding will be integrated into X, with each game linking back to the BetMGM mobile application or to its website.

This deal has immense potential for BetMGM because a massive number of sports fans discuss the games of their favorite teams on X. Moreover, news about teams and top athletes are frequently first announced on X, making it a very popular place for sports enthusiasts.

An Unprecedented Opportunity

Adam Greenblatt, the Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM, described X as “the center of the sports world’s conversation 24 hours a day, seven days a week” and admitted that having the operator’s website and application directly accessible from the social media platform is “an unprecedented opportunity to expand” the company’s reach.

Linda Yaccarino, the Chief Executive Officer of X, said that “sports never sleep” on the social media platform and added that the strategic partnership with BetMGM places fans “practically in the front row” at their favorite competitions.

The partnership is mainly aimed at users in the United States who can take advantage of BetMGM’s latest betting odds on professional football, while the other major professional and college sports will follow in the coming weeks. The odds interface gives users a quick way to get into the application or website operated by BetMGM, but the integration between the two platforms will further evolve in the coming months with the addition of new features and functionality.

A Major Player in the Industry

BetMGM was founded in 2018 and it is headquartered in New Jersey. The company was formed as a result of the partnership between MGM Resorts International, the well-known casino operator and entertainment company, and Entain, one the biggest sports betting companies in the world. B

BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM’s land-based and online sports betting operations in the United States, along with major poker tournaments and online gaming businesses. The company offers sports betting and online gaming through various prominent brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino and Party Poker.

Source: “BetMGM and X Sign Exclusive Sports Betting Partnership“. BetMGM. February 9, 2024.

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