Dennis Blieden Leads 13 Players into Day 5 of WPT LAPC Championship

The field of this year’s edition of the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship was whittled down to just 13 contenders from a 493-strong field. Dennis Blieden, a player with two previous live tournament cashes, will be leading the pack of survivors into the penultimate day of WPT action at the host venue, Commerce Casino.

Blieden is a Los Angeles-based player. As mentioned above, his HendonMob profile shows only two previous in-the-money finishes in live poker events. They were both tournaments on the schedule of the World Series of Poker.

Being one of the 13 finalists, Blieden has already secured a minimum payout of $57,300 from the WPT LAPC Main Event to boost his current poker bankroll of a little less than $22,000. What is more, the player has a real shot to win his first WPT Main Tour Main Event.

Blieden bagged and tagged 2.88 million at the end of Day 4, which was played on Tuesday at the host venue. The player was the only one of all three survivors to pass the two-million mark and is well ahead of his fellow contenders. Toby Lewis had the second largest chip stack when play concluded last night, bagging a total of 1.76 million. Derek Walters rounded out the top three of the chip counts chart last night with 1.501 million.

Former WPT Champions Still in Contention

One-time WPT winner Zachary Smiley is going for his second title from the series. The player ended Day 4 with the shortest stack, but has every chance to improve on Day 5. Anthony Zinno, holder of three WPT titles, is also still in contention.

If he wins the event, he will become the first player in WPT history to hold four Main Event titles from the series. At present, Zinno is tied with Gus Hansen, Carlos Mortensen, Darren Elias, and Chino Rheem, with each of them being winner of three titles. Zinno bagged and tagged 1.024 million last night and is in the middle of the chip counts chart for Day 5.

Here it is also important to note that he can also become the first player ever to win the same WPT Main Event twice. Zinno captured his first LAPC Main Event title in 2015.

Play is set to resume today at noon local time at the host casino. As mentioned above, each of the 13 finalists has locked a minimum cash of $57,300 from the series. The remaining survivors will play down to official six-handed final table. That concluding stage of the tournament will take place on Thursday, March 1, at the host venue. The finalists will play until a winner is determined. The last person standing will receive a first-place prize of $1 million, a seat into the WPT Tournament of Champions, and a fancy Hublot watch.

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DraftKings hires Sean Hurley to lead sportsbetting effort

Anticipating a positive outcome to the Christie v NCAA federal lawsuit currently being considered by the United States Supreme Court, daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings has announced the hiring of Sean Hurley to serve as its new Head of Sportsbook. DraftKings stated that Hurley previously worked as Head of Commercial for London-based sportsbetting solutions provider […]

Martinez Sampedro family fighting for the future of Codere

After being ousted as the boss for Codere in January, Jose Antonio Martinez Sampedro has reportedly filed a lawsuit that is seeking to reverse the decision amid accusations that the company’s private investors are pursuing a secret plan to merge the firm with fellow Spanish gaming giant Cirsa. According to a Monday report from G3 […]

Greek Gambling Regulator to Begin Preparations for Hellinikon Casino Bidding Process Soon

The Hellenic Gaming Commission is planning to begin preparations for the launch of a bidding process for the construction of a casino as part of the Hellinikon integrated resort project within the next 20 days, local news outlets reported.

Last week, the Greek Council of State, known to be the country’s top administrative court, gave the green light to the local casino regulator to commence work on the call for tender process. The Gaming Commission will now have to prepare the necessary documentation so that the bidding process is conducted in a proper manner.

According to local media, the regulatory body is planning to complete the necessary preparations by June of this year. Two consultants will be hired to guide the Commission through the process. However, it is believed that the actual call for bids would not be launched before September, if no legal obstacles occur. If hurdles of legal or any other nature emerge, the process could be delayed to the end of the year.

The Hellinikon project includes the redevelopment of a 620-hectare coastal site that had previously been occupied by the Ellinikon International Airport. It had previously served as the Greek capital’s international airport for six decades.

Details about the Mega-Scheme

Greek real estate developer LAMDA Development plans to invest more than $8 billion into converting the former airport into a lavish coastal resort. The Greek company has been approached by investors from China and Abu Dhabi to work together on the major project.

The mega-scheme involves the construction of several high-rise buildings and multiple accommodation, residential, food and beverage, and entertainment facilities. The casino portion of the resort is planned to occupy a 15,000-square-meter site at one of the towers. The actual gaming floor will spread across 8,000 square meters while the remaining 7,000 square meters will feature non-gaming facilities that will aim to cater to the casino’s patrons.

According to preliminary forecasts, the casino is expected to generate gross gaming revenue of more than €700 million in the long term. However, the planned opening of Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s City of Dreams Mediterranean in Cyprus in 2021 could deter the Hellinikon casino from meeting original expectations. The two properties will be located not far apart in a region that is yet to establish itself as a major casino gambling hub.

Local news outlets have previously reported that Las Vegas casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp. has informed Hellinikon developers about its interest to potentially join the mega-project. It is believed that more international casino companies would express interest in the ambitious project once the bidding process is launched. However, if Caesars ends up as the preferred bidder this would bring a second casino giant to the Mediterranean region.

At present, the Las Vegas company operates more than 40 casinos across the United States and has said that would be looking to expand across other jurisdictions.

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Caesars eyes tender for casino license in Athens

Las Vegas-headquartered Caesars Entertainment has reportedly expressed interest in bidding for a casino license at Athens former Ellinikon International Airport, as the Hellenic Gaming Commission is preparing to launch an international tender, according to Greek Reporter. Reuters reports that it was told by a Finance Ministry official that soon an adviser for the tender would […]

Atlantic City Labor Union Pens Agreement with New Trump Taj Mahal Casino Owner

Officials for labor union UNITE HERE Local 54 and casino operator Hard Rock International have signed a “card count neutrality” agreement, the Press of Atlantic City reported.

The agreement could help the union return at the former Trump Taj Mahal casino resort, which Hard Rock is currently converting into what would be Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The property is scheduled to be reopened in June.

Under the agreement between Local 54 and Hard Rock, the operator should agree as an employer to recognize the labor union as the official “bargaining agent of the employees” if a third party confirms that the greater number of employees have signed UNITE HERE Local 54 membership cards.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is currently taking shape at the site of Trump Taj Mahal, once owned by US President Donald Trump. The lavish casino resort closed doors in the fall of 2016 amid a workers’ strike involving Local 54 members. They picketed the property for over a month, asking to have their previous health insurance and pension packages restored. In the early 2010s, workers gave up on certain benefits to save the ailing Trump Taj Mahal from bankruptcy.

The property was owned by New York businessman Carl Icahn back in 2016 when it was shuttered. Mr. Icahn blamed the closure of the hotel and casino complex namely on the strike, arguing that it had hurt Trump Taj Mahal’s profitability beyond repair.

New Job Opportunities

The closure of Trump Taj Mahal left 3,000 people unemployed, including 1,000 Local 54 members. The property was purchased by Hard Rock International in the spring of 2017 for a reported price of $50 million. The Florida-headquartered casino operator pledged a $500-million investment into the India-themed resort, promising to convert it into a typical Hard Rock property, replacing its iconic minarets with rock’n’roll features.

The redevelopment project is expected generate over 1,000 jobs during construction and more than 3,000 jobs once fully operational.

Under the “card count neutrality agreement” Unite 54 local members, who were previously employed at Trump Taj Mahal, could return to the redesigned property.

Under the neutrality clauses of the agreement between the labor union and Hard Rock, the latter has agreed not to prevent its staff members from joining Local 54, if they wish, and the Union and its members have agreed not to disrupt their workplace through strikes and similar initiatives.

In comments to the Press of Atlantic City, both parties have said that they were content with the agreement. Bob McDevitt, President of Local 54, praised the Hard Rock management, saying that the company seemed to understand how Atlantic City’s market worked. Hard Rock officials, in turn, pointed out that their work with the labor union would help them enter Atlantic City successfully.

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Nottawaseppi Huron Band sets third straight revenue sharing record in Michigan

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) announced on Monday, last year’s revenue sharing payments to the State of Michigan and the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board (FLRSB) from its FireKeepers Casino Hotel of more than $23.7 million, its third consecutive new annual record. According to the press release (pdf), of the $23.7 million, […]

Tom Horn agrees BetConstruct content deal

Leading casino software provider for online and land-based gaming operators, Tom Horn Gaming, has agreed a content deal that will see it supply its complete portfolio of game titles to BetConstruct. Under the terms of the agreement, Tom Horn’s entire portfolio of popular video slots will be made available to the London-headquartered award-winning sports betting […]

Melco Looks For Cyprus Casino Resort Staff

Casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment and its partner Cyprus Phasouri (Zakaki) Limited have begun searching for staff for their €550-million integrated resort, currently under development in the Cypriot city of Limassol.

The developers have recently opened the first job positions for people interested to work at the first casino resort in the Republic of Cyprus. The positions available include slot attendant, dealer, gaming machine supervisor, finance, security, and information technology vacancies. It is also important to note that Melco and its local partner are currently looking for staff for the four satellite casinos in Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos, and the Famagusta area as well as for the temporary casino in Limassol that are all set to open doors later this year.

Melco has said on the official website of City of Dreams Mediterranean that it is looking for “proactive and passionate talent” to join its team in Cyprus.

The actual resort with the main casino floor is slated to be launched in 2021 in Limassol’s Zakaki area. City of Dreams Mediterranean, as the multi-use complex will be named, will also be located near the My Mall Limassol shopping center, which is known to be the largest property of its kind in the Republic of Cyprus. As mentioned above, a temporary casino will operate in Limassol, until the main gaming floor is finished.

Jobs and Increased Tourist Activity

City of Dreams Mediterranean is expected to generate 4,000 temporary jobs each year during construction. Once fully operational, the resort would employ more than 6,500 people directly and indirectly.

According to analysts, the mixed-use complex could bring an additional of 300,000 tourists each year. Melco has also recently pointed out that it would look to attract visitors all year round and thus turn the tiny Mediterranean nation into a tourist destination that does not rely heavily on seasonality. At present, Cyprus welcomes the greatest portion of international tourists in the period between May and October.

City of Dreams Mediterranean will be the first property of its kind to open doors in this part of Europe. However, it seems that the €550-million complex could face competition from another casino resort in the region shortly after its opening.

It has recently emerged that Greek developer Lamda Development, together with a group of international developers, is planning to build an $8-billion multi-purpose integrated resort near Athens. Among a number of other facilities, the complex will also include a casino floor.

Last week, Greece’s top administrative court gave the green light to the country’s gambling regulator to launch a bidding process for operators that want to run the casino portion of the mega-resort. According to previous reports from Greek media, Las Vegas giant Caesars Entertainment Corp. has been looking to join the scheme.

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Coming Atlantic City casino promising plethora of live music

Ahead of its planned opening in the summer, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City has reportedly revealed that its first year in business will see it host in excess of 200 nights of live music spread across a wide range of genres. According to a Sunday report from the Associated Press news service printed by The Washington Post newspaper, the New Jersey casino is in the process of adding a further 1,800 seats to its Mark G Etess Arena in order to take the venue’s total seating capacity up to 7,000 and it intends to utilize this large space as well as more intimate areas for its future musical offerings. Formerly called the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort until its closure in 2016 amid a labor dispute between the local chapter of the UNITE HERE trade union and billionaire property developer Carl Icahn, the 2,000-room Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City is now owned by an entity known as Boardwalk 1000. The new proprietor consists of American casino operator Hard Rock International alongside private investors Joe Jingoli and Jack Morris while an enterprise known as HR Atlantic City is due to run all of the Atlantic City venue’s gambling facilities. Jim Allen, Chairman for Hard Rock International, reportedly told an audience that had assembled at the New Shiloh Baptist Church and Community Center last week that the re-branded Boardwalk casino is to feature more live music events than the Boardwalk city has ever seen while also noting that he only recently inked a deal that will see Beyonce and Jay-Z perform at the Hard Rock Stadium near Miami. “When’s the first time someone has done 200 shows in Atlantic City,” Allen reportedly asked last week’s assembled crowd. “When’s the last time you saw entertainment on a night other than Saturday in Atlantic City? We’re going to make that commitment.” By contrast, the Associated Press reported that Atlantic City’s 15,000-seat Boardwalk Hall venue hosted only eleven big-name concerts throughout the whole of 2017 while it described the musical offerings from the area’s existing casinos as ‘varying widely’ with most limited to weekends. “Bringing entertainment into the city mid-week at off-peak times will be a particularly persuasive reason for visitors to consider extending their stay,” Rummy Pandit, Executive Director of the Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at nearby Stockton University, reportedly told the news service. “Turning a two-night weekend stay into a long weekend or mid-week getaway can make a huge difference for Atlantic City’s lodging, food and beverage, retail, gaming and tourism businesses.”

Jeju Shinhwa World casino now open for business

In South Korea, yesterday reportedly saw Chinese real estate firm Landing International Development Limited inaugurate the 59,201 sq ft casino attached to its giant Jeju Shinhwa World resort facility. According to a Sunday report from ACN Newswire, the new foreigner-only casino has been christened the Jeju Shinhwa World Landing Casino and sits inside the 617.7-acre development’s 627-room Jeju Shinhwa World Marriott Resort hotel offering some 239 slots alongside 155 gaming tables. “The opening of Jeju Shinhwa World Landing Casino marks the full opening of the [first phase] of Jeju Shinhwa World,” reportedly read a statement from Yang Zhihui, Chairman for Hong Kong-listed Landing International Development Limited. “We are now one of the few integrated resort operators in Jeju and [South] Korea that can offer visitors a complete world-class hospitality, leisure and entertainment experience.” Zhihui reportedly also declared that the coming year will see his firm ‘focus our efforts on operating Jeju Shinhwa World’ in order to make the Jeju development ‘a tourism destination’ that the local population ‘will be proud of’. Previously known as Myths and History Park and then Resorts World Jeju, Jeju Shinhwa World reportedly moreover already offers multi-purpose convention facilities, a retail quarter and an amusement park with 20 rides spread across seven zones. In addition, April purportedly saw Landing International Development Limited inaugurate the property’s 344-unit Somerset Jeju Shinhwa World condominium complex while a coming second development phase will see this portfolio expanded even further with a water park, a second luxury hotel, a spa and the Lionsgate Movie World, which is to be an outdoor park offering rides themed around world-famous films.

Chris Brice Crowned Winner of the 2018 partypoker LIVE Poker UK Championships Main Event

The four-day partypoker LIVE Poker UK Championships Main Event ended on Sunday evening with Chris Brice being crowned winner. With his first recorded victory, the Brit pocketed £187,500, leaving Daniel Clark in second place with £115,000 while Super High Roller winner Steven Morris remained fifth with a prize of £40,000.

The prestigious tournament was held at the Dusk Till Dawn Cardroom and Casino in Nottingham where 1,076 entries were recorded for the £1,100 Main Event with a prize pool of £1,043,720. The winner, 39-year-old Chris Brice, managed to eliminate Clark in a heads-up battle that lasted 20 hands. This is the best result from a live tournament for both Clark and Brice, who until now, have not had a victory.

Brice lives in Cheltenham and shortly after the end of the event, he spoke highly of the championship and the organization. Brice admitted he had made a couple of errors, commenting his performance throughout the four-day partypoker LIVE Poker UK Championships Main Event. Despite those mistakes, however, he made it to Day Four and he was one of the thirteen players going for the £187,500 first prize. The winner said he had a smooth play on the final day, a difficult table with tough opponents but his good decisions had won him the title.

The Tournament

The 2018 partypoker LIVE Poker UK Championships Main Event started Thursday with over a thousand players at the Dusk Till Dawn Cardroom and Casino, Nottingham, which has hosted some of the largest poker festivals in Europe. Besides Brice, the final table featured Daniel Morgan who was a chip leader since Day Three and ended sixth with a prize of £30,000. Clark came second winning £115,000 after a heads-up match with Brice that ended with Clark’s Ace-King hand being eliminated by Pocket Kings, while the third spot was for Thomas Hemming who took home £75,000.

The rest of the eight runners include Ning Lu (4th, £50,220) and Steven Morris who recently won the partypoker UK Poker Championship £5,300 Super High Roller for £75,000 but now ended fifth with a prize of £40,000. Daniel Morgan, Andreas Olympios and Ryan Mandara came sixth, seventh and eight, respectively.

The partypoker LIVE tour continues with the Latin American Poker Championship which started February 24 and runs until March 4, 2018. Other events from the tour are The Irish Poker Open 2018 which includes the €200+20 €500,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool Grand Prix Ireland and the €1,150+125 No Limit Hold’em €1,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool Irish Open Main Event, which are sponsored by partypoker. The 36th edition of the longest running NL Hold’em tournament in Europe starts Wednesday, March 14 and ends Sunday, March 18, 2018, with satellites already running on partypoker.

Winner’s Photo Credit: partypoker Twittter

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NetEnt launches newest video slot; Asgardian Stones™

Asgardian Stones™, the latest fantasy-based game from Swedish online casino games developer NetEnt, transports players into the mysterious realms of Nordic mythology and presents industry first crush features. First announced in January, the second game release of 2018 from NetEnt is a 5-reel, 3-row, 20-bet lines video slot that can be played on all devices. The game is sure to set pulses racing as players experience the magical surroundings, as colossal stones guard the gates of Asgard, where only the bravest of warriors can dwell amongst the Gods. One of NetEnt’s best-looking slots, the game includes the new Colossal Crush feature, an industry first, where colossal symbols crush rows of symbols underneath, with each row increasing the multiplier by 1 up to 4x, as well as an extra spin wheel that also crushes symbols and rows. The Colossal Crush feature showcases the fact that NetEnt continues to lead the way in the world of online casinos, with gaming experience and innovative games. A captivating Norse soundtrack immerses players into a game full of twists and turns as they try to overcome the colossal giant stones so that they may gain entry into the enchanted world. Commenting on the release, Chief Product Officer for NetEnt, Henrik Fagerlund, said, “Our team has worked tirelessly during the process of designing and creating Asgardian Stones™ and really look forward to see the game finally out with players all over the world,” according to to the press release. “The Colossal Crush feature is an industry first and only adds to the excitement this game offers, so we can’t wait to see the reaction from the gaming world as we continue our positive start to 2018,” said Fagerlund. At ICE Totally Gaming 2018, NetEnt took the opportunity to showcase its new game, Gonzo’s Quest VR, the first web VR slot game to be released within the igaming industry, which was developed using real-time 3D. Billed as a "true omni-channel creation," Gonzo'z Quest VR is due to go live this summer.

John Misirian Leads after WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship Day 1

The 2018 edition of the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship kicked off on Saturday at Commerce Casino. As many as 475 entries registered for the prestigious tournament during its first day, but only 282 of them will progress into Day 2, which will be played later today at the host venue.

Action is scheduled to resume at noon local time and players who failed to join the field on Day 1 will be able to do that until the first break of Day 2 or around 1:45 pm local time. The tournament feature a freezeout format, which means that re-entries are not allowed.

John Misirian will be leading the start-of-the-day pack of contenders. The player assumed the chip lead at some point on Day 1 and cemented his position on the very last hand of the day by eliminating poker pro Sean Winter. Misirian bagged and tagged 234,300 worth in chips for the night.

The player comes fresh from a victory in an event that took place earlier during the ongoing LAPC poker festival. Talking with WPT staff, he said last night that that recent triumph had certainly built his confidence. Yet, he pointed out that one cannot be too confident, particularly in cases where the field is packed with poker professionals.

Feeling Comfortable When Playing with Good Players

Misirian revealed that playing with good poker players makes him feel more comfortable on the felt. The player went on to say that playing in an event that involves so many poker professionals provides opportunity to learn a lot.

According to his Hendon Mob profile, Misirian has a total of $268,377 in live tournament earnings. It can also be said that the player has mainly cashed in three-figure buy-in tournaments over the course of his career.

Day 2 of the $10,000 Championship will see the likes of Andy Frankenberger, Toby Lewis, and Richard Seymour take their seats after surviving the eight levels played on Day 1. However, former WPT Main Event champions Ryan Riess, Darren Elias, and Jared Jaffee did not make it through the day.

Registration will remain open through the first stages of Day 2, as mentioned above, which means that the field will certainly grow. Once registration closes, organizers will be able to calculate the prize pool and to announce the places paid and the first-place prize for the last player standing in the tournament.

Daniel Strelitz won the WPT LAPC Championship last year. The player bested a field of 521 entries to eventually scoop $1 million for his efforts. Streilitz entered this year’s event yesterday and survived through all eight levels to bag and tag 66,200 and secure a seat among the Day 2 participants. It is to be seen whether he will be able to win the exciting tournament for a second consecutive year. The Championship is set to be played through March 1.

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AGS gets green light to offer its gaming products in Ohio

Las Vegas-based designer and manufacturer of gaming products for the casino industry, PlayAGS, Inc. (NYSE: AGS) recently announced that the company’s application to begin the sale and distribution of its Class III EGMs, along with its table game products, to commercial casinos statewide [Ohio], has been approved by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Commenting on the approval, President and CEO of AGS, David Lopez, said, "We are very pleased that the Ohio Casino Control Commission has approved our license application and are confident in our ability to grow our Class III and table game product businesses within this robust marketplace," according to the press release. "This approval will allow us to leverage our already established relationships with many of the state's casino operators who are eager to begin offering our consistently high-performing products like OrionSM, ICON™, and Bonus Spin™.” The Ohio Casino Control Commission oversees all commercial gaming statewide, including Penn National Gaming-owned Hollywood Casino Toledo and Hollywood Casino Columbus, and JACK Entertainment’s JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Cincinnati Casino. The recent approval of its Ohio license sees AGS’ total license count increase to 257 different jurisdictions, a 102 percent spike in total available market opportunity since 2012. Last month saw the Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously approved a registration order and an initial public offering (IPO) for what is the second-largest Class II slot machine manufacturer in the country. The New York Stock Exchange welcomed PlayAGS, Inc. on Jan. 26, 2018, on its initial public offering and first day of trading on the NYSE.

A Casino Could Secure Convention Center for Sunshine Coast, City Council Believes

The possibility for the addition of a casino as part of the Maroochydore Central Business District development project is still being discussed by the Sunshine Coast Council, despite recent comments by Mayor Mark Jamieson that a facility of this type was not on their agenda at the time.

In a letter to the editor of local news outlet the Sunshine Coast Daily, City Councilor John Connolly said that the Council still believes a project, including a casino, under Queensland’s Integrated Tourism Development program was the right path to “securing a regional convention centre”.

Cr Connolly went on to say that the Sunshine Coast Council does not have the means to build a convention and exhibition center as soon as it might wish and that they have to consider different ways to fund a project of this kind.

Local media reported earlier this week that the Queensland Government has confirmed it had promoted a visit by Malaysian casino company NagaCorp to Sunshine Coast. The visit took place last fall. Reportedly, NagaCorp executives and an architect, who had previously worked on the company’s existing casino resort in Cambodia, met the Sunshine Coast Mayor to discuss opportunities for a future partnership.

State Tourism Development Minister Kate Jones said earlier that the meeting taking place did not necessarily mean that a casino would be included in the Maroochydore CBD development project.

Boost to Local Tourism

In his letter, Cr Connolly wrote that Sunshine Coast does not have a large convention center that is paid for by the government, unlike other regions around the state. According to the City Councilor, a project that would include a gaming floor as well as different non-gaming facilities could significantly help the city fulfill its plan for a convention and exhibition venue.

He went on to say in his letter that the Maroochydore CBD development, if it includes attractive enough offering, would boost the region’s construction sector significantly and would then boost the region’s and the state’s tourism sector. The official also pointed out that the city should not rule out that quickly the opportunities that a casino could create.

The Queensland Government has not confirmed that the addition of a casino to the Sunshine Coast development project has been debated. On the other hand, Minister Jones has confirmed that she would visit the Sunshine Coast in March to discuss tourism opportunities with Mayor Jamieson.

Federal and state MPs have fired at the Sunshine Coast Mayor for his failure to end the casino debate once and for all by ruling out the construction of a gambling venue in the city. Mr. Jamieson said earlier this week that the decision about a casino is not within his or the City Council’s power and that such a decision can only be made by the state government.

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Bede Gaming agrees content deal with Pragmatic Play

UK-based online gaming software developer Bede Gaming has inked a partnership agreement with digital games provider for the online gaming industry, Pragmatic Play. The deal will reportedly see Pragmatic Play’s entire portfolio integrated into Bede’s premium platform, PLAY. Every Bede operator will now have access to Pragmatic Play’s more than 80 HTML5 games, including Gold Rush, Chilli Heat, Caishen’s Gold, Vegas Nights and Jurassic Giants, according to the news release. The integration of Pragmatic Play’s portfolio is in keeping with Bede Gaming’s expansion of its best-in-class content made available through PLAY. The developer has already inked several partnership deals with top content suppliers, including Playson and Gamevy, over the past few months. Commenting on the deal, Bede Gaming CEO Michael Brady, said: “We are always looking to expand our offering to clients with the latest and most exciting titles, and integrating Pragmatic Play’s games was an obvious decision as we continue to combine premium content with our leading marketing tools. “We look forward to enjoying a long and productive relationship with a provider whose games are already performing very well.” Also commenting on the move, Chief Business Development Officer for Pragmatic Play, Yossi Barzely, said: “We have a strong commitment to growing our footprint in regulated markets, and are delighted to do so in partnership with a provider as respected as Bede. “I am sure our diverse and expertly-modelled range of games will prove popular with their clients all over the world.” Founded in 2012, Bede’s platform, along with stringent security measures, offer completely flexible gaming solutions and is making quick work of establishing itself as the go-to option for innovative operators worldwide.

Tyler Groth Wins WSOP Circuit Rio Las Vegas $365 Pot-Limit Omaha

Last summer, Tyler Groth captured his first WSOP gold bracelet for winning a $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Last night, the player captured his first WSOP Circuit gold ring for winning another Pot-Limit Omaha event, a $365 buy-in one, at the very same casino.

Groth defeated a field of 153 entries over two days of play to win the tournament, the precious gold ring, and the amount of $12,850 in prize money.

Winning two Pot-Limit Omaha events, one of which on the schedule of the legendary WSOP, it very much seems that Groth is a Pot-Limit Omaha specialist. However, the player himself does not think so. He believes that Omaha 8 is the game he actually excels in. After last night’s triumph, Groth told WSOP staff that he has not played Pot-Limit Omaha that much to realize how good he might be in the four-card game.

Two years ago, the player quit his daily job to pursue a career in poker. He moved to Las Vegas and has been playing both cash games and tournament poker at local casinos since then. Groth said that as of lately, he has been more active on the tournament scene. It is also important to note that online poker has been a long-time love of his. He even pointed out last night that he has built the greater portion of his poker bankroll namely online.

The player also said that even though he is planning to go to Los Angeles and participate in the LAPC Main Event, set to take place over the weekend, he might go back to Vegas to join the field of the first ever WSOP Online Circuit event. The online gold ring event is scheduled for February 27.

Groth’s Performance in the $365 Pot-Limit Omaha

As mentioned above, the tournament was played over two days and as part of the WSOP Circuit’s Rio stop. The final day of the event took place on Thursday with nine players left to sit at the final table when cards were thrown in the air.

Groth was the chip leader at that point with significant advantage over his remaining opponents. The eventual winner had nearly 600,000 in chips and was well ahead of his fellow player ranking second in the chip counts chart. That player was Andrew Dennis who had a total of 200,000 at the time.

Groth maintained his lead throughout the day to eventually scoop the title and the first-place prize. He faced Benjamin Thomas heads-up as his final challenge before the sweet victory. Thomas, a WSOP Circuit regular from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, collected $7,944 for his runner-up finish in the Pot-Limit Omaha tournament.

The event attracted 153 entries who generated a prize pool of $45,900. The top 16 finishers received a share of the money.

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South Dakota Senate Votes Down Yankton Casino Proposal

The South Dakota Senate voted down on Thursday a resolution that would have put proposed expansion of the state’s casino industry on the November ballot, local media reported. State Senators voted 23-12 against the measure.

Generally speaking, Senate Joint Resolution 9 called for the introduction of a constitutional amendment that would allow for the construction of a casino gaming venue in Yankton. People behind the so-called Port Yankton Project have previously said that a casino facility could revive an economically dormant town and could bring additional revenue to the state. They have also pointed out that a casino could attract more investors for the construction of a hotel and a convention facility as part of the scheme.

On Wednesday, SJR 9 was sent to the full Senate floor by the Senate Local Government Committee without recommendation. That meant that Senators had to vote on whether to discuss the resolution or not. Lawmakers voted 18-17 on Thursday to debate the casino expansion proposal.

However, the measure did not gain enough support in the chamber to be referred to the House of Representatives. Local media reports that the proposal still has a chance to make it to the November ballot, as Senators could bring it up for discussion later today.

Heavy Tribal Opposition

According to state laws, interested parties cannot develop a casino without the project being approved by residents and without the implementation of a constitutional amendment that would allow for expansion of South Dakota’s gambling industry beyond what has already been regulated.

The Port Yankton Project has been staunchly opposed by several tribes that operate casinos in the Yankton area. According to them, a non-tribal casino would hurt their business and would cannibalize revenue that supports tribal households.

It was reported that the South Dakota government has held talks with local tribes on several occasions, but no results have been produced so far. It also emerged that officials for two of the tribes have expressed interest in taking part in the Port Yankton Project. However, tribes are not allowed to operate gambling on non-reservation land.

In addition, the new casino project calls for a gaming license to be issued to a non-profit organization but tribes are for-profit entities.

It was understood that Yankton Sioux and Santee Sioux were the two tribes with interest in the new casino project. Both tribes operate casinos on reservation land. Tribal officials have previously clarified that under federal law tribes can operate casinos on trust land.

Officials from the city of Deadwood also joined the debate over the potential construction of a casino in Yankton. In the late 1980s, the city gathered enough signatures to put its own casino measure on the ballot. The addition of a gaming venue was then approved by state voters. Gaming officials from Deadwood recommended that Yankton approach the matter in a similar manner, that is through signature collection.

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Lucky Dragon hotel open for business until March 27; judge decides

A Nevada bankruptcy judge ruled Wednesday that the hotel of the Asian-themed Lucky Dragon resort off the north end of the Las Vegas Strip will remain open for another month. U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Nevada Judge Laurel Davis decided after a bankruptcy hearing for the Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino that the hotel would remain open until March 27, when the next hearing will take place. The casino, however, will remain closed and there will not be a foreclosure auction, the judge ruled, according to local television station FOX5. The resort’s operating entity Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino LLC on Friday, Feb. 16 reportedly filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection ahead of today's scheduled foreclosure. The property had a brutal start when just a few months after opening, in order to cut operating costs, one of its restaurants was closed and about a hundred people including the general manager were fired, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal at the time. The temporarily closing of all gaming and casino restaurant operations on January 4 further emphasized the then one-year-old Asian-themed boutique hotel and locals casino’s financial woes. At the time, the resort’s management reportedly told FOX5 that the casino was “reorganizing,” and that the temporary closure meant the laying off of casino workers and less gaming and dining options. A few weeks later in January the Lucky Dragon was served with a foreclosure notice. FOX5 reports that during the bankruptcy hearing, attorneys for Lucky Dragon reportedly said that in November the property had been appraised at $143 million, however creditors stated that it was appraised at $60 million. Without disclosing specifics, lawyers for the hotel also reportedly said that should the Sahara Ave property become available for sale, there are a number of potential buyers. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Monday that according to bankruptcy papers, Lucky Dragon was appraised at $143 million, which was funded in part with $89.5 million worth of loans from 179 individuals who invested $500,000 each through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administered EB-5 visa program. Under the program, foreigners seeking permanent green cards can do so if they invest a minimum of $500,000 into a business venture that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. FOX5 reports that none of the attorneys were certain of how the immigration status of those individuals. Five years in the making from concept to ribbon-cutting, Lucky Dragon had a soft opening on November 19, 2016, and hosted its official grand opening on December 3, 2016.

WSOP Main Event Champions to Clash at the Bicycle Casino Next Week

Former WSOP Main Event Champions will be the stars of the Live at the Bike! poker web show next Thursday and Friday, it has been announced. They will clash in cash games at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, California and action will be streamed live on the Twitch and YouTube channels of Live at the Bike!

On Thursday, March 1, players will compete in a $10,000-worth Sit’n’Go. On Friday, they will sit around the poker tables of the Bicycle Casino for a $25/$50 cash game.

Johnny Chan, Jonathan Duhamel, Ryan Riess, Joe McKeehen, and Scott Blumstein were confirmed for next week’s live stream. It is yet to be seen whether more WSOP Championship winners are to join.

Originally launched back in 2005, Live at the Bike! takes pride in being the first live streamed poker web show and the first such show to stream live cash game action from the Bicycle Casino. Its episodes feature raw and unedited poker-related poker.

A Little Bit More about Next Week’s Participants

Johnny Chan

The player has won ten WSOP gold bracelets over the course of his poker career. He captured two of his gold pieces for winning the WSOP Main Event. Here it is interesting to note that the player won the Championship event in two consecutive years – 1987 and 1988, and nearly won it in 1989, but eventually finished runner-up to Phil Hellmuth. Chan was also actually the first non-US player to win the WSOP Main Event.

Johnathan Duhamel

The Canadian poker pro captured his WSOP Main Event title in 2010. He won the event after a heads-up battle against John Racener. Duhamel’s share of the tournament’s prize pool amounted to $8.944 million. He has two more gold bracelets from WSOP events. He won them both in 2015, one from the $111,111 High Roller for ONE DROP, and the other from the WSOP Europe €25,600 High Roller.

Ryan Riess

Riess claimed the title in 2013. Jay Farber was his final opponent in the tournament. Riess won $8,361,570 for his performance. The player has not won any other WSOP gold bracelets after the 2013 $10,000 Championship, but captured another important title last spring. The player topped the field of the WPT $10,000 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Finale for a cash prize of $716,088.

Joe McKeehen

The player took down the WSOP Main Event in 2015. He played heads-up against Joshua Beckley to capture the important title. The player won the amount of $7,683,346 from the world’s most prestigious No-Limit Hold’em tournament. Last summer, McKeehen won his second gold bracelet from the series. He topped the field of the $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship for $311,817.

Scott Blumstein

Blumstein is the reigning WSOP Main Event Champion. The player won the tournament last summer. His share of the gigantic prize pool totaled $8.15 million. The player navigated the tournament’s large field easily to enter the nine-handed final table as the chip leader and to further extend his advantage until he remained the last man standing.

Live streaming from the Bicycle Casino with the former Main Event Champs is set to begin at 6 pm local time on Thursday and Friday (March 1 and 2).

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New Las Vegas Sphere Event Venue to Use Parking Spaces at Las Vegas Sands Casinos

A new Las Vegas Strip entertainment venue will be able to utilize parking spaces at the garages of nearby casinos after receiving the necessary approval from the Clark County Zoning Commission.

During a Wednesday meeting, commissioners gave developers of the facility the go-ahead to use parking spaces at The Palazzo and The Venetian as well as at the nearby Sands Expo Center. Both properties are owned and operated by major casino company Las Vegas Sands, which is also a partner in the development of the new entertainment venue.

Earlier this month, Madison Square Garden Co., the company behind the eponymous New York City multi-purpose venue, announced plans to build two new arenas in Las Vegas and London. The two new venues will be shaped like gigantic spheres and will host events of different nature, including concerts and awards shows, among others.

As mentioned above, in Las Vegas, Madison Square Garden Co. has partnered with casino giant Las Vegas Sands to develop the spherical arena. Construction of the venue is hoped to begin later in 2018 and to be completed by the end of 2020.

On Wednesday, the local Zoning Commission approved the presented zoning and land use permits for the 63-acre arena that is planned to be built behind The Palazzo and The Venetian and not far from the Sands Expo Center. Commissioners also allowed developers to utilize 12,101 existing parking spaces at the two casino resorts and the convention center as well as 304 spaces planned to be added to the new arena.

Following the Wednesday meeting, developers pointed out that their parking plan would provide enough spaces even in cases when the arena hosts events.

Madison Square Garden Sphere Las Vegas also needs an approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, due to its planned height of 360 feet and its proximity to the Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.

In Case You Missed It:

Las Vegas, Macau Casino Revenue Comparison Report (with Infographic)

Renovation in Las Vegas

The spherical events venue is yet another project to have been introduced in recent years and comes as another manifestation that Las Vegas is looking to recover completely from its struggles during the Great Recession.

Casino gambling has long been only one of the factors that attract visitors to Las Vegas. The city has also been known as a popular convention destination as well as a place with booming nightlife and countless entertainment options.

With 18,000 seats and a standing area for 5,000 people, the new Madison Square Garden Sphere Las Vegas will bring a total capacity of 23,000 to the city’s entertainment scene. Development plans also include the addition of an enclosed pedestrian bridge that will link the venue with the nearby Sands casinos and expo center.

Las Vegas Sands’ own existing properties are actually undergoing multi-million renovation at present, just as a number of other on- and off-Strip properties. The city has seen renewed renovation and construction activity over the past several years so that developers make sure that they are providing Las Vegas’ growing number of visitors with better entertainment and accommodation opportunities.

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ORYX Gaming launches Arena Casino in Croatia

Slovenia-based online casino software company, ORYX Gaming, recently launched Arenacasino.hr, one of the first Croatian iGaming websites featuring casino and slots, according to to the news release. Via the deal, Arena Casino will be provided with ORYX’s complete technology stack, compliance services, gaming content, operational and marketing services. ORYX’s iGaming Platform boasts a wide selection of content from distinguished game providers such as NextGen, EGT, ORYX and Gamomat and has been certified in accordance with Croatia’s legal requirements. Arena Casino games are available to players via mobile and desktop, with a focus on mobile in keeping with the vision of being the lead mobile choice for players in Croatia. More than 100 mobile slot games can be enjoyed by players, along with unique bonuses, multiple payment methods and extra spins promotions with full support. CEO for ORYX Gaming, Matevz Mazij, said: “Croatia is an exciting iGaming market and we’re pleased to be able to use our expertise to help launch the inaugural online operation for Arena Casino. Our ability to comply with local regulatory requirements and deliver a strong game portfolio makes us the perfect partner to ensure success. I’m happy to say we had a great team of people involved.” The online gaming turnkey solutions provider also recently agreed a deal that will see it supply content from a selection of developers to two iGaming domains operated by Malta-based Quasar Gaming.

Casino Company’s Visit to Sunshine Coast Promoted by Queensland Government

The Queensland government confirmed that it had promoted the recent visit to the site of the Maroochydore Central Business District by executives of Malaysian casino operator NagaCorp, local news outlet the Sunshine Coast Daily reported earlier today.

The Maroochydore CBD, currently under development in the central part of Sunshine Coast (in the small town of Maroochydore), is planned to be a multi-million, mixed-use complex that will spread over 53 hectares of land. When finished, it will feature accommodation buildings of different types, food and beverage facilities, retail space, a number of office buildings, and a new city hall building.

Queensland’s Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones has confirmed that the November 2017 visit to the CBD’s site had been promoted by the state’s Special Projects Unit, which had been part of the Department of State Development prior to the latest Queensland election. She has also told local media that members of the unit have met and will be meeting with international investors to promote and encourage tourism development in the state.

The Queensland MP has further explained that NagaCorp’s visit was too part of their initiative to attract foreign investors to potentially invest into the state’s tourism industry. The Malaysian hotel and casino operator was provided with information about Queensland’s tourism sector as well as about the state’s Global Tourism Hubs scheme and the requirements an investor must meet in order to participate in said scheme.

Generally speaking, the Global Tourism Hubs were defined by state politicians as mixed-use properties with hotel, food and beverage, entertainment, and casino facilities. One such hub is set to be developed in Cairns. Under initial estimates, the project will cost A$1 billion and will include a casino. According to recent information released by the government, 12 investors, both local and international, have registered interest in participating the project. It has also been revealed that major casino companies have been among those 12.

Growing Pressure against Maroochydore Casino

While the addition of a casino to the Maroochydore CBD development has never been confirmed, local media had previously reported that the idea had been pitched by Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson.

Over the past several months, the city official has faced pressure both from state and federal politicians to nix any plans for a gambling venue as part of the CBD construction project.

Mr. Jamieson has told local media that there was nothing wrong with NagaCorp visiting Sunshine Coast and being interested in what development opportunities the region presented. The Mayor further pointed out that the casino company’s visit had been promoted by the state government and not by Sunshine Coast, and that any potential addition of a casino as part of the Maroochydore development project could only be decided upon by the Queensland Government and not by the city council.

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Future Japanese casinos may institute entry fees

In Japan, the government body responsible for formulating the specific terms of the coming Integrated Resort Implementation Bill has reportedly proposed inserting a provision that would require all future casino visitors to pay a daily entry fee of ¥2,000 ($18.58). According to a report from GGRAsia, the stipulation was agreed by the official panel at a special meeting held earlier today but must now be approved by the ruling Liberal Democratic/Komeito coalition government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (pictured) before it can be included in the final Integrated Resort Implementation Bill, which could be put to a vote before the nation’s full 465-seat House of Representatives as soon as next month. GGRAsia reported that the government panel proposed the casino entry fee, which it allegedly stated should be good for a full day of play, as a way to help prevent problem gambling before further stipulating that venues must be forbidden from reimbursing customers that have paid the charge in any way. The provision would further purportedly divide any cash collected from the duty equally between the federal and local host governments and partially used to fund anti-addiction programs. Today’s gathering was reportedly only the second time that the official body tasked with formulating the detailed provisions of the Integrated Resort Implementation Bill had met since the start of the year. The previous summit resulted in a proposal that Japanese citizens and foreign nationals living in the country be limited to only ten casino outings per month. GGRAsia reported that officials moreover proposed instituting a progressive tax system on casinos that would see venues required to pay a 30% duty on their first ¥150 billion ($1.39 billion) of annual gross gaming revenues before increasing this rate by another ten percent on takings up to ¥300 billion ($2.78 billion) with a 50% charge due beyond this threshold. This cash would purportedly likewise be equally split before being utilized to support local good causes such as the prevention of gambling addictions alongside the promotion of the nation’s tourism sector. Finally, GGRAsia reported that the panel proposed inserting a stipulation into the Integrated Resort Implementation Bill that would require all operators applying for a Japanese casino license to shoulder all of the costs associated with carrying out credential examinations such as employee background checks.

CJEU Rejects Belgium’s Request for Annulment of EC Online Gambling Recommendation

The EU Court of Justice (CJEU) rejected earlier this week a petition filed by the Belgian Government against a set of recommendations for the protection of consumers of online gambling services and the prevention of minors from gambling online.

The recommendations were introduced by th European Commission in 2014 but the government of Belgium contested them in court, arguing that these were breaching each individual Member State’s right to regulate their online gambling market in a manner they found fit and to adopt player protection measures of their own choice. Belgian lawmakers further claimed that the European Commission had overstepped its authority by issuing the guidelines.

Earlier this week, the EU Court of Justice rejected the above claims and found that the European Commission had not exceeded its competence and that the set of recommendations had not interfered with Member States’ right to implement their own online gambling regulations.

The CJEU ruling affirmed a previously issued court decision by the General Court. The latter court dismissed Belgium’s case in the fall of 2015. The Belgian government will not be able to appeal the latest ruling further.

Why Has Belgium Contested the Guidelines?

The European Commission introduced the Commission Recommendation on principles for the protection of consumers and players of online gambling services and for the prevention of minors from gambling online in the summer of 2014. It was not legally binding and only aimed to present Member States with a set of guidelines for the effective protection of online gambling customers and the prevention of minors from being targeted and allowed to gamble online.

In October 2014, the Belgian Government filed against the recommendation, seeking its annulment by the EU’s highest court. As mentioned above, Belgian lawmakers claimed that the Commission had gone beyond its authority by introducing the guidelines and encouraging Member States to adopt them.

The Belgian government further pointed out that under EU treaties, the Commission did not have the authority to introduce “an instrument with harmonizing effect” in the online gambling sector.

It also emerged back then that concerns that the recommendation would lower the standards previously set by the Belgian Gaming Act stood at the heart of the country’s discontent.

The European Gaming & Betting Association, EGBA, welcomed CJEU’s ruling in a Tuesday statement. The Association also called upon the European Commission to encourage Member States to adopt its guidelines, to review for any gaps in their implementation, and to take corrective action if needed so that high level of consumer protection across the European Union is achieved.

Based in Brussels, EGBA is the industry body representing online gambling operators based and licensed within the European Union. Its member list includes bet365, Betsson, Kindred Group, and GVC Holdings, among others.

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