WPT To Honor Key Founders Lyle Berman And Steve Lipscomb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The World Poker Tour will award Steve Lipscomb and Lyle Berman the WPT Honors Award at the WPT Tournament of Champions May 22 for their contributions to WPT and to the poker community.

According to World Poker Tour, both Lipscomb and Berman are the driving forces behind the WPT’s success and contributed to poker’s advancement worldwide by continuing to advocate for televised poker.

Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour, said this in a release:

“The WPT is deeply proud to present two extraordinary icons of our industry with the WPT Honors Award. These Honorees represent the pioneering ingenuity and passionate leadership that has abundantly influenced poker. Mr. Steve Lipscomb and Mr. Lyle Berman brought poker to new heights with the creation of the World Poker Tour, and their passion and dedication have allowed the WPT to become what it is today.”

Lipscomb’s hole card idea was a game-changer

Lipscomb came up with the idea to show hole cards to the audience during televised poker broadcasts 16 years ago. His idea launched what would be known as the World Poker Tour.

While Lipscomb started as founder and CEO, he also wrote, directed, and produced every episode the first season of the World Poker Tour. He continued with that for eight seasons.

Lipscomb is responsible for bringing poker international via television. It was the first distributed franchise, and within two years, was available to over 130 markets worldwide.

Lipscomb also received the first American Poker Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for his advancements in the industry.

Lipscomb produced and directed On the Inside of the World Series of Poker for the Discovery Channel in 1999 and filmed the 2001 Tournament of Champions of Poker. He also created and executive produced the Cruisin’ to a Million program for the Travel Channel.

NPR and others initially called televised poker a trend, not even Time could deny that this trend made for compelling television.

WSOP NJ – Get $10 No Deposit

Berman brings the poker business to Lipscomb’s idea

Prior to poker, Berman owned his family’s leather business, turning it into a company worth over $100 million. He later renamed it Wilsons Leather.

At the advent of the World Poker Tour, Berman worked alongside Lipscomb to bring the televised poker with hole card idea to life.

Before Berman got involved, he spent plenty of time in poker. As owner of Grand Casinos, Inc., Berman ran eight casinos. He used that venture to finance the World Poker Tour. He also took a spot as the chairman of the board for the WPT.

Berman is no stranger to the tables though; he can commonly be found at the world’s largest cash games against the game’s top competitors. His winnings otherwise include:

Berman maintained his involvement in the industry by raising his stake in Golden Entertainment in Las Vegas in June of last year. He kept more than 2 million shares or 9.1 percent of the outstanding stock, reported the Minnesota Star Tribune. The company’s stock sat at $20 per share after signing to acquire four Nevada casinos. The stock currently sits at about $26.

As part of the World Poker Tour’s Tournament of Champions, Adam Pliska and the WPT Honors Award Advisory Council nominate and agree upon the recipients of the WPT Honors Award. This award is the WPT’s highest honor. First established in February 2017, the WPT first gave Linda Johnson this award with Mike Sexton and Bruno Fituoussi following in July 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post WPT To Honor Key Founders Lyle Berman And Steve Lipscomb appeared first on Play USA.

PA Lottery Launches Keno; Virtual Sports And Online Lottery Games On Way

The first tangible evidence of gambling expansion appeared this week in Pennsylvania. It’s not online poker yet, nor sports betting nor online casino games. Those are all coming in due time. Right now, it’s a broad expansion for the PA Lottery, another beneficiary of the new law. In an effort to modernize its platform and appeal […]

The post PA Lottery Launches Keno; Virtual Sports And Online Lottery Games On Way appeared first on Online Poker Report.

Say “I Do” To These Pennsylvania Casino Promos For May

Pennsylvania casino players can enjoy a jolly good show when Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married this month.

Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh plans a viewing party for couples planning their own weddings, and SugarHouse in Philadelphia celebrates the royal nuptials with a free-play giveaway.

Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, and Mother’s Day are tie-ins for other casino promotions throughout the state. Police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, and nurses get a special nod at Philadelphia’s Parx Casino.

Here’s a look at some of the best casino promotions and attractions for May:

East

Mohegan Sun Pocono

1280 Highway 315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(888) 946-4672

5X points on 5/5

Starting at 6 a.m. on Cinco de Mayo, Momentum Club members will get 5X points for play on slots and table games. The bonus period ends at 3 a.m. May 6. Status points will be credited immediately after the player’s session ends.

Momentum Giveaway

All Momentum Club members qualify for a series of drawings awarding free play and cash on May 19. Starting at 1 p.m., players may print their entry tickets at any promotional kiosk and put them in a barrel based on their club level. Every 15 minutes from 2 to 8 p.m., one person will be selected from each tier level to win free slot play:

  • Core: $100 free play
  • Ignite: $200 free play
  • Leap: $300 free play
  • Ascend: $500 free play
  • Soar: $1,000 free play

From 8:15 to 9 p.m., one person from each tier level will be selected every 15 minutes to win free play and cash:

  • Core: $200 free play and $200 cash
  • Ignite: $300 free play and $300 cash
  • Leap: $500 free play and $500 cash
  • Ascend: $750 free play and $750 cash
  • Soar: $1,500 free play and $1,500 cash

Free play prizes will be valid May 19 and 20. Limit of one prize per guest from 2 to 8 p.m., but all entrants are eligible for the drawings after 8 p.m.

Table game cash giveaway

Table game players will be eligible to win up to $1,000 in cash from 2 to 8 p.m. May 31. Every two hours, one player will be chosen to win $1,000 cash, and other players at the table will receive $100 each. Players must be using a Momentum card to be eligible. Live poker games are not included in the promotion. Limit of one top prize per winner.

Mother’s Day giveaway

Nine $250 gift cards to Spa Sapphire at Mohegan Sun will be awarded from 3 to 7 p.m. on Mothers Day, May 13. One winner will be chosen every 30 minutes. Players must be using a Momentum card at a slot machine or table game to be eligible. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded.

Mt. Airy Casino Resort

312 Woodland Rd.
Mount Pocono, PA 18344
(877) 682-4791

2X points

Players club members will receive 2X points every Monday and Tuesday in May while playing the third-floor slots at Mount Airy Casino.

Windbreaker giveaway / Cash drawings

Invited guests or players who earn 1,500 points may swipe their Instant Rewards card at any kiosk between 9 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. May 27 for a voucher to receive a free windbreaker at the Promotions Desk. Recipients are entered in drawings awarded $500 cash every half-hour from 3 to 7:30 p.m.

Parx

2999 Street Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
(888) 588-7279

Big Stax XXV

The latest installment of the Big Stax series of poker tournaments features nine events and runs through May 25. The first event is the three-day Big Stax 300, a No-Limit Hold ’Em tournament with a 30,000 starting stack for a buy-in of $300 plus $40 in fees. The first of four Day Ones will be May 2. Other events include:

  • Big Stax 500, with a $40,000 starting stack for $500 plus $50.
  • Big Stax 1100, with a $50,000 starting stack for $1,100 plus $100.
  • Two bounty tournaments, one offering a $500 bounty per play and one offering two $100 bounties per player.
  • A seniors (50-plus) tournament for $300 plus $40.
  • Three satellites awarding seats in the Big Stax 1100.

Some events start in Parx East, the old poker room, and finish in the new room in the main Parx casino.

Keb’ Mo’ Band

Blues specialist Keb’ Mo’, an award-winning singer, songwriter, and guitarist, will perform at 8 p.m. May 18 at the Xcite Center. Tickets are $20 to $60.

Honoring first responders and nurses

Parx will provide $10 in slot free play plus a complimentary sandwich and soft drink to first responders and nurses on days named in their honor. Recipients must show a valid employee/volunteer ID card and an XClub card between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. at the XClub.

  • First responders: On May 4, International Firefighters Day; firefighters, police, and EMS workers are eligible. Free-play offer valid 8 a.m. to midnight; food offer valid 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Nurses: On May 6, National Nurses Day; free play offer valid 8 a.m. to midnight; food offer valid noon to 10 p.m.

Sands

77 Sands Blvd.
Bethlehem, PA 18015
(877) 726-3777

$40,000 summer slot sweepstakes

A series of Memorial Day drawings at Sands Bethlehem will award prizes of $500 or $1,000 a month in free play for the rest of the summer. The monthly prizes will be paid in May, June, July, and August. The first drawing entry is free to all players club members, with additional entries based on rated slot play from May 1 through 7:45 p.m. May 28. Drawing schedule:

  • 1 to 7 p.m. May 28: Two prizes of $500 per month awarded every hour
  • 8 p.m.: Three prizes of $1,000 per month

2018 Kia Stinger GT2 sweepstakes

A top prize of a 2018 Kia Stinger GT2 plus four prizes of $1,000 in slot free play will be awarded at 7 p.m. May 27. The first entry is free, with additional entries based on rated slot play from April 30 through 6:45 p.m. May 27. A second-chance drawing at 9 p.m. will award five prizes of $1,000 in slot free play.

SugarHouse

1001 N. Delaware Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
(877) 477-3715

Hot seats

Lucky players can win cash or free play in hot-seat drawings on Cinco De Mayo and on May 19, the day of Britain’s royal wedding.

  • Cinco de Mayo: From 5 to 9:30 p.m. May 5, two players will be selected every half-hour to receive $500 in cash.
  • Royal Wedding: From 6 to 8 p.m. May 19, players picked every 15 minutes will get to choose a crown that will award them $250 to $5,000 in cash or free play.

Fueling victory

More than $100,000 in prizes, including a top prize of $10,000 cash, will be given away on Memorial Day. Players can earn entries all month long. From 6 to 8:30 p.m. May 28, drawings every 15 minutes will award gas gift cards, cash, and $1,000 to $5,000 in slot free play. Grand prize drawing will be at 8:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Taco Festival

The Philadelphia Taco Festival on May 12 and 13 will feature more than 30 restaurants and food trucks serving $3 taco creations plus live music, a tequila sampling tent, a margarita bar, and a chili-pepper eating contest. General admission tickets are $19.99, with pre-event sales offering them for $9.99 and $14.99. Tacos and beverages are bought separately. Admission is free for ages 10 and under.

Valley Forge Resort Casino

1160 First Ave.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 354-8118

Spring slot tournament

Open Valley Forge slot tournaments every day in May offer prizes of up to $25,000 in cash and free play. New club members receive one free entry; others redeem one point to play if not invited. Registration is from 3 to 6:45 p.m. each day, with tournaments running between 3 and 7 p.m. Players must print a voucher at a kiosk and bring the voucher to the tournament. Sessions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

$100,000 Deal of a Lifetime

Table-game players can qualify throughout the month for a shot at a $100,000 cash prize on May 26. Players club members earn one entry for:

  • Natural blackjack in Blackjack or Spanish 21
  • Winning “Yo!” eleven bet at Craps
  • Winning tie bet at mini/midi-Baccarat
  • Winning 0/00 straight-up bet in Roulette
  • Flush in 3-Card Poker
  • Straight in Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em
  • Two pair in Criss Cross Poker
  • Played flush in Pai Gow Poker
  • Any pair played in Pai Gow

Entries must be put into the drum at Center Bar by 8 p.m. May 26. Seven winners will be selected, each getting $1,500 cash and a seat in Deal of a Lifetime. During the finale, a suited blackjack wins:

  • Ace and Jack of spades: $100,000 cash
  • Clubs specific: $50,000 cash
  • Hearts or Diamonds specific: $25,000 cash

If no one wins one of those prizes, the rest of the hand will be played out and the players win $500 cash for beating the dealer; an unsuited blackjack gets an additional $250 match play.

 West/Central

Hollywood at Penn National

777 Hollywood Blvd.
Grantville, PA 17028
(717) 469-2211

Horsin’ around

Hollywood Casino is giving out prizes of up to $500 in slot free play on four days this month: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. May 1, 15, and 29 and from noon to 8 p.m. May 18.

Five prizes will be awarded every 15 minutes. Participants must have their Marquee Rewards card inserted in a slot machine or have an open table rating at the time of the drawings to be eligible. Limit of one prize per club account on each date.

Table games sweepstakes

Table-game players could win cash prizes of up to $5,000 in drawings from 2 to 8 p.m. May 20. Players earn entries by getting specified hands or winning specified bets during play from May 1 through 19. Entries must be placed in a drum at the H Lounge on May 20. Drawings for $500 in cash will be at 15, 30, and 45 minutes after the hour from 2 to 7:45 p.m.; $1,000 cash will be awarded on the hour from 2 through 7 p.m. The top prize of $5,000 will be awarded at 8 p.m. Also on May 20, hot-seat drawings from noon to 2 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m. will award $250 or $500 cash.

$5 buffet discount

Marquee Rewards Club members will receive a $5 buffet discount on Cinco de Mayo (May 5) and on Memorial Day (May 28). The discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

Lady Luck Nemacolin

4067 National Pike
Farmington, PA, 15437
(724) 329-7500

($10 resort purchase required to enter casino)

Spin into spring

Players Club members can earn entries throughout the month for a contest offering a top prize of $15,000 cash. Players get one entry for every day they play at Lady Luck, plus one bonus entry for every 15 minutes of table game play or every 200 points earned for slot play. Drawings at 9 p.m. May 5, 12, and 19 will give 10 players a chance to spin a wheel offering a top prize of $5,000 cash. The finale drawing at 9 p.m. May 27 will have a guaranteed winner of $15,000 cash. Second-chance drawing at 10 p.m. May 27 will award five prizes of $500 cash.

Meadows

210 Racetrack Road
Washington, PA 15301
724-503-1200

$15,000 Saturday night thriller

Players at The Meadows earn entries from May 1 through 11 p.m. May 19 for a bevy of cash and slot free play prizes to be given away in drawings from 8 to 11 p.m. May 19. Here’s the schedule:

  • 20 prizes of $100 in slot free play every hour
  • One prize of $1,000 in slot free play every hour
  • One prize of $1,000 cash every hour

Winners of the $1,000 cash and $1,000 in slot free play must be present to claim the prize. If a winner is not present, the award will roll over to the next hour. One winner is guaranteed at 11 p.m.

Cruise into summer

Table-game and poker players start earning entries this month for a chance to win a top prize of a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro to be awarded in July. In addition, prizes of cash, slot free play or table-game match play will be awarded every week in May. This month’s table-game drawings will be every Saturday; poker room drawings will be every Thursday. Winners of the weekly drawings get a golden ticket for the July 7 grand prize drawing, when the Camaro and nine prizes of $1,000 in slot free play will be given away. Play between midnight and noon Monday through Thursday earns double entries.

Presque Isle Downs

8199 Perry Highway
Erie, PA 16509
(866) 374-3386

Pig roast/5K run-walk

Presque Isle’s pig roast and 5K run-walk on May 5 will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Erie. The fun run will start at 9 a.m., and the 5K race, at 9:30 a.m. Registration will be 7:30 to 8:55 p.m. trackside.  The pig roast brunch will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Prices are:

  • Pig Roast only: $12
  • Fun Run (8 and older, once around the track): $10, fun run only; $15, fun run and T-shirt; $25, fun run, T-shirt, and pig roast
  • 5K Run (21 and older, three times around the track): $20, run and T-shirt; $30, Run, T-shirt, and pig roast

The top three male and female finishers in each of nine age categories win cash prizes.

$5,000 table games cash giveaway

From 6 to 10 p.m. May 25, 10 players will be chosen at random times to receive cash prizes ranging from $250 to $1,000. Players earn one entry for each hour of carded table-game play this month. Live poker is not included.

Make My May giveaway

Ten prizes of up to $1,000 cash will be given away every hour from 4 to 10 p.m. on May 4 and 25. Players get one free entry for each promotional day they play, plus one bonus entry for every 20 tier points earned each promotional day. Players can win only once per drawing day.  Activity is required at least once an hour to stay checked in for the drawing.  Table Game Players will need to visit a kiosk once an hour, or end their current table play once an hour, to stay registered.

Rivers

777 Casino Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(877) 558-0777

Live on the river

Chris Jamison, the Pittsburgh singer-songwriter who became one of the top-selling artists in the history of “The Voice,” will perform a free outdoor concert at the Rivers amphitheater at 7 p.m. May 25. The concert is open to all.

Royal wedding watch party

Fifty couples whose invitation to the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle apparently was lost in the mail will be selected to attend a royal wedding viewing party at Rivers Casino. The party will include a traditional English breakfast, multiple television screens showing the live broadcast of the ceremony, an English brunch of sausage, baked beans, fried eggs, black pudding, grilled tomatoes, and other dishes, and a wedding cake of lemon and elderflower by Rivers’ in-house pastry chef.

Contestants must explain in no more than 100 words why they should be invited to the soiree. A panel of Pittsburgh wedding planners will select 50 winners of two tickets each. The event starts at 6:30 a.m. EDT May 19. Entries must be submitted by May 4.  Winners will be notified by email on May 11.

The post Say I Do To These Pennsylvania Casino Promos For May appeared first on Play Pennsylvania.

Unibet Celebrates World Cup With Team Collector Promotion

New promotion from Unibet requires players to complete missions to collect World cup teams.

To celebrate the return of the World Cup, Unibet has announced a new Team Collector promotion that will run for eight weeks.

Players are tasked with completing daily missions to collect World Cup teams. In the first week, players will have four missions to complete, one for each of the teams in Group A: To collect Uruguay, players need to win a bounty in an MTT; for Egypt, they need to play two SNGs on consecutive days, etc.

Read the full article on pokerfuse →

Poker Community Rallies Around Player Shot Outside Texas Card Club

A 22-year-old Las Vegas-based poker player was shot early Monday morning while leaving the Texas Card House (pictured) in Austin, TX. The poker player in question is cash game player Tom Steinbach. Better known to the social media community as the ‘3betpanda,’ Steinbach was listed as having life-threatening injuries but is now reportedly in stable condition at an area hospital.

According to his Instagram page, Steinbach was in Austin playing at the Texas Card House as part of a trip through the region. Steinbach also played at the Winstar Casino in Thackerville, OK one week prior.

A regular of cash games at the Wynn in Las Vegas, NV, Steinbach travels for games and has made appearances on “Live at the Bike” in California.

Austin police say the shooting is the result of a robbery that turned into the crime at hand. News reports have not confirmed Steinbach as the victim but threads on 2+2 and Instagram posts indicate it is him.

Steinbach’s full name is not attached to his Instagram account. Sources from the Wynn and the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, CA confirm that Steinbach is the ‘3betpanda.’

The poker Instagram community has rallied around Steinbach with posts of supports in the two days since the news broke of the shooting.

Users Joe ‘chipbullyblack’ Reddick and Ronen ‘israelironq2’ Porat posted messages of support on their respective pages.

Prayers going out to a fellow grinder @3betpanda????????… Never met the kid or even crossed paths with him, although I always thought his IG handle was/is dope… I see a lot of good ppl who’ve met him had nothing but good things to say about him which is definitely the sign of a good man… I understand dudes were lurking in the parking lot at 4am and shot him in the back during the robbery attempt, shit is sad but the reality of it is, these streets ain’t nothing to play with… where there’s money there’s crooks and more and more broke cats starting to figure out we as poker players move with cash on a regular basis. That being said, STOP moving like shit can’t happen and STOP setting yourself up for these cowards to cash you out… STOP parking in those unsecured parking lots, or the blind spots furthest away from the casino entrance. Honestly it’s best using valet, spend 5-10-20 to protect yourself and your bag. There’s a big difference between being scared vs being aware, especially when you flashing cash on the gram, I’m guilty of it all the time, but trust me I’m ready all the time too. I respect the streets and I suggest you all do the same… Again, bless up @3betpanda, and pull thru homie, you and I got some mixing up to do in Vegas this summer 18????????… #chipbullybrand #itsalifestyle #streetsarewatching #anybodycangetit #wheretheresmoneytherescrooks #mystoryisreal #fuckwitme

A post shared by @ chipbullyblack on May 1, 2018 at 8:09am PDT

There is yet to be an update on Steinbach’s condition since the initial story broke.

Twitter also showed support for Steinbach with most of it stemming from a tweet from Joey Ingram.

Among the others who voiced their wishes for a full recovery were Ronnie Bardah, Jennifer Tilly and partypoker LIVE president John Duthie.

Stay tuned to USPoker this week for more on this story and the Texas card club scene.

The post Poker Community Rallies Around Player Shot Outside Texas Card Club appeared first on .

888’s Flagship Super Series Returns to Spain, Debuts in Italy

The Spring Edition Super Series kicks off in May and will feature a €100K guarantee main event with a buy-in of just €99.

888poker has released the schedule of its flagship Super Series online tournament series, now set to run on both its European segregated markets simultaneously.

The two 16-day series will start next month in Spain and—for the first time—in Italy. The near-identical series will offer a variety of No Limit Hold’em tournaments with a mix of knockout and turbo deepstack events among the traditional rebuys and freezeouts.

Read the full article on pokerfuse →

Nevada Isn’t Mad At March After Record Basketball Bets

More than $521 million was wagered on sports during the month of March. Nevada sportsbooks won 6.55 percent of that money for a total win of $34.16 million. This marks an increase of 8.66 percent from the same period in 2017. You can find the full Nevada Gaming Control Board Revenue Report here.

While this was a huge month for sports betting, it’s always interesting to compare how sports betting wins stacks up against other games in Nevada casinos. It took a big month of basketball betting for sportsbooks to win more money for casinos than roulette.

March Madness, indeed

It should come as no surprise that basketball was the most wagered on sport in Nevada during March. NCAA basketball takes the main stage for sports bettors at the beginning of the month with conference tournaments. Moreover, the bulk of games played during NCAA Championship tournament take place throughout the month. Only the college basketball championship game takes place in April.

This was a record month of March for sportsbooks when it comes to basketball betting. The gaming control board doesn’t separate college from professional sports betting. More than $436 million ($436.5) was bet on college and pro basketball in March. Sportsbooks won 8.71 percent of wagers on basketball during March.

Parlay winnings were way up for sportsbooks in March. Winnings from parlay bets this year were up a whopping 617 percent from 2017. Regardless of the sport that was bet, parlays tend to be bad for the bettors. Sportsbooks won almost 25 percent (24.83%) of parlay bets in March. Anecdotally, younger bettors enjoy the rush of big parlay wins than single -110 point spread wins where they wager $11 to win $10.

Basketball handle in March should continue to grow. Visiting Las Vegas to watch the first weekend of games in Las Vegas continues to grow. In addition to making money from wagering on March Madness games, casino operators are creating parties and selling seats in sportsbooks to generate additional revenue.

Sportsbooks got the best of baseball bettors during the first few days of the season. The March 29 start to the season was the earliest ever for Major League Baseball. Sportsbooks won 12.91 percent of the wagers made on games played during the last three days of March.

Nevada sportsbooks win again

Ho-hum. Sportsbook operators had another winning month. According to Nevada Gaming Control Board records, Nevada sportsbooks have won more money than bettors for 56 months. That’s almost five years since bettors won more money than sportsbooks

 

 

 

 

 

 

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