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Nevada Poker Report March 2018: Nevada Poker Rooms Set The Stage For A Big Summer

Las Vegas had another strong month in March, with total gaming revenue topping $1 billion for the third consecutive month. Poker only accounts for a fraction of that total, but it’s safe to say that Nevada poker rooms were buzzing in March.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported a 5.68 percent year-over-year increase in poker revenue for the month, marking the first time poker revenue surpassed $10 million in March since 2014.

Poker revenue reached $10,154,000 in March, compared $9,608,000 the state’s poker rooms collected in March 2017.

For the month, the NGCB counted 62 poker rooms and 567 tables, compared to 66 poker rooms and 596 poker tables the state boasted last year.

On a per table basis, March 2018 blew last year’s numbers out of the water:

  • March 2017 table average: $16,121
  • March 2018 table average: $17,908

2018 live poker revenue in Nevada

12-month poker room and table trend

  • April 2017: 64 poker rooms and 586 poker tables
  • May 2017: 62 poker rooms and 724 poker tables
  • June 2017: 62 poker rooms and 731 poker tables
  • July 2017: 63 poker rooms and 724 poker tables
  • August 2017: 63 poker rooms and 603 poker tables
  • September 2017: 62 poker rooms and 598 poker tables
  • October 2017: 61 poker rooms and 572 poker tables
  • November 2017: 62 poker rooms and 580 poker tables
  • December 2017: 61 poker rooms and 562 poker tables
  • January 2018:  63 poker rooms and 568 poker tables
  • February 2018:  64 poker rooms and 587 poker tables
  • March 2018: 62 poker rooms and 567 poker tables

Poker in Clark County

The NGCB counted 39 poker rooms and 454 poker tables in Clark County in the month of March. Clark County includes the heavily trafficked and larger poker rooms from Las Vegas.

Clark County can lay claim to 90 percent of the total poker market share in Nevada. In March, Clark County poker rooms accounted for $9,206,000 of the $10,154,000 poker dollars collected by the state’s card rooms.

The 39 rooms and 454 tables are a decline from a year ago when there were 40 poker rooms and 478 poker tables. It’s also a decrease of 17 tables compared to last month’s numbers. But like the state as a whole, Y/Y revenue was up significantly in Clark County. Despite 24 fewer tables, poker revenue rose 6.75 percent in March.

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Poker on the Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip’s poker rooms tallied $6,510,000 in March, even though the Strip only accounts for a fraction of the poker rooms and tables in the state, 18 and 260 respectively.

Nevada poker rooms by the numbers

The largest poker rooms in Las Vegas are mainly found on the Las Vegas Strip:

  • Venetian (The Strip) – 37 poker tables
  • Bellagio (The Strip) – 37 poker tables
  • Orleans (Las Vegas off-strip)- 35 poker tables
  • Wynn (The Strip) – 28 poker tables
  • Aria (The Strip) – 24 poker tables
  • South Point Casino (Henderson) – 22 poker tables
  • Green Valley Ranch Casino (Henderson) – 22 poker tables
  • Red Rock Casino (Summerlin) – 20 tables

Historical data and trends of poker in Nevada

Here’s a look at several key poker metrics from the UNLV Center for Gaming Research, which has been tracking the number of poker rooms, tables and revenue since 1992:

Year # of Rooms # of Tables Total Revenue % Change YoY
1992 92 564 74,701,000 -2.57
1993 89 571 70,814,000 -5.20
1994 93 586 71,667,000 1.20
1995 92 574 66,520,000 -7.18
1996 82 539 64,485,000 -3.06
1997 77 490 61,509,000 -4.61
1998 76 526 58,873,000 -4.29
1999 70 546 63,244,000 7.41
2000 68 473 63,064,000 -0.28
2001 65 475 59,673,000 -5.38
2002 57 386 57,791,000 -3.15
2003 58 383 68,276,000 18.15
2004 79 484 98,862,000 44.80
2005 96 701 140,224,000 42.00
2006 106 886 160,929,000 14.77
2007 113 907 167,975,000 4.38
2008 113 913 155,724,000 -7.29
2009 114 905 145,580,000 -6.54
2010 109 920 135,200,000 -7.13
2011 104 872 131,877,000 -2.46
2012 99 809 123,253,000 -6.54
2013 88 774 123,891,000 0.56
2014 79 736 119,904,000 -3.18
2015 76 681 118,023,000 -1.57
2016 73 661 117,753,000 -0.18
2017 71 615 118,455,000 0.60

 

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NJ Online Poker Players Split $150,000 In 888poker BLAST Sit And Go

Four online poker players in New Jersey won pieces of a $150,000 prize pool last week through the WSOP.com and 888poker network’s lottery sit and go game BLAST.

BLAST sit and go games are four-person super-turbo Texas Hold’em tournaments that randomly award prize pool multipliers of anywhere from two times to 10,000 times the buy-in. The multiplier is drawn randomly before play begins and is also used to determine the blinds and length of the tournament.

With all prize pool multipliers the blinds increase every two minutes. However, the bigger the multiplier, the more levels players will compete in before time runs out. Once it does, players are automatically forced to go all-in every hand until a winner is determined.

Having a BLAST

888poker BLAST

BLAST was developed by 888poker. Buy-ins range from as little as $0.10 all the way up to $30. As a result, prize pools can reach as high as $300,000.

All BLAST tournaments with a multiplier of 1,000 times or more feature six levels of play before players are forced all in. The winner earns 60 percent of the prize pool and the runner up collects 20 percent. The third-place and fourth-place finishers each receive 10 percent.

Smaller multipliers pay fewer players. In fact, in BLAST sit and go games with a two times multiplier, only the winner gets paid. In games with a five times multiplier, 70 percent of the prize pool goes to the winner and the runner-up earns 30 percent. Plus, in games with anywhere from a 10 times to 100 times multiplier, 60 percent of the prize pool goes to the winner, the runner-up earns 25 percent, and the third-place finisher grabs 15 percent.

Only BLAST sit and go games with a multiplier of over 1,000 pay all four players.

Multipliers are not revealed until registration is complete and the tournament begins.

Of course, the lower multipliers are the most commonly drawn. In fact, there’s a better than 50 percent chance (549,990 in 1 million) that a two times multiplier will be drawn. Plus, the five times multiplier is drawn with a frequency of 408,450 in 1 million. That means there’s a better than 95 percent chance players will draw a multiplier of five times or less.

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A ten in 1 million shot

The maximum 10,000 times multiplier is drawn with a frequency of just 10 in 1 million. However, that’s exactly what happened to four $15 BLAST players on Thursday, April 26. They drew the 10,000 times multiplier and competed for pieces of a $150,000 prize pool.

In the end, two WSOP.com players won $15,000 each, taking third and fourth place. However, the lion’s share of the prize pool was scooped up by two 888poker players. The winner earned $90,000 and the runner-up collected $30,000.

888poker and WSOP.com in NJ

888poker originally launched in New Jersey under Bally’s internet gaming license. It struggled to gain market share due to poor brand recognition.

The site was brought under the Caesars Interactive Entertainment internet gaming license umbrella and began sharing player pools with WSOP.com in New Jersey in 2015.

The sites combine to lead the New Jersey market until PokerStars NJ launched in March 2016. The WSOP/888 network still manages to capture significant cash game market share at times. Plus, traffic is expected to increase significantly now that the sites are sharing player pools with the Nevada WSOP.com site and online poker sites using 888poker software in Delaware.

WSOP.com is a World Series of Poker branded online poker site. It operates in New Jersey under the Caesars Interactive Entertainment internet gaming license using 888poker software.

WSOP.com has been one of the most successful New Jersey online poker sites since it launched in November 2013. In terms of traffic and revenue, it was right behind the Borgata and partypokerNJ network at launch. It then took the market share lead when it began sharing player pools with 888poker in January 2015.

PokerStars now leads the New Jersey online poker market. However, traffic at WSOP.com in NJ often exceeds that of its top competitor.

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Penn National Strikes A Deal With Lightning Box For Online Slots

Penn Interactive Ventures (PIV) is making room for more shelves in its online casino library.

Last week, the digital subsidiary of Penn National Gaming (PNG) announced a long-term partnership with slots developer Lightning Box. The deal will bring new titles to PNG’s portfolio of online casinos starting this year.

Although the games will initially be limited to social casino platforms, both parties have clear ambitions in the real-money space.

PNG has been pressing especially hard in recent years, locking up major deals across both land-based and digital properties. This one represents a small but relevant piece of a much-larger expansion.

Sydney-based Lightning Box is establishing a presence on American soil itself, counting Penn among a growing list of partners.

Penn Interactive + Lightning Box

Under the deal, some of Lightning Box’s titles will be available within Penn’s online casino library this year. The popular Chilli Gold will be the first to go live in Q3, followed by Dolphin Gold, Respin Rhinos, Silver Lion and others from the company’s 50-title library.

The games will launch on PIV’s three social clients:

  • Hollywood Casino
  • Big Bonus Slots
  • Viva Slots

These are free-to-play products, but this deal also turns an eye toward a paid platform down the road. Lightning Box has experience in both spaces, including a real-money position in the young New Jersey market.

PIV Managing Director Chris Sheffield highlighted as much in his statements:

“Lightning Box’s gaming content is proven across real-money and social gaming platforms. And with its already established U.S. credentials, we look forward to working together for the foreseeable future.”

Penn putting pieces into place

Land-based expansion comes first…

PNG has spent about 20 years acquiring property around the country, starting with a few more race tracks within the region. It branched out geographically and conceptually in 2000, entering the casino business with standalone properties in St. Louis and Biloxi.

The group acquired the Hollywood brand in 2003, then Argosy Gaming two years later. It was buying so much property that it formed its own real-estate entity for tax purposes, Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. There were even rumors that PNG was maneuvering for a Harrah’s buyout at one point.

Penn has owned Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course since the beginning, too. With PA horse racing running through its veins, PNG recently fortified its position in its home state.

Late last year, it announced plans to purchase Pinnacle Entertainment in a landmark deal worth $2.8 billion. The closing will add another dozen properties to PNG’s portfolio, including Meadows Racetrack and Casino near Pittsburgh. It also scooped up two PA satellite casino licenses at auction, with plans for those licenses pending.

By the time the transactions settle out, the group will own or operate more than 40 properties in 20 jurisdictions.

Then social online gaming…

Online gaming has come into PNG’s sights during recent years, too. As the first states started to legalize the industry, PNG began assembling the pieces for its own product.

It formed the Interactive Division around the start of 2015, pulling a former UK gaming executive to lead the endeavor. Penn said that Sheffield would be “responsible for setting the Company’s strategy as it prepares for the launch of online gaming initiatives across its portfolio.”

Social gaming came quickly.

PNG immediately entered into a partnership with Scientific Games, one of the leaders in online casino technology. Its free Play4Fun platform is widely used across the industry, both in the US and abroad. Sheffield and his team had two social casinos up and running the same year, both under Hollywood branding.

A year later, PNG added mobile capabilities. It acquired Rocket Games for $60 million, unveiling its first mobile product within weeks.

Then real-money online gambling?

Real-money online gambling seems to be next, and PNG has a strong headquarters on home turf.

The Keystone State is both the most recent to pass enabling legislation and the largest to do so. Regulators have just begun reviewing license applications, and the industry should roll out in the coming months.

PNG will be well-positioned to participate when launch day arrives. During the Pinnacle acquisition, the group was forthcoming about its long-term plans:

The acquisition will leverage Penn National’s portfolio of regional and destination gaming properties and social gaming platforms across Pinnacle’s portfolio of complementary assets. The combined company will benefit from additional promotional opportunities in online and social gaming, which will help provide an additional boost to property level performance.

As other markets have shown, online gaming is an effective tool for customer retention and cross-promotion. This is especially true for large groups with sprawling portfolios, which can leverage their databases and services across multiple markets.

After taking up a second position in PA, it’d be no surprise to see PNG enter the real-money online space in the near future. How exactly those plans come together, though, remains to be seen.

 

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Powerball Winner Claims Ticket, But We Still Don’t Know His Name

Someone has come forward with the $456.7 million jackpot-winning Powerball ticket sold at a Speedway gas station and convenience store in Lancaster County last month. Technically, it is not a person whose name is on the ticket. instead, it is the Emerald Legacy Trust.

According to Pennsylvania Lottery officials, the claimant set up a trust and opted to receive a cash prize of $273,959,698 last week. After 24 percent federal tax and 3.07 percent state tax was withheld, the Emerald Legacy Trust received a prize of $199,798,807.75 from the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Lottery jackpot winners often set up a trust to claim big winnings. In fact, a trust can help the winner or winners remain anonymous and help them manage the newfound wealth.

PA’s 18th Powerball jackpot win

This marked the 18th time a person or group of people in Pennsylvania has won the multi-state Powerball jackpot. However, this is the largest prize ever awarded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Additionally, it is Powerball’s eighth-largest jackpot to date.

The winning ticket matched all five white balls, 22-57-59-60-66, and the red Powerball 07, for the Saturday, March 17, 2018 Powerball draw held on St. Patrick’s Day.

The Pennsylvania Lottery announced a few days after the draw that the ticket was sold at the Speedway at 675 Lancaster Road in Manheim.

Lottery officials said the ticket holder had one year from the date of the draw to claim the prize. The winner could have accepted a $456.7 million annuity in 30 payments over the next 29 years, or a $273.9 million lump sum in cash, less state and federal taxes.

The Speedway station was able to collect a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

At the time, Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko congratulated Speedway for selling winning ticket. Plus, he congratulated the winner for finding some tremendous St. Patrick’s Day luck.

PA’s 20th multi-state jackpot win

In addition to 18 Powerball jackpot wins, Pennsylvanians have won the Mega Millions multi-state lottery jackpot twice. In fact, that makes this particular winner the Pennsylvania Lottery’s 20th multi-state jackpot winner to date.

The Pennsylvania Lottery started selling tickets for Powerball in 2002 and Mega Millions in 2010.

A total of 44 states, Washington, D.C., US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico sell Powerball and Mega Millions tickets.

The largest multi-state lottery jackpot ever was a $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot. Three winners from California, Florida, and Tennessee split the jackpot in January 2016.

PA online lottery

The Pennsylvania Lottery will actually go online in May. In fact, a comprehensive gambling expansion package passed by state lawmakers in October 2017 included approval for online lottery sales.

However, online lottery sales in PA will not include Powerball and Mega Millions tickets at launch. Powerball and Mega Millions tickets might be added at a later date.

All Pennsylvania Lottery proceeds go to programs benefiting older residents and have since ticket sales began in 1972.

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