Last week, NJ’s online gambling revenue for January 2018 was revealed, and no surprise, Golden Nugget NJ still reigns over its NJ online casino competition.
The post Golden Nugget Is Still The Leader Of The New Jersey Online Gambling Pack appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
Poker Night in America is expanding its broadcast reach with a new live TV show on the CBS Sports Network. The new show, Poker Night LIVE, will pit celebrities (including poker celebrities) against one another at The Gardens Casino in Los Angeles, California in front of a live TV audience.
The show will debut in the 10 p.m. time slot on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
Initial plans have the show airing every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. for a period of 13 weeks.
“We’ve been re-imagining TV poker for the past four years, making it more fan friendly with famous faces and a fun atmosphere,” said Todd Anderson, President of Rush Street Productions, the parent company of Poker Night in America. “This is the latest exciting step as we continue to revolutionize how fans can watch poker. Anything can happen on live TV and probably will with a table filled with celebrities! The viewers will be able to see and hear everything that’s happening, just as if they are another player sitting at the table.”
Part of the mainstream appeal of Poker Night In America (the show has been airing on CBS Sports since 2014) is the stakes the games are played for. Most weeks, the cash game is played at $25/$50 stakes; large enough to create some drama and anxiety, especially for the amateur players, and attract a mix of top-tier and up-and-coming professional players, but small enough to let the pros cut loose and have fun without worrying about their bankrolls.
According to the press release, the new celebrity-centric show will be played at even lower stakes, “so the stars can just have fun and let loose, with no worry about making mistakes.”
“This will be unlike any poker show currently on TV,” said Anderson. “Poker Night LIVE will be more like a Hollywood home game brought directly into viewers homes with lots of interesting guests, lots of laughs and lots of live action.”
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The main PNiA show, with its $25/$50 stakes, tended to only attract celebrity players or wealthy amateurs who were already poker enthusiasts. With a smaller buy-in, PNiA is trying to widen its celebrity and amateur net, targeting casual and novice players, who might not mind firing off four or five $1,000 buy-ins, but would think twice about doing the same at five to ten times the stakes.
PNiA is also hoping the new format will bring some different poker personalities to the table, like Joe Stapleton.
Stapleton is a familiar name in the poker world, as he commentates many poker shows, including PNiA, but the new format will see “Stapes” come out of the booth and sit down at the table.
“Stapes (Joe Stapleton) is a huge talent, and a blast to play poker with! With his comedic skills and vast experience at calling some of the most iconic poker hands of all time – we can’t wait to watch him mix it up with Celebs on Live TV,” explained Poker Night LIVE’s recently named Executive Producer Jonnie Kedj, known for his work on other shows including Celebrity Poker Showdown, the World Poker Tour® and the PokerStars® Big Game.
The general vibe of the new show seems to be similar to the old Celebrity Poker Showdown shows that used to air on Bravo, in that it’s less about the money changing hands and more about the exposure.
Depending on the stakes, instead of professional players, you might see more poker media members and poker TV personalities like Stapleton sign up to play on the show against some of the celebrities and professional players.
The post Poker Night In America Launching New Live Celebrity Focused TV Show In March appeared first on .
Hard Rock and Ocean Resort AC casinos are planning summer openings but both have yet to get NJ casino licenses. Regulators hope to expedite the process.
The post The Clock Is Ticking, And Hard Rock, Ocean Resort Still Need NJ Casino Licenses appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
West Virginia’s Senate moved ahead with a sports betting bill Tuesday. In anticipation of a change to federal law that prohibits the activity, the state is just the latest to …
The prices for the Pennsylvania mini-casinos are down from the astronomical $50 million they opened at back in January. There is still demand above the minimum bid of $7.5 million though . The latest buyer, Sands Bethlehem, spent $9,885,000 to secure the fourth satellite license. The company selected a location near Hempfield, PA in Mercer County. However, there is a chance this location could cause some legal problems.
There are actually several Hempfields and Hempfield Townships in Pennsylvania. To be clear, the area Sands selected is the township in Mercer County. It is on the western end of the state, near Youngstown, OH.
If that description sounds familiar, it should. During the last auction, Mount Airy selected a similar site in New Castle, PA. The Mount Airy property is closer to Youngstown than the Sands site. However, both are just shy of two hours away from Cleveland, OH.
The Sands location is just over 30 miles from New Castle
If the sports betting law does change in Pennsylvania, the proximity of these sites to Ohio will become even more advantageous. Per the law, a Category 4 casino should be able to accept bets. So, the location near a populated sports town like Cleveland could bring in interested bettors. Especially since Ohio is one of the states who has not taken any legal action to allow wagering.
There is potential for controversy over this latest bid though. The law is very precise about where a Category 4 casino can go in relation to Category 1-3 casinos and opt-out municipalities. Where it is less clear is where a Category 4 casino can go in relation to another mini casino.
Per the auction rules provided by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), this is the only stipulation:
An affirmation that the proposed “Category 4 location” is notwithin any portion of a previous winning bidder’s “Category 4 location.” 4 Pa.C.S. §1305.1(B)(3)
Earlier in the rules, “location” is defined as the precise latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates the casinos provide. However, that is not where the casino will necessarily go. Bidders have to put their casino in a 25-mile range of the coordinates. Essentially, the location selected puts a pin at the center of a circle where the casino needs to go.
Problem is, the Sands Bethlehem location and the Mount Airy location now overlap. So, should the companies so choose, they could theoretically end up with casinos across the street from one another and still be in their respective circles.
The law is vague, so there is certainly a chance this overlap becomes an issue, especially if Mount Airy feels as though Sands is honing in on its area, which it paid more than twice as much for than Sands did for its satellite property.
There is a third party in the state who might be concerned about today’s auction too. Both sites are far from the boundary protecting the racino Presque Isle Downs in Erie, PA. Nonetheless, this is added competition for the casino, who relies on Ohio players for revenue.
All three properties are relatively equidistant from Cleveland. While Erie does have the natural attraction of the lake bearing the same name, Sands has the advantage when it comes to brand recognition. Sands Bethlehem trails only Parx Casino in revenue within Pennsylvania. Moreover, Sands is part of a global casino brand. The draw of the name and the linked rewards program that goes with it is certainly a boon.
With four licenses down and six to go, the field for available licenses is thin. Only Category 1 and 2 casinos are eligible to bid in this initial round.
The list of remaining eligible casinos is:
Parx participated in previous auctions. Other than that, the other casinos are silent on if they are going to stake claim to a property or not.
The base price for a satellite casino license is $7.5 million. Should any of the properties want to add table games, that will cost an additional $2.5 million on top of the auction bid. Once there are no more initial auction bidders, the secondary auction begins. At that time, Category 3 properties can bid, as can Category 1 and 2 casinos that previously bid on a location.
The post Sands Bethlehem Mini Casino Site Raises Legal Questions About Location appeared first on Play Pennsylvania.
The country’s preeminent online poker advocacy group is going through some major changes. Now, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) says unless the public steps up to back the organization, it may not survive them.
The PPA sent out a press release Feb. 7 announcing longtime Executive Director John Pappas would be stepping down at the end of the month.
Vice President Rich Muny will take on the day-to-day responsibility of running the organization as PPA President. Pappas will remain on the board of directors and take on a role as a strategic advisor.
Pappas led the non-profit membership organization for more than a decade. PPA’s longest serving board member Linda Johnson described Pappas as a tremendous leader and true professional:
“Under his guidance, PPA has emerged as a policy advocacy and grassroots powerhouse in Washington D.C. and in state capitals across the country. For almost a decade, he has been the political voice and face of the poker community and regulated internet gaming advocates. He leaves the organization in a strong position to continue to ensure that consumer voices drive the internet gaming debate.”
However, just how strong a position Pappas is leaving the organization in is in question.
In the release, Pappas says there has never been greater momentum for internet gaming in the US than right now:
“Whether lawmakers are considering poker, casino gambling or even sports betting, a strong and organized grassroots effort will be critical to legislative success. I am proud of the work I have done with the PPA board of directors and the amazing PPA staff to bring us to this point. I will miss working for the poker community on a day-to-day basis, but I am confident that the PPA will continue its great work with Rich Muny at the helm.”
However, the PPA has been adjusting to a reduction in financial support from the internet gaming industry recently.
The PPA claims despite that, it was still instrumental in the legalization of Pennsylvania online gambling last year. However, it’s impossible to say if Pennsylvania would have passed online gambling legislation even without the PPA’s efforts.
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The organization also claims to have made a significant impact advocating for all forms of poker and internet gaming.
There’s little doubt the PPA has made a strong push for online poker and internet gambling. The PAA has definitely worked with state governments and stakeholders. It has maintained a position as a voice for the poker community.
However, results have been few and far between. Just four states have passed bills legalizing online poker. The truth is they may have done so even without the PPA’s help.
The PPA is now also considering a shift in its advocacy efforts. In fact, it claims to be thinking about jumping on the sports betting bandwagon. If only to see if it can’t attach the push for online poker to a movement with significantly more momentum.
New Jersey‘s case against a federal ban on sports betting was heard by the US Supreme Court in December. A decision is expected in the coming months. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of New Jersey it could open up the right for states across the country to legalize sports betting. As many as 20 states have already passed or are considering passing legislation that would legalize sports betting if the federal ban is lifted.
Despite more than a decade of effort from the PPA, there has never been this much momentum behind online poker.
The PPA says it is perfectly positioned to expand into this area. Plus, it could help the organization gain potential new activists and donors. Additionally, it says getting behind sports betting might help ensure poker is included in legislative discussions.
However, the organization also says it may not survive to see movement on any of it without the public’s help.
An update from Muny posted on the PPA website Feb. 16 claims this is a period of challenge.
It reiterates the point that the PPA has seen a significant reduction in donations from the internet gaming industry. Plus, it claims the PPA may be forced to shut down without the public’s help:
“We now find ourselves possibly shutting down right before what could be the biggest year for iPoker and iGaming yet. PPA cannot continue fighting for poker if we do not meet our fundraising goal of $25,000 by the end of March. With support from poker players and enthusiasts like you, we can easily make this goal.”
The plea ends claiming every dollar donated will go toward core operational expenses of the organization’s grassroots communications and advocacy.
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Party Poker is running a series of Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments from Sunday and supporting the series with $10 million in guaranteed prize pools. If you have never experienced the thrill of playing in a PKO tournament before, don´t miss out on this exciting opportunity. When a player buys into a PKO tournament, half of […]
One step forward, two steps back. That seems to be a consistent theme when talking about online poker traffic in New Jersey.
Both cash games and tournament traffic took a dive this week when compared to last week’s numbers. It is somewhat of a surprise because big online poker tournament series tend to draw a decent amount of players to the platforms for both tournaments and cash games.
All the major Sunday tournaments, except for Pala Poker’s Mega Rebuy, met guarantees – but not by much. And overall, the total number entries across platforms was 656, down 11.95% from last week’s number of 745.
On the cash game side of things, PokerStars once again claimed the top spot with the most traffic, but it was partypoker that posted the smallest decline in traffic.
The weekly average cash game traffic saw a 1.7% decrease with 285 players taking to the virtual felt compared to last week’s 290. Peak cash game traffic also fell with an average of 651 players down from 699 players last week for a 6.8% decrease.
While this week might have a been a step back, it’s hopeful next week will be a step forward. The New Jersey Poker Classic II is still running at 888poker, and PokerStars just announced the inaugural New Jersey Turbo Series scheduled to begin this week.
Both series have some enticing guarantees that will hopefully attract players and keep them at the tables.
It is important to note when analyzing the last week’s traffic that we were unable to collect cash game traffic data for WSOP/888 and partypoker on Tuesday, Feb. 13. To accommodate, we took the average of the week without Tuesday’s data and used that number for the charts and comparisons in this report.
Cash game traffic was also unavailable for Pala Poker for the entire week.
With that, let’s take a detailed look back at the cash game and tournament trends in the New Jersey online poker market for the week ending Feb. 18, 2018.
New Jersey has seven online poker sites operating on four separate networks.
During the week of Feb. 12 – Feb. 18, New Jersey online poker sites averaged 285 cash game players, a decrease of 1.7% from the previous week.
Peak traffic numbers were around 651 players, a decrease of 6.8% from the previous week.
Here’s how those players are distributed across the four online poker networks.
Seven-day rolling cash game traffic data:
Seven-day rolling cash game traffic data:
Seven-day rolling cash game traffic data:
Cash game traffic data was unavailable for Pala Poker at the time the data for this article was collected.
*Cash game traffic data provided by PokerScout.com and compiled Feb. 20, 2018.
PokerStars is back on top for the week, capturing just over 38% of the traffic in the market. There is nothing really to celebrate, though, as the traffic numbers still came in behind last week’s figure, showing a 4.7% decline in traffic.
In fact, all three of the top operators posted a decline in traffic when compared to last week. partypoker posted the best of the worst, with a 3.7% decrease in cash game traffic for the week. (Data was unavailable for Pala Poker at the time the data was collected.)
WSOP/888 had a great week last week but couldn’t post numbers in positive territory three weeks in a row. They saw the most significant decline in traffic with a 7.8% decrease compared to last week.
Looking ahead, WSOP/888 is still running the New Jersey Poker Classic, and PokerStars will begin hosting the New Jersey Turbo Series this week.
It looked like the start of a promising month, quickly turned into more of the same mixed results for online poker in New Jersey. With two major tournament series on the calendar, there is still hope for a strong finish to the month.
Online poker will be entering a busy time, and WSOP satellites will continue to make their way to the platforms, so look for the uptick to continue.
The four online poker networks host a signature Sunday tournament. This week the major tournaments were:
Last week, tournament entries declined 11.9% from the week prior. As mentioned earlier, this is a little surprising because New Jersey usually shows up for big tournament series.
Knowing this, look for tournament numbers to rebound next week with the New Jersey Turbo Series on Poker Stars joins the New Jersey Poker Classic II on WSOP/888 to create a jam-packed tournament schedule.
Add to the WSOP satellites that are running through the weekend, and there’s a little something for everyone and let’s hope that translates into positive numbers for next week.
Look for these marquee events on Sunday, Feb. 25:
Note: For the latest and most up-to-date tournament information, always check the poker client.
This is the second week in a row that three of the four operators exceeded their guarantees. Pala Poker is still struggling to meet theirs; this week’s guarantee of the Sunday Mega Rebuy was reduced from $2,000 to $1,000.
And with that, here’s a look at the total number of entries for the most significant tournament held on each of the online poker networks in New Jersey:
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