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The biggest poker room on the Vegas Strip has just opened to stellar reviews, with big players and stakeholders alike calling it "pretty awesome." The Poker Room at the Venetian features bathrooms, a drink station, and all the other bells and whistles one would expect from the grandest poker room, and it has 49 tables that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip has once again set a new standard for luxury gaming with the grand opening of its expansive new poker room, fittingly named The Poker Room. The ultramodern facility, which was introduced on Thursday, spans 14,000 sq. feet, marking it the largest poker room on the Las Vegas Strip. The Venetian's latest addition promises to enrich the gameplay for poker aficionados, offering an unmatched gaming experience with an emphasis on luxury, convenience, and innovation. An all-new gaming experience for poker enthusiasts The Poker Room, set on the Grand Canal Shoppes' second floor, is a space designed with the poker player in mind. The room features 50 tables, with each table equipped with modern amenities such as USB charging ports. These tables cater to a variety of poker games, including mixed games, low- and mid-stakes no-limit hold 'em, along with pot-limit Omaha, ensuring that players of all skill levels find a game that suits their preferences. In addition to the core offerings, The Poker Room boasts a range of amenities designed to enhance the overall experience. For instance, there is a self-service beverage station and kiosks for the casino's loyalty card program, which are just a few of the conveniences that players can enjoy. The space is designed to offer not just a game but an entire experience, one that combines luxury with practicality. Tommy LaRosa, The Venetian's Director of Poker Operations, stressed that each new element of the poker room was designed to meet the needs of players. "We want to create a destination that every poker player must play at and everybody in Las Vegas is going to want to play on a daily basis," stated LaRosa at the unveiling. A star-studded grand opening The grand opening of The Poker Room was a lavish affair, attended by executives from The Venetian and celebrities alike. The event featured a ceremonial 'first hand of poker,' played by magician Shin Lim (who is all set to start his residency this coming October at The Palazzo Theatre) and Grammy-winning rapper Nelly. They were joined at the poker table by Venetian Chief Executive Officer and president Patrick Nichols and Chief Financial Officer Rob Brimmer, as well as poker professionals Scott Blumstein (the 2017 World Series of Poker winner), Joey Ingram, Farah Galfond, Jamie Kerstetter, and Matt Berkey. This high-profile launch highlights The Venetian's commitment to maintaining its reputation as a premier poker destination in Sin City. The new room, now located between the Palazzo and Venetian casino floors, offers a more accessible and central position, making it easier for both professional and recreational players to enjoy all that it has to offer. A luxurious gaming experience like no other While The Poker Room's overall design draws inspiration from other top poker venues, such as the Wynn poker room, which is located nearby, it introduces some distinctive features that set it apart as well. The aesthetics of the room features a blue and white color scheme for the tables, completed by carpeting that enhances its luxurious feel. One notable feature that has been reintroduced is the soda machine and coffee station, which are self-service and a player favorite (particularly with renowned players like Allen Kessler). The Venetian's new poker room was publicized in February and was designed to be the biggest and grandest in Vegas. With 49 tables offering a comprehensive range of games, it caters to all types of players, from casual participants to seasoned professionals. The poker room is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and even has complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, further enhancing the luxurious feel. Additionally, players can earn about $3 per hour while playing games using cash, providing an extra incentive to enjoy the new space. One of the most anticipated features of The Poker Room is the live streaming room, expected to be operational by the year's end. This addition will allow players to broadcast their games, adding a new layer of excitement and engagement to the poker experience at The Venetian. Poker pros are awed by The Poker Room The response from the poker community to The Poker Room's opening has been tremendously positive. On opening day, players were eager to experience the state-of-the-art facility. One of the notable players was Maria Konnikova, the ambassador of PokerStars, who was impressed with the modern facilities, noting, "The room is absolutely beautiful." She even shared a light-hearted comment about being the first player to make use of the new restrooms, highlighting the attention to detail in every aspect of the room's design. Jon Friedberg, Chief Executive Officer of PokerAtlas, also praised The Poker Room, as he stated, "I think they did a great job on this room. It's got all the bells and whistles that a poker room can have - bathrooms in here, the drink station, self-serve drinks, beautiful room, livestream studio. I'm impressed." A new era of poker rooms The Venetian has acquired a reputation as a top destination for Las Vegas poker play, and the opening of The Poker Room further strengthens its status as a premier location for poker enthusiasts. With its luxurious design, innovative features, and focus on giving a truly unique player experience, The Poker Room is set to become a must-visit destination for anyone serious about poker.

Caesars doesn't rest on its laurels, and in fact, it's been busy as a bee. Just after reporting that Caesars is all set to launch the Horseshoe Online Casino app in Michigan, it has also announced that it is in the process of selling the IP rights of the WSOP for $500 million to the NSUS Group. In a significant move for the gaming industry, Caesars Entertainment has announced the sale of the intellectual property rights linked to the World Series of Poker to the NSUS Group Inc., an investment company, for a total of $500 million. This transaction marks a major milestone for both companies and proves Caesars’ ongoing strategy to streamline its portfolio. The deal, valued at $500 million, is structured with $250 million in cash plus a $250 million 'promissory note' secured by WSOP's intellectual property assets. The note is set to mature five years from the transaction's closing date, which is anticipated to happen by the year's end. While specific profit figures from the WSOP sale have not been disclosed, the transaction is likely to represent a substantial profit for Caesars. The gaming giant, then operating as Harrah's Entertainment, acquired Horseshoe Hotel and Casino in downtown Vegas and WSOP for $44.3 million, way back in 2004. And although the casino's operating rights were subsequently sold back again, Caesars continues to benefit significantly from the WSOP sale. The WSOP acquisition is a historical event in Caesars' corporate timeline. It predates Harrah's acquisition of Caesars Entertainment for $10.4 billion in 2005 and the 2008 privatization by TPG Capital L.P. and Apollo Management valued at over $27 billion. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2015, Caesars was sold in 2020 to Eldorado Resorts for more than $17 billion. Notably, the present management, led by Chief Executive Officer Tom Reeg, was not involved in the initial WSOP acquisition. Aligning with asset selling strategy This sale aligns with Caesars' broader asset divestment strategy. Earlier in 2024, Reeg indicated that the company was open to selling "non-core casinos," and since WSOP is not a physical gaming venue, its sale corresponds to the company's framework. A precedent was with the sale of William Hill's international assets after Caesars acquired the bookmaker. In the announcement, Caesars did not specify plans for the sale proceeds. However, it is likely that some of the capital will be allocated towards reducing the company's substantial debt, which stood at $12.4 billion in the second quarter. This debt, one of the largest in the industry, has, in fact, been steadily declining under Reeg's leadership. During the second quarter, Caesars Digital reported EBITDA of $40 million, a notable increase from $11 million the previous year. However, the contribution of WSOP to this figure was not detailed. WSOP operations to continue Caesars will continue to operate its WSOP Online real-money poker business in Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey under a license from NSUS since it was recently upgraded. However, the agreement restricts Caesars from operating digital peer-to-peer poker operations for a particular period, subject to several exceptions. Under the agreement with NSUS, the company retains the rights to hold WSOP tournaments at its land-based casinos, which include the prestigious Main Event, the largest global poker tournament. For the coming 20 years, Caesars will host the WSOP's flagship tournament series at its Vegas casinos. Furthermore, brick-and-mortar poker rooms operated by Caesars will continue to feature WSOP branding, and Caesars’ locations will maintain preferential rights to host live World Series of Poker Circuit events. On a side note, last month, Jonathan Tamayo won the WSOP Main Event, held at the Horseshoe and Paris on the Vegas Strip, showcasing the enduring popularity and prestige of the tournament.

July 31, 2024 – The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) shattered records, marking a spectacular chapter for the global poker community. With a rise in entries and record-breaking funds collected, this year’s event redefined WSOP standards. Highlights include unprecedented participation, a significant leap in total funds, and standout individual performances among crowd favorites. Entries Up from Last Year WSOP 2023 saw 215,655 entries, but this year, with four additional live bracelet events, entries rose to 229,559. The $300 Gladiators of Poker was the best-attended event with 20,647 entries, followed by the $400 Colossus with 19,303. Other notable events included the $1,000 Mystery Millions (18,409), $1,500 Millionaire Maker (10,939), and the record-breaking $10,000 Main Event (10,112). A player would need $971,856 to enter each event once. The 2024 WSOP Bracelet tournaments yielded about $500 million in revenue, including $480,764,185 in collected money and $43,323,640 in rake. Of this, admission fees accounted for $30,274,048 while WSOP staff received $13,049,592. WSOP collected more than the GDP of: Micronesia ($460m) Kiribati ($279m) Palau ($263m) Marshall Islands ($284m) Nauru ($154m) Tuvalu ($62m) First-place awards totaled $67,020,895, with Jonathan Tamayo's $10 million Main Event payout coming in first. Bracelets Incurred by 24 Countries With 59 WSOP victories, the United States led the field. Canada came in second with 4, and England, France, and Germany each had three. Australia won three as well. Titles were also claimed by players from Bulgaria, China, Spain (two each), and a few more nations. Country Number of Titles USA 59 Canada 4 France 3 Germany 3 England 3 About World Series of Poker The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the premier poker tournament series, held annually in Las Vegas. Founded in 1970, it has grown into a massive event with diverse tournament formats, huge prize pools, and iconic gold bracelets for winners. Attracting top poker players and celebrities, the WSOP offers an electric atmosphere and a wide range of poker variants beyond the Main Event. The 2025 World Series of Poker's precise dates have not yet been made public but WSOP typically takes place in the late spring and summer.

July 29, 2024 – The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas has come to an end, but there are still some exciting poker tournaments scheduled for the rest of 2024. Some of the most sought after charitable activities that will generate funds for some fantastic causes are set for a kick off by Always Bet on Blue, All in for Ability, and ART4AUTISM to name a few. Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) Events There won't be much time to wait for the next two Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) events, which were held in the summer. The Stirling Club will host CSOP Event #68: Always Bet on Blue on Saturday, August 17. The $300 buy-in tournament includes entry, a silent auction, and a cocktail hour. Non-players can attend for $100. Rebuys and add-ons are $100 each. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. PT, with the tournament starting at 7:00 p.m. PT. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize, with over $9,000 in donated prizes for the final table. Proceeds benefit The Wounded Blue, supporting injured and disabled law enforcement officers. The Stirling Club will host CSOP Event #69: All In for Ability on September 7. Everything is the same as it was before, with the exception that The Ability Center will benefit financially from this competition. The Ability Center helps its members find new strengths, abilities, and confidence to live their best lives. They also provide assistance in making exercise easily accessible to Southern Nevada's special needs community. Autism Awareness Events The 16th Annual Ante 4 Autism Event will be held at South Point Hotel & Casino on Saturday, July 27th. Registration for the $200 buy-in charity tournament, with a $15,000 guaranteed prize pool, opens at 5:30 p.m., and the tournament starts at 6:30 p.m. Late registration and $100 rebuys and add-ons are available until 8 p.m. Proceeds benefit five autism charities. The third annual ART4AUTISM event, organized by Families for Effective Autism Treatment of Southern Nevada, will feature artwork created by people with autism spectrum disorder. The World Market Center in Las Vegas will host the exhibition from August 12 to September 7. Pieces will be up for grabs through an online auction that closes on September 7. On September 7, there will be a VIP Finissage Closing Reception with free food, beverages, artist meet-and-greets, and art pickup. About Las Vegas Charity Poker Events When Las Vegas Charity Poker Events first started in the early 2000s, poker professionals, celebrities, and athletes attended. These prestigious events, which promote different organizations, have guaranteed prize pools and buy-ins throughout the years. They are typically held at locations such as South Point Hotel & Casino. Beneficiaries include local community programs, wounded veterans, and autism organizations. Players have a great time playing competitively and giving back to the community, all while having a big influence.

July 24, 2024 – Scott Seiver did not win the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Player of the Year title with three bracelets, but he did manage to hang onto the title. And now, the Poker Hall of Fame, an even greater accolade, may be just a year away for him. Two WSOP Online bracelet events earlier this week could have affected the Player of the Year competition, even though the live WSOP in Las Vegas concluded last week. Because of this, the WSOP was unable to declare Seiver's victory official because a few other players were still mathematically in contention. Competing Legends The 2024 World Series of Poker will be remembered as one of the best. Legends Daniel Negreanu and Phil Ivey ended decade-long bracelet droughts. Seiver, with three bracelets, needed a late final table to secure Player of the Year against Michael Rocco and Jeremy Ausmus. Ausmus tied Phil Hellmuth's record with seven final tables, but Rocco, who won his first bracelet and had six top nine finishes, was equally impressive. Seiver, 39, is now eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame. Top 10 WSOP Players: 1st: Scott Seiver - 4,403.85 points 2nd: Michael Rocco - 3,803.67 points 3rd: Jeremy Ausmus - 3,686.60 points 4th: John Racener - 3,557.10 points 5th: Xixiang Luo - 3,480.93 points Seiver won his fifth, sixth, and seventh bracelets this year, plus reached two other final tables. On the final day, he took sixth in the $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E., securing his lead. Rocco, Ausmus, and Racener needed to win the last two WSOP Online bracelet events but fell short. Seiver’s Prediction In May, Seiver tweeted his prediction that he would win Player of the Year. He was quite successful in cash games as well as tournaments, having cashed out $26.8 million in live tournaments. Beginning with the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8-or-Better Championship, Seiver won three WSOP bracelets this summer: the $1,500 Razz, the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, and the $1,000 Razz. He cashed in 17 events, made it to five final tables, and became the first person to win three WSOP bracelets at the same venue since 2009.

July 23, 2024 – The PokerStars UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) visits the Hippodrome Casino in London from August 2-11 for the 2024 UKIPT London festival. The £1,100 buy-in UKIPT London Main Event features four flights, starting at 1:00 p.m. on August 4, 2:00 p.m. on August 5, and 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on August 6. The 2024 UKIPT London schedule is as follows: Date Time Event Friday, Aug 2, 2024 4:00 pm £330 NLHE Warm-Up Mystery Bounty Day   9:00 pm £125 Qualifier to Main Event Saturday, Aug 3, 2024 12:00 p.m. £330 NLHE Warm-Up Mystery Bounty Day   6:00 pm 330 NLHE Warm-Up Mystery Bounty Day 1c   9:00 pm £125 Qualifier for Main Event Past Notable Champions After defeating 373 opponents in the UKIPT London Main Event last September, Dylan Bradley is currently the current champion. In addition to winning the £71,650 top prize, Bradley's victory over Stephen Cherry was also his first-ever recorded live score! Sep 2023: Dylan Bradley - £71,650 Apr 2022: James Rann - £86,569 Apr 2016: Usman Siddique - £84,100 Jan 2015: Rapinder Cheema - £78,825 Oct 2014: Brett Angell - £115,083 Don't miss the £220 No-Limit Hold'em Bounty Ambassador Meet-Up at 8:00 p.m. on August 6. Win £100 per eliminated opponent and special prizes for knocking out PokerStars Ambassadors like Lex Veldhuis and Sam Grafton. Two ambassadors have a $2,500 Silver Pass bounty. The winner also gets a UKIPT Nottingham Main Event seat.

July 18, 2024 - At the 2024 WSOP Main Event final table, Brian Kim, a Los Angeles poker pro with over $7.3 million in live tournament earnings, faced a pivotal hand three hours into the session. This hand, which will be widely discussed, saw Kim finish with $1.5 million, potentially much less than he could have earned. The final table action at the 2024 WSOP Main Event picked up with Malo Latinois busting in ninth place with A♥K♥ against Jordan Griff's 3♣3♠. Joe Serock soon followed in eighth, losing AxJx to Niklas Astedt’s QxQx. The most entertaining hand saw Boris Angelov raise, Kim three-bet with K♣6♣, and Astedt cold four-bet with 10♠10♦. Kim then five-bet all-in for 53,900,000, and Astedt called reluctantly. Astedt would win middle set and Kim would be in severe need of a runner-runner straight or flush as the flop came out Q♣10♥8♠. Kim's run in the record-breaking WSOP Main Event came to an end on the 6♠ river when she finished in seventh place, earning $1,500,000. Help would arrive on the 5♣ turn. When asked about the flop, Kim had this to say "Not happy to get called, but I think, Yeah, I had, an instinctual thing going on, That button didn't have a great hand. And also he was opening all the stuff he was supposed to, I had a feeling that Niklas actually considered folding when he looked at his cards.

July 17, 2024 - As part of its ongoing calendar for 2024, the Charity Series of Poker will return to Las Vegas, Nevada on August 17, with the Stirling Club serving as the host venue. THE WOUNDED BLUE, a nationwide nonprofit that provides aid and support to law enforcement officers who are injured or incapacitated, will benefit from the Always Bet On Blue event. The event starts with a silent auction at 5:30 PM, followed by a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres. The main charity poker tournament begins at 7:00 PM, featuring a $5,000 top prize and over $9,000 in donated prizes. The $300 buy-in event includes unlimited $100 re-buys and add-ons. Attendees can join the dinner and auction for $100 without playing in the tournament. Business casual attire is recommended. With the much-anticipated event nearing, the CSOP website posted additional details for its patrons to check out: “We recognize injuries as being either physical or emotional and psychological. Post Traumatic Stress affects thousands of those who serve behind the badge. Our Mission: To Improve The Lives of Injured and Disabled Law Enforcement Officers through Support. Education. Assistance and Legislation and in the last 5 years since we went operational have touched the lives of more than 14,000 American Police Officers.” About The Charity Series of Poker The Charity Series of Poker (CSOP), started in 2014 by professional poker player Matt Stout, arranges and publicizes charity poker tournaments and events to generate funds and publicity for deserving organizations. With this event, CSOP will have made 68 stops in its stellar schedule over the years.

July 16, 2024 – PokerStars held a $1 million guaranteed progressive knockout tournament with a $215 buy-in and special edition Sunday Million this past weekend. Since the 2024 European Championships final was held while many elite pros were still in Las Vegas for the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP), such an event was not without major risk. Any concerns about an overlay were allayed, though, when 5,451 entries yielded a prize pool that broke the guarantee ($1,090,200). Through a PokerNews campaign, tickets were won by fifty of the participants. A few days before this significant event, the PokerNews-only freeroll event took place where the event runner gave away 50x $215 seats thanks to the cooperation between PokerStars and PokerNews. Six ticket winners cashed in the PokerStars Sunday Million Special Edition, sharing $545,100. Notably, Lithuania's "peledziukas17" finished 37th, earning $2,550, while Canada's "Azzurro550" secured 10th place, winning $6,663 including bounties. These players turned free tickets into impressive prizes, demonstrating the potential value of such promotions. Stay tuned for more opportunities like this in the future. Brazil Dominates Six of the nine finalists being Brazilian, the final table represented Brazil through and through. Aside from "marllonpinto," who came in ninth place with $9,474, every candidate received payments totaling five figures. Brazilians faced off against "prOvinzia1" from Poland and "EDY14101" from Andorra with four players remaining. "prOvinzia1" placed fourth with $36,164, while "EDY14101" secured the third place finish with $46,445, guaranteeing the victory of a Brazilian. With the exception of the two tournaments mentioned above, "RicoMinibAby" emerged victorious on PokerStars this weekend, taking home $24,177 after winning the $1,050 Sunday High Roller PKO. Veterans Simon "C. Darwin2" Mattsson and Peter "Belebasci" Traply also emerged victorious; the latter most likely did it while supporting fellow Swede Niklas Astedt in the 2024 WSOP Main Event.

July 12, 2024– After finishing Day 4 of the 2024 WSOP Main Event, Adam Rude suffered a heart attack that sent him to the hospital. Remarkably, he returned hours later to compete for the $10 million prize on Day 5. However, some fellow players criticized his choice to play instead of resting. "I am getting a little negative feedback at the table," Rude reported on the first Day 5 break. "One guy is a little outspoken that I shouldn't be here. The reason I'm here — the only reason I'm here is because I have two boys, and I want to give them $10 million," the poker player adds. A Cause for Concern Rude clarified that Thursday morning, while taking a shower, his defibrillator—a gadget that shocks the heart to restart a regular rhythm—went off. "So, I went to the hospital and it was registering as a heart attack," Rude said. "So, I mean, they didn't see any damage, they did what they could do. They got my vitals, everything, looking good. And they gave me some strong medicines to get me through today." Rude doesn't think the physicians' diagnosis that he had a heart attack was accurate. Despite admitting to being "feeling tired" during the interview, he expressed confidence in his ability to navigate the day without incident. Adam Rude, who has a defibrillator due to past heart issues, arrived on Day 5 of the WSOP Main Event with under 20 big blinds but quickly doubled up with pocket aces. Rude, who finished 117th in 2018, was guaranteed a minimum payout of $40,000, aiming to earn more for his two sons. Among the remaining 360 players were big names like Phil Ivey, Adrian Mateos, and Tony Dunst. PokerNews provided live coverage.

July 11, 2024 – With the main event bracelet's debut on Monday by Poker Hall of Famer and series founder Jack Binion, the World Series of Poker provided a window into the tournament's history. Alongside WSOP Vice President Jack Effel, he also performed the traditional "shuffle up and deal." This year is no different from previous years in that the series gives a main event bracelet that surpasses the customary hardware awarded to champions on the daily schedule. Jostens created the hardware on demand using 445 grams of 10-karat yellow gold and 2,253 different types of valuable jewels. 1,948 round diamonds, 230 black onyx, and 75 red rubies make up the WSOP main event bracelet. A detachable golden face plate acts as a card protection. The WSOP Executive Director, Ty Stewart, emphasized its importance to players. With 10,112 players and a $94 million prize pool, this year's game shattered records. On July 6, 5,014 people registered, setting a new record for a single day. On July 17, the winner will get a whopping $10 million prize. A Brief History of The World Series of Poker Key executive Jack Binion of the Horseshoe, together with his father Benny Binion, helped launch the World Series of Poker in 1970. At the age of 26, Jack was elected president of the Horseshoe, and under his direction, it became one of the most prosperous casinos in Nevada. Following Benny's passing in 1998, Jack sold his interest in the Horseshoe but kept the brand outside of Nevada, establishing locations nationwide. Jack was admitted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2005, and Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars Entertainment) purchased the World Series of Poker in 2004.