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Playtech and MGM International, both big names in their own sectors, have banded together to bring a whole new and exciting experience to Las Vegas casino players with its latest offering: live casino content direct from the casino floors of the famous Bellagio and MGM Grand In an exciting development for online casino enthusiasts, MGM Resorts International and Playtech, the tech giant, have announced a strategic partnership to launch a groundbreaking live casino platform. The new initiative, aptly named "MGM Live," promises to bring the vibrant atmosphere of Las Vegas directly to players' screens worldwide, offering a totally unique and immersive gaming experience that has never been seen before. MGM Live: bringing the sights and sounds of Vegas to your living room The collaboration between MGM Resorts and Playtech will deliver an unparalleled live casino experience, streaming directly from the casino floors of the iconic Bellagio Resorts & Casino and MGM Grand in the heart of Las Vegas. This new platform caters to iGaming operators in regulated markets outside of the United States, providing players with exclusive access to a variety of high-quality live casino content. MGM Live will initially feature classic casino games such as baccarat and single plus double-zero roulette. But these offerings are just the beginning, as Playtech and MGM plan to expand the portfolio significantly in the future. The partnership aims to introduce a wide array of Playtech's innovative games, including trivia shows hosted by celebrities, branded television game shows, and unique entertainment experiences that seamlessly blend gaming with interactive content. "This collaboration amplifies our commitment to providing unparalleled experiences and expands our global reach to our customers," states Chief Executive Officer & President of MGM Resorts Bill Hornbuckle. He continues that with this partnership, they will be able to combine their famous MGM hospitality and expertise in entertainment with the premium, cutting-edge technology Playtech is known for, creating a whole new standard for live and real-time casino gaming. A truly strategic, powerhouse partnership Playtech, a leader in the gambling technology industry, brings a wealth of experience and innovation to the table. With a workforce of almost 8,000 employees spread in 19 countries, Playtech is renowned for delivering top-tier software, content, services, and platform technology related to gambling across multiple industries, including live casino, casino, virtual sports, sports betting, poker, and bingo. Chief Executive Officer at Playtech, Mor Weizer, adds, "This alliance combines the strength of MGM Resorts' global prestige with Playtech's extensive international market knowledge and innovative games." He continues that Playtech remains a leading contender in regulated markets, and they are delighted for this partnership because it means that they will once again be pioneers in a new live entertainment product and category for iGamers in regulated territories. A ground-breaking era of live casino entertainment The launch of MGM Live marks a significant milestone in the evolution of live casino gaming. By streaming games live from two of the most famous casinos in Las Vegas, MGM Live will offer players a truly authentic and thrilling gaming experience, which captures the essence of being on some of the most exciting casino floors in the world. This innovative approach not only enhances player engagement but also sets a new benchmark for the industry. As the demand for live casino content continues to grow, MGM Resorts and Playtech's partnership is set to meet - and exceed - players' expectations. By leveraging their combined expertise and resources, MGM Live aims to revolutionize the way live casino games are enjoyed, providing a seamless and immersive experience that transports players straight to the heart of Las Vegas. The future of live casino gaming looks bright with the introduction of MGM Live. And as the platform evolves, players can look forward to an ever-expanding array of games and interactive content, all designed to deliver the ultimate gaming experience. With the backing of two industry giants, MGM Live is all set to become a leading destination for live casino enthusiasts worldwide.

Chris Paul has signed a deal with the San Antonio Spurs after being waived by the Warriors, which brings him to Texas, and is now slated to form a fearsome team-up with reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama with the hopes of ending the Spurs’ playoff drought ever since the end of the Kawhi Leonard era in the team. Prior to the signing, the Warriors reportedly was offered to bring in Zach Lavine in exchange for Chris Paul. However, the management didn’t feel that it was enough to actually be a sound deal structure, which led them to release Paul. This cleared the way for Paul to sign with the Spurs as an unrestricted free agent. At the age of 39, it does seem that Paul is clearly a talent to acquire in the market. However, the events that unfolded happened too fast, and the Spurs were clearly waiting on a guard to go in the market before quickly offering a deal for Paul that would see him agree to in just a snap. Alas, the Spurs may well be done with the free agency at this point in time. A Thriving Force with Wembanyama Paul enters the San Antonio Spurs roster as a seasoned veteran who has seen a lot of playoff experience in the game. Paul is actually one of the best point guards to ever play in the game, and it cannot be denied that pairing him with Victor Wembanyama is going to be fun to watch considering that a true point guard is what the Spurs have needed to pair with their big man, and Paul is an exceptional win that the team can take at this point in time. To be fair, there were rumors that the Spurs were keen to engage in trade talks that would see them bring in the likes of Trae Young – who is now slated to be the main centerpiece for the Hawks, and Donovan Mitchell, who remains to be coveted but is still yet to be decided if he will request a trade or not. With Paul, the Spurs get a promising point guard who has been one of the best icons in the league – known for his finesse in passing the ball. This will surely bring Wembanyama a promising look in his games, especially with the Spurs having no real point guard, save for the recently drafted Stephon Castle and Tre Jones, who was at the spot in the previous season. A Star in Decline Chris Paul isn’t getting any younger at this point, and at the age of 39, it is easy to expect that the former Warriors guard will actually have to shake some rust off at this point. Averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds in his previous run with Golden State, it is notable that he didn’t have much shining plays. However, it is worth noting that Paul has played alongside a ball-dominant guard in Stephen Curry, and shared most of his playmaking duties with Draymond Green, who runs a point-forward role with the Warriors. This time, Paul will have the ball all in his hands. This further helps Wembanyama run the floor with ease – roaming and going off ball, and a capable point guard like Paul can easily create crafty dishes for him without much hassle. While this doesn’t mean that Paul can turn back the clock, he will definitely have bigger averages than what he had with the Warriors.

After missing out in the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to an ACL and MCL injuries, La’El Collins returns to the big stage in the NFL with the hopes of getting a chance to earn more minutes in the game and dominate as a key player for the championship contenders. It has been a long time since Collins has enjoyed a promising run in the game, and now this is his chance to get back on track. At the age of 30, it is hard to actually get a team to sign you, especially if you have had a lot of injuries in the past. For Collins – who has enjoyed a total of 86 career starts before a string of injuries in his ACL and MCL derailed his career, this chance offered by the Bills is a blessing that the star hopes to make the most of. The Cincinnati Bengals had him as a promising star, and lingering back injuries proved to be pivotal in the team’s decision to finally let him go last September, in which the Dallas Cowboys signed him into their practice squad in January 2024. Now that he is close to a bigger run in his game, fans can expect more from Collins to share the stage with big names and an opportunity to play at the highest level once more. A New Hope with the Bills NFL comebacks are not that rare, but they do come in short supply. Such is this story for Collins, which is long overdue after a year of both mental and physical recovery. He is excited for his prospects with the Bills at this point, and with the team needing a boost on touchdowns and rushing, it does seem that Collins brings in a lot of promising potential to help out with the team at this point in time. For context, the Bills have finished seventh in the league in rushing last season and fifth in rushing touchdowns. Collins, coincidentally, excels in that side before his injury, where he e averaged an 89.5 PFF run-blocking grade across his final two seasons played with the Cowboys. His two-way prowess certainly helps him make a good case for minutes, and Collins is expected to be placed at the right tackle spot behind Spencer Brown – while also swinging on the other side if needed. A Redemption Arc for Collins Training camp is slated to begin in a few weeks’ time for the Bills, and it does seem that this is the right time for Collins to begin proving his worth now more than ever, and it cannot be denied that he will have to do his best if going to come up with a run to the top of the roster and dominate once more. "They brought me here to play football and I came here to dominate and I'm going to let everything else take care of itself," Collins said. "I'm going to show up every day and go to work. Help the young guys, and do whatever they ask me. To deal with an injury that's as traumatic as tearing your knee, it's something you can't really explain. I felt like last year, I maybe could've put myself in a position to play some football, but I knew mentally that the tank was empty." Collins comes in with a promising boost to his team. The Bills finished last season with a close defeat to the then-champions Kansas City Chiefs in a 27-24 showdown in the Divisional Playoffs, which just means that Sean McDermott’s squad has certainly got an upgrade with Collins added into the mix.

It's clear that the Pennsylvania online casino industry continues to thrive, as evidenced by the latest revenue figures released by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for May. Surprisingly, it has surpassed the $200 million mark for the fourth consecutive month, and PA’s iGaming revenue reached an impressive $216.5 million, recovering from a minor dip in April. In comparison to May of the previous year, online casinos in Pennsylvania saw a remarkable 23.50% increase in total revenue in the same month this year. This substantial growth is primarily attributed to the performance of online slots, which experienced a significant 26.15% uptick from slightly over $100 million in the month May, 2023 to nearly $127 million in May of 2024. The rise in online slot revenue underscores the increasing popularity and player engagement within this gaming category. Table games are up, but poker revenue sees a slight decline Table games also contributed to the robust growth in the iGaming sector. Revenue from online table games, for instance, surged to nearly $45 million this May 2024, reflecting an 18.58% increase from the previous year's figure of just below $38 million. This upward trend highlights the expanding interest and participation in online table games among new and veteran Pennsylvania gamblers. While the overall iGaming market showed significant growth in the Keystone State, online poker revenue experienced a slight decline. Revenue from online poker in May 2024 amounted to approximately $2.27 million, marking a 9.08% decrease from the $2.50 million it generated in May 2023. But despite this slim decrease, the robust performance of slots and table games more than compensated for the decrease in poker revenue. Breakdown of the May 2024 revenue by game category The detailed revenue figures for May 2024, compared to May 2023, are as follows: Type of Gaming May 2023 Revenue May 2024 Revenue % of Change Slots $100,590,742 $126,899,919 26.15% Poker $2,502,131 $2,274,971 -9.08% Table Games $37,878,178 $44,914,620 18.58% Gaming Total Revenue $140,971,051 $174,089,510 23.5% It can be said that the thriving iGaming industry in Pennsylvania also generates significant tax revenue for the state. In May, for instance, the total tax revenue from online gambling reached $76,063,660. This revenue stream is crucial for state funding and public services, further emphasizing the economic importance of the online gaming sector. Sustained momentum in Pennsylvania's iGaming market The continued strong performance of Pennsylvania's online casinos reflects a well-established and consistently growing market. With revenue continuously exceeding $200 million for several months, the state's iGaming sector demonstrates resilience and an ability to attract - and retain - a substantial and significant player base. The positive trends in slot and table game revenues indicate that players are increasingly engaging with these offerings, contributing to the overall growth of the market. As Pennsylvania's online casinos continue their upward trajectory, stakeholders along with industry observers will be closely monitoring the market for future developments. The sustained growth in revenue highlights the potential for further expansion and innovation within the state's iGaming sector. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's ongoing oversight and regulation ensure a fair and secure gaming environment, supporting the industry's long-term success. All in all, May 2024 proved to be another milestone month for Pennsylvania's online casinos, with significant year-on-year revenue growth and strong performance across key gaming categories. The continued success of the iGaming sector bodes well for the future, promising sustained economic benefits and a continuous and engaging gaming experience for numerous players in the state.

Can skill games be classified as gambling? This is what the Pennsylvania supreme court will debate and decide on, as distributors await its verdict with bated breath. The fate of so-called skill games in Pennsylvania is poised to be determined by the state's highest court. As the debate over these games intensifies, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is set to provide a definitive ruling, which could pave the way for their regulation and taxation, just like other casino games. This decision comes as online casinos in the Keystone State push for equal regulation and taxation, while public opinion and lawmakers remain deeply divided. The impending decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is expected to be a landmark ruling, one that will realistically clarify the legal status of skill games and allow lawmakers to craft appropriate regulations. At the moment, skill games are ubiquitous in Pennsylvania, as they are found in gas stations, corner stores, and bars. In fact, the American Gaming Association estimates that there are around 67,000 skill games distributed throughout the state. It's worth noting that Philadelphia is the only city that has taken the drastic step of banning these skill games completely, a move that has led to a lawsuit from the well-known distributor of such games in PA, Pace-O-Matic. The court will need to determine if the games should be categorized as gambling machines, particularly given the "so-called skill element that is almost entirely hidden from view and is almost impossible to complete," as released in a statement by Michelle Henry, the Attorney General. At the same time, the court will define what exactly constitutes a slot machine. The impact of the Supreme Court's decision If the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules that skill games are a form of gambling, it will contradict a November 2023 ruling by the Commonwealth Court, which stated that the "element of skill" involved in these games prevents them from being classified as gambling. This previous ruling has been a cornerstone for the argument that skill games should be regulated differently from traditional gambling machines. Online casinos in Pennsylvania have long been vocal about their desire for skill games to be taxed and regulated, similar to other casino games. They argue that the current ambiguity gives skill games an unfair advantage, as they are not subject to the same stringent regulations and taxes as traditional casino offerings. This discrepancy, they further contend, creates an uneven playing field in the state's gaming industry. Public and legislative opinions count The debate over skill games has seen a wide array of opinions from the public as well as legislators in Pennsylvania. Some view these games as a harmless form of entertainment that provides small businesses with an additional revenue stream. In contrast, others see them as a form of unregulated gambling that preys on vulnerable populations and skirts the regulatory framework designed to protect consumers. Lawmakers in the Keystone State have struggled to reach a consensus on how to handle the proliferation of skill games. Some advocate for stricter regulations and taxation, similar to other forms of gambling, while others believe these games should be left alone, given their purported skill component. The potential consequences of the ruling Whether we are for or against it, the Supreme Court's decision will have significant implications for the future of skill games in Pennsylvania. A ruling that categorizes them as gambling could lead to more stringent regulations, increased taxes, and potentially a reduction in their prevalence across the state. But at the same time, this would align skill games more closely with traditional casino games and could generate additional revenue for the state through taxes. On the other hand, if the court upholds the Commonwealth Court's ruling, skill games will likely continue to operate under the current ambiguous regulatory environment. This outcome could perpetuate the existing tensions between traditional casino operators and skill game distributors. As Pennsylvania awaits the Supreme Court's decision, the outcome will undoubtedly shape the future of the gaming industry in the Keystone State. Whether skill games will be regulated and taxed as gambling machines or continue to operate in their current form remains to be seen, but the court's ruling will be a pivotal moment in this ongoing saga.

June 28, 2024 – The most prestigious poker series for amateur poker players is here with the World Championship of Amateur Poker (WCOAP) announcing its confirmed dates. The event will run from August 18 to 26 in Dusk Till Dawn located in Nottingham, England. The nine-day event is a much-anticipated prestigious event with poker players from different formats from around the world participating. The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (APAT) typically gives out bronze, silver, and gold medals to the top three finishers. Still, the WCOAP pulls out some stylish bracelets for players to commemorate their achievements, adding an extra layer of prestige and excitement to the competition. The birthplace of British poker, Dusk Till Dawn, will welcome amateur players from all around the world to battle with other poker enthusiasts on a variety of games, including Crazy Pineapple, PLO8, H.O.R.S.E., Triple Stud, 8-Game, and No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha mix. WCOAP Demand The much acclaimed WCOAP tournament is one that everyone who enters desires to win, it is the most prestigious and has the biggest reward fund. There are four flights available, one of which is a turbo-structured Day 1d. Every Day 1 is a freezeout that goes down to the final 15% of players; the top 15% advance to Day 2 with a min-cash in hand. Everybody wants to win the World Amateur Poker Championship, or WCOAP competition. It has the largest reward fund and is the most prestigious. The schedule is as follows: Date Time Event Buy-in August 18th 2 pm World Amateur Poker Night Championship Day 1a  £210 August 21st 4 pm WCOAP International Team Championship £140   5 pm WCOAP H.O.R.S.E Championship £140   6 pm WCOAP NLHE Turbo Championship £70   8 pm WCOAP International Team Championship (STT/HU)   Four flights are offered, one of which being a Day 1d turbo structured flight. Every Day 1 is a freezeout that lasts until the last 15% of players remain; the top 15% get to move on to Day 2 and receive a minimum of cash. In 2023, WCOAP had a smaller buy-in at only £180 which eventually led to the prize pool upping to £104,400 which was split evenly by the top 103 finishers.

June 28, 2024 – Tuesday night’s winning numbers were 3, 16,27, 47, and 62, Mega Ball 8 with a Multiplier at 4x. Drawn at 11 pm ET, the estimated total jackpot is now at $97 million. The lottery states that a winning player may get a lump sum payment after taxes that is estimated to be worth $46.4 million. This year, there have been two winners of the Mega Millions jackpot: a player from New Jersey who took home a whopping $1.13 billion in March, and a player from Illinois who won $552 million earlier this month. Playing Mega Millions You will need to go to your neighborhood convenience store, gas station, or grocery store to get a ticket; however, in a few locations, tickets are also available online. In order to participate, you must select six numbers. White balls with numbers from 1 to 70 will represent five numbers. One number between 1 and 25 represents the gold Mega Ball. To be eligible to win in Mega Millions, you just need to match one number. But that figure has to be the $2 Mega Ball. Requesting a "Quick Pick" or "Easy Pick" is easy by simply choosing the numbers at random for you if you feel the odds are stacked against you. Gamers can boost non-grand prize winnings by two, three, four, or five times by purchasing the "Megaplier" for $1. On Tuesday and Friday, the Megaplier is drawn before the Mega Millions numbers. Megaplier Number of Balls 2x 5 3x 6 4x 3 5x 1 The next draw is on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Draws are held every Tuesday and Friday at 10 pm CT. Learn more at https://www.megamillions.com/Winning-Numbers.aspx.

Despite falling short of the Western Conference Finals, Nathan MacKinnon has been named as the season MVP for the Colorado Avalanche in the recently held 2024 NHL Awards. The star center finished with a total of 140 points in this season, claiming the Hart Trophy after a sweep among voters. He also takes the Ted Lindsay Award home on top of the MVP award. It can be remembered that MacKinnon finished four times as a finalist for the Hart Trophy, but has not won in all of those campaigns until now. MacKinnon also finished as a finalist for the third time in the Ted Lindsay Award, which is an award given to the most outstanding player in the season as voted by the NHL Players’ Association. The Avalanche were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, lasting a total of six games. Still, that doesn’t mean that MacKinnon didn’t have a massive season himself, which says a lot about how his explosive performances have led the Avalanche to a strong rally so far. Still, MacKinnon clearly deserved to win the MVP, and one can say that the star center has proven his worth time after time. A Performance Defined by Tough Struggles MacKinnon has been long gunning for the Hart Trophy. The Avalanche star finished as a runner-up back in the 2017-18 season behind the New Jersey Devils, and had the same finish in the 2019-20 season when Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers won the award. When another Oilers star in Connor McDavid took home the Hart Trophy in the 2020-21 season, MacKinnon finished third on that regard, while Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs finished as the runner-up. In just 82 games, MacKinnon finished the season with a total of 140 points, coming off 51 goals and 89 assists. Both of these are career-highs, which says a lot about his success in the game as a promising star. “Every player I grew up idolizing has their name on these things, so to be a part of that company is surreal," MacKinnon said. "It hasn't really sunk in. It's definitely a special thing. All the boys helped me a lot and so many people to thank, but it's definitely cool to be a part of it. I know it's an individual award, but you feel like you're connected to these all-time greats." After the show, both NHL greats Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky called MacKinnon via his phone to congratulate him. It is worth noting that Gretzky swept the same trophies five times, while Crosby won both trophies in the 2006-07, 2012-13, and 2013-14 seasons. The award also marks MacKinnon as the 24th player to sweep both the Hart and Lindsay awards in the same season. Other Awards Named to Deserving Players Aside from MacKinnon, Connor Bedard was named the rookie of the year with the Calder Memorial Trophy, leading all rookies with 22 goals and 61 points total. Connor Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie, while Quinn Hughes won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the best defenseman in the season. The 2024 NHL Awards was filled with a lot of stars and legendary figures in the game. It celebrated the greatness of NHL players for the 2023-24 season, which says a lot about the success of the league’s current edition, and it cannot be denied that the winning players were all deserving of their respective awards at the end of the day.

The long wait is finally over for the hyped 2024 NBA Draft as the Los Angeles Lakers have finally selected Bronny James with the 55th overall pick in the second round, finally ending all the speculations of where will the USC Trojans guard end up in the Draft. There were multiple talks as to how Bronny might end up with different teams, but it ends up where it was expected to begin with. It was just a dream for LeBron James back in the day. He didn’t even expect to stay long enough in the NBA to be on this pace, and yet here we are, now playing with his eldest son in just a few months’ time. Bronny brings in a new feel for the Lakers’ as the team sets its eyes towards development in the season with a new head coach in JJ Redick as well. This has been quite a historic feat considering that there are no father-son duos in the league – at least until now. At least, the league can be sure that James that won’t be retiring from the NBA after a spectacular career, and it seems that he will be taking this chance to play at the big stage with his son. A Historic Team-Up in Los Angeles Back then, James was just hoping to get that chance with Bronny, and now he is just a few months away from playing with his son – at least when he opts in with his player option. James can become a free agent next week, and he can either sign a new deal with the Lakers – or bring his talents to another team, possibly for the last time in his career. However, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was confident that they can sway James to return, especially after drafting Bronny. “In the history of the NBA, there’s never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court and that feels like something that could be magical,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. “We know, and have to respect of course, that LeBron has a decision on his opt-out … but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.” It should be clear that even with Bronny drafted, there are no guarantees that both players would end up in a Lakers uniform. However, it is worth noting that there have been at least 100 instances in the history of the league where sons of players have joined the league after their fathers played, but a gap of at least five years has been present after the father’s career has wrapped up. Will Bronny Log Heavy Minutes? At 6-foot-4, Bronny comes in as one of the shortest guards in the NBA, and yet he comes with a promising athleticism and defensive IQ – reflecting him of his father’s game. At the age of 19, many fans and critics are keen to speculate how well he will end up with the rotation when the season begins. After all, the Lakers drafted Dalton Knecht with the 17th pick, showing that Bronny was not much of a priority unless he came around in the second round. Let’s not forget that the Lakers have multiple guards on the roster, including Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Max Christie to add to that list. It does seem that Bronny will have to contend for minutes when the time comes, and there’s no guarantee that he can even secure a rotation spot. For now, the Lakers can be happy that they have brought in a bargaining chip for LeBron to stay with the team, but only time will tell once July kicks in as the NBA’s All-Time leading scorer decides on his future.

June 27, 2024 – British broadcast giant BBC Radio 4 announced that its Today program will no longer be covering horse-racing tips. The show’s presenter Amol Rajan announced on air that the program that’s been running for 47 years will be scrapped from the show. Horse racing tips are typically broadcast at the end of each sports vertical starting at 6:30 am, 7:30 am, and 8:30 am, six days a week, except for Sundays. Rajan claims that it will be a “significant blow for the profile of the sport as it battles to maintain relevance with the wider public.” When asked about the decision, BBC says “After careful consideration, we have decided to focus racing tips on the big races across the year. The Today program remains committed to covering racing news and this will continue on the program’s sports bulletins.” Politically Sensitive Subject at a Precarious Time BBC executives were looked into by a Daily Mail reporter claiming that the network was considering the drop of the racing tips segment due to anachronism. Some argued that it wasn’t on par to encourage gambling activity at a politically sensitive time. The chair of the Betting and Gaming Council told Racing Post, Michael Dugher shared his thoughts after the network’s announcement on Monday, “I suspect there have always been people at BBC Radio 4 that regard the racing tips as a bit ‘below stairs’ and, if they like racing at all, they only care about the big ‘dressing up’ meetings like Royal Ascot or Cheltenham.” “Millions of ordinary people enjoy a regular bet – whether that’s on bingo, the lottery or sports like racing. There’s definitely more than a hint of snobbery from the Today program with this decision.” Dugher adds.

June 27, 2024 – Poker pro-Ori Hasson claimed victory at the Wynn Summer Classic Mystery Bounty Poker Tournament with a take-home win of over $800,000. The $460,570 on top of the $369,500 in bounties brought the crowd to a stop with an impressive haul as the champion overtook an Israeli poker player at $1.8 million. The Mystery Bounty format, which is becoming more and more popular in the poker business, attracted a sizable field of 2,598 entries for the $2,200 buy-in no-limit hold 'em poker tournament throughout four starting flights. As a result, $5,196,000 was the total prize pool. During the hectic summer poker season in Las Vegas, many well-known players cashed in one of the major tournaments held at the Wynn, where the top 322 players took home at least $3,051 in prize money. Some of the popular faces in poker included Aaron Pinson, Pete Mugar, and Ruth Graham to name a few. Notable players who incurred six-figure earnings feature Wassim Assaf with over $365,000 in 8th place, as well as Swiss player Karo Nuri with more than $326,000 in 7th place. Runner-up from France, Damien Gayer won a lump sum of $423,536 taking a total of close to $500,000.