Gambling in the USA
Ramon Colillas Turns Free Entry Into $5.1 Million as Winner of Record-Breaking PokerStars Players Championship
PokerStars makes six new millionaires
PokerStars (Nasdaq: TSG) (TSE: TSGI), the flagship poker brand of The Stars Group, announced today that Ramon Colillas from Barcelona, Spain, won $5.1 million and was crowned the winner of the PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC), the richest and biggest-ever $25,000 buy-in poker tournament.
Colillas won free entry into the tournament as part of a PokerStars global promotion that awarded 320 people a $30,000 Platinum Pass package, which in addition to free entry, covered travel and hotel accommodations at the Atlantis Resort & Casino in the Bahamas. Colillas topped a field of 1,039 players that produced a record-breaking total prize pool of $26,455,500 and attracted players from all over the globe. As part of the total pool, PokerStars added an extra $1 million to the first-place prize.
PokerStars awarded the 30-year old Spanish native a Platinum Pass after he topped the Campeonato de España de Poker leader board based upon his successful tournament play in a series of PokerStars-sponsored tournaments in Spain. The former fitness trainer converted to a professional poker player at the age of 24.
“A lot of players were saying this was the most important tournament in history, so now it’s only about happiness and enjoying the moment,” Colillas said moments after his win.
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/PokerStars_Ramon_Colillas.jpg)
Ramon Colillas Turns Free Entry Into $5.1 Million as Winner of Record-Breaking PokerStars Players Championship. Photo credit: Neil Stoddart and Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.
The runner-up was 26-year-old professional poker player Julien Martini from Paris, France, winning an impressive $2,974,000. Julien was a very composed contender and had attempted to win a Platinum Pass last year in the €1,100 EPT Barcelona National Event, just missing out on the Platinum Pass, but still winning €323,000 for coming in second.
Platinum Pass winner Marc Rivera from The Philippines came in third place with $2,168,000. The 45-year-old won his ticket at the APPT Manila National Main Event with what was then his biggest live cash win. After being introduced to the game 12 years ago by his brother Ashley, who told Rivera he was “going to love it”, the engineer (at the time) has been playing ever since. When not on the felt, Rivera enjoys basketball, watching TV series and spending time at home with his family, playing with his son and daughter.
Not only has Colillas become a millionaire, but five other final table players have also joined the club. The eight-handed final table included US poker pro Scott Baumstein who started amassing live tournament cashes in 2009 and has accrued over $1.9 million in winnings over the past decade, Jason Koonce who had two reported live cashes worth a total $6,426, Marc Perrault who has had a string of hefty online and live cashes dating back to 2012, Farid Jattin, a regular fixture on the live tournament circuit across the United States and who is leading the Colombian all-time money list with over $2.9 million in winnings, and Talal Shakerchi, a businessman from London who has over $6 million in winnings to date. The players all took home cash winnings between $509,000 and $2.1 million for their efforts.
The PSPC made it into the history books with a total prize pool of $26,455,500 awarded to 181 players, smashing the previous $15,495,750 prize pool record for a $25,000 event. Of the Platinum Pass holders, 43 collectively cashed in for nearly $9.8 million, including Jacqueline Burkhart from the United States with $86,400, Atanas Pavlov from Bulgariawith $105,000 and Ireland’s Sven McDermott with $69,100.
PokerStars Director of Poker Marketing, Eric Hollreiser said, “We couldn’t have scripted a better outcome for the tournament and PokerStars congratulates Ramon and all of the competitors for making this an historic event. Ramon’s victory is a reminder that with a dream, some talent and a little luck, poker can change your life. We’re proud to have created a special experience for more than a thousand players, but especially for those like Ramon who had never previously dreamed of playing in such a tournament.”
The poker fun doesn’t stop despite the conclusion of the PSPC. The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) continues with events including the $10,300 buy-in PCA Main Event, $25,000 buy-in PCA High Roller, $100,00 buy-in PCA Super High Roller and $1,100 PCA National. Live updates from the Super High Roller can be read on the PokerStars Blog now and will be live-streamed on PokerStars TV on January 11 and 12.
To keep up to date with all live reports from the PCA visit the PokerStars Blog or watch the live stream daily from 12:30 ET and 13:30 ET on January 16 at PokerStars.TV.
Find out more about Colillas’ win on the PokerStars Blog.
For further information, please contact [email protected]
About PokerStars
PokerStars operates the world’s most popular online poker sites, serving the global poker community. Since it launched in 2001, PokerStars has become the first choice of players all over the world, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else and with the best online security. More than 182 billion hands have been dealt on PokerStars, which is more than any other site.
The Stars Group owns or licenses gaming and related consumer businesses and brands, including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, Sky Bet, Sky Vegas, Sky Casino, Sky Bingo, Sky Poker and BetEasy as well as live poker tour and event brands, including the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship, European Poker Tour, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Latin American Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker Tour, PokerStars Festival and PokerStars MEGASTACK. The Stars Group is one of the world’s most licensed online gaming operators with its subsidiaries collectively holding licenses or approvals in 21 jurisdictions throughout the world, including in Europe, Australia, and the Americas.
Gambling in the USA
BetBlocker Recognised for Outstanding Contribution to the Prevention of Gambling Harm at NCPG Awards 2024
![BetBlocker Recognised for Outstanding Contribution to the Prevention of Gambling Harm at NCPG Awards 2024](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BetBlocker-NCPG-Awards-2024.png)
BetBlocker received the prestigious Jim Wuelfing Annual Award for Prevention at this year’s National Council on Problem Gambling Awards on Friday the 19th of July, which was received by the charity’s Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, Pedro Romero.
The award, which was named after a famed trainer and advocate for the prevention of problem gambling in the United States, recognises people or organisations who have advocated for the inclusion of prevention strategies in the spectrum of problem gambling services, developed effective prevention programs and who have worked to help problem gambling prevention programs reached underserved and at-risk groups.
This award comes off of the back of years of work by the BetBlocker team to deliver an effect and free blocking software that can be used anonymously by anyone, anywhere in the world. As well as a traditional blocking software product, intended for use after a crisis, BetBlocker is the only blocking software to offer a Calendaring feature, allowing users to plan ahead and set the block to switch on during known periods of vulnerability.
Alongside these features, BetBlocker has translated its services into 6 non-English languages with many more to come, to help minority communities access support that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
Founder of the charity, Duncan Garvie, had this to say about the award: “Recognition of BetBlocker’s work within the problem gambling space by the NCPG, one of the most influential voices within the sector, is amongst the highest possible accolades our organisation could receive.
I speak for the entire BetBlocker team when I say how deeply honoured we are to receive this award.”
Pedro Romero added the following: “It was incredibly humbling at the NCPG conference this year to speak to so many of the harm minimisation organisation in the USA that are already referring there service users to BetBlocker. Running an anonymous service and we don’t interact with our used frequently it’s easy to lose sight of just how many people are positively impacted by the support we offer.”
Gambling in the USA
The Cordish Companies Celebrates Major Construction Milestone During “Topping Off” Ceremony for New $270+ Million Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana Project
![](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/3-4.jpg)
LRGC Gaming Investors LLC, an affiliate of The Cordish Companies, marked a significant milestone in the construction of the first land-based casino in the Shreveport-Bossier market during the “Topping Off” ceremony for the new $270+ Million Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, a project that will serve as a regional destination for world-class gaming, dining, entertainment, and hotel amenities.
The Cordish Companies and General Contractor AnderCorp were joined by State of Louisiana, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Former Secretary of State, Kyle Ardoin; Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Chris Hebert; Louisiana State Senator Sam L. Jenkins, Jr.; Bossier City Mayor Thomas Chandler; Bossier Parish Police Jury President Philip Rodgers, along with dozens of other state and local elected officials, and regional business, community and tourism leaders, to celebrate the final commemorative beam being raised to complete the superstructure of the new world-class property.
“Today marks an incredibly special day for The Cordish Companies as we continue to expand our Live! brand in the Southeast region of the country with the development of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana. With the first land-based casino in the market, Live! Casino & Hotel will be a transformative development that will bring a first-class gaming and entertainment experience to millions of visitors, create significant new jobs, and generate millions of dollars in economic benefits for the community for generations to come,” said Rob Norton, President of Cordish Gaming Group, the gaming division of The Cordish Companies.
Located along the scenic Red River in Bossier City, directly across from Shreveport, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will feature more than 47,000-square-feet of gaming space; 1000+ slots and electronic table games; 40+ live action table games; a sportsbook; an upscale 550-room hotel, resort pool and fitness center; a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, multi-purpose Event Center for top name entertainment, meeting, conventions, non-profit and social gatherings; a 31-site RV park with concrete pads and full hook-ups; structured and surface parking; and 30,000-square-feet of best-in-class dining entertainment venues with new food and beverage outlets.
The project, which is scheduled to open in Q1 2025, is projected to generate more than $35 million in gaming tax revenues for Bossier City and more than $168 million for the State of Louisiana within its first five years of operation and create approximately 1500 new jobs including 750 new construction jobs and approximately 750 permanent jobs for local and regional residents.
Careers will be available in every field, including hotel operations, finance, marketing, human resources, information technologies, food and beverage, facilities, security and surveillance and casino operations. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will also purchase tens of millions of dollars in goods and services in the region. As recognized leaders in community outreach with unparalleled track records of supporting local and regional businesses, The Cordish Companies is committed to ensuring contract opportunities for local, MBE/WBE, and veteran-owned companies.
“I am honored to lead the board at such an exciting time for the gaming industry in Louisiana. Our team has worked so hard to establish this first land-based casino in the Bossier market, and we are ecstatic to be one step closer to realizing it with today’s topping off of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana,” Chris Hebert, Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, said.
“We have already seen the benefits that Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana has brought to Bossier City. As we get closer to opening this landmark property, our anticipation continues to build, and I couldn’t be happier for my community and more appreciative of Live! for its partnership and positive impact,” Thomas Chandler, Mayor of Bossier City, said.
“Bossier Parish is very excited to have Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana that will soon become a destination for many locals and visitors. We are very thankful for the investment they are making in this area and cannot wait to see it to completion,” Philip Rodgers, President of the Bossier Parish Police Jury, said.
“Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is a spectacular one-stop destination for excitement for everyone from gaming enthusiasts, foodies, sports fans, concert goers or just locals and visitors looking for their next night out. Hundreds of men and women are working hard to make sure that this property will be unforgettable the moment it opens its doors, promising an experience that will entice visitors from near and far to return again and again. Today marks a significant milestone in this journey, and we eagerly anticipate showcasing all the incredible offerings we have planned for early 2025,” John J. Chaszar, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, said.
Gambling in the USA
Sac & Fox Casino and CasinoTrac Partner for CMS Upgrade
![](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/3-3.jpg)
Table Trac Inc. announced a new agreement to replace a competitor’s system with the CasinoTrac casino management system at Sac & Fox Casino in Powhattan, KS.
Eric Wright, General Manager of Sac & Fox Casino, stated: “CasinoTrac has come a long way since I first worked with the system. It should easily accomplish what we need at our property.”
Chad Hoehne, President of Table Trac, stated: “Eric and his team really put us to the test, drilling deep into the CasinoTrac revenue audit and accounting functions for compliance with their audit standards. These exercises were diligent and necessary in earning their trust, business, and our 41st Native American tribal partnership.”
Sac & Fox Casino will deploy PlayerLINQ-CasinoTrac’s 6.2” touchscreen player tracking interface, CTLoyalty for all patron marketing, promotions, and bonusing administration and management, KioskTrac promotional games with account management, and slot accounting solutions.
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