Gambling in the USA

What’s at stake at the 2019 World Series of Poker main event?

Published

6 years ago

May 21, 2019

The 2019 WSOP main event takes place this summer in the spiritual home of gambling – Las Vegas.

The wait for the 2019 World Series of Poker is almost over with the event due to start in just a few weeks’ time. That hasn’t dampened the anticipation amongst poker fans or the thousands of players preparing to play in the WSOP tournaments.

This article gives you everything (almost) you need to know about the 2019 WSOP including estimated prize money, the best tournaments and a guide on how to enter the 2020 WSOP.

WSOP 2019

When is it?
The tournament starts on May 28th and last for just over a month and a half with the final table closing up on July 16th.

Where is it?
The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is the venue for the 50th WSOP event. This has been the official venue of the WSOP since it moved from original venue Binion’s Horseshoe in the mid-noughties.

How many players have entered?
Official participation figures are yet to be released for the 2019 WSOP but the figure is expected to be an increase on last year’s record-breaking figure of 123, 865. Of that figure only 7,874 featured in the WSOP main event.

What’s the prize money?
The 123,865 participants involved last year contributed towards a staggering figure of $266,889,193 in prize money. With numbers expected to increase this time around that figure will be slightly higher although it will still be some way off the $300 million mark.

What events are on?
Undoubtedly the biggest draw of the WSOP is the main event which will see the world’s best players battle it out for supremacy. This final table of this event finishes the entire poker festival with the winner scooping a minimum $10 million in prize money.

Elsewhere players can enjoy Millionaire Maker, Seniors No-Limit, Monster Stack, Big 50 and Crazy Eight’s. The competition in these events will be less fierce but there will still be a of prize money available with the winner of the Big 50 getting their hands on a minimum $1 million.

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(In 2003 accountant and amateur poker player Chris Moneymaker took the world of poker by storm, winning the tournament with an epic bluff against Sammy Farha.)

How to enter the WSOP

Unfortunately the time to enter this year’s WSOP is almost over but you can always prepare to enter next year’s tournament. You can do that in two-ways by paying your way in or by qualifying through a number of licensed events.

The buy-in option

This is by far the easiest option if you just want to get involved and make sure you’re at the 2020 WSOP. Although at $10,000 the buy-in for the main event is slightly expensive. If money is no object to you then you may as well buy-in.
If like most of us ten thousand dollars sounds like a lot of money to spend on a poker tournament then fear not, there are other ways. Players sell stakes of their potential winnings to investors to raise the WSOP buy-in amount.

Alternatively if you’re part of a poker league you can persuade the rest of the league to front the cost of a buy-in for the league’s best player – you’ll of course have to ensure you’re the best player in the league.

Classic qualification
WSOP run a series of satellite events across the world in the run-up to their showpiece event where players can win entry to the WSOP main event. The vast majority of these tournaments tend to take place in the United States with a few taking place in Europe and Asia.

If you can’t make it to any of these tournaments keep your eyes on the 888 Poker website. The online gambling company are the only officially licensed online satellite for the WSOP and regularly run qualification events throughout the year.

Who will win the 2019 WSOP?
After 10 hours of gruelling back and forth play, John Cynn finally overcame Tony Miles in a heads-up to win the 2018 WSOP. You might expect then that Cynn will be the hot favourite to take the crown again this year.

However if history has told us one thing about the WSOP it’s that it is incredibly hard to retain your poker crown. Tony Miles will be among the front runners to go one better than last time with Joe Cada, Nicolas Manion and Michael Dyer all hoping to win the WSOP main event.

Where can I watch the 2019 WSOP?
Dedicated poker fans can get their card fix this summer on the WSOP live stream after subscribing. If you’d rather watch the action on your TV then the tournament will be shown live on ESPN in the United States.

Gambling in the USA

Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed

Published

1 week ago

June 23, 2025

Niji Narayan

Significant construction has been completed during the first year of work on the $1 billion Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., a site off Interstate-85 only 35 miles from Charlotte and close to the South Carolina border.

Construction on all aspects of the project is in full swing, with the foundations for the casino complex and hotel completed several months ago, the casino complex at its full height and expanding horizontally, and steel continuing to rise for the 24-story, 385-room hotel. The hotel tower framing is now 10 stories high, with an additional floor being added nearly every week. At completion, the hotel will be connected to the casino complex.

The casino complex includes the introductory casino on the first level, three levels of covered parking, a back-of-house level and top level with the main casino floor and restaurants. The introductory casino, set to open in spring 2026, will include 1350 slot machines, 20 table games, a 40-seat restaurant, a bar, sports betting kiosks, and Lucky North Rewards desk.

The introductory casino will replace the current temporary (prelaunch) casino, which continues to grow in popularity as it nears its fourth anniversary on July 1.

The main casino complex is targeted to open in 2027. It will be about 2 million square feet and feature:

• 4300 slot machines

• 100 table games

• 11 dining outlets, including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, marketplace with six venues, café, and grab-and-go outlet

• A players lounge

• 11 bars, including a center bar and sports bar

• A 2700-space parking garage built under the casino complex and 800 surface parking spaces

The project has created hundreds of construction jobs. Upon completion, the casino resort will employ an estimated 2200 regional residents and citizens of the Catawba Nation.

“This casino resort will be an economic game changer for Catawba citizens and a force to drive the economy of Cleveland County and the City of Kings Mountain. This project is a testament to our resilience, our commitment to self-sufficiency, and our determination to build a better future for ourselves and our future generations,” Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said.

Harris noted the temporary casino is contributing to many community and charitable organizations in the region, and that will only increase as the full casino resort opens.

The project is being led by the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority under Vice President Trent Troxel, with Yates-Metcon as the construction general contractor; Delaware North as the gaming management, development and hospitality consultant; and SOSHNY Design architects.

“Once again, I want to thank the Cleveland County, City of Kings Mountain, federal and state leaders who have supported the Catawba Nation’s efforts develop the casino resort in its ancestral lands in North Carolina,” Harris said.

Work has also been completed on two key infrastructure projects for development of the permanent casino resort that were funded by the Catawba Nation: doubling the size of the Dixon School Road Bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installing new sewer lines near the casino.

Gambling in the USA

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Named Luckiest Casino in US by Casinos.com

Published

1 month ago

May 19, 2025

Niji Narayan

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been named the luckiest casino in the US according to a recent study conducted by Casinos.com. The resort claimed the top spot based on an in-depth analysis of Tripadvisor reviews, measuring the frequency of luck-related keyword mentions.

With a 25.49% luck rate, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa topped the list thanks to glowing guest feedback, including frequent mentions of jackpots, hand pays and bonus wins. 50 reviews mentioned the word “jackpot,” and 19 even referenced a “hand pay.”

Casinos.com tracked keywords such as lucky, luck, won, winning, success, jackpot, hand pay, winner, bonus, profit to determine which U.S. casinos inspired the most winning moments among visitors.

“I hit 4 jackpots. I stayed one night. I had a blast. The machines are as loose as anywhere else,” wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer, noted Casinos.com, capturing the essence of why the casino landed in the No. 1 spot.

“We’ve always known this was a lucky casino, but it’s exciting to see that recognized through data-driven research. It’s a testament to the vibrant energy on our casino floor and the unforgettable experiences we strive to create for every guest,” said Steve Bonner, President of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.

The ranking reinforces Seminole Hard Rock Tampa’s reputation as one of the premier gaming and entertainment destinations in the US. Seminole Hard Rock Tampa was not involved in the study and was unaware of it until the results were publicly released.

Over the past year, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa has paid out nearly 839,000 jackpots totaling more than $2.45 billion, continuing to deliver thrilling high-stakes gaming. Since May 1, 2024, the casino resort has awarded 375 jackpots of $100,000 or more, amounting to an impressive $61 million in winnings. Notably, 47 of those massive wins stemmed from bets of $5 or less and nine came from wagers of $3 or less.

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa offers a fully integrated casino experience with a sleek, modern design and welcoming atmosphere of 245,000 square feet of gaming space and entertainment. With 5230 of the hottest slot machines and a full range of table games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat, there is no shortage of opportunities to win. Additionally, guests can enjoy live craps, roulette, and sports betting at their leisure.

Gambling in the USA

California Gambling Control Commission Advances Licensing, Tribal Partnerships, and Responsible Gaming Initiatives

Published

2 months ago

April 25, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

Sacramento, CA — In a meeting packed with regulatory updates and licensing decisions, the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) convened on April 24 to advance numerous agenda items impacting the state’s gambling landscape—from tribal gaming approvals to responsible gambling programs and operator renewals.

Problem Gambling & Public Health Takes the Stage

The Commission meeting opened with a presentation by Sosha Marasigan-Quintero from the California Department of Public Health, offering an overview and update on the California Problem Gambling Treatment Services Program. While no specific staff recommendations were provided, the update underscores California’s continued focus on behavioral health in gambling.

Tribal Revenue Distribution Approved

The Commission approved the quarterly distribution of payments from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund to eligible recipient Indian Tribes. This routine, yet vital, procedure ensures the equitable distribution of revenue to support tribal sovereignty and infrastructure across the state.

Cardroom Licensing: Approvals and Extensions

Among key licensing matters:

500 Club Casino (K & M Casinos, Inc.) received both initial and renewal owner-type license approvals through January 2027.
Casino Chico, Hollywood Park Casino, and Lake Bowl Cardroom were granted renewals and short-term extensions, some with conditions such as improving record-keeping systems or ensuring regulatory compliance ahead of reopening.
Hotel Del Rio & Casino was granted a 60-day extension under several strict conditions, including updated safety plans and the restatement of commingled financial records.

Key Employee Licensing Actions

The Commission approved several initial and renewal key employee licenses. Notably:

Jeffrey Thompson was approved with a condition prohibiting involvement in illegal gambling activities.
Kevin Lee and George Rahme received 120-day extensions for renewal processing.

Third-Party Proposition Player Services Under Scrutiny

The Commission approved both initial and temporary licenses for Fortune Players Group, Inc., with a lengthy list of conditions tied to the conduct of a former associate, Rene Medina. These conditions highlight the Commission’s ongoing vigilance in monitoring third-party player services and maintaining compliance across operations.

Progressive Gaming, LLC was also approved for an initial license, further expanding third-party service provider capacity.

Gaming Resource Suppliers & Tribal Approvals

Initial suitability findings for several prominent tribal gaming resource suppliers were approved, including:

HCAL, LLC
JCM Global
Konami Gaming, Inc.
PDS Gaming, LLC

Dozens of tribal gaming employees were also approved for key positions at tribal casinos across California, reflecting the Commission’s continued support of tribal gaming operations and the necessary workforce to support it.

Notable Withdrawals and Denials

In two notable cases, requests to withdraw license applications—Josephine Hoang and Jesus Bojorquez—were denied, signaling the Commission’s increased scrutiny and emphasis on applicant accountability.

A Broader Look Ahead

With regulatory reform on the horizon and ongoing efforts to promote responsible gaming, the April 2025 CGCC meeting showcased a mix of routine license management and deeper engagement with emerging compliance issues. As the Commission prepares for the next quarter, the groundwork laid in this session will likely influence policy developments and enforcement trends across California’s gambling sector.