Gambling in the USA
2021 World Series of Poker Officially Kicks Off At the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino
Nominations for WSOP® Poker Hall of Fame are now open at WSOP.com
The 52nd annual World Series of Poker® (WSOP®) is officially underway at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Recognized as the gaming industry’s largest and most prestigious poker tournament series, competitors from around the world will be competing in one of 88 highly coveted WSOP gold bracelet events now through Tuesday, Nov. 23 for the chance to be immortalized as poker royalty.
Back and bigger than ever, the WSOP is raising the stakes this year with new and noteworthy events like this weekend’s $500 “The Reunion” featuring a $5,000,000 GTD prize pool on Saturday, Oct. 1; the $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship featuring poker’s finest on Tuesday, Oct. 5; the Return of the Record Breakers with appearances from The Millionaire Maker, Monster Stack, Double Stack, Colossus and The Closer beginning Friday, Oct. 8 – Friday, Nov. 19; and much more.
“We’ve spent the last 26 months dreaming of the return of the WSOP live and in-person to the Rio, and it feels incredible to say, today is that day,” said Senior Vice President of the World Series of Poker, Ty Stewart. “There is nothing like the WSOP live with each day making history– from the unforgettable wins to the overwhelming upsets—it’s an unmatched experience. We are incredibly appreciative of those who have traveled near and far to be back in Las Vegas with us, as well as our Team Members and partners considering it takes a huge village to pull this event off.”
In addition to the in-person tournament at the Rio, the 2021 WSOP is once again bringing the action to Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania players online with gold bracelet tournaments each held Sunday on WSOP.com. Tournaments will start at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST beginning on Sunday, Oct. 3 with a special “Double Bracelet Day” through Sunday, Nov. 21 with a “Mini Main Event,” totaling 11 online gold bracelet tournaments.
Returning this year, fans can stay up to date with weekly online press conferences. Kicking off at 1 p.m. PST on Saturday, Oct. 2 and then being held every Friday at 12 p.m. PST, WSOP will hold a virtual press conference live from the Rio Convention Center, where hosts Tiffany Michele and Sarah Herring will recap the week’s hottest stories; interview some of the week’s winners and preview what is to come. Those interested can tune in here: www.youtube.com/wsop.
The 2021 WSOP opening day also marks the beginning of public online nominations to the Poker Hall of Fame. Starting today through Thursday, Oct. 14, poker enthusiasts are encouraged to nominate the sport’s greatest players at www.wsop.com/PHOF. To qualify for the Poker Hall of Fame, players must meet the following criteria:
- A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
- Be a minimum of 40-years-old at time of nomination
- Played for high stakes
- Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
- Stood the test of time
- Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.
On Friday, October 15, Caesars Entertainment Inc. will reveal a list of finalists that will be delivered to the Hall of Fame members to cast their votes. The 2021 inductee will be honored during a live announcement on CBS during the Hall of Fame Bounty Event on Wednesday, Nov. 17. For more information on the Poker Hall of Fame, please visit http://www.wsop.com/pokerhalloffame/.
Compliance Updates
Arizona Department of Gaming Releases October Sports Betting Figures
Bettors in Arizona wagered approximately $791 million on sports in October of 2024, according to a new report by the Arizona Department of Gaming. This represents an approximate 22% increase when compared to October of 2023.
The state collected approximately $2.35 million in privilege fees in the month.
Gambling in the USA
Neosurf & Betting Hero to reveal results of their in-depth study into US online gambling and payment habits in exclusive two-part webinar series
Neosurf, the globally trusted provider of swift and secure cash-to-digital payment solutions, has announced it will be sharing the findings of a recent study into the online betting habits, preferences and frustrations of US players in an exclusive two-part webinar series beginning on January 14th.
Neosurf commissioned the research via Betting Hero – a leading US-based iGaming portal with expertise in casino, sports betting and DFS. The webinars will see Neosurf CEO Americas, Sue Page, Betting Hero’s Co-Founder and President, Jai Maw, and Senior Director of Product and Research, Ernie Ropas, dive into the report’s key findings and discuss what some of the more surprising results could mean for operators.
The survey, which featured respondents from New Jersey, Colorado and North Carolina, aimed to help operators and regulators within the gambling industry better understand the typical US bettor – how and why they bet, what tools they use to manage their budget and what Responsible Gaming means to them. The findings will be revealed in the webinars and used to identify areas where Neosurf’s products can help operators provide a better user experience.
The research highlighted several aspects of payments and responsible gaming that bettors felt could be improved. Problems with payments remain an issue – 52% of respondents said that they’d experienced payment issues in the past year, and with over 50% depositing and withdrawing multiple times each month, there is a significant cost impact to the operators.
Additionally, respondents indicated they’d be in favour of using a service that could share pre-verified ID information with operators, with ease of use for new payment methods and seamless integration across multiple platforms identified as important factors in their choosing and remaining loyal to a single sports betting platform.
Sue Page, Neosurf CEO Americas, said: “It was important to us to gain a more detailed insight into the US sports bettor. We wanted to talk to the players and ask questions that no one else is asking, and through our collaboration with Betting Hero I’m delighted that we now have a comprehensive piece of research.
“Offering valuable insights into player habits – how and why they bet, the ongoing pain points they’re experiencing with payments and their thoughts on Responsible Gaming—we’ll be taking a deep dive into the results of the survey in our two-part webinar series starting at 10:00 ET on January 14th, and we encourage all US-focused operators and regulators to join us.”
Gambling in the USA
Saracen Casino Resort Chooses QCI Chatalytics to Enhance Casino Operations with Integrated AI Solutions
Saracen Casino Resort has selected Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Chatalytics, an integrated AI-driven suite, to revolutionize its casino operations and elevate guest experiences. The QCI Chatalytics solution, which includes Slot Copilot, Player Copilot, Dashboard, and the Robot Button, leverages OpenAI integration to provide real-time insights and streamlined decision-making across the casino floor.
QCI Chatalytics offers a powerful blend of AI-powered tools designed to optimize both player and slot management. With Slot Copilot, operators gain enhanced capabilities for real-time slot performance monitoring, predictive analytics, and dynamic task assignment. Player Copilot delivers personalized player engagement by analyzing customer data to inform service decisions and reward recommendations. The Dashboard component offers an intuitive, real-time display of key metrics, enabling data-driven insights at a glance. Additionally, the innovative Robot Button automates routine processes, allowing staff to focus on higher-value tasks and improve overall efficiency.
Clayton Mason, Senior Director of Marketing of Saracen Casino Resort, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “Integrating QCI Chatalytics into our operations marks a significant step in our strategy to harness the power of AI. With advanced tools like the Robot button, Slot Copilot and Player Copilot, we can deliver a more tailored and efficient experience for our guests while gaining deeper insights into our gaming operations.”
Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, shared his vision for the collaboration: “We’re excited to bring the capabilities of QCI Chatalytics to Saracen Casino Resort. By integrating OpenAI technology, our solution provides unprecedented levels of automation and insight. We believe Chatalytics will play a crucial role in optimizing floor operations and enhancing guest satisfaction through real-time, data-driven decision-making.”
The QCI Chatalytics platform is part of Quick Custom Intelligence’s commitment to driving innovation in the gaming industry, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions to streamline operations and enhance the player experience.
-
Latest News6 days ago
Push Gaming makes market entry with several operators in Brazil
-
Compliance Updates4 days ago
BF Games Makes Strategic Entry into Brazilian Market
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
Evoplay strengthens Brazilian market entry with RNG validation
-
Latest News5 days ago
Gaming Corps makes debut in regulated Brazil
-
Latest News3 days ago
Plaza Hotel & Casino offering free stalls to temporarily rehome horses affected by the California wildfires
-
Affiliate Industry3 days ago
MetaBet inks Gentoo Media partnership to enhance flagship sites
-
Compliance Updates4 days ago
Bragg Gaming is Live in Brazil’s Regulated iGaming Market
-
Interviews6 days ago
Patricio Molloy: WA.Technology is ready to raise the bar for LatAm in 2025