Latest News
BRIAN RAST OFFICIALLY NAMED 2023 POKER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
The World Series of Poker® (WSOP®) today announced Brian Rast as the 2023 Poker Hall of Fame inductee. The six-time WSOP gold bracelet winner was honored with an induction ceremony surrounded by friends, family, and fans inside the Paris Ballroom at Paris Las Vegas before cards were in the air for the annual $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold’em.
One of poker’s biggest names, Rast is credited as the only player to have ever cashed more than $1 million in tournaments for seven years in a row and is currently ranked 29th on poker’s all-time money list with a total of $25,258,945 in live earnings. So far, in his 2023 WSOP run, Rast has made history twice, becoming the 19th person in WSOP history to win a sixth bracelet and the only player to have won the $50,000 Poker Players Championship event three times.
“With a nearly 20-year-long career riddled with record-breaking wins and historic runs, Brian Rast is one of the best poker players we’ve ever seen,” said WSOP Vice President Jack Effel. “With the 2023 WSOP breaking records left and right, it only makes sense to put a record-setter himself amongst some of the greatest of all time. We are honored to induct Brian Rast into the Poker Hall of Fame and look forward to his successes to come.”
Following the induction ceremony, the WSOP unveiled Rast’s photo at the new exhibit inside Horseshoe Las Vegas. The new poker room features a first-of-its-kind Poker Hall of Fame exhibit acknowledging poker’s most legendary players with a Gallery of Champions, WSOP bracelets and rings.
“Poker is at the very heart of the Horseshoe brand,” said Jason Gregorec, SVP and General Manager of Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. “We’re thrilled to have the Hall of Fame Poker Room open as a year-round attraction for players and fans alike. The action won’t stop when the 2023 WSOP ends. Congratulations to Brian Rast for taking his rightful place here alongside the other legends of the game.”
Located adjacent to the resort’s front entrance near the Lobby Bar, the 4,900-square-foot poker room features 18 custom poker tables with upscale furniture and equipment to offer players an elevated gaming experience. LED TVs surround the room giving players access to sports viewing,current game lists, and tournament clocks.
The Hall of Fame Poker Room was one of many projects associated with the rebranding and transformation of Horseshoe Las Vegas. Guests can now enjoy a variety of new offerings, including Jack Binion’s Steak, M.Y. Asia by Chef Martin Yan, Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen, and the ARCADE. The resort also features a refreshed exterior, casino floor, and public areas. Beginning Thursday, Oct. 5, international Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese, will star in the “DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue” residency in the Jubilee Theater.
For more information on the Poker Hall of Fame, visit http://www .wsop .com/pokerhalloffame/.
Following the success of its installation at Winpot Puebla, Zitro strengthens its partnership with the Mexican operator by launching its innovative line of CONCEPT cabinets at Winpot Boca del Río.
CONCEPT arrives with Zitro’s perfect game combo: Legendary Sword and King Fu Frog. Thanks to their high-quality graphics and innovative mechanics, both titles are designed to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience. The machines feature the Magic Lighting system, which synchronizes lights and sounds with the game, in addition to their modern Screen Deck, providing greater comfort and functionality for players and the operations team, among many other features that make it a worldwide success.
Anuar Haua, Operations Director of Winpot, commented: “After our success with the CONCEPT cabinets in our Puebla venue, it was natural to bring this experience to the Boca del Río public. The response from our players has been incredible, and with this new installation, we reaffirm our commitment to offering the best of the market, hand in hand with Zitro.”
Johnny Ortiz Viveiros, founder of Zitro, added: “We are proud to see how CONCEPT continues to gain ground in Mexico, now also at Winpot Boca del Río. This collaboration reflects the mutual commitment we share with Winpot to elevate the player experience through technology, design, and innovation.”
Justin Simporios is normally a sound sleeper who “can fall asleep anywhere” – but he had a very sleepless night, after learning he won an $80-million Lotto Max jackpot from the May 9, 2025 draw. This is the largest lottery jackpot ever won in B.C. and is also the largest jackpot ever won by a single individual in Canada.
“It was 10:30 p.m.,” recalled Simporios of the moment he realized he won. “I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife ‘we’re millionaires!’ and she told me to stop making that joke. After, I manually checked each number before scanning [using the BCLC Lotto! I cried and shouted, ‘we’re millionaires!’”
The Surrey resident woke up his wife to share the news. “She was in complete disbelief and a bit mad at me because our daughter wasn’t feeling well.” Simporios’ wife luckily agreed this was a good reason to wake her.
While still in disbelief about his win, Simporios is ultimately most excited to share his windfall with his family. “I want to help my family and my wife’s family. I’ll pay off my sister’s medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life.”
Giving back to the community in Surrey and B.C. is also a key priority for Simporios. “I’ve struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream.”
As an avid LA Lakers fan, Simporios mentioned he would like to see LeBron James play before James retires. He also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a family reunion. “My wife and kid have never visited!”
On how it feels to win a record-breaking jackpot?
“The biggest change will be having more time with my wife and family. We want to live with a purpose – to help the community around us.”
Simporios purchased the winning ticket at the Walmart Supercentre in Central City on King George Boulevard in Surrey.
So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $101 million from Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices. Learn more about the BCLC Lotto!
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits.
LEON Esports, the international esports division of Leon.bet, has officially become the international partner of SAW, one of the leading Counter-Strike 2 teams in Europe.
Based in Portugal, SAW is currently ranked #24 in the global CS2 rankings (HLTV) and maintains a strong position within the Top 30. The team is recognized for its competitive consistency, professional structure, and growing fanbase across Europe.
This partnership marks the second major esports collaboration for LEON Esports, following its ongoing cooperation with FlyQuest. The agreement with SAW reflects LEON’s continued commitment to the development of the global esports ecosystem and its support for high-performing international teams.
The cooperation will include a range of joint initiatives, such as exclusive content creation, community activations, and brand integrations designed to strengthen the connection between the team and its audience.
With this new partnership, LEON Esports continues to expand its presence in international esports and invest in teams that demonstrate both potential and performance on the world stage.
-
Canada6 days agoAGCO issues penalties of $151,000 against Great Canadian Entertainment for alleged age verification failures
-
Compliance Updates5 days agoGreyhound Advocates Applaud Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for Signing Historic Internet Betting Ban on Greyhound Races
-
Latest News4 days agoRush Street Interactive Announces Initiative Supporting Increased Gaming Literacy for Teens
-
Latest News5 days agoScientific Games Wins Three 2025 American Business Awards for Lottery Retail Technology Innovation and Instant Scratch Game Achievement
-
Latest News5 days agoSouth Africa is Leading the Call for Responsible Gambling in African Countries
-
Canada4 days agoOLG Selects Caesars Entertainment as the Service Provider for Windsor Casino
-
Compliance Updates4 days agoMinimum Deposit Casinos Warns of Sweeping Changes as States Crack Down on Online Sweepstakes Casinos
-
Latest News4 days agoWildly popular ‘Fortune Tiger’ game among PG Soft Brazil rollout