DraftKings expands poker

DraftKings has expanded its player-vs-player poker offering to Pennsylvania, two months after its initial test launch.

Electric Poker, a real money, player-vs-player game, first appeared in the DraftKings app for users in Michigan in August, causing speculation that the company would gauge the reaction before potentially expanding to other states.

That has now proven to be the case, as Pennsylvania residents can now access the game from the app after a successful trial.

we are thrilled to expand our Electric Poker offerings to our customers in Pennsylvania��

��After positive feedback from our players in Michigan, we are thrilled to expand our Electric Poker offerings to our customers in Pennsylvania, delivering them a best-in-class online poker experience,�� said Jason March, Vice President of iGaming Marketing and Operations at DraftKings.

Electric Three

Electric Poker is DraftKings�� take on the popular Jackpot Sit & Go format, which has now proliferated to become one of the most popular forms of online poker. Three players play at a table where the prize is randomized, with the potential to hit major jackpots of thousands of times the buy-in.

The game offers four buy-in levels from $1 to $25, and has jackpots of up to 10,000x the buy-in.

The action tends to be fast-paced with short blind structures, although the levels last longer if higher prizes are spun. In DraftKings�� version, players are also forced all-in after a certain period of time has elapsed. The game offers four buy-in levels from $1 to $25 and has jackpots of up to 10,000x the buy-in.

In order to play, players will need to have the latest version of the DraftKings sportsbook or casino app, be registered in Pennsylvania, and also be physically present in the state when joining a game.

Pennsylvania pooling

One of the advantages of the Jackpot Sit & Go format is that it can function even with low liquidity – only three players are needed to get a game going.

Despite the format working well with smaller player pools, DraftKings�� timing on joining the online poker market in Pennsylvania is nonetheless interesting with the state now set to pool its online poker rooms with others around the US.

Michigan has recently overtaken Pennsylvania as having the largest market share of online poker, which is likely because of its membership of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). Under the agreement, Michigan can pool its players with others in states like New Jersey and Nevada.

Now, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro has told lawmakers to lay the groundwork for the state to also join the group. Pennsylvania would be the largest state in the agreement, and the move would likely return it to the number one spot for online poker market share.

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Fintan the innovator

Fintan Gavin is one of poker��s great innovators, both as a player and a tournament organizer. Mystery bounties hadn��t long been invented before he decided to run one. Before he did, he rang me to run an idea he had that hadn��t been tried yet. It was simply to have two big bounties rather than one, but to hold one back so that it could only be won on the final table.

as soon as the big bounty was pulled, it was like all the air was sucked out of the room

I loved the idea. It instantly solved one of the most unsatisfactory aspects I��d seen in all the mystery bounties I��d played until then: as soon as the big bounty was pulled, it was like all the air was sucked out of the room, and all the fun sucked out of the tournament as far as recreationals were concerned. At one European Poker Tour (EPT), the buzzkill was particularly severe, as the big bounty was pulled almost immediately by the richest man in the room!

At a recent Irish Poker Tour stop, Fintan introduced a number of other innovations. I wasn��t there myself to see how they were received, and wasn��t as sure myself whether I liked them or not, so I ran them by a number of players in Barcelona recently, and want to run them by readers here to see what you all think.

The misery bounty

The basic idea here is that some bounties are either worth nothing, or little or nothing (like ��You win the button��). This has a number of advantages: it increases the sweat factor, and makes the minimum cash bounty seem less of a kick in the testicles. Who among us doesn��t enjoy the ��You leave with nothing�� slap in the face for some smug git who just knocked us out? And the fact that not every bounty has to be a cash prize actually increases the average value of those that are cash prizes.

the tournament directors chickened out on the day and didn��t have one of these

For the record, most people I asked initially didn��t like this idea, but after some thought changed their minds. In the end, the tournament directors chickened out on the day and didn��t have one of these, but it��s certainly an interesting idea and it could be introduced in future. If it is, it will be interesting to see the reaction.

The advance to final table bounty

This one is a lot more contentious. The basic idea is that if you draw this before the final table, it gives you the option to advance to the final table with what will be an average stack at the start of the final table. Option is a key word in that last sentence, because let��s imagine you were massive chip leader on the final table bubble and you draw this, it would be the ultimate misery bounty. Well, except for��

The eliminated from the tournament bounty

This is the ultimate misery bounty. Most people I asked hated this idea, and objected to it and the ��Advance to final table�� one on similar grounds: that it unfairly undermines tournament integrity by adding or subtracting chips to the tournament in running.

When I heard about it, my strategic mind immediately went into overdrive thinking about weird ways it could warp tournament strategy.

For example, there are three players left, this bounty still hasn��t been drawn, and one player is overwhelming chip leader with, say, 90% of the chips, and the other two have in or around 5% each. Now, when a shorty shoves, the chip leader can��t call anything, not even Aces, because if he calls and wins, there��s a 50% chance he gets eliminated in second when he pulls the elimination bounty, gifting the tournament to the other short stack!

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With the post-pandemic poker boom continuing to forge ahead, a World Series of Poker event not fielding enough players is something nobody would expect. But it happened. On Tuesday, the $5,300 No-Limit Hold��em High Roller event of the 2024 WSOP Online for US players was canceled because only a handful of players showed up.

The tournament was deleted from the lobby and the four registrants were refunded their money.

Slated for 4pm PT on October 15, Event #13 required a minimum of eight players to run. It got half of that. Four players. The tournament was deleted from the lobby and the four registrants were refunded their money.

Apparently, whoever runs the World Series of Poker��s social media accounts was asleep at the wheel, or the posts are automated, as WSOP posted to X 45 minutes after the tournament should have started promoting the event.

Because it was a US-based tournament and open only to WSOP.com players in Michigan, New Jersey, and Nevada, it was never going to get as many as a WSOP Online event on GGPoker, but to only attract four players is awful.

The cancelation has rekindled discussions of the pitfalls of ��bracelet inflation�� and late registration. With the expansion of official bracelet events both live and online, many don��t value gold bracelets as much as they used to because there are just so many to be had.

Players, especially high rollers, are also very used to entering tournaments late at this point. Some may have been waiting to register, but the WSOP canceled the tourney before any potential late entrants could pull the trigger.

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Fintan Gavin is a legend of Irish poker, both as a player and tournament organizer. Equally adept at running small events as major ones, such as hosting the first ever UK and Ireland Poker Tour in his home country, Gavin has ensured that tournament poker continues to go from strength to strength on the Emerald Isle.

A Gambling Regulation Bill is near completion in Ireland

That could all change though. A Gambling Regulation Bill is near completion in Ireland, and Gavin is concerned it could cause problems for poker. Chief among his worries is a �10 max stake and �3,000 max payout limit, both of which are included in the Bill. So far, these only apply to blackjack, roulette, and gaming machines, but there is a lack of clarity regarding poker.

As the man behind the Monster Poker Festival, Irish Poker Championship, and the Irish Poker Tour, Gavin is understandably on edge. VegasSlotsOnline News spoke with the man himself to get his insight into the situation.

What is your main concern with this new Bill?

The main point for me is that the regulators need to understand exactly what poker tournaments are. My concern is that they will paint poker players with the same brush as slots players, which are two very different types of gamblers.

Poker tournaments are played by people who believe they are playing a game of skill and take a lot of pride in taking part. Tournaments can go on for days and weeks. It��s a very special pastime for those involved.

Slots are a complete gamble and entirely different to tournament poker��

Meanwhile, putting a tenner in a slot machine takes just seconds. Slots are a complete gamble and entirely different to tournament poker.

What other impact might poker limits have?

There is a huge social side to live poker that is also super important, not to mention the tourism. Poker players visit Ireland every year for the festivals. I��m hopeful that the regulators will recognize this, and I really believe they will.

Have you heard any news from the regulator?

To be honest, no one seems to know what��s going on, but I have been told that the regulator isn��t really concerned with poker festivals. They��re comfortable enough with poker, and the main things they want to regulate are slots, underage gambling, and iGaming. So, I��m hopeful that they understand the differences.

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Governor tells regulator to get going

It looks as if Pennsylvania poker players may get an exciting gift this holiday season. Late last week, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) began negotiations to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). It would become the sixth state in the interstate online poker consortium.

According to PlayPennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro specifically instructed the PGCB to begin talking to the MSIGA members: New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia. West Virginia was the most recent state to join the group, doing so in November 2023.

Pennsylvania should capitalize on our status as a leader in legalized gambling, and join this compact��

In a letter to the PGCB, Governor Shapiro said: ��Pennsylvania should capitalize on our status as a leader in legalized gambling, and join this compact, which would bring in additional revenue for the Commonwealth and allow players more gaming options.��

Target is by end of the year

There is no set timetable or deadline for Pennsylvania��s entrance into MSIGA. Rep. George Dunbar, the man who introduced the bill to allow Pennsylvania to join MSIGA, told PlayPennsylvania in June that he thought something could get done by the end of 2024.

He did tell the site, though, that despite his best guess, there is no set timeline. He believes that since other states already share liquidity, the process shouldn��t be too difficult. The road has already been paved.

our hope is to use those and get PA operational as soon as viable��

��Certainly, since there are ��roadmaps�� from other jurisdictions already operating within the compact, our hope is to use those and get PA operational as soon as viable,�� Dunbar said. ��At the same time, every jurisdiction is different, so it is not possible at this early stage to predict the expediency of the complete launch process.��

Pennsylvania would be a huge addition

Adding Pennsylvania to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement would certainly benefit the health of the US online poker industry. Pennsylvania is the largest state with legal, regulated online poker and already has a robust internet poker market.

When the Keystone State joins MSIGA, the additional players will drive up tournament prize pools and improve game selection. While players don��t need other players when it comes to online casino games, poker players need as many people as possible at the tables and in the lobby to make the poker experience an enjoyable one.

Right now, there are just two interstate online poker networks in the United States. WSOP Online covers Michigan, Nevada, and New Jersey, while PokerStars links sites in Michigan and New Jersey. Both WSOP.com and PokerStars operate in Pennsylvania, so one would expect the sites to grow their network as soon as they can.

Though they are part of MSIGA, Delaware and West Virginia do not currently have online poker rooms up and running. Delaware used to �C its three racinos used 888poker��s platform and shared liquidity with WSOP.com in Nevada and New Jersey. In January 2024, however, the Delaware Lottery changed its iGaming provider to Rush Street Interactive, leaving the sites without an online poker engine.

Operators have avoided entering the West Virginia online poker market because of its small size.

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TDA met in June

The Poker Tournament Directors Association (TDA) hosts a biennial summit which brings together tournament directors, floor staff, organizers, and players from all over the world with the objective of improving and standardizing rules, procedures and policies for the overall betterment of poker. In the last weekend of June, the TDA met to scrutinize some specific rules which govern the game but also to discuss the broader topic of how to make poker a more welcoming environment for female players.?

It was decided that antes should not be reduced as play progresses in the event

Top of the agenda was the administration of the big blind ante format, specifically whether the ante reduces in short-handed situations like during the endgame of a final table and whether it is big blind first or ante first in the instance of a short stack who is unable to post the full amount of both. It was decided that antes should not be reduced as play progresses in the event and that it would be big blind first.

The next item on the table was about dealer��s announcing the bets whenever chips go into the pot. The point of this change is to help players to follow the action at the table. There was also a reiteration of the rule in the situation in which a raising player folds in error before their raise can be called. This was in the wake of Daniel ��The Kid Poker�� Negreanu��s tirade during the World Series of Poker (WSOP) when the absolutely, uncontroversially-correct ruling was made against him.?

Big blind first

Last Thursday, when TDA founder Matt Savage released the 2024 TDA Rules Version 1.0, it was noteworthy that significant work had gone into new and expanded guidelines for a number of issues that have been both problematic and difficult to police for tournament staff in an ever-changing modern poker landscape. 

��Big blind first�� or ��ante first�� has been a heavily debated subject about a situation where there is no inherent correct position. Whether it is big blind or ante first, both options have equal validity from a purist standpoint so it simply comes down to making a choice. As usual, and this is the unofficial motto of the TDA, what is salient is consistency. Whichever way this ruling fell, it��s more important that it��s adopted across the board by card rooms which adhere to the TDA rules.?

I like the idea of it being easier for a short stack to mount a comeback

I, for one, am happy that ��big blind first�� has finally been enshrined in the rules. The reason I like the decision to make it big blind first is because I like the idea of it being easier for a short stack to mount a comeback. That��s just my preference. I absolutely understand the counter-argument about it being better to make rules which are more conducive to busting players, considering that the objective of a tournament is to get down to a winner. 

New rules

The TDA has created a couple of new rules, the first of which is about player identity. Essentially, a player may not cover up to the point that they are no longer identifiable as themself. Under the new rule, tournament staff may request a player to remove any item (sunglasses, hat, hoody, scarf, mask, or other facial covering) which inhibits their identification or is a distraction to other participants.?

The second new rule, however, relates to the increasing concern over the use of solvers, look-up tools and other poker apps by both players at the table and on the rail. This one seemed inevitable after the controversy at the WSOP Main Event final table this year when eventual champion Jonathan Tamayo conferred with his coach and backer Dominik Nitsche who had brought his laptop. 

Rule 5 of the TDA now states:

Making it prohibited to receive strategy data ��from another person or source�� clears up the language of this rule nicely, getting around the prior ambiguity over what constituted ��the playing area�� and where the boundary to the playing area was (rail or tournament room). This new rule is also defined as ��improper use of devices or strategy tools�� in a related rule (Rule 71) governing the administration of penalties for cheating or misconduct. Under that now clarified rule, punishments can range from warnings to a number of hands or orbits penalty to disqualification from a tournament.

To read all about the additions and amendments made to the TDA rules in 2024, you can visit the website (LINK: https://www.pokertda.com) or download the complete rules from the TDA dropbox link.?

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Memories of Killarney

Since the start of my poker career, I��ve been attending the Killarney Poker Festival, and making memories. Some highlights include traveling southwest to play my first one the day after I��d made my TV poker debut (losing heads-up to a boxer who apparently didn��t know the hand rankings and definitely didn��t know what a straight was!). In 2010, I again lost heads-up in the final of a heads-up event at the Lakes of Killarney.

realized the reason for this wasn��t raw inexperience but that I was looking at the online beast ��Shinerr��

I also remember watching a young local dominate the Main Event final table, much to the bemusement of local railbirds who told me they��d never seen him in the local poker club (or anywhere else). After watching him for a while and learning his name was Cathal Shine, I quickly realized the reason for this wasn��t raw inexperience but that I was looking at online beast ��Shinerr,�� who until then was an anonymous Irish online crusher shrouded in mystery.

Two-tabling live…sort of

Six years later, I had probably my most memorable day ever in poker in Killarney. The Sunday before traveling down, I had played an online Day 1 for the Grand Prix. It only got 19 runners, but I got all the chips, qualifying for the live final day on the last day of the festival, assuming I��d be free. In fact, I ended up on the final table of the WPT National. The organizers (Party Poker Live) wouldn��t allow me to multi-table, so I could only play the Grand Prix on breaks from the WPT. This and the fast nature of the Grand Prix presented a unique challenge: I knew I had to double up in the next twenty minutes every time I came to the table, otherwise I��d be blinded out by the next break in the WPT.

What��s the best way to double your stack in twenty minutes when everyone is playing cautiously?

I got to the table on my first break from the WPT to find I��d already lost half my stack to blinds and antes. What��s the best way to double your stack in twenty minutes when everyone is playing cautiously? I could open-shove every hand, but even if they all folded every time, that wouldn��t get me there. And obviously if I got called, I��d almost always be in wretched shape. So, I decided to just play a lot of hands, keeping the pots small, and try to win a big one post-flop.

With just over 2 minutes left on my WPT break, I had nudged my way back toward my starting stack, but I knew that still wasn��t enough. It was touch and go as to whether it was worth sticking around to play another hand and risk missing one in the WPT, particularly since I was UTG, but I decided to stick around.

I also decided to split my range between raises (anything reasonable) and limps (everything else). Folding wasn��t an option. As it happens, I pick up Tens and raise. I watch in horror as everyone folds to the blinds, and now I��m sorry I didn��t limp.

Thankfully both blinds call. The flop comes T-7-6 and they both check. Top set, but how to get paid? Check. Turn is a 3, small blind checks, big blind bets, I call, small blind calls. River is a 3 and the small blind unexpectedly leads. Big blind calls, I shove, small blind tank calls. I can��t stack the chips fast enough to race back to the WPT.

Quick, before I get blinded off

Back at the WPT final table, I make a close call I wouldn��t have made if I didn��t have a stack of almost a million in the GPPT (about 5k in equity now) blinding off at the rate of roughly 25 euro a minute in equity. Larry Ryan had just been crippled, when I open A-Q, get shoved on by the second shortest stack, and after running the mental math, I decide I��m not quite getting the right price to call (his range has to be much tighter than normal with Larry so short) but it��s close enough that when I factor in my equity in the GPPT, I think it becomes a call. He has a monster, as expected, but I get there against his Kings. Doubly unlucky on my opponent not just to get sucked out on, but I also wouldn��t have made the call if I wasn��t still in the GPPT.

I get back to that stack to find I��ve blinded off slightly more than the half a million I estimated. Once again, I��m in a spot where I have to gamble or face the prospect of blinding out when I disappear back to the WPT final table. I get there just in time to defend my big blind. I make a loose and normally bad call with 4-4 versus an UTG open, not so much set mining as set gambling. I am rewarded with a Q-T-4 flop. After check-calling the flop, my opponent decides to protect his overpair on the turn by shoving and I double. I win a few other small pots to nudge my stack up past the million mark before I have to go back to the WPT.

I bust that in fourth re-shoving K-Q over a button raise and not getting there against A-K. No time to feel sorry for myself, straight back to the GPPT to find I��ve blinded off another half a million or so. At that stage there were still about a hundred left, but I navigated my way to the final table, and heads-up, ultimately falling short in second place.

Deja vu

In 2018, I got heads-up in the High Roller with a distinct sense of deja vu as my opponent was Upeshka Da Silva, who had beaten me heads-up for a WSOP bracelet in Vegas three years earlier. That sense of deja vu was reinforced when I got it in ahead, but didn��t hold. Last year, I went to Killarney a little low on morale after one of my less successful years in live poker, so I was pleasantly surprised to make the final table of the Main Event. That run kickstarted a change of my live fortunes.

I bricked the entire festival, soft bubbling almost everything I played

This year I traveled down with my friend and student Ray Wheatley. I was optimistic that I could continue one of my better years on the live front, but purely based on results, that optimism was misplaced. I bricked the entire festival, soft bubbling almost everything I played, including the Main Event and the High Roller.

I did at least have the considerable consolation that several of my students and ex-students notched big scores; too many to shout them all out, but I will mention a few. My travel companion Ray won (or technically chopped heads-up) the 1k High Roller (Ray has now chopped his last three 1k��s!), and got 5th and 17th in two of the side events. In the one in which he was 6th, another student, Shane Kelly, took it down. On the same night, Sam Dobbins won the $300 buy-in side event for his biggest-ever live score, �16,000 ($17,511).

Keith Cummins returned from semi-retirement to claim 7th in the Main Event, an event Marc McDonnell and Paddy Power Twitch streamer Conor O��Driscoll chopped heads-up after the elimination of IPT team pro Darren Harbinson (who also beat his previous highest score). One of Ireland��s all-time greats, Marc took the lion��s share of the money along with the trophy. Emmett Mullinn claimed a win in another side event. That final table also featured TV chef Kwanghi Chan, who took 7th. Kwanghi went five spots better when he came 2nd in the Killarney Poker Cup for �11,000 ($12,039). Colette Murphy also had a great festival, taking down a side event and taking 3rd in another.

Yet another great IPT stop

Despite bricking everything, I had a great time in Killarney, even getting out for a couple of runs around the beautiful nearby National Park. The morning after he won the High Roller, I went for a walk there with Ray when we ran into Michael Dwyer. Or to be more accurate, he ran by us on his morning run and showed us what he was watching and listening to: the recently released Tournament Poker Study Simplified that Barry Carter and I had just released. The festival coincided with the launch of www.simplifypoker.com, the new website from Barry and me. Big thank you to everyone who wished me luck with it in person.

Finally, a shout-out to Tanya Masters. Since she was appointed IPT Ladies Ambassador, ladies events at these Irish Poker Tour stops have gone from strength to strength. The ladies event at the festival attracted a record 66 runners and was taken down by Jenny Steele. Jenny defeated Rachel Samuels heads-up in what was a great festival for the Samuels family: Rachel��s Dad, Fitzwilliam Card Club legend Stuey Samuels, was 5th in the Main Event. Stuey was already King of the Fitz when I played my first ever live tournament 17 years ago (on my first night, I lost heads-up to the previously mentioned Colette Murphy!). Stuey took down more tournaments in the Fitz (and possibly in Ireland) than any other player, and his �20,500 ($22,436) payday for fifth was his highest-ever score.

Next up for the IPT is Clonmel, then all eyes turn to the Irish Poker Festival at the Intercontinental in Dublin. That Main Event will represent the biggest buy-in Main Event this year in Ireland, and already such international luminaries as Michel Molenaar (and his beautiful girlfriend Cassandra Yong) and Niall ��Firaldo�� Farrell are confirmed for the event.

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The next big scandal

In case you missed it this week, Nick Vertucci is the name on everyone��s lips in the world of professional poker. The Co-Owner and Showrunner of Hustler Casino Live has lost his position on the livestream poker show after accusations surfaced of sexual harassment.

a series of suggestive text messages and even a picture of genitals shown at the poker table

Multiple women poker players have now come forward with their own stories about Vertucci, including a series of suggestive text messages and even a picture of genitals shown at the poker table. News has also surfaced of a Hustler Casino dealer called Lauren, supposedly let go after complaining about Vertucci��s behavior.

Co-host of the Nick Vertucci Show Veronica Brill has added fuel to the fire after speaking out on the issue in an interview. She described Vertucci as a ��manipulator�� and a ��liar�� who used his position to make himself look like a victim.

Now that the story has been boiling for a week, multiple other big names in the world of poker have had their say regarding Vertucci on social media. Nik Airball, Doug Polk, Garret Adelstein, and Matt Berkey have all been vocal regarding the scandal.

Airball and Berkey

Famously, Nik Airball and Matt Berkey don��t tend to agree on a lot. They played a poker grudge match in 2023 after Airball accused Berkey of being a ��fraud.�� However, this week it seems they can at least agree on their opinions regarding Vertucci��s character.

Airball took to X on Tuesday to address the situation, saying that he is ��appalled by the behavior of Nick Vertucci and deeply troubled by the additional allegations:��

Meanwhile, Berkey decided to do his talking on his podcast, Only Friends. He took aim, not only at Vertucci, but also at Husler Casino Live itself. ��This is what happens when you throw your support in droves to the people that don��t deserve it,�� he said: ��You get a corrupt stream; you get a corrupt owner who��s now leveraging his power and position to alienate young attractive women.��

Berkey believes the show is exploiting young, attractive women to gain more popularity, particularly with its Max Pain Monday edition. He also shared sympathy for the dealer let go by Hustler, describing her as ��one of the best dealers�� he has come across and expressing his hope that ��she at least is made whole�� after the ordeal.

Polk and Adelstein

Again, here are two more familiar faces that don��t get along. Doug Polk has publicly criticized Garret Adelstein repeatedly for his treatment of the Robbi Jade Lew cheating scandal. But like Airball and Berkey, the pair are united in their disdain for Vertucci.

it��s about time people stop protecting Hustler Casino Live and Vertucci��

Adelstein, who has not appeared on Hustler Casino Live since making cheating claims against Jade Lew, responded to the initial post of Julia ��Queen of Palmdale,�� in which she shared screenshots of unwanted advances from Vertucci via text. The poker pro said ��it��s about time people stop protecting Hustler Casino Live and Vertucci.��

In a separate post to his own page, Adelstein commended the ��brave�� women who had come forward with their stories about Vertucci. ��By doing so, they have protected countless others from future harassment or worse,�� he wrote. Adelstein went on to claim he would not return to Hustler Casino Live even with Vertucci gone:

Meanwhile, Polk is one person unafraid to share his opinion on any matter. Prior to the announcement of Vertucci��s departure from Hustler Casino Live this week, Polk used X to urge the show to remove Vertucci immediately, describing his behaviour as ��horrific.�� Avid content creator Polk emphasized that he would not be making a video on the topic, although said this might change ��if more people come forward.��

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Wire-to-wire

In my role as commentator at Merit in North Cyprus, I have presided over dozens of final tables. Over the years, a few names have stood out as consistent deep runners, players who put themselves in contention for glory time and time again. One such name is Simone Andrian, a supremely talented young Italian who emerged from the online world in 2021 to make an immediate splash.

a bankroll and morale boost that would ensure his regular participation on the European poker circuit

At his first live festival post-pandemic lockdowns, he traveled to the King��s Resort in Rozvadov, Czech Republic for the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE). He left with the 6-max bracelet and �158,616 ($173,300), a bankroll and morale boost that would ensure his regular participation on the European poker circuit for the next few years.

If that was a baptism of fire, then last night we saw confirmation of Andrian��s class in that same venue as he took down the 768-runner WSOPE Main Event for �1,300,000 ($1,420,348). Having taken the lead during Day 4, he never really looked back, taking the tournament by the scruff of the neck and completing a wire-to-wire act worthy of Philippe Petit.

The heater

After he won the �1,650 ($1,803) 6-max bracelet at the WSOPE, Andrian had what, looking back now, appears to be a lean period. For 18 months, he toiled away, making six final tables, finishing 8th in three of them. Trips to San Remo, Monte Carlo, and Rozvadov produced solid results but no headlines. Then, in the summer of 2023, he caught fire, winning back-to-back big-field MTTs.

In June, he outlasted 837 other players to take down WPT Prime San Remo. Three weeks later, he won the 916-entrant PokerStars Summer Festival Main in Malta. Then, in December, he made a deep run in the $10,400 buy-in WPT World Poker Championship at the Wynn, ultimately bowing out in 29th for $159,200.

As extraordinary as this heater was, it still felt like Andrian was on the cusp of something huge.

The results kept coming in 2024 as he won the Merit Poker Western Series $2,200 Warm-Up for $165,000. In July, he finished third in the $3,200 Online High Roller at the WSOP for $122,550, following that up with a 4th place finish at the Merit Poker La Notte Degli Assi Main Event for $115,000. As extraordinary as this heater was, it still felt like Andrian was on the cusp of something huge.

Six to two

By the end of Day 5, the WSOPE was down to just six players, all vying for the prestigious title. Andrian had a commanding lead, more than double Estonia��s Urmo Velvelt in second. In fact, he had over 40% of the chips in play. Marius Galinski of Poland was in third position and way back were the short stack chasing pack of former EPT champion Ran Ilani of Israel, David Hochheim of Germany, and Enrico Camoski of Italy.

The final day shook out almost in the order of the overnight chip stacks but that doesn��t do justice to the rollercoaster days that some of the players experienced. Camoski busted quickly, but Hochheim got an early double after calling Andrian��s small blind shove from the big blind with Q-T suited and holding against T-7. However, exactly orbit later, another battle of the blinds saw Hochheim all-in with A-4 offsuit versus Andrian��s pocket Queens which held.

Golinski got into a big clash with Ilani, his A-Q no match for the Israeli��s pocket Queens. That put him short, and he was eliminated shortly after by Andrian. There would be no more laddering for Ilani who, it must be said, battled gamely for a time. He was sent to the rail next, his A-K ultimately losing a classic race to Velvelt��s pocket Queens. That paved the way for a fascinating heads-up with Andrian having surrendered the chip lead for the first time in two days of play.

Heads-up

The heads-up match went back and forth. Andrian reclaimed the lead. Velvelt wrestled it back. Andrian pulled away once more, only for the momentum to suddenly shift dramatically in Velvelt��s direction. For a time, Andrian��s bluffs were ill-timed, his aggression met with even more aggression. At one point, Velvelt held a 3:1 lead.

The tide seemed to turn when Andrian made a stupendous hero-call with just a pair of Fives on an Ace-high board. Shortly after, Andrian picked off a semi-bluff with top pair versus bottom pair and a gutshot. He was in the ascendancy, and this time he closed it out. Velvelt five-bet shoved A-T into Andrian��s pocket Tens, the board ran out clean, and a new WSOPE Main Event champion was crowned.

I��ve been playing here a lot and to have that kind of score here feels special.��

In a post-match interview, Andrian thanked his rail and paid tribute to his heads-up opponent. ��It��s amazing. By far the biggest score of my career. I couldn��t be more happy,�� he said, adding: ��I��ve been playing here a lot and to have that kind of score here feels special.��

2024 WSOPE Main Event Final Table Results

1. Simone Andrian – �1,300,000
2. Urmo Velvelt – �854,000
3. Ran Ilani – �590,000
4. Mariusz Golinski – �415,000
5. David Hochheim – �297,000
6. Enrico Camosci – �217,000
7. Robin Berggren – �161,000
8. Luka Bojovic – �122,000

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Vertucci out

As reported by VegasSlotsOnline News this week, Hustler Casino Live Co-Owner and Showrunner Nick Vertucci is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The poker player and Founder of Down Swing Poker has been accused of sexual harassment.

On X this Wednesday, Hustler Casino Live announced that Vertucci would ��no longer be involved with High Stakes Poker Productions,�� the company behind Hustler Casino Live:

Earlier this week, Hustler Casino regular Julia ��Queen of Palmdale�� took to X with a string of accusations against Vertucci. She claimed that he used his control over the livestream poker show ��to harass women and keep witnesses from speaking up.��

Now, poker pro Veronica Brill has made matters even worse for Vertucci in a video interview with Craig Tapscott from Poker Org. Vertucci, who co-hosts the Nick Vertucci Show podcast with the man himself, described him as a ��liar�� and ��manipulator, even sharing some text screenshots of her own.

Brill speaks out

Brill told Tapscott that her new understanding of the situation with Vertucci convinced her to go public with her own revelations, particularly given her close association with him. Among her statements in the interview, she explained that she felt Vertucci was a ��creepy dude�� when they first met, and she demanded he change his behavior for them to work together.

Brill repeatedly claimed he was trying to ��manipulate�� the situation in his favor

She also expressed embarrassment for believing Vertucci��s lies in regard to his treatment of women. To illustrate this point, she shared screenshots of texts between her and Vertucci this week. They show Brill confronting her podcast co-host regarding the allegations. Vertucci attempted to downplay the situation by describing himself as ��a flirt,�� while Brill repeatedly claimed he was trying to ��manipulate�� the situation in his favor.

��How do you want me to say that you��re a victim every single time something happens when it��s so many women and you even did it to me when I first met you,�� Brill��s message read.

It starts with Julia

On Tuesday, Julia From Palmdale shared text messages between her and Vertucci from September in which he appeared to make unwanted advances towards her. She urged the poker world to share their similar stories about Vertucci:

Julia later revealed that a dealer on Hustler Casino Live called Lauren had been let go after making ��FAR WORSE�� harassment claims against Vertucci. She claims the casino sided with Vertucci in that case, meaning that Lauren had to go.

Other pros have come out in support of Julia and Brill��s messages. Nik Airball shared a post to X in which he said he was ��appalled by the behavior�� of Vertucci and his ��gross misconduct�� towards Julia, Lauren and other women. Doug Polk, meanwhile, urged Hustler Casino to remove him from the show.

The post Nick Vertucci Axed by Hustler Casino After Veronica Brill Speaks Out on Harassment Claims appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

X accusations

The professional poker sphere of social media is a fascinating one, where it seems we see a new scandal unfold every month. This time around, the spotlight is resting on Nick Vertucci, the Producer of popular poker tournament show Hustler Casino Live.

the producer used his control of the show ��to harass women��

A professional poker player known as Julia ��Queen of Palmdale�� has accused Vertucci, who also founded Down Swing Poker, of making unwanted advances towards her via text message. She shared some screenshots of the messages on X, claiming the producer used his control of the show ��to harass women and keep witnesses from speaking up:��

Julia has appeared on Hustler Casino Live multiple times, including most recently in June.

The messages shared by Julia come from September 21, 2023. It was on this day that she appeared on Hustler Casino Live��s Thirsty Thursday show alongside Vertucci. Notably, when sharing the promotion for that show on X, she provided the caption: ��You say you want cleavage? Omw poker fans!!��

Further claims

Julia didn��t stop at the one post either, she published a series of follow up posts in which she made further accusations.

In one, she claimed that Vertucci was trying to get the address where she plays home games and dig up dirt on her in retaliation. She claimed he was blaming his actions on her ��because of how I dress.�� Tagging Hustler Casino, she asked if this was ��a show runner�� they wanted to be associated with.

FAR WORSE harassment than the creepy texts.��

In another post, she made reference to a dealer on the Hustler Casino Live show who she names as Lauren. According to Julia, Lauren lost her job after reporting ��FAR WORSE harassment than the creepy texts�� from Vertucci. Julia claims the casino sided with Vertucci, meaning that Lauren had to go.

Julia��s most recent post urges Hustler to ��Bring Lauren back!�� She goes on to plead with Hustler Casino staff to report any abuse they have witnessed through HR, where they can report anything without fear or retaliation. ��Your job will be protected under whistleblower statutes,�� she explains:

Julia gets support

Some big names in the world of poker have come out in support of Julia��s message.

Well-known American poker pro Garrett Adelstein commented to express his lack of shock regarding the allegations. ��It��s about time people stop protecting HCL and Vertucci in particular out of financial self-interest,�� he wrote.

Meanwhile, another poker pro Peter ��The Saurus�� Morris responded to Julia, describing Vertucci as an ��absolute scumbag.�� In a separate post, he claimed that he ��tried telling you guys 2 WSOPs ago that Nick Vertucci was a lowlife.��

So far, Vertucci has made no public repsonse to the accusations.

The post Hustler Casino Live��s Nick Vertucci in Hot Water Over Sexual Harassment Claims appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Pulling off the impossible

Fintan Gavin��s ambition to bring higher stakes live tournaments back to Ireland was never more evident than when he announced the inaugural Irish Poker Festival last year, with a �700,000 ($768,261) guarantee on the �3,000 ($3,293) buyin Main Event, and a total of �1m ($1.09m) in total guarantees across the festival. This seemed brave to say the least, and by the time the International Poker Open rolled around the week before, almost everybody I spoke to in Irish poker gave Fintan no chance of hitting the guarantee.

��Fintan will do his boll*cks.��

��Just before late registration closes will be a good time to be hanging around the Intercontinental bar.��

The first two flights were ahead of expectation but a big Saturday was still needed. Fintan admitted to me afterwards that when he came in early that day to find only 17 players registered he felt some waves of panic. As the day went on though more players jumped in, and by the end of the day it was clear that the guarantee was safe. In the end, they comfortably exceeded it, and Fintan��s uncanny ability to pull off the seemingly impossible was reaffirmed.

This year��s edition

You’d think after last year’s sweat Fintan might have reined it in a bit this year, but you’d be wrong. The Irish Poker Festival returns from Tuesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 3 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin, with guarantees of more than �1m. The �700,000 guaranteed Main Event which has a �3,000 buy-in and runs from Wednesday to Sunday with three days.

The early highlight will be the �70k Mystery Bounty. Several giant bounties will be pulled out by lucky players, and defending champion Thomas Murphy who also pulled most of the bigger mystery prizes has vowed to try to pull them all this year.

The �1,100 ($1,207) Irish Poker Championship will run from Friday 1nd to Sunday 3rd. Previous winners include some of the greats of Irish poker such as Padraig Parkinson, Steve Dwyer, and Jude Ainsworth.

Coin Poker is running satellites with multiple packages guaranteed every Sunday

Festival partner Coin Poker has a �2,500 ($2,743) NLH tournament which runs over the closing weekend. Coin Poker is running satellites with multiple packages guaranteed every Sunday, with plenty of feeder satellites available to suit every bankroll.

EDGE Expo

Ever the innovator, Fintan announced EDGE, Europe��s Gaming Expo, a unique conference set to merge live & online gaming to run alongside the Irish Poker Festival in the same venue.

The event will feature 20 workshops, and the speakers include whistle-blower Jonathan Raab, leading ladies ambassador Tanya Masters, Alec Torelli, Will Shilibier, Alex Scott, and Padraig Parkinson. Oh, and someone called Dara O’Kearney.

See you there!

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