The Bulgarian lotto game is currently being run by the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (BST), which has recently highlighted the significance of potential regulative modifications, as they are usually politically motivated.

Until now, there have actually been some vital governing adjustments to the tasks of the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator, with the changes being expected to enter into result beginning in August. The BST is the state-owned “Toto” (virtually the same as lotto) provider in Bulgaria but, unlike lotto, it offers some extra sporting activities video games– both in brick-and-mortar stores as well as online.

The most recent change propositions in the country’s lotto game are set to influence the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator’s places. Under the modifications, the BST will be called for to give all its video games just within its own network. Consequently, the changes will certainly see about 1,500 gaming operation websites decreased to about 600 as well as this, in its turn, would certainly without a doubt have an adverse result on the income generated by the organization.

The ITN political celebration in Bulgaria tabled a counter-proposal in its latest bill suggestion, with several participants of the event– Individual voluntary agreement Miteva, Lyubomir Karimanski, and also Andrey Mihaylov– presently calling for opening to 3,000 new pc gaming factors of sales across the country. 2 main kinds of wagers are defined in the suggested piece of legislation– games that call for reality understanding as well as random occasion betting.

ITN Politica Party Initiates the Proposal for the Latest Changes in Bulgarian Gambling Law

The proposed costs seeks to develop a more obvious distinguishment in between casino, bingo or vending machine video games and also other kinds of wagering offered in Bulgaria. The piece of legislation also seeks to make certain brand-new betting locations are provided a specific standing and are noted as gambling locations for a particular video game. The proposition of the ITN political celebration has actually likewise suggested that all brand-new betting venues are developed on premises that the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator has or leases straight and also provide self-service devices.

According to the initial forecast given by the celebration, the recommended modifications to the regional betting regulations ought to not posture any type of added management concern or amount to the expenses of the BST.

An independent proposition for a rise in the variety of video gaming venues for the state-owned Bulgarian Sports Totalizator has actually been made by Deyan Petkov, who asked for 1 venue per 1,725 individuals. Presumably, Mr. Petkov has actually had in mind 1,725 individuals that have the right to wager, but the specific characterization of his proposition continued to be vague.

The proposition for the aforementioned gambling law changes comes at a time when the political climate in Bulgaria is in chaos. Presently, nearly all political events in the nation remain in a rush to recommend as several expenses as feasible, even though the lawmakers will certainly not have enough to take them into factor to consider let alone elect them with. Having this in mind, the practical repercussions for the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator continue to be unknown.

The Bulgarian Sports Totalizator was given the complete syndicate on the nation’s lottery game in 2020 after the lawmakers passed a costs to modify the 2012 Gaming Act. In addition, they launched a motion to attempt and impose more stringent regulation on the state-owned company, as well as the political links of some previous BST directors have actually been revealed.

Lately, a new supervisor of the BST– Alexander Todorov– took over, with Mr. Todorov being chosen by Bulgaria’s previous priest of sports Radostin Vasilev. Throughout the years, the person managing the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator has constantly been understood for their links to all relative governmental bodies and also their actions, which, in its turn might appear as a benefit to political events sustaining the BST directors so far.

Macau is set to close all its casinos for a duration of one week since July 11th as well as mainly restrict neighborhood homeowners from leaving their residences as the authorities are attempting to quit a brand-new Covid-19 break out that has actually led to over 1,400 infected individuals in the special management area (SAR) over the past 3 weeks.

Magnates in the biggest gambling center in the world disclosed that all Macau services have been ordered to temporarily quit operations. For the time being, supermarkets as well as services giving necessary services have gone through an exception. Neighborhood homeowners are needed to stay at home unless they require to go out for work or to acquire some food as well as products.

This has been the initial considerable Covid-19 episode in Macau given that the start of the coronavirus pandemic. On July 9ht, the previous Portuguese colony taped 93 brand-new cases of the infection, bringing the general variety of cases to 1,467. As CasinoGamesPro reported, the unique management area has been following the “zero-Covid-19” approach of the Federal government of mainland China. Under the policy, different businesses have been secured down as part of the authorities’ efforts to reduce the number of active situations.

Rounds of mass screening have currently been carried out in Macau to evaluate and also separate infected homeowners.

Macau to Leave Only Essential Businesses Running Over the Lockdown

Macau authorities have actually cautioned that authorities would certainly be patrolling the streets of the special administrative region, and also individuals who break the guidelines would certainly go through penalties. People who go out are required to use a mask, with an N95 mask or comparable one required to be worn by grownups.

The actions revealed by local executives over the weekend will certainly see the limitations that have actually been in location considering that June 23rd increased. Formerly, the city government had movie theaters, fitness centers, hairdresser, bars, bars and other amusement venues shut, and also eating in restaurants had been suspended, limiting their procedures to delivery or takeout. At that time, casino site locations stayed operational but with the SAR enforcing stricter policy to deal with the spread of the infection they will certainly now likewise undergo closures, along with other non-essential companies.

As discussed above, the one-week gambling enterprise closures are set to begin on July 11th as well as will be via on July 18th. Macau’s secretary for management and also justice, André Cheong Weng Chon, validated that just medical facilities, pharmacies, supermarkets and also other important services and also solutions will be permitted to remain operational over the lockdown.

The economic climate of Macau presently continues to be heavily dependent on the gaming field, which involves casino sites and also their relevant organizations. Sadly for drivers, the sector has actually been heavily influenced by the coronavirus pandemic break out as well as they are still attempting to get back to pre-pandemic degrees. Over the in 2014, Macau online casinos have actually taken care of to partially recoup from the adverse results of the pandemic but still stay far below the outcomes they had before the Covid-19 infection episode.

Three monetary charges, which were provided in 2019 to Betfair, Betway and also SkillOnNet as well as were approximated at a combined total amount of SEK23.2 million, have been promoted after the Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden did not grant delegate appeal.

All three instances saw allures being previously lodged with the nation’s administrative court as well as the Court of Appeal however they were rejected, so the firms formally turned to the Supreme Administrative Court. The gambling operators were looking for to reverse the penalties provided by Spelinspektionen, the gaming regulator in Sweden.

Back in June 2019, the Swedish betting watchdog discovered that Betfair had actually approved sports bets of clients that were under the legal age of 18. Due to the reality that minor betting is presently prohibited under the nation’s gaming legislation, the gambling watchdog released a great worth SEK5.5 million to the firm.

The business initially looked to the Administrative Court in April 2020 yet its charm obtained rejected. Then, Betfair submitted a subsequent insurance claim to the Court of Charm in June in 2015, which succeeded as it saw the fine being minimized to SEK4.5 million. The gaming operator’s newest appeal to the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court was declined, with the business obtaining a warning and also a demand to pay the modified financial penalty.

As stated above, the various other 2 wagering firms– Betway as well as SkillOnNet– have additionally had their appeals looking for to rescind financial fines provided by the nation’s gaming watchdog rejected by the court.

Betfair, Betway and SkillOnNet Face Spelinspektionen’s Monetary Fines over Legislative Failures

SkillOnNet, which uses numerous on-line gaming services in the country, got a warning and a monetary fine of SEK14 million in June 2019. At the time, Spelinkspektionen located that the business utilized to supply various types of rewards in the form of complimentary rotates, cashback, everyday or month-to-month perks, VIP incentives and unique plans. Supposedly, the gambling team had arranged on the internet lottery games– something it had not been enabled to do under its operating permit in the country.

On June 27th, 2019, Betway also faced a similar caution, together with a charge worth SEK4.5 million for enabling underage customers to position wagers. Only a month prior to that, the gambling operator was provided a comparable warning as well as a monetary penalty of SEK4.7 million for breaching the country’s gaming regulation by using its consumers special rewards on repeated events.

Both business have submitted attract the Supreme Administrative Court but they stopped working to reverse the penalties imposed by the Swedish gambling regulatory body. After their stopped working attract the court, both Betway and also SkillOnNet have actually received warnings and also orders to pay the fines.

Earlier in 2022, NGG Nordic– a subsidiary of Betsson– additionally fell short in its January appeal to the court. Still, the court chose to decrease the fine released by Spelinspektionen from SEK19 million to SEK14 million.

American legislators, gambling enterprises, as well as other betting drivers are urging federal prosecutors to punish unlawful overseas online betting platforms that have actually been apparently averting customer protection guidelines. The initiative comes at a time when the US sports wagering field has quickly broadened, with over 30 states as well as Washington D.C. presently allowing legal sporting activities betting services to be used within their boundaries.

In a letter sent out to Attorney General Merrick Garland in the springtime, the American Gaming Organization (AGA) asked the Justice Division to examine some popular overseas online betting websites that it thinks to be honestly breaching both state and also federal legislations and are heavily investing in advertising that targets US gamblers.

Later, at the end of June, over 20 members of Congress also sent a letter advising the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute illegal sporting activities betting procedures of overseas firms.

According to the AGA professionals, the challenges for the local gaming market have escalated promptly as clients’ demand climbed faster than their look for managed operators. As a study carried out and processed by the Organization showed, more than 50% of gamblers share that they still make use of the solutions of offshore on-line gaming systems.

In an interview for CNBC, the Chief Executive Officer of FanDuel– Amy Howe– stated there were numerous illegal or uncontrolled gambling firms that are accepting sporting activities bets on a daily basis, with potentially $15 billion undergoing some of the offshore operators’ sites.

Illegal and Unregulated Online Gambling Sites Take Advantage of Their Customers

Legal gaming business, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars Entertainment, and also BetMGM, typically spend billions of dollars on licensing, advertising as well as lobbying for the expansion of legal sporting activities wagering services in more US states. According to these firms, offshore drivers that do not have their solutions licensed usually utilize this as a benefit whenever they contend for consumers since they do not need to invest in lobbying, licensing treatments, government, state, and also regional tax obligation payments, etc. This offers them with the opportunity to supply better chances to the customers.

The services of offshore bookies have been utilized by bettors for years before the United States Supreme Court’s decision to lift the sporting activities betting restriction imposed by the Specialist and also Amateur Sports Security Act in 2018, which almost paved the way for states to legislate sporting activities wagering across the nation.

Unfortunately, regardless of exactly how appealing such gambling might appear to consumers, unlicensed and also uncontrolled sites regularly disregard the responsible betting actions that United States drivers have in place in order to be permitted to keep their licenses. Several clients at some point decide to change from unlawful drivers due to the fact that they were not paid their earnings.

Some more seasoned bettors still prefer using uncontrolled online gaming websites, mainly brought in by more positive chances or promotions, or because such websites commonly enable high-roller casino players to bet on credit rating. In addition, specialists share that some offshore sites often offer much higher limits that can increase to $50,000.

Now, the online casino market, legislators, as well as the AGA are asking for a further suppression on unlicensed gaming equipments, on the internet gaming websites, as well as operators that offer their services without the main permission of the skilled authorities. The AGA is likewise aiming to sign up with pressures with Google and various other internet online search engine in order to avoid results with illegal gaming websites from turning up.

The renowned Grand Lisboa online casino and hotel residential or commercial property of SJM Holdings in Macau has actually been locked down by the regional authorities, after they located over a dozen situations of Covid-19 there on July 5th. Reportedly, the infection has been rapidly spreading throughout the globe’s biggest gambling location, with no less than 16 other structures throughout the special administrative region (SAR) additionally closed as a result.

Thus far, over 13,000 individuals were put under quarantine orders by Macau authorities, as the SAR is trying to tackle its biggest coronavirus episode because the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since mid-June, the previous Portuguese colony has recorded over 900 coronavirus situations, while being largely free of the infection given that the most recent coronavirus outbreak in October 2021.

The Grand Lisboa has actually come to be the 2nd gambling establishment resort based on a lockdown cover over the last few weeks. The betting and friendliness complicated, possessed by SJM Holdings, is presently among the most popular sites in Macau. Currently, the building has actually been sealed off, with people worn safety matches and also equipment standing outside.

As CasinoGamesPro formerly reported, the Macau Government has actually decided not to reach a full-scale lockdown in the special administrative area such as the one in various other Chinese cities, most centers right here continue to be closed.

Macau Government Calls for Residents to Stay at Home, While Casinos Remain Open

Because the start of the most up to date outbreak of the coronavirus, the Federal government of Macau has asked local homeowners to remain at residence as long as possible, with mass-testing has actually been taking place throughout the city. People are required to take Covid-19 and also quick antigen examinations weekly.

Just recently, CasinoGamesPro revealed that Macau casinos have actually been amongst minority entities enabled to stay open as part of the Federal government’s initiatives to make sure task security, in addition to that the unique management area’s funds are still significantly reliant on the local gambling sector, as the later produces over 80% of the total tax obligation profits. Additionally, most of Macau’s population is currently used straight or indirectly by the regional online casino resorts.

The circumstance, nonetheless, continues to be serious for the gambling industry too. While many gambling enterprise places in Macau are physically open, few individuals now visit them, and the team number has been reduced to a minimum, with a multitude of workers asked to remain at home in line with the Federal government’s plan. As previously reported, the previous Portuguese colony sticks to the zero-Covid plan of China’s Central Federal government that is aimed at tackling all coronavirus break outs as successfully as it can, rather than a global pattern of various other nations that are attempting to learn exactly how to co-exist with the infection without excessive restrictions and also brand-new closures at all degrees of the economic situation.

Although the nation has actually been complying with a strict zero-Covid policy, the coronavirus instances in some cities remain to expand, with the Federal government of mainland China reporting 527 new instances on July 5th, in contrast to 413 on the day in the past.

Joao Simao raced to his second World Series of Poker gold bracelet victory, beating out a field of 788 entries in the fast-paced 2022 WSOP $5,000 buy-in pot-limit Omaha and no-limit hold’em mixed event. The 33-year-old Brazilian poker pro secured the largest score of his tournament career for the win: $686,242. As a result, he now has more than $5 million in cashes to his name.

This marked the 16th time a Brazilian player has won a bracelet event. Simao and Yuri Dzivielevski are the only two players from the country with multiple bracelets.

“Every time a Brazilian wins a bracelet, it makes our community grow, more and more, which is good for us and good for the poker world in general,” said Simao after this latest win.

In addition to the title and the money, Simao also earned 1,824 Card Player Player of the Year points after coming out on top. This was his third POY-qualified score of the year, having finished as the runner-up in a $3,500 buy-in event at the Wynn Millions festival in March and fourth in the $1,500 ‘Monster Stack’ event earlier this series. With $1,361,632 in year-to-date POY earnings and 3,624 total points, Simao now sits in seventh place in the 2022 POY race standings, which are presented by Global Poker.

This event only took two days to find its champion. The top 119 finishers earned a share of the $3,634,650 prize pool, with big names like four-time bracelet winner and 2009 world champion Joe Cada (107th – $8,010), three-time bracelet winner Dan Zack (91st – $8,761), three-time bracelet winner David Pham (29th – $19,650), five-time bracelet winner Brian Rast (22nd – $23,327), two-time bracelet winner Brandon Cantu (21st – $23,327), bracelet winner and 2004 main event runner-up David Williams (18th – $23,327), and bracelet winner Andriy Lyubovetskiy (11th – $42,953) all making deep runs.

A number of notables were still in contention by the time the official final table of eight was set following Joni Jouhkimainen’s elimination in ninth place ($54,313), including bracelet winner Fred Goldberg, high-stakes tournament rising star Marius Gierse and 2013 WSOP main event champion Ryan Riess. Simao held the lead when the final table got underway and extended his advantage by knocking out Cody Rich in eighth place ($69,727).

Goldberg was the next to fall, with his pocket kings and a suit running into the double-suited pocket aces of Gierse in a round of PLO. Gierse made trip tens on the river to win the pot and narrow the field of six, while Goldberg settled for $90,864 as the seventh-place finisher.

Gierse scored another bustout when his pocket sevens won a race against the K-Q suited of Joshua McSwiney. The flop saw Gierse hit a set, while McSwiney picked up a flush draw. The turn and river were blanks, though, and McSwiney was sent home in sixth place ($120,165).

Simao’s stack took a small hit when he doubled up a short stack, but he soon made up for that lost ground by eliminating Aden Salazar in fifth place ($161,239). Salazar’s 10-9 suited outflopped Simao’s J-10 suited, but a jack on the river sent the pot towards Simao. The Brazilian then won a preflop race with pocket sevens besting the A-10 of Dante Goya to take a sizable lead into three-handed play.

Riess’s run at his second bracelet ended in third place. Riess got all-in preflop with AHeart SuitQClub Suit8Diamond Suit6Spade Suit and was at risk facing the ADiamond Suit8Heart Suit7Diamond Suit2Heart Suit of Gierse. The board ran out JDiamond Suit9Club Suit2Diamond Suit10Club Suit9Diamond Suit and Gierse ade an ace-high flush to secure the pot. Riess earned $302,980 as the third-place finisher, increasing his lifetime earnings to more than $15.7 million.

Heads-up play began with Simao holding more than a 3.5:1 chip lead over Gierse. He was able to add to that in the early going, and was still well ahead despite the German earning one double up with two pair.

Gierse was soon all-in and at risk again. This time around the chips went in after the flop of 8Spade Suit5Spade Suit5Club Suit. Gierse held ASpade SuitJSpade Suit10Spade Suit9Club Suit, while Simao had ADiamond SuitQSpade SuitQHeart Suit2Spade Suit. The 3Club Suit on the turn gave Simao a gutshot wheel draw, but it was the AClub Suit on the end that saw him improve to the winning hand. His aces and fives with a queen kicker just edged out Gierse, locking up the pot and the title in the process. Gierse earned $424,122 as the runner-up finisher. This was his sixth final-table finish of the year, with two titles won and more than $2.5 million in POY earnings accrued along the way. With 3,468 total points, Gierse now sits in ninth place in the 2022 POY race standings.

Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:

Winner photo credit: WSOP / Hayley Hochstetler.

France’s Jonathan Pastore overcame a field of 920 entries to take down the 2022 World Series of Poker $5,000 buy-in six-max no-limit hold’em event, earning his first bracelet and $771,765 for the win.

In fact, this was not only Pastore’s first bracelet win but his first-ever recorded live victory. It was also by far the largest live tournament score of his career, blowing away the $73,382 he earned as the runner-up finisher in a $600 buy-in at the Venetian DeepStack Championship II last fall. He now has more than $890,000 in career earnings to his name.

“Having all of my friends on the rail really helped me. We are a big group of friends and poker players who live in Malta and came to play the World Series,” Pastore told WSOP reporters after securing the title. “Coming from the amateur poker circles in France, with all my friends around me, I feel I mixed those two worlds today and it’s beautiful.”

In addition to the money and the hardware, Pastore was also awarded 1,824 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. While this was his first POY-qualified score of the year, it was enough to catapult him up the standings and into 48th place in the 2022 POY race sponsored by Global Poker.

This event paid out the top 138 finishers, with plenty of big names making the money including two-time bracelet winner Dmitry Yurasov (116th – $8,053), six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu (106th – $8,807), two-time bracelet winner Jim Collopy (98th – $8,807), two-time bracelet winner Daniel lazrus (96th – $8,807), three-time bracelet winner Dan Zack (91st – $8,807), two-time bracelet winner Taylor Paur (88th – $10,066), 2013 main event champion Ryan Riess (75th – $10,066), three-time bracelet winner Norbert Szecsi (70th – $10,874), two-time bracelet winner Eric Baldwin (58th – $11,991), 2009 main event champion and four-time bracelet winner Joe Cada (46th – $15,482), four-time bracelet winner Anthony Zinno (32nd – $21,597), four-time bracelet winner Robert Mizrachi (14th – $40,885), and bracelet winner Jonas Lauck (9th – $68,370).

Just five players made it to the fourth and final day of action, with bracelet winner Stephen Song in the lead and Pastore in third chip position. Pastore soon moved into second, and then further closed the gap on Song by knocking out Paraskevas Tsokaridis in fifth place ($167,882). Pastore’s pocket eights improved to middle set on the flop to leave Tsokaridis’ pocket fives drawing to running quads. The miracle didn’t materialize and the field was thinned to four.

Two-time bracelet winner Elio Fox was the next to fall. Fox shoved from the small blind for just over seven big blind with K-3. Song called in the big blind with K-5 and flopped trip fives. Song improved to a full house with a king on the turn, which remained best after a blank on the river. Fox took home $234,036 for his fourth-place showing in this event.

Pastore moved into the lead, and then extended it by eliminating Tamer Alkamli in third place. He shoved from the small blind with Q-7 suited and Alkamli called with A-5. Pastore turned a pair of sevens and held from there to take roughly a 5:4 lead into heads-up play with Song. Alkamli earned a career-best payday of $331,503 for his deep run.

Pastore took more than a 2:1 lead thanks to winning a healthy pot with a turned flush. He edged even further ahead before the final hand of the tournament was dealt. With blinds of 150,000-300,000 and a 300,000 big blind ante, Pastore raised to 650,000 on the button with QSpade SuitJClub Suit. Song three-bet to 2,100,000 from the big blind with 5Club Suit2Diamond Suit. The KHeart SuitQClub Suit10Spade Suit flop saw Song make a 900,000 continuation bet with five-high. Pastore called with second pair and an open-ended straight draw. The 6Spade Suit on the turn prompted a 2,500,000 bet from Song, which was again called. The 4Diamond Suit completed the board and Song moved all-in for 4,275,000. Pastore thought things over for a while before making the call to lock up the pot and the title. Song earned $476,990 as the runner-up, the largest payday of his career. The score increased his lifetime earnings to more than $3.5 million.

Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:

Winner photo credit: WSOP / Katerina Lukina.

Michael Jukich literally jumped for joy after winning the 2022 World Series of Poker $1,500 no-limit hold’em ‘Monster Stack’ event for $966,577 and his first gold bracelet. The ‘Jukich jump’ saw the 38-year-old Lynchburg, Virginia resident leap onto the top of the final table after topping the field of 6,501 entries to secure nearly a million dollars.

Just minutes before securing the title, Jukich was all-in and well behind after his heads-up opponent Mateusz Moolhuizen had turned a full house against his flopped top pair. Moolhuizen bet his three deuces and Jukich shoved with kings and deuces and a queen kicker. Moolhuizen called to leave Jukich in need of a king on the river, making him roughly a 19:1 underdog. The KHeart Suit rolled off the deck, though, giving him a higher full house and a commanding lead.

“I mean, it was a big set-up on the turn deuce. I thought for a while about just calling but decided to just stick it in. It happened so quick, I heard his rail saying it’s over, it’s over, and I was like, it’s not really over yet. The king hit from outer space, I don’t even know how to describe that,” Jukich told WSOP reporters afterward.

From there he was able to close things out to earn the largest score of his tournament career, blowing away the $165,438 he secured as the champion of the 2018 WSOP Circuit Baltimore main event. He now has more than $1.5 million in lifetime earnings.

Jukich also scored 1,320 Card Player Player of the Year points as the champion of this event. This was his first POY-qualified run of the year, but it alone was enough to put him just outside the top 100 in the 2022 POY race standings, which are sponsored by Global Poker.

This tournament kicked off on June 10 with the first of two starting flights. It then took two full days of action to narrow the sea of players down to the last 39 contenders. Plenty of big names made deep runs in this event, including World Poker Tour champion Matthew Wantman (55th – $17,323), bracelet winner Max Steinberg (36th – $25,369), Adam Hendrix (34th – $31,033), and two-time bracelet winner Calvin Anderson (35th – $31,033).

The final day began with 39 left and Yoshiya Agata in the lead. Jukich was closer to the bottom of the leaderboard than the top to start the day, but he managed to climb into second chip position by the time the final table was set.

Ricardo Caridade was the first to fall at the official final table of nine. He got all-in with A-Q suited, but was trailing the A-K of bracelet winner Anthony Spinella. The flop brought top two pair for Spinella, who improved to kings full on the river to take down the pot and send Caridade home in ninth place ($94,439). This was his second big final table of the year, having placed fourth in a European Poker Tour Prague high roller for $225,499.

Short stack Jessica Teusl got her last few big blinds in with A-5 and found herself at risk facing the pocket sixes of Jukich. Neither player received any help from the board and Teusl was knocked out in eighth place ($120,455). This was the largest score of the Austrian’s career, and it came just days after her boyfriend Stefan Lehner won his first bracelet in the $3,000 no-limit hold’em event.

Yoshiya Agata’s run concluded when his K-J was unable to outrun the A-8 of Jukich, which improved to eighths full of aces by the turn. This was the first six-figure live score of the Japanese player’s career. Jukich moved into the lead after raking in the pot.

David Zarrin lost a huge chunk of his stack when Joao Simao’s K-Q drew out on his A-Q with all of the chips in the middle preflop. Simao finished the job when his Q-5 suited beat out the K-4 of Zarrin not long after, with a rivered pair of queens for Simao knocking Zarrin out in sith place ($199,995).

Spinella spent some time atop the chip counts at the final table, but had fallen to the bottom of the leaderboard by the time five-handed play began. He got the last of his chips in racing with J-10 up against the pocket eights of Francis Anderson. A set on the flop gave Anderson a big lead in the hand, which he maintained through the river. Spinella earned $260,315 for his fifth-place showing, increasing his lifetime earnings to more than $4.3 million in the process.

A preflop cooler soon spelled the end of Simao. He four-bet all-in with pocket tens facing a three-bet from Moolhuizen, who quickly called with pocket aces. Moolhuizen flopped top set. After a blank on the turn, Simao was left drawing dead. The Brazilian bracelet winner was awarded $341,095 as the fourth-place finisher, joining Spinella with more than $4.3 million in career cashes.

The next big knockout was the result of a classic preflop race. Anderson called all-in with AHeart SuitKClub Suit facing a four-bet shove from Moolhuizen, who held JSpade SuitJDiamond Suit. The board changed nothing and Anderson was knocked out in third place ($449,912). The New York resident now has more than $1.6 million in earnings to his name, with this surpassing his $149,605 payday as the fourth-place finisher in the 2019 WSOP marathon event to become his new top score.

Moolhuizen took more than a 2:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Jukich after winning that hand. Jukich was able to close the gap a bit before winning the huge hand mentioned earlier with the king on the river giving him a better full house. That saw him take more than a 5:1 lead of his own.

In the final hand of the tournament, which was on the very next deal, Moolhuizen limped in from the button with KClub SuitQClub Suit and Jukich shoved holding AHeart Suit8Club Suit. The board ran out JSpade Suit10Heart Suit5Spade Suit3Diamond Suit5Club Suit and Jukich’s ace high was enough to lock up the pot and the title, prompting the ‘Jukich jump’. Moolhuizen earned a career-best $597,362 as the runner-up. His prior top score had been a $163,075 payday as the winner of the 2011 Unibet Open Malta main event.

Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:

Photo credits: PokerGO / Enrique Malfavon.

The 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #18: $1,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em attracted exactly 2,663 entrants, which created a $2,370,070 prize pool. 35-year-old Illinois native Schultz defeated Young Sik Eum in heads-up play to win a $1,000 no-limit hold’em freezeout event, earning the hardware and a career-best $330,057 payday.

This blew away his previous largest score of $111,812, which he earned as the champion of the 2011 WSOP Circuit Harveys Lake Tahoe main event. He now has more than $630,000 in recorded tournament earnings to his name.

This two-day event saw 203 players survive day 1. The top 400 finishers cashed in this tournament, with $2,370,070 in prize money split amongst them. Big names to make deep runs included Lexy Gavin (41st – $8,307), two-time World Poker Tour champion Daniel Weinman (35th – $10,084), bracelet winner Yaser Al-Keliddar (20th – $12,351), and bracelet winner Seth Fischer (10th – $23,939).

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Young Sik Eum came into the final table with the lead. He extended it further by knocking out Kevin Legerski (9th – $30,375) to narrow the field to eight. Mike Holtz, the 2021 WSOP.com POY award winner, ran A-9 suited into the pocket hacks of Schultz to hit the rail in eighth place ($38,874). Shultz scored another knockout with pocket jacks, this time besting the A-7 of Tony Dam (7th – $50,180). He continued hi surge by winning a preflop race, with A-Q outrunning the pocket nines of Robert Hofer (6th – $65,326).

Nicholas Palma got the last of his stack in with top two pair on a Q-J-5 board. He was up against the A-K of Eum. A ten on the turn gave Eum an ace-high straight, leaving Palma in need of a queen or jack on the river. No help came and Palma settled for $85,761 for his fifth-place showing.

Schultz picked up another big pocket pair in acrucuial spot. His KSpade SuitKHeart Suit held up against the ASpade Suit8Club Suit of Henry Rubin after the chips went in on a 10Diamond Suit8Diamond Suit3Spade Suit3Club Suit board. The 5Spade Suit on the end sent Rubin to the rail with $113,532.

Angela Jordison’s run in this event came to an end when her KSpade SuitJDiamond Suit clashed with the ADiamond Suit7Heart Suit of Eum. Jordison took the lead on a JSpade Suit9Spade Suit8Diamond Suit flop, and remained ahead after the QDiamond Suit hit the turn. The AHeart Suit on the river gave Eum a winning pair of aces, though, and Jordison was eliminated in third place. The $151,544 she earned was the largest score of her career. She now has more than $500,000 in lifetime cashes.

With that Eum took the lead into heads-up play with Schultz. The tables were soon turned, though. Schultz held roughly a 4:1 lead when the final hand was dealt. He limped in from the button for 600,000 total with AClub SuitQSpade Suit and Eum shoved for around 10 million with JDiamond Suit2Diamond Suit. Schultz called and the board ran out QClub Suit7Heart Suit3Heart Suit5Heart Suit7Diamond Suit to lock up the pot and the title for Schultz. Eum was awarded $203,949 as the runner-up.

The 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #18: $1,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results

American poker pro Jason Koon is now just more than $615,000 away from becoming the seventh player in poker history to hit $40 million in recorded earnings. The 36-year-old emerged victorious from a field of 34 entries in the €150,000 buy-in short deck event at the series, earning €1,750,000 ($1,837,500 USD) for the win. With $39,384,977 in tournament cashes to his name, Koon surpassed Dan Smith ($38,502,884 in career scores) to move into seventh place on poker’s all-time money list.

This victory also saw Koon tie the record for the most Triton titles, joining Mikita Badziakouski with four wins on the high-stakes tour. Badziakouski had only set the record a week earlier when he took down a €50,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event earlier on in this same series.

In addition to the money and the title, Koon also secured 480 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. This was his first title and tenth final-table finish of the year. With 2,829 total points and more than $4.1 million in year-to-date POY earnings, Koon had climbed into sixth place in the 2022 POY race sponsored by Global Poker.

Registration was still open through the start of the second and final day of this event. Several big names fell early on in day 2, including recent short deck main event champion Stephen Chidwick, ten-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Paul Phua, and Mikita Badziakouski. Lun Loon was ultimately the last player eliminated outside of the money, with his Q-J suited unable to outrun the pocket aces of Canadian bracelet winner Daniel Dvoress.

Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates scored his first live cash of the year with a sixth-place showing in this event for $378,000 USD. The 2021 WSOP Poker Players Championship bracelet winner ran A-10 into the pocket aces of Isaac Haxton. The six-figure payday saw him surpass $10 million in recorded tournament earnings.

World Poker Tour main event winner Seth Davies made his third cash of the series with his deep run in this event. His run came to an end when his A-K suited clashed with the pocket kings of Koon. The pair held up and Davies was eliminated in fifth place ($483,000 USD). He also scored 200 POY points for his eighth final-table finish of the year. With nearly $2.8 million in cashes so far, he now it’s in 23rd place in the POY standings.

Sam Greenwood was the next to fall. The bracelet winner from Toronto, Ontario’s last chips were at risk with him holding A-Q facing the A-J suited of Dvoress and the K-J of Haxton. The flop brought both a king and a jack. After the turn and the river brought no help, Greenwood was knocked out in fourth place ($609,000 USD) while Haxton tripled up.

Koon fell to the bottom of the leaderboard during three-handed play, but managed to crack Haxton’s kings with Q-J suited to surge back up the chip counts. Haxton was eventually all-in and at risk with AHeart Suit8Heart Suit facing the ADiamond SuitQDiamond Suit of Dvoress. Both players paired their side cards, with Dvoress’ rivered queens good enough to take down the pot. Haxton took home $798,000 USD as the third-place finisher.

With that Dvoress took 8,800,000 into heads-up play with Koon, who held 4,800,000. The tables turned when Koon’s A-K held against the K-Q of Dvoress. Shortly after that, Dvoress got all-in with QSpade Suit10Heart Suit and Koon picked up ASpade SuitAClub Suit. The board ran out ADiamond SuitKDiamond SuitJClub Suit9Diamond Suit and Koon flopped a full house to close out the title. Dvoress was awarded $1,249,500 USD as the runner-up finisher.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

Place Player Earnings (USD) POY Points
1 Jason Koon $1,837,500 480
2 Daniel Dvoress $1,249,500 400
3 Isaac Haxton $798,000 320
4 Sam Greenwood $609,000 240
5 Seth Davies $483,000
6 Daniel Cates $378,000 160
Photo credit: Joe Giron / Triton Poker.