Casino City’s Friday Five: 100th story edition
New York topped the headlines this week by approving sports wagering for the four land-based casinos in the state. Also this week, we saw a massive jackpot win, a slot tournament at an online casino, a millionaire made at the WSOP and a one-year celebration in Atlantic City.
Let’s begin with the jackpot:
5. $1.8 million jackpot at The STRAT
A Washington native left the Las Vegas casino with a lot more money than they entered with.
The player was using the Buffalo Grand slot machine on 7 June when the jackpot hit for $1,896,000.
One lucky winner from Washington hit a huge jackpot on Friday night - $1,896,000 playing a Buffalo Grand slot by Aristocrat!!! Congratulations to our big winner! #STRATwins #STRAT #TheSTRAT #LasVegas #Vegas pic.twitter.com/3sXQlZBVlv
— The STRAT Las Vegas (@stratvegas) June 10, 2019
4. Intertops hosts $2,000 slots tournament
Four slots are featured in this week’s slot tournament at Intertops Poker. Until 16 June, players can earn tournament points that could win them up to $400 in prize money when they play 4 Seasons, Dragon Kings, Fa-Fa Twins and GREAT 88. The 16 players with the most points will win a total of $2,000 in prizes.
Every spin on one of those slots will earn players a point.
“We have so many games now – tournaments encourage players to try games they might not even know we have!” said Intertops Poker’s casino manager. “This month, we’re taking players to the Far East with four amazing Chinese games.”
3. Gorsuch wins WSOP Millionaire Maker
John Gorsuch took home $1,344,930 after beating a record field of 8,809 players in the 2019 Millionaire Maker.
He got close to winning a bracelet once before. He finished fifth in 2017 in the $3,000 6-Max. He entered today with $452,021 in tournament winnings, without ever booking an official tournament win.
Gorsuch has been part of planning his parent’s 50th anniversary celebration cruise. Now that he’s won this tournament, he’s decided to pay for everyone to go. He also plans on putting an addition on his parent’s house before upgrading some of his own stuff.
This was his 20th WSOP tournament cash, and it was also the largest Millionaire Maker tournament.
Congratulations to avid @dallascowboys fan John Gorsuch. He came back from shoving two big blinds blind to win the 2019 Millionaire Maker for $1,344,930 and his first bracelet!https://t.co/XcGB2AMbgy pic.twitter.com/VMHK0P256X
— WSOP (@WSOP) June 12, 2019
2. New Atlantic City casino resorts celebrate one year
In June 2018, we saw Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Atlantic City and Ocean Resort Casino celebrate grand openings. Also during the openings, ceremonial first sports bets were placed at the new sportsbooks at the Atlantic City resorts.
On 28 June, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Atlantic City will kick off its one-year anniversary weekend, including a summer promotion that will end up with one player winning $1 million.
The summer-long promotion will have players enter by playing slots and table games, both on the property and online. The winner will be announced on 1 September.
"I could not be more proud of our talented team members for their hard work and dedication to providing world-class service during last year's opening," said Jim Allen, Hard Rock International chairman & CEO. "We are very happy with the growth of the Atlantic City market and look forward to another great year."
Other promotions for the one-year anniversary include free slot play, T-shirt giveaways and firework celebrations.
We want to make YOU a millionaire this summer! ??
— Hard Rock Atlantic City (@HardRockHCAC) June 12, 2019
In celebration of our first anniversary, we are making one lucky winner a guaranteed millionaire. ??https://t.co/SIjisQzbuq pic.twitter.com/1X5OsTldH8
Ocean Resort Casino will also have promotions in honor of reaching the one-year mark.
The Atlantic City resort will have fireworks, a commemorative gaming chip, live entertainment and new amenities debuting 27 June.
“Ocean invites our guests and the community to mark our one-year anniversary with a weekend-long celebration of events, live entertainment, raffles and giveaways,” said Mike Donovan, Chief Marketing Officer & Senior Vice President for Ocean Resort Casino.
The fun will start on the casino floor, where Ocean Resort Casino designed a commemorative $5 gaming chip, which guests will be able to purchase.
...and it will all kick off with a ribbon cutting! 14 days until our One Year Anniversary, which will officially begin with a ribbon cutting on the casino floor at 11 AM. Details: https://t.co/DwF0Ay1ePB #1YearCountdown #TheOceanAC pic.twitter.com/MjRsYMb73N
— Ocean Casino • Resort (@TheOceanAC) June 13, 2019
1. Sports betting heading to New York
New York became the 14th U.S. state to legalize some form of sports betting earlier this week when the state's Gaming Commission unanimously approved sports wagering regulations for land-based casinos.
The four casinos that fall under this bill are Resorts World Catskills, del Lago Resort & Casino, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady and Tioga Downs Casino.
Despite mobile wagering not being included in the original bill, it is not limited to just land-based casinos. Sports arenas that hold 15,000 people or more and are the permanent home of a professional sports team will be allowed to apply to have sports wagering.
Once a casino is awarded the necessary license, it can announce a launch date for sports betting at the specific location. This summer we could see several New York casinos accepting sports bets.
Under the amended NY bill, in order for a pro sports stadium or arena to qualify for in-venue betting, it must be “the permanent home of a professional sports team playing at the highest professional level in its sport and has a seating capacity [in excess of] 15,000 seats.”
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) June 11, 2019