Casino City’s Friday Five: Casino opening edition
Let’s take a look at the progressive to start.
5. Venetian Las Vegas awards The Millionaire Progressive
The Millionaire Progressive at The Venetian Las Vegas crowned another winner. Seated at the Three Card Poker at the Las Vegas casino, Sean Barry was dealt a club royal flush to win $1,010,155.
“The Millionaire Progressive has paid out more than $5 million this year,” said Lance Gautreaux, senior vice president and U.S. chief casino officer for Las Vegas Sands Corp. “That’s five millionaires, made each from a $5 side bet. A huge congratulations goes out to all of our winners so far.”
The Millionaire Progressive reset after the win and is now worth more than $1 million.
4. $100 blackjack bonus at Intertops Poker
Players at Intertops Poker have the chance to win a $100 bonus for designated blackjack wins until tomorrow. Players need one natural blackjack win, three clubs blackjacks and three regular blackjacks in one game to claim the $100 prize.
"Talk about a win-win situation!" said Intertops Poker's casino manager. "You’ve got a week to hit a bunch of blackjacks and then, to top it off, get a $100 blackjack bonus!”
3. First Fifty Honors gala tomorrow
The 50th edition of the World Series of Poker will pause on Saturday at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino to honor the most memorable moments and players of the WSOP.
Lon McEachern and Norman Chad will host the First Fifty Honors gala and award presentation in the Brasilia Ballroom in the Rio Convention Center, with a special evening open to all WSOP Gold Bracelet winners and VIPs.
“It is important we take time out to honor the WSOP’s first 50 years and pay tribute to those that paved the way for where we are today,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. “We look forward to getting the poker community together on Saturday and commemorating 50 years of the World Series of Poker.”
A poker industry and media panel, including our own Gary Trask, was tasked with selecting the top 50 players out of 200 names provided by the WSOP. A total of 173 players in the list received votes as it was narrowed down to 50 of the best.
Honored to get a media vote for “50 Greatest Poker Players," as part of the 50th @WSOP. Any player who has "partaken" in WSOP "at some point" was fair game. Here's the official list (not ranked in order) & details on the First Fifty Honors Gala https://t.co/fmZwa9XWSS #WSOP50 pic.twitter.com/xH4B6bmlcT
— Gary Trask (@casinocityGT) June 28, 2019
2. Eldorado to combine with Caesars
Eldorado Resorts is teaming up with Caesars Entertainment in a merger agreement to create the largest U.S. gaming company.
The combined company will provide its guests with access to approximately 60 domestic casino resorts and gaming facilities across 16 states.
Once the transaction is completed, the combined company will keep the Caesars name for the iconic brand.
Tom Reeg, Chief Executive Officer of Eldorado, commented, “Eldorado’s combination with Caesars will create the largest owner and operator of U.S. gaming assets and is a strategically, financially and operationally compelling opportunity that brings immediate and long-term value to stakeholders of both companies. Together, we will have an extremely powerful suite of iconic gaming and entertainment brands, as well as valuable strategic alliances with industry leaders in sports betting and online gaming.”
We are excited to announce that we are merging with Eldorado Resorts to create a new leader in U.S. gaming and entertainment. The new company will be called #CaesarsEntertainment https://t.co/5SdOAfMZqF pic.twitter.com/YKqxBVUxNU
— CaesarsEntertainment (@CaesarsEnt) June 24, 2019
1. Encore Boston Harbor opening a “dream come true” for locals
For everyone in the Boston area who has waited for Encore Boston Harbor to finally open, wait no more. On Sunday, the Everett resort opened to the public and unveiled everything the $2.6 billion project has to offer.
Casino City’s Gary Trask was in attendance 21 June to take in the sights and sounds of the resort as it readied itself for the Sunday opening.
From the 88-table poker room to the 15 restaurants, Encore Boston Harbor has a lot to offer, and people have been antsy for the opening.
"You're from here, so you get it, but for people not from the area, they have no idea how unbelievable it is for me to be standing inside this place right now," local restaurateur Nick Varano told Trask in his classic Boston accent on Friday afternoon, two days before the grand opening.
The hotel has 671 guest rooms and suites, and the casino includes a 210,000-square-foot gaming area divided into two levels. The second level is the poker room, and the first floor contains over 3,000 slot machines and 143 table games.
Seeing a world-class #casino resort like @EncoreResortBH emerge in the city of Everett has been a surreal experience, and one that local restaurateurs Nick Varano, Frank DePasquale and Ed Kane are calling a "dream come true." https://t.co/IgwQx0DFSG #encorebostonharbor pic.twitter.com/5ocEcVJOST
— Gary Trask (@casinocityGT) June 25, 2019