Casino City’s Friday Five: Poker and sportsbook edition

Super Bowl LIII is set and it is only fitting that another U.S. sportsbook was unveiled to the public just two weeks before kickoff. That wasn’t the only big news story over that last seven days as we also have a massive jackpot, a historic poker prize pool, a chance to win a trip to the Caribbean, and a newly crowned poker champion. Let’s start with the jackpot: 5. $1 million jackpot win at The Cosmopolitan A lucky slot player at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas was awarded $1,023,743 by hitting a jackpot on International Game Technology’s Wheel of Fortune on Christmas Eve. This payout marks the 25th million dollar-plus Wheel of Fortune jackpot awarded in 2018 with more than $38.7 million awarded in total for the year. 4. Intertops Poker players can win a trip to the Caribbean This weekend at Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Casino, wannabe poker champions have a chance to win their way to a $250,000 GTD tournament in the Caribbean. Players can buy-in to Saturday’s WSOPC Caribbean (St Maarten) Satellite Final, or win their way to that table in one of three qualifiers today and Saturday. The ultimate winner gets a $4,500 prize package to compete in the Main Event at the $250,000 GTD WSOPC Caribbean in St Maarten this spring. That winner will join the two previous satellite series winners along with the Intertops Poker team. The $4,500 WSOPC Caribbean prize package includes $1,700 buy-in for the Main Event in St Maarten, five nights at the newly re-built, all-inclusive Sonesta Maho Beach Resort (right across from the casino) and $600 towards travel expenses. In addition to the Main Event, there will be lots of cash games going on, so the prize package also includes one $100 cash game buy-in. 3. PSPC and PCA combine for $63 million prize pool Combined, the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and PokerStars Players No-limit Hold'em Championship, which both took place at the Atlantis at Paradise Island Resort and Casino in the Bahamas from 6-10 January, awarded a total $63 million over 11 days of competition. The PSPC marked the largest $25,000 buy-in poker tournament in history with a field of over 1,000 players and a total prize pool of $26.5 million, including $1 million added to the prize pool by PokerStars for first place. Spain's Ramon Colillas took home the $5.1 million first-place prize and was one of six millionaires made during the event. The PCA ended on 16 January and awarded a total prize pool of $36.3 million. The event attracted over 1,600 players representing 79 countries and generated over 11,000 entries. The $10,300 buy-in 2019 PCA Main Event attracted 865 entries, with a total prize pool of $8.4 million and Main Event first place prize of $1,567,100 to Chino Rheem.

Congratulations to Chino Rheem.#PCA2019 Main Event champion, winning $1,567,100! ???? pic.twitter.com/dn8OtFohcn

— PokerStars LIVE (@PokerStarsLIVE) January 17, 2019

2. Jason Young wins Lucky Hearts Poker Open The 2019 Lucky Hearts Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Florida ended on Tuesday evening when 37-year-old Jason Young defeated 1,634 entries in the WPTDeepStacks Main Event on his way to a $260,205 prize. On top of that, Young won a $3,000 WPTDeepStacks Championship package. “It’s been a long journey to get back here,” said Young. “There’s been a lot of stuff that’s gone on in my life over the last five to six years, and I didn’t think I’d ever be back in a position like this.” Young’s career earnings exceed $1 million. In addition to Tuesday’s WPTDeepStacks LHPO Main Event win, Young’s poker resume is highlighted by a World Series of Poker gold bracelet victory in Las Vegas in 2008. That event was a $1,500 buy-in shootout and earned Young $335,565.

Congratulations to Jason Young (@JYoungpoker) for winning #WPTDSHollywood by beating a field of 1,634 to win the $263,205 first-place prize and $3,000 @WPTDeepStacks championship package! https://t.co/bxKBkJUsc6 pic.twitter.com/92kFHyMtv7

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) January 22, 2019

1. Harrah’s Philadelphia unveils sportsbook Harrah’s Philadelphia announced the opening of its new sportsbook last week. “We are excited to bring sports betting to Delaware County and allow our guests from the tri-state area to experience our property in a whole new way,” said Harrah’s Philadelphia Senior Vice President & General Manager Chris Albrecht. “With our gaming offering, live harness racing, our event center, award-winning restaurants and now the sportsbook, Harrah’s Philadelphia remains a must visit destination in the Philadelphia region.” Harrah’s Philadelphia’s sportsbook will offer betting on a variety of sporting events like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and college athletics. Betting options include straight bets, parlay bets, total bets, in-game betting, and more. The Book at Harrah’s Philadelphia is equipped with 19 lounge seats, 11 high-top tables, various bar seating and over 45 large screen TVs to watch the action live. Food and beverages tailored specifically for game day will also be available.

Join us tomorrow at 12pm for the Grand Opening of #TheBookPhilly!

Philly hall-of-famer Brian Westbrook @36westbrook will be placing the official first bet - along with a ribbon cutting ceremony, giveaways, and more!https://t.co/lUJakxj4DS

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER pic.twitter.com/QOuquiiOeI

— HarrahsPhiladelphia (@HarrahsPHL) January 24, 2019