Casino City’s Friday Five: World Series of Poker kickoff edition

The 50th edition of the World Series of Poker is underway, and we have our first bracelet winner. Also this week, we have a new sportsbook opening in Las Vegas, a jackpot winner, a new gaming experience in California, and online sports betting taking off in Pennsylvania. Let’s get going with the jackpot winner: 5. Jackpot win at Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall Christiene H. turned her visit to Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall in Las Vegas into a memorable one when she hit IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slot jackpot on 25 May. Christiene was playing the 25-cent Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars machine when she scored the $221,460.53 jackpot. 4. San Manuel Casino opens high-limit gaming experience The opening of The Vault Gaming & Provisions was announced by San Manuel Casino yesterday as the California casino’s new high-limit gaming experience. The space is an 18,000-square-foot gaming floor featuring 185 high-limit slot machines with denominations up to $500, as well as eight table games, including blackjack and EZ Baccarat, with limits up to $10,000. “At San Manuel Casino, we strive to always bring the most innovative gaming and entertainment experiences to our guests,” said Peter Arceo, General Manager of San Manuel Casino. “The Vault Gaming & Provisions offers exactly what our VIP guests are looking for in high-limit gaming and we are excited to open this unrivaled, sophisticated space that will create unforgettable experiences.”

We’re excited to officially present The Vault Gaming & Provisions. The Vault boasts an ultra-exclusive VIP gaming space which is removed from the main gaming area and provides an intimate experience for our Guests. >> https://t.co/KhfZe3awTY ???????? #AllThrill #SanManuelCasino pic.twitter.com/tWI4UQudHf

— San Manuel Casino (@SanManuelCasino) May 30, 2019

3. Green wins first bracelet of 2019 WSOP The 50th edition of the WSOP is underway in a few events, and the first bracelet has been awarded. Brian Green claimed his first World Series of Poker bracelet in the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty tournament. He won $345,669 and claimed the bracelet on his 27th WSOP cash. “I’ve come close several times, so to finally win one kind of gets the monkey off my back. Now I can play poker and not really have that on my mind,” said Green after his victory. This is Green’s fourth WSOP final table, and he has a second and a third place finish. In consecutive years, 2001 and 2002, he finished in the top three of the $5,000 Limit Hold’em. In 2001 he finished third to Hemish Shah and in 2002 he finished second to WSOP Hall of Famer Jen Harman. He also finished fifth in the 2016 High Roller for One Drop.

Congratulations to Brian Green. , the first WSOP gold bracelet winner of 2019. He won $345,669 and his first WSOP bracelet.https://t.co/23rYcFf5vk pic.twitter.com/mWYlKML7NE

— WSOP (@WSOP) May 30, 2019

2. Circa Sportsbook opening Two Downtown Las Vegas resorts, both owned by the inimitable Derek Stevens, are ready to unveil new sportsbooks under the name of Circa Sports, also a Stevens creation. The first Circa Sportsbook is set to open tomorrow at Golden Gate Hotel & Casino while The D Las Vegas will unveil its new venue on 19 June. J. Todd interviews Stevens, about the new sportsbook operation and teases a couple of promotions, including a "No Juice" day at Golden Gate. The Circa Sportsbook launch comes ahead of the December 2020 opening of the Circa Resort and Casino in downtown Las Vegas.

Join us this Sat, 6/1 at 8AM for the grand opening of the first @CircaSports sportsbook, right here at Golden Gate.

?? #CircaSports Launch day promotions:

• No-juice on June 1
• Circa Sports Million Pro Football Contest pic.twitter.com/FPHh5kwvi8

— Golden Gate Hotel & Casino (@GoldenGateVegas) May 30, 2019

1. Online sports betting launches in Pennsylvania The first online sportsbook in the Keystone State was introduced Tuesday with SugarHouse Casino's entry into the market. This will likely lead to several Pennsylvania sports betting apps and sites to go live soon, according to analysts from PlayPennsylvania.com. "There is no question that the growth of the Pennsylvania sports betting market has been slowed by the delayed launch of online apps," said Jessica Welman, sports betting analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. "The launch of sports betting apps will give us our first true look at Pennsylvania's potential as a market, which we believe should rival New Jersey and eventually Nevada as the nation's largest market." Pennsylvania has so far generated $125.6 million in sports bets since legalization in November. In Nevada, approximately 65% of all sports bets are made online, according to analysts from PlayUSA.com, an affiliate site to PlayPennsylvania.com. PlayPennsylvania.com expects four to six online sportsbooks will launch before the NFL season begins.