Casino City’s Friday Five: Poker bots and sports betting edition

As always, the gambling industry was full of breaking stories this week. Another U.S. sports betting market announced a launch date, a six-figure jackpot hit at a Florida casino, the WSOP Circuit is set for a New York event, and 888 Poker retrieved funds for players losing to bots. On top of all that, Barstool Sports is rumored to be throwing its hat back in the sports betting ring, this time with one of the biggest players in the industry.

Let’s start this week with a massive win:

5. Seminole Classic Casino awards six-figure slots jackpot
A lucky slot player hit a huge jackpot of $133,105 on Thursday, 18 January, at Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood, Florida, playing a Dragon Link slot machine.

The progressive jackpot was reset to $100,000 and increases as guests play that machine.

4. 888 Poker recovers over $350k for players who lost to bots
Earlier this week, 888 Poker announced it recovered $362,893 for 4,068 players who lost to players using AI poker bots or Real-Time Assistance in 2023.

Using methods of detection, 888 Poker has continued to make progress in tackling the issue of bots, which use software programming to create unfair advantages over real-life players.

During 2023, 888 Poker blocked 161 accounts using AI bots or RTA, taking the total amount refunded to players since 2021 to over $1.2 million.

3. WSOP Circuit to return to Turning Stone Casino
The World Series of Poker Circuit Event will return to Turning Stone Resort Casino in New York for the third consecutive year this March and it will be the casino’s biggest one yet.

The only WSOP event in New York, the 12-day non-stop poker tournament series at Turning Stone runs from 14-25 March, with a guaranteed total payout of more than $2.5 million, a $1 million increase from last year’s event.

New this year will be the addition of a three-day $1 million event, which will begin at Turning Stone on Thursday, 21 March.

As interest to participate in the 2024 WSOP tournament continues to increase, Turning Stone is adding another 10 additional poker tables this year, for a total of 85 tables.

?? Where champions are made.

New York’s only @WSOP Circuit Event returns to Turning Stone, March 14 – 25, with a guaranteed total payout of more than $2.5 million!

Join the best: https://t.co/wPYffuTgOx pic.twitter.com/9Tj6FY0kGP

— Turning Stone Resort (@TurningStone) January 24, 2024

2. Barstool Sports coming back to sports betting
Back in August 2023, it was announced that Penn Entertainment would be turning Barstool Sportsbook into ESPN BET after an agreement with ESPN was made.

Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy bought Barstool Sports back from Penn Entertainment for $1 and five months later, he is looking to strike a deal with DraftKings.

First reported by Sportico, the deal would not see the Barstool named attached to the sportsbook. However, Portnoy’s company would promote odds from DraftKings Sportsbook and receive compensation for referring bettors to the book.

While the deal is yet to be fully agreed upon or become official, that part will have to wait until after Super Bowl Sunday, per Barstool’s separation from Penn Entertainment.

EXCLUSIVE: @barstoolsports is getting back into betting.

Once again under the ownership of founder @daveportnoy11, the media company is in advanced talks on a wide-ranging sports betting deal with DraftKingshttps://t.co/lUYvWs9ZTs

— Sportico (@Sportico) January 24, 2024

1. North Carolina sports betting to launch in March
On Wednesday, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission set Monday, 11 March, as the day that legal online sports wagering can begin in North Carolina.

The authorization also sets Friday, 1 March, as the date when licensed operators can begin registering accounts for new players and accepting account deposits.

No licenses or certificates of compliance have yet been approved. Currently, the commission is reviewing nine applications for interactive sports wagering operators, including both FanDuel and DraftKings.

The first sports wagers will be made on mobile devices. In-person sports wagering will follow on a case-by-case basis as interested operators meet standard requirements.