For the first time, a full World Series of Poker Circuit stop will run in Las Vegas alongside the summer edition of the World Series of Poker, extending the action at Horseshoe Las Vegas beyond the traditional bracelet schedule.
The Circuit series is set for July 14 through July 25, 2026, overlapping with the final days of the 100-event WSOP bracelet festival, which runs May 26 through July 15 at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas.
While the summer bracelet schedule already includes Event #16, the $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em U.S. WSOP Circuit Championship, the newly added July 14–25 series will consist of traditional Circuit ring events.
WSOP Circuit Meets the Summer Series
The WSOP Circuit has long been a staple of the poker calendar, hosting stops across the United States and internationally with tournaments awarding gold rings instead of bracelets. Each stop typically features a mix of mid-stakes and high-roller events anchored by a Main Event.
Las Vegas is no stranger to Circuit action throughout the year, but positioning a full Circuit stop directly at the conclusion of the World Series marks a notable scheduling shift. The move creates nearly two straight months of WSOP-branded tournament poker in the city, giving players who travel in for the summer even more reasons to stay.
Key Events and Dates on the July Schedule
The Circuit stop opens July 14 with a $400 No-Limit Hold’em Mini Main Event featuring multiple starting flights. The series continues with a steady mix of No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha and mixed-game tournaments, including TORSE.
A $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em event takes center stage July 19, followed by a $2,200 High Roller on July 20. The $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event begins July 21 with multiple Day 1 flights on July 21 and 22 before playing down to a champion later in the week.
The latter half of the series includes a $3,300 High Roller on July 23 and a $5,000 High Roller on July 24, with the final ring events wrapping up July 25.
Full Schedule
Date
Time
Event
Jul 14
11:00 AM
WSOPC Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Mini Main – Flight A
Jul 14
03:00 PM
WSOPC Event #2: $600 Omaha Hi-Low 8 or Better
Jul 15
11:00 AM
WSOPC Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Mini Main – Flight B
Jul 15
03:00 PM
WSOPC Event #3: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha
Jul 16
11:00 AM
WSOPC Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Mini Main – Flight C
WSOPC Event #17: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller
Jul 25
11:00 AM
WSOPC Event #18: $400 No-Limit Hold’em
A Longer Summer in Las Vegas
With 100 bracelet events concluding July 15 and a full Circuit schedule immediately following, the 2026 WSOP will offer one of the longest continuous stretches of tournament poker in Las Vegas history.
For players chasing bracelets or rings, the summer grind just got longer.
The horse racing broadcaster offers up his five best bets from this weekend’s racing in the UK, including one in the lucrative Morebattle Hurdle.
With all the Cheltenham hype going on at present, it may come as a surprising fact that the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday has a more valuable prize pot at £120k than any of the Festival handicap hurdles. Couple that with the chance to win the £100k bonus if Morebattle success is followed by a win in any Festival race just over a week later, and it still does not get the appreciation the race deserves.
The Shunter in 2021 is the only horse so far to complete that double, so initially in ante‑post lists bookmakers took no chances with Charles Byrnes’ entry I Started A Joke. However, his non‑declaration leaves the way clear for CRACKING RHAPSODY 5/1(14:55 Kelso) to win the race for a third time. He reserves his best for Kelso and Ayr, and it was his victory last season in the Scottish Champion Hurdle that makes a persuasive case for him still being reasonably treated off a mark of 136 on Saturday. Having won the Morebattle off 132, he lined up at Ayr off a mark of 137 where he beat no less a horse than Kabral Du Mathan, with Breeders’ Cup and Ebor winner Ethical Diamond in the ruck. Four horses won next time out from that race, and the form is strong enough to show he is still competitive back at his beloved Kelso, where his form figures read 621111.
Earlier on the card, BREIZH RIVER 7/1(13:10 Kelso) can continue his resurgence in the first of 10 ITV races. A course‑and‑distance winner off as high as 131 in October 2024, his form dipped significantly, resulting in him being rated just 117 over fences when he moved to Tristan Davidson earlier this season. After a pipe‑opener over hurdles, Breizh River placed at Newcastle before winning at Musselburgh, where the application of a tongue‑tie for the first time may also have helped. It would be helpful if the ground could dry out a little more, but, in the spirit of his owners Border Caravans Ltd, hopefully they can all stay stuck behind him!
There is also £80k up for grabs in the Premier Hurdle, where LORD BYRON 9/1(14:15 Kelso) looks the play. It looked as if he might have been lined up for a tilt at the Fred Winter, but the stable has a bigger player there in Winston Junior, and Lord Byron comes here for his third run—too late to qualify for the Fred Winter but with an eye on an equally valuable prize. Twice raced for Aidan O’Brien on the flat, he has run well on both hurdling starts behind Klycot and, last time, behind leading Triumph Hurdle hope Maestro Conti at Cheltenham. The fifth horse that day, La Luna Artista, franked the form when winning the Adonis, and the stable remains in good form.
It is Grimthorpe day at Doncaster, where it might be worth an each‑way investment on dual winner MORODER (EW) 20/1 (14:30 Doncaster). He is now rising 12, but his trainer Seamus Mullins recently ended a 56‑race losing run with a few others placed, and Moroder is off a 5 lb lower mark than when a shock winner of this race at 33/1 last year, having won it off an even higher mark back in 2023 at 18/1. Clearly this will have been his long‑term target, and, at a similarly big price, he is worth a speculative throw at the stumps.
Earlier at Doncaster, the step up to 3m should suit LIVINGONAPRAYER 15/2(13:25 Doncaster) in the Listed Mares’ race and hopefully give Joe Anderson his biggest winner to date. Jamie Snowden is having an excellent season, already notching a campaign‑best 71 winners, with a maiden century a real possibility. He has plenty of success in Mares’ races (another debutant winner at Wetherby on Thursday), and the next four horses home behind her victory at Wincanton have all won since.
CHELTENHAM CORNER
The big news of the week was Constitution Hill not being asked to go back hurdling, with the main impact on the Champion Hurdle being a shortening of Lossiemouth in the belief that she is now more likely to take her chance here rather than in the Mares’. The main Cheltenham betting angle, however, could now be to top up the each‑way ante‑post bet on Take No Chances in the Mares’, as her price has not shortened but her chances of making the frame would clearly be much improved were Lossiemouth not to show up. She will be well suited by the switch of the race to the New Course, having placed in the race 12 months ago, and has been the subject of a couple of negative rides recently which have not shown her to best advantage.
MGM Resorts and Flavor Flav will co-host a massive Olympic celebration in Las Vegas this summer
The event, July 16-19, honors the women’s hockey team after they declined a White House invitation
A GoFundMe campaign already raised over $34,000 for direct athlete bonuses
MGM Resorts International announced on Thursday, Feb. 26, that it will serve as a “full partner” with rap star Flavor Flav in a Las Vegas celebration of the victorious U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team this summer. “She Got Game” will be a weekend-long celebration, tentatively including a parade and concert, from July 16-19.
Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav was the spark behind an Olympic party coming to Las Vegas July 16-19. (Image: GoFundMe)
When Flav, who has lived in Sin City for decades, took to social media earlier this week to demand a “real celebration” for the team, the resort giant committed to providing more than 100 hotel rooms across its premier Las Vegas portfolio to accommodate the athletes.
“Planning is underway and details will be shared soon as we get ready to celebrate our incredible USA athletes in a way only MGM Resorts knows how: World-class hospitality, high-energy fun, and memorable experiences,” MGM wrote in a statement, indicating that women-led sports media company The GIST will also serve as an official partner.
Cold as Ice
Captain Hilary Knight of the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team celebrates after winning the gold medal following a game with Canada on Feb. 19. (Image: Andreas Rentz/Getty)
The alternative celebration was born out of a moment of historic success and political friction. On Feb. 19, the U.S. women’s hockey team defeated Canada 2-1 in a thrilling overtime victory in Milan. However, the victory was soon overshadowed by a public exchange involving President Donald Trump.
After the U.S. men’s team also won the gold, Trump called the men’s locker room and joked that he would “probably be impeached” if he did not also invite the women’s team to the White House.
The remark drew immediate fire from the athletes. Captain Hilary Knight appeared on SportsCenter to call the joke “distasteful and unfortunate,” noting that such comments “overshadow the amazing feats” of female athletes. (USA Hockey officially cited “academic and professional commitments” for the team’s decision to skip the State of the Union address.)
MGM Resorts trumpets the Las Vegas weekend on social media. (Image: X)
The players moved independently to accept Flav’s offer.
The corporate support, and donations, keep coming. The Palms Casino Resort pledged “over-the-top” luxury suites and fine-dining experiences to supplement MGM’s. Alaska Airlines responded to Flav’s request for travel assistance by confirming they are coordinating flights to bring the athletes to the desert.
And StubHub also responded on social media by stating it would be “happy to help with tickets to shows.”
To gift the athletes more than a fleeting weekend of hospitality, Flav also launched a GoFundMe on Thursday to provide direct financial “victory bonuses.”
Recognizing that many Olympic athletes must juggle second or third jobs to fund their training, Flav set a $50,000 goal to put cash directly in their pockets.
The Florida Lottery has announced its biggest winners for November 2025, which included three separate players who won $1 million each. The players’ names were released 90 days after they won, in accordance with Florida law.
Arcadia Scratch-Off Ticket Fan Secured $1M
On February 24, the Florida Lottery announced that three players won seven-figure prizes in November, with all opting to receive their winnings as a one-time lump sum.
The first of the two was Milton Shackleford, 45, of Arcadia. The player in question won the $1 million prize from the Triple Red 777’s scratch-off game. Shackleford purchased his $5 ticket at Arcadia Citgo, located at 335 S. Brevard Avenue in Arcadia.
Upon his visit to the lottery’s Fort Myers District Office on November 10, Shackleford claimed his winnings, taking $584,000 due to his decision to go with the one-time payment.
Miami Player Won a Million Dollars
In the meantime, Pierre Khawly, 49, of Miami, won $1 million from a different game. According to the Florida Lottery’s announcement, the player won the prize on a 500X THE CASH ticket he purchased at the Publix located at 831 Village Boulevard in West Palm Beach.
When visiting the Lottery’s Miami District Office, Khawly chose the one-time lump sum option and took home $640,000.
It should be noted that 500X THE CASH is one of the Florida Lottery’s most spectacular games yet, featuring a record-setting $25 million top prize.
Player Became Tarpon Springs’ Latest Millionaire
The final player named in the announcement was Jessica Henri, 35, of Tarpon Springs. She won her prize on a $1,000,000 HOLIDAY CA$H scratch-off ticket she purchased from the Publix located at 40932 U.S. Highway 19 N. in Tarpon Springs.
Like the rest of the players, she chose the one-time lump sum and thus found herself $606,700 richer. The lottery noted that Henri claimed her prize at the lottery’s Tampa District Office.
Building on the cult-classic nostalgia of the 1985 film, The Goonies Megaways Rapid Fire Jackpots from Blueprint Gaming serves as a high-octane successor in this beloved slot series. The game utilizes a 6-reel, 4-row grid that leverages the Megaways engine to deliver over 15,000 ways to win, ensuring that every spin is packed with potential. The defining addition to this installment is the Rapid Fire Jackpots mechanic, a high-frequency system that triggers a wheel feature where players can land massive multipliers reaching up to 1,000x their stake or claim one of five distinct progressive jackpots.
Blueprint Gaming has expanded its cinematic slot portfolio with The Goonies Megaways Rapid Fire Jackpots. This high-energy title utilizes a 6-reel grid that can generate up to 15,625 ways to win on every spin. Unlike previous versions that focused on life-altering but rare payouts, this installment introduces the Rapid Fire system, which is specifically designed to drop smaller progressive pots at a much higher frequency. This shift ensures that more players experience the thrill of a jackpot win during their session, with five distinct tiers available: the Mini, Minor, Major, Master, and Mega King pots.
The gameplay is anchored by the innovative Cash Collect mechanic and an evolving Unlock Trail located above the reels. As players land Collect symbols on the sixth reel, they advance along a map that progressively upgrades the game’s features for the duration of the session. These permanent unlocks include Dual Collect, which allows symbols to land on the first reel as well, and specialized modifiers like the Streak Collect and Boost Collect.
Additionally, the “Hey You Guys!” random modifiers can trigger on any spin, where Sloth appears to award Hidden Treasure cash symbols, Dynamite Blast symbol upgrades, or a Cave In that removes low-value icons to create new winning combinations. Also check out our reviews for other Blueprint titles, like their Tiki Treasures Megaways, or the El Jackpotto online slot, right here on this website.
In the 942nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are joined by Jeff Platt at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas. The quartet talks about Platt’s new role with the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and what all that entails.
Find out what all you can expect from the 2026 WSOP as the former cohost of the PokerNews Podcast talks about being a face of the brand, live viewer experience, storytelling, the Poker Hall of Fame, and much more. Plus, Platt shares some of his favorite WSOP moments that he’s been a part of over the years, moments that include Doyle Brunson and Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi.
Find out all about those stories and more in this week’s episode of the PokerNews Podcast! Oh, and be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
Time Stamps
Time
Topic
00:00
Welcome to the show
01:40
New role with the WSOP
04:43
Being the face of a brand
10:30
WSOP Circuit to ramp up
12:33
Live viewer experience
18:55
Player storylines
21:50
Poker Hall of Fame
25:46
More leaderboards the better
28:16
Favorite WSOP moments
33:00
Creating buzz via storytelling
34:18
What should poker fans expect?
Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show — tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway on X.
Premier League leaders Arsenal face a stern test of their title credentials when they welcome Chelsea to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
A huge Premier League clash takes place at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon, when leaders Arsenal take on top-four chasing Chelsea.
By the time the Gunners take to the field their lead at the top of the table could have been cut to two points, should Manchester City, who have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta’s men, get the better of Leeds on Saturday evening.
Chelsea are in a battle to secure a top-four finish and the prize of Champions League which comes with it, with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United in the mix.
Arsenal are joint-top of the scoring charts this season, notching 56 times alongside the Citizens, and Chelsea are not far behind with 48, so this promises to be an entertaining contest.
Both teams to score has landed in the Gunners’ last three league assignments and in Chelsea’s last five top-flight fixtures, while two of the three meetings between these two this season have had goals at both ends.
It has taken Sweden international Viktor Gyokeres some time to get settled since arriving at Arsenal in the summer, but he has clicked into gear since the turn of the year and has netted eight times in his last 12 appearances.
One of those strikes came against Chelsea in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge and the 27-year-old will be full of confidence after bagging a brace in the 4-1 derby victory over Tottenham last weekend.
Another player in fine scoring form is Blues forward Joao Pedro, who made it seven goals in his last nine outings when scoring in the 1-1 draw against Burnley on Saturday.
That was the second match in a row in which the Brazilian had found the back of the net and he looks capable of taking his tally to 15 for the season at Arsenal’s expense.
There has been love lost between these two in recent years and this fixture has regularly brought up cards, with 18 yellows and a red being shown across the three meetings this season alone.
Two of those contests have produced at least six cautions, which means six of the last nine matches between Arsenal and Chelsea have gone over 5.5 cards.
Prediction market operator is clamping down on insider trading
One case involved an editor working for social media star MrBeast
Another involved the California gubernatorial race
Kalshi wants market participants and regulators to know it takes allegations of insider trading seriously with the prediction today highlighting success in closing two such cases.
A Kalshi social media ad. The company successfully closed a pair of insider trading cases. (Image: Getty)
One of the cases involved an editor working for YouTube personality MrBeast, who’s well-known in gaming circles. The other pertained alleged insider trading involving the California race for governor. The MrBeast staffer is said to have traded approximately $4,000 in YouTube markets on Kalshi.
In both of these cases, our systems flagged the trades and our surveillance team froze the traders’ accounts. Neither trader withdrew any profits,” according to the prediction market operator. “These penalties are not indicative of future penalties – everything depends on the case, including amount traded and rules violated.”
Kalshi levied a two-year suspension and a financial penalty equivalent to five times the trade size against the MrBeast employee.
Not California Dreamin’ on Kalshi
In the other case, Kalshi suspended Republican Kyle Langford who previously wagered on himself in the California governor’s race and posted about it on social media. He’s since dropped out of that contest and is running for congress in the state’s 26th district.
“Punishment: 5-year ban + financial penalty (10 times the initial trade size). Note: this candidate recently announced he is no longer running for Governor and is now instead running for Congress,” adds Kalshi.
Separately, Stephen Cloobeck, a significant donor to Democrat candidates and himself a former candidate for California’s top office, was barred from trading Kalshi event contracts on California’s gubernatorial after he touted making bets on friend Rep. Eric Swalwell (D).
One of Cloobeck’s wagers was $1,000 on Swalwell to become the next governor of the Golden State. Another was $2,000 on the congressman to beat San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (D) in the upcoming primary. Cloobeck has only been barred from trading the California gubernatorial market on Kalshi.
The moves by Kalshi arrive as the prediction markets industry is under increasing scrutiny to better regulate insider trading. Currently, the industry isn’t beholden to the same protocols as traditional markets though some politicians are aiming to change that.
CFTC Chimes In
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Division of Enforcement issued an advisory, noting that while Kalshi handled the MrBeast and Langford cases internally, the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) grants the division authority to get involved if it sees fit.
“In appropriate cases, the Division will investigate and prosecute violations, as it always has with respect to conduct occurring on designated contract markets (DCMs),” notes the division. “The Division continues to coordinate with DCMs regarding their enforcement dockets and referral of appropriate potential violations to the Division for investigation.”
The CFTC is the federal regulator of prediction markets.
The Tuesday Mega Millions drawing was one of the most eventful ones in a while. While the game’s top prize remained unclaimed, Mega Millions awarded two prizes of over a million to two players.
Mega Millions Mints Two New Millionaires
Following a temporary lull that went without winners of seven-figure prizes, Mega Millions announced that two players have matched the Tuesday drawing’s five white numbers to win life-changing sums.
The winners included a player in Illinois who had the 3X multiplier active and will therefore take home $3 million. At the same time, a player in Oklahoma won his prize on a 5X multiplier, resulting in a $5 million payday.
In addition to that, ten players won the game’s third-tier prize after matching four white numbers and the Mega Ball. These included six players who secured $20,000 each due to their 2X multiplier. In addition to that, two players scooped up $30,000 with a 3X multiplier, while another two won $100.000 each with a 10X multiplier.
For context, the five winning numbers for that drawing were 12, 39, 43, 49, and 55. The winning Mega Ball was 23. Matching all these numbers would have meant a windfall of $438 million, with a cash option of $203.1 million.
Since the prize went unclaimed for yet another drawing, it has now increased to $458 million with a cash option of $212.4 million.
The next drawing is set to take place this Friday.
Players Across America Win Big
In the meantime, Powerball just held its most recent drawing, with the jackpot surviving to reach a staggering $218 million, with a cash value that finally surpassed the nine-figure mark to reach $101.6 million.
The Monday drawing awarded a prize of $1 million to a lucky player in New York, who matched the game’s five white numbers.
In other news, New Jersey just produced another winner of a sizeable jackpot, with a lucky lottery enthusiast claiming the top prize from the recent Jersey Cash 5 drawing.
Elsewhere, a Texan won $2 million from a scratch-off ticket. This was notably the first top prize from the Texas Lottery’s Golden Riches game to land.
A Wynn Resorts cyberattack has been confirmed, as the Las Vegas resort was the target of a significant data breach after a cybercriminal group known as ShinyHunters claimed to have exfiltrated sensitive information from the company. The public first learned of the attack when the resort operator was listed on the group’s data leak website in late February 2026. The hackers initially demanded a ransom of approximately 1.5 million dollars in Bitcoin and threatened to release over 800,000 records if their demands were not met.
According to company statements and cybersecurity reports, the cyberattack primarily targeted employee data rather than guest information. The compromised records reportedly include a wide range of personal data and information such as full names, email addresses, phone numbers, job positions, salaries, and Social Security numbers. This specific Wynn Resorts cyberattack appears to have originated as early as September 2025 by exploiting a vulnerability in the Oracle PeopleSoft platform used for human resources and payroll management.
Wynn officials stated that they activated incident response protocols immediately upon discovering the unauthorized access. The company emphasized that the attack has had no impact on its guest experience, physical properties, or daily operations, which remain fully functional. In a notable update, the company mentioned that the unauthorized third party has since stated the stolen data has been deleted. While Wynn has not confirmed if a ransom was paid, the removal of the company from the hackers’ leak site often suggests a completed negotiation following the attack.
Despite assurances that the data was deleted, cybersecurity experts warn that there is no reliable way to verify such claims, as threat actors often retain copies of stolen information. In response to the potential exposure caused by the Wynn Resorts cyberattack, the company is offering credit monitoring and identity protection services to the affected employees.
The Wynn Resorts cyberattack has also triggered legal consequences, as the company now faces federal class-action lawsuits filed in Nevada. These legal filings allege negligence, claiming the company failed to adequately protect sensitive payroll and individual data from the cyberattack. Plaintiffs seek damages and a jury trial, arguing that the exposure puts thousands of individuals at risk of identity theft. This incident follows a pattern of high-profile attacks on the Las Vegas gaming industry, serving as a reminder of the persistent threats highlighted by the Wynn Resorts cyberattack.
In the 14th episode, Chad Holloway and Kyna England talk about two big stops that recently wrapped up on the Season 17 schedule. The first was the 2026 Ohio Poker State Championship at JACK Cleveland, which was won by a familiar face in MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk. It was a big win for the former back-to-back MSPT Player of the Year, and with a win early in the season, makes you wonder if he’ll go for POY again!
Meanwhile, Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, played host to the $1,000,000 GTD Club Major Championship, and Chad was there to play both side events and the Main Event. See highlights from his poker adventures, as well as a hand he captured while playing with the legendary Howard Hankin. Whether you love him or hate him, a ‘Hands with Howard’ is always a sight to see.
Plus, here who claimed Gold Cards at both stops, watch Chad scratch a couple of lottery tickets gifted by a fan of the show, and learn about Jorden Helstern‘s big win in the Club Major Championship. Finally, get an update on the current MSPT Season 17 Player of the Year race and a preview of upcoming stops.
MSPT Podcast Presented By PokerNews will air every other week and release at 11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT / 8 a.m. PT on Wednesdays. The show will be available on the PokerNews YouTube channel as well as on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Jonny Clayton lifted the Premier League title in 2021 and the Welshman has a love affair with this competition.
The Ferret scooped top prize in Glasgow last week, with the Llanelli arrowsmith averaging 104.35 when beating Gian van Veen 6-2 in the final.
Clayton has won all of his opening three quarter finals and the former Premier League champ beat Luke Littler 6-1 in the Scotch semi-finals last Thursday.
The Nuke was in excellent form when winning the Poland Darts Open last weekend, but a short-format Premier League contest can see Clayton cover the handicap.
Luke Humphries has started the campaign with a runners-up spot at the World Masters, a semi-final at the Poland Darts Open and a Players Championship success.
The former world champion is operating at the peak of his powers and there may well have been more titles had Luke Littler not been around.
The same cannot be said for Stephen Bunting, with the Bullet misfiring in his opening three Premier League quarter-finals.
The Merseyside man has won only nine legs in his three league games and Humphries can give Bunting a 2.5-leg start and a beating.
Tip: Luke Humphries -2.5 legs v Stephen Bunting @ 6/5
Michael van Gerwen vs Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen pulled out of last week’s event in Glasgow as well as the weekend’s Poland Darts Open. It’s difficult to be sure of MVG’s wellbeing on Thursday, and that aside, Mighty Mike is meeting an in-from Gerwyn Price.
The Iceman averaged 104.44 when beating Van Gerwen 6-3 in the Antwerp final two weeks ago and the Welshman’s 101.75 is leading the Pro Tour numbers this term and Price can take care of MVG in Belfast.
Tip: Gerwyn Price to beat Michael van Gerwen @ 8/11
Gian van Veen vs Josh Rock
Hometown hero Josh Rock will hope to put on a show in Belfast, but the Antrim ace hasn’t enjoyed a happy start to the Premier League.
It’s three weeks without a victory for Rocky and the Northern Irishman has not looked comfortable on the league stage.
The Players Championship, which yielded much success for Rock last season, has delivered only three victories in three events and Rocky looks short of his best.
Van Veen was excellent in Poland at the weekend, hitting a nine-dart finish in the final against Littler and the Giant is fancied to stand tall.
Wynn Resorts has confirmed a breach of 800,000 employee records stolen by hackers
While a ransom payment remains unconfirmed, Wynn claims they were told the data was deleted
The hackers also removed their threat to Wynn from their dark web site
Wynn Resorts on Tuesday confirmed the massive data breach and extortion attempt reported by multiple media outlets. In September 2025, a prolific data-theft and extortion gang called ShinyHunters stole 800,000 employee records from the gaming giant and demanded $1.5 million in Bitcoin to prevent a leak.
Wynn Las Vegas. Operator Wynn Resorts is selling $800 million in debt. Some of the proceeds will be used to pay a fine to the Department of Justice. (Image: Wynn Resorts)
The data reportedly included full names, Social Security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, and birthdays.
A statement from a Wynn spokesperson on Tuesday, Feb. 24, admitted the breach but claimed the problem was addressed.
“The unauthorized third party has stated that the stolen data has been deleted,” it read.
Though the statement didn’t indicate whether any ransom was paid, there is almost no other conclusion that can be drawn. In addition to Wynn’s claim about the deleted data, ShinyHunters removed its threat against the company from its dark web site.
Cybercriminals aren’t known for deleting their extortion threats, or their stolen data, unless their demands are met. (The deadline set by ShinyHunters for the ransom payment was Monday, Feb. 23.)
ShinyHunters told the cybersecurity news site BleepingComputer that they also had no comment on whether they received a payment.
How It Happened
ShinyHunters, which listed Wynn Resorts on its dark web leak site last Thursday, told British tech website The Register that it gained access to Wynn’s systems in September 2025 by exploiting an Oracle PeopleSoft vulnerability using an employee’s credentials. The group did not specify whether those credentials were stolen through social engineering or purchased from an insider.
“Upon discovery, we immediately activated our incident response protocols and launched a thorough investigation with the help of external cybersecurity experts,” Wynn’s statement said.
As a precaution, it is offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services to all affected current and former employees.
“We are monitoring and to date, have not seen any evidence that the data has been published or otherwise misused,” Wynn’s statement continued, adding that the incident “has had no impact on our guest experience, our operations or our physical properties, which are all fully operational and open for business.”
In related news, California resident Richard Reed filed a federal class action lawsuit against Wynn Resorts on Feb. 21, alleging that the casino failed to protect the information of more than 800,000 customers as well as employees.
Reed’s lawsuit seeks compensatory and consequential damages, bringing seven counts against Wynn for failing to take security measures, such as storing the data without encryption.
Even before announcing the hacker’s claimed deletion of the data, Wynn pushed back on the lawsuit, telling favored media outlets that no customer information had been accessed.
Las Vegas Sphere has already welcomed some big-name performers, including the Eagles, Kenny Chesney, and U2. Now, rumors are flying, and everyone wants to know: Who will headline the next Sphere residency?! Well, the Sphere does not confirm new residencies until the ink on the contracts is dry, but that doesn’t stop folks from talking about them. And from local news outlets to the national media and even among some music industry insiders, several big names are being tossed around as possibly being the next headline acts.
We begin with the bands rumored to be considering a run at the Sphere, including names like Depeche Mode, classic rock and roll bands Kiss and Genesis, and even the legendary Roger Waters. These names have appeared on some blog posts around the web, but there seems to be almost zero chance they will actually get to perform there. Then there were rumors of pop sensation Ed Sheeran, who wore Sphere branded glasses during his Las Vegas show a few years ago and promised to see fans again in 2026. While he will perform in Sin City this summer, that will be at Allegiant Stadium and not the Las Vegas Sphere. Other rumors included Beyonce, who actually used images of the Sphere during her Las Vegas show just last year. However, a cease and desist order put a quick end to that as well as most of the talk surrounding her getting a residency.
That brings us to Guns and Roses. While there’s been no official word from either side about a residency, Slash said the band had no intention of performing there. Following a conversation with the Eagles last year, Slash stated that he believes the venue might not be rock and roll friendly. So, while we cannot rule out a residency from one of these performers at some point in the future, we can say that for this year at least, they are probably more hope than reality.
But before we look at the performers who are likely to get the next Las Vegas Sphere residency, here’s a quick look at the artist already performing there from now through this summer, including who else but the Eagles from next month into April. But we all know that could be extended yet again. Plus, the much anticipated No Doubt residency is coming in early May. Later in the year, it will be country sensation Kenny Chesney, who returns after his 15 show residency at the Sphere last June and July, along with another appearance from the Backstreet Boys.
Now we turn our attention to those big name bands who many believe are likely to be the next residencies at the Sphere. Bands who have been mentioned in several conversations and who are actively in talks about playing there. And first up, it’s none other than Queen with lead singer Adam Lambert. The band is in discussions with the Las Vegas Sphere and members have stated that they would prefer a residency over another tour. Guitarist Brian May stated that after watching the Eagles perform, he was keen on the Sphere, stating how much he would like to play there.
Next, it’s Tool, who many believe would be a great fit for the venue since the band already incorporates visual imagery into their shows. The 360 degree canvas could play into their immersive productions and the band is officially in talks with the Sphere about a residency to possibly coincide with a new musical release. And finally this week we come to Metallica. Rolling Stone stated that their fan base spectacle and energy would make them an obvious contender. adding their heavy visuals and show production could be amazing in a fully immersive environment. And the best part, rumors are that negotiations between the band and the Las Vegas Sphere are done and that the deal has been finalized.
Powerball has yet again delivered a seven-figure win even if no one won the game’s top prize. The winner this time was a player in New York who matched all five numbers to secure a $1 million prize.
NY Player Matched All White Numbers to Win $1M
Yesterday’s Powerball drawing saw players miss the game’s jackpot once again, as the top prize continued to grow in size. As of the time of this writing, the Powerball jackpot stands at a staggering $218 million, with a cash value that finally surpassed the nine-figure mark to reach $101.6 million.
At the time of the Monday drawing, the jackpot was $203 million with a one-time lump sum option of $94.4 million. The winning numbers for the drawing were 5, 11, 23, 29, and 47, and the Powerball was 6.
As mentioned, a player in the Empire State managed to nail the five white numbers perfectly to win a prize of $1 million. If the player had the Power Play feature active, they could have won $2 million instead.
Additionally, the Monday drawing recorded a whopping 18 winners of the game’s third-tier prize. Thirteen of these lucky players will take home $50,000 each, while the rest will take home $100,000 each, instead.
The next drawing is set to take place on Wednesday, February 25.
More Players Won Big with Powerball
The previous Powerball drawing similarly saw a player narrowly miss the jackpot to win $1 million. However, in that drawing, the lucky individual had bought their ticket in California instead.
In the meantime, a player in Tennessee recently won a $2 million prize from the same game. While that player matched the same number of winning numbers, they had the Power Play feature active, effectively doubling their winnings.
A few weeks ago, the most recent Powerball winner came forward to collect their money. The player in question won $209.3 million from one of the January drawings and, since they chose the one-time payment, received $68.6 million after taxes.
Beginning in 2022, embattled lawyer and high-stakes poker player Tom Goldstein went on a heads-up run that, in under a three-year period, saw him winning $51.4 million against an unnamed opponent only identified as “the Southerner.” PokerNews has learned, through review of court documents, that unnamed player was Texas billionaire Andy Beal.
Beal, America’s richest banker, was already known to be a primary figure in some of the biggest, and most fabled heads-up poker matches on record. Those matches were documented in Michael Craig’s 2004 classic book The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time, which details Beal’s seven-figure swings at the Bellagio in Las Vegas against top poker players including Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Jen Harman and Howard Lederer.
Two decades later, Beal, who vowed to quit poker after his losses to “The Corporation” but quickly wound up back at the table, finds himself in the middle of another movie-ready ultra-high-stakes saga. Goldstein is currently awaiting a verdict in his high-profile federal tax fraud trial stemming from his high-stakes poker escapades from 2016 to 2023, a period where he claims to have won $88 million.
The matches against Beal were so favorable to Goldstein, and the billionaire such an enticing opponent, that Goldstein claims he retired from law in 2023 in part to continue playing poker against Beal.
The matches against Beal were first referenced in court documents that PokerNews reported on in March 2025 showing payments a single unnamed player made to Goldstein between May 2022 and May 2024 that saw Goldstein netting $51.4 million in profit.
Payments an unnamed player made to Tom Goldstein from 2022-2024
Later, in an interview with legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, Goldstein claimed to have won $51 million beginning in 2022 from an unnamed opponent, who Toobin identified in his New York Times Magazine story as “the Southerner.” Goldstein spoke to Toobin on the condition that he not name the opponent.
Goldstein says he met the Southerner at a poker game in Costa Rica. The Times reported that Goldstein, aware of the Southerner’s reputation as an “inveterate womanizer,” brought four sugar-baby girlfriends with him to lure Beal into his poker orbit.
“He found this to be the most interesting thing in the world,” Goldstein told the Times. “That was on purpose.”
Before long, Goldstein and the Southerner were playing for millions in heads-up matches, so frequently that Goldstein rented an apartment in the Southerner’s city. Most of the matches went Goldstein’s way, with the Times reporting that he won “roughly $50 million from the Southerner, netting $15 million for himself after paying off his investors.”
Winning $51.4 Million From a Heads-Up Legend
Beal’s identity as the Southerner was revealed in a Jan. 28 joint stipulation of fact signed by both Goldstein and prosecutors, which was reviewed by PokerNews, that lists Goldstein’s poker wins and losses to “Andrew Beal” over a two-year period. Those transactions, including the dates and dollar-amounts, match up with previous court documents outlining Goldstein’s $51 million victory against an unnamed opponent.
Poker transactions between Tom Goldstein and Andy Beal
From May 2022 to May 2024, Goldstein won $65.3 million from Beal and lost $13.8 million for a net win of $51.4 million.
Their first match appears to have taken place around May 24, 2022, when Goldstein received a payment of $15 million. Goldstein lost $5 million the next month and took July off before winning around $3 million back in August.
After another month off, Goldstein started October by winning and then losing $6.8 million, but this is where things turned around for the superstar attorney. Over the next 19 months, Goldstein would rack up more than a half-dozen heads-up wins that included an $8.3 million win in November 2022, a $7.5 million win in February 2023, and a $9.3 million win in May 2024.
Tom Goldstein’s Winnings Against Andy Beal (2022-2024): $65.3 million
Tom Goldstein’s Losses Against Andy Beal (2022-2024): $13.8 million
Tom Goldstein’s Net Result Against Andy Beal (2022-2024): $51.4 million
Goldstein’s matches against Beal are further referenced in a separate joint stipulation of fact outlining a staking arrangement between Goldstein and Michael McGuinness, who Goldstein paid $500,000 to in October 2022 for his “piece of Mr. Goldstein’s winnings from poker matches against Andrew Beal.”
A staking arrangement between Tom Goldstein and Michael McGuiness
Goldstein’s run against Beal took place well after he knew he was being investigated by the feds. In October 2020, IRS agents visited his law office in Washington, D.C. in regards to the tax investigation. He was formally charged by the US Department of Justice in January 2025.
The acclaimed show The Wire, which, like Goldstein’s trial, is set in Maryland, popularized the phrase “the game is the game,” a way of expressing that business, political and legal matters are never personal. The expression seems to be an apt description of Goldstein’s dealings with Beal, who, two years prior to playing heads-up for millions, he threatened with legal action.
The potential suit was in response to a December 2019 poker match between Beal and Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire, who won over $15.6 million from the billionaire. Of that, Beal owed $7.8 million to the A-list actor and “refused to pay the full amount owed to Mr. Maguire following the match,” according to a Jan. 28 joint stipulation of fact reviewed by PokerNews that was signed by Goldstein and prosecutors.
A court document about Tobey Maguire and Andy Beal’s heads-up match
Maguire, who testified during Goldstein’s trial, hired Goldstein to help recover the debt, and in an August 2020 email Goldstein “referenced the possibility of Mr. Maguire filing a lawsuit to secure full payment of the debt.”
As a result of Goldstein’s legal work, Beal agreed to pay the debt and sent Maguire $7.8 million in June 2021, which Goldstein earned a $500,000 legal fee for. Less than a year later, in May 2022, Beal and Goldstein began their heads-up matches.
There were no hard feelings between the lawyer and billionaire. The New York Times Magazine reported that Goldstein and the Southerner “struck up a friendship as well as a poker rivalry” after playing in Costa Rica and that Goldstein even hoped to make a living playing Beal as he retired from law in 2023.
“I was beating him. And that was just a way more interesting life,” Goldstein said about why he retired from law, adding that playing Beal “is a way I can make a quarter-billion dollars for the rest of my life.”
Tom Goldstein
Goldstein’s $51.6 million victory over Beal is separate from a $50 million run he went on in 2016 against billionaire Alec Gores and two Asian gamblers known as “Tango” and “Chairman.” For those matches, Goldstein was coached by poker pros Andrew Robl and Keith Gipson, both of whom testified at Goldstein’s trial.
Goldstein told jurors he is down around $10 million overall in poker, mostly from ring-game losses.
Jury deliberations in the federal trial, which is taking place in Greenbelt, Maryland, began on Feb. 19 and could wrap up this week. Goldstein has pleaded not guilty to all 16 charges, which include tax evasion and making false statements to mortgage lenders.
PokerNews‘ Chad Holloway interviewed Michael Craig last year about his book detailing Beal’s heads-up matches in Las Vegas against “The Corporation.”
Connor Richards is a Senior Editor U.S. for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for three Global Poker Awards for his writing.
One of our favorite Vegas haunts is two-thirds of the way through its $35 million renovation. To put things in perspective, that’s $180 million in Ellis Island dollars.
That’s because Ellis Island is a family-owned joint. You know, the opposite of most Las Vegas casinos. The table minimums are low, the clientele can be a little rough around the edges, and buying a meal doesn’t involve taking out a second mortgage on your home.
This ain’t your grandpa’s Ellis Island Casino. Reviews have been mixed, but there’s no turning back now.
As our fellow youths say, Ellis Island is giving bridge of the Enterprise.
For longtime Ellis Island fans, like us, there have been some adjustments involved in the casino’s evolution.
Those adjustments started back when the casino’s brewery closed in 2022. It had always been a part of the vibe of the place, making the beer dirt cheap and as fresh as beer can get, assuming that’s a selling point (we’ve never had a beer, personally). The Ellis family still makes beer, but it’s brought in from St. George, Utah.
A few months ago, Ellis Island debuted an expansion that included a rooftop bar, Boomer’s Sportsbook and a fancy new casino bar. Half the casino was walled off, and the popular Ellis Island BBQ restaurant was replaced by slots (BBQ was served from the Village Pub).
Here’s a look at Phase One, just to get you up to speed.
Half the casino has been behind construction walls for months, but now we can see what Ellis Island has been up to through the miracle of smartphones having photo and video capability.
The karaoke lounge has closed, but karaoke continues in the casino’s Front Yard, despite our best efforts.
The slots in the former BBQ space have been cleared out, and that’s now the temporary location of the Village Pub until that’s renovated.
Was BBQ, then slots, now a cafe. A final decision hasn’t been made on whether a dedicated BBQ restaurant will be back. We’re voting for Italian, but a steakhouse is probably needed if Ellis Island is going to cater to the players it wants to attract.
Guests will be happy to know Metro Pizza and Via Focaccia are back and open.
The renovation is a stark contrast from the loveable but smelly version of Ellis Island its fans are used to.
Ellis Island has doubled the size of its casino floor since the start of the expansion.
The ceilings are higher, the lights are modern and have a sci-fi feel to them. Lots of new machines and chairs and carpeting, the whole nine. The exterior of Ellis Island is now a 1,200-square-foot digital screen. It’s the law.
There’s a new players club desk, complete with snacks and merch for sale. That’s right, there was a Las Vegas casino without snacks for sale. The snacks start at $3, in case there were any questions about whether Ellis Island remains a great value.
Ask about the free gifts on Wednesdays. We did zero Christmas shopping this year, and the gifts from Ellis Island are the reason.
Ellis Island has a long and glorious history of pip fails, and we found a new one at the loyalty club desk.
We tease because we love, but adjacent sides of a die can’t add up to seven.
Ellis Island now has two areas for live table games, with some of the lowest minimums (and nicest dealers) in town.
You will ask, of course, about our favorite video poker machines. They’ve been relocated directly under an A/C vent, an “artic slit” as we refer to them. We are trying not to take it personally. On the bright side, Artic Slit would be a great band name.
The technical term for such an air conditioning vent is “linear slot diffuser” or “slot air diffuser.” No, really, there are other kinds of slots.
As mentioned, reviews have been mixed, including ours.
We like the look of the Ellis Island renovation, but we don’t play there nearly as much as we used to. Ellis Island has a more tourist vibe now. Locals have different expectations. Loud and bright aren’t all that appealing to grinders. Regulars like dark and quiet and cheap.
It’s actually hard to say exactly what’s changed at Ellis Island. It’s definitely not more of the same; it’s more different.
Honestly, it might be something to do with feng shui.
Casinos have a variety of ways of communicating to guests, “Don’t walk through the pit.” This isn’t one of them.
The big casino companies have expensive consultants to tell them how to lay out their casino floor. They have highly paid executives who have institutional knowledge about why ceiling height matters, how traffic flows through banks of slots, about why table games players don’t like to mingle with slot players.
But Ellis Island is a little more homegrown. It’s less best practices, more winging it.
High limit is a sliver of machines hidden behind the main casino bar. If you sit at that bar, you either face a giant TV screen, or you’re sitting under the screen and everyone is looking at you. No video poker player is going to sit in those spots for any length of time, as is the casino’s hope.
It feels like Ellis Island is trying to be everything, all at once.
The slot layout in the casino seems haphazard. The flow feels off or something.
It feels a little claustrophobic, but then you realize Ellis Island doesn’t have the space of a sprawling Strip resort, so every square foot counts.
ChatGPT took a stab at describing the challenges: “The tight, parallel arrangement of machines creates a ‘slot canyon’ effect, compressing the space and limiting negative space that would otherwise provide rhythm, pocketing or natural gathering zones. There is no hierarchy of space, as lighting, sound and visual intensity remain constant throughout, with no dim-to-bright transitions or architectural shifts to guide movement. The placement of transactional elements such as the ATM in the main traffic path introduces stop-and-block behavior and pedestrian conflict rather than keeping those functions slightly off-axis but visible. Inconsistent machine orientation—some angled toward the aisle and others facing straight out—disrupts spatial rhythm and creates subtle pinch points that feel improvised rather than intentional. There is also no clear destination cue signaling where the bar, table games or high-limit areas are located, resulting in a static environment without directional pull. Finally, the openness suggested by the ceiling design contrasts with the density of the floor layout, amplifying the sense of compression and making the expansion feel additive rather than strategically planned.”
Which is exactly what we were going to say, just without em dashes.
Speaking of band names.
The location of the sandwich and pizza stands is just weird, and the addition of a high top table or two hasn’t solved the issue of where you can eat the food you just ordered. We tend to use a slot machine as a table. It’s just odd.
On the bright side, the selection of slots has expanded. Many of the modern machines are too tall to fit in the previous Ellis Island casino.
We are trying to reserve judgment about the success of the Ellis Island expansion and renovation because it’s simply too soon to know. We trust there are ongoing tweaks happening as locals try to find their favorite machines and tourists adjust to that “dive” they used to visit.
Ellis Island definitely doesn’t feel like a dive anymore.
Juggling tourists and locals can be daunting. Palms was sold to the San Manuel tribe because Station Casinos couldn’t figure out how to do it. The mentality is just too different, and one demo (locals) can become annoyed by the presence of the other.
At Palms, seeing a boisterous, young pool party crowd interacting with older, local gamblers was highly entertaining, but awkward as hell.
The unspoken truth is many of Ellis Island’s customers weren’t contributing anything to the bottom line. We’ve spent many evenings there watching folks playing nickels (or pretending to play) for hours just to get free drinks. And they stiffed the servers, of course.
That’s because Ellis Island is in a bad neighborhood, despite being not too far from The Strip.
We dislike change and tend to hate everything, so we’d love to hear your thoughts if you stop by Ellis Island.
The renovation, along with pay tables and prices nudging their way upward, is likely to drive away some of that clientele, although the Ellis family probably wouldn’t say that’s the goal. Good luck with that, Silver Sevens.
Overall, the Ellis Island renovation has modernized a classic neighborhood casino, setting it up for success as an alternative to The Strip. The narrative continues to be that Las Vegas costs too much, so people are seeking cheaper options. Those options include downtown, Oyo, Virgin, Strat, Palms, Rio, Gold Coast or Ellis Island.
One thing that hasn’t changed at Ellis Island is the warm and friendly attitude of the staff, many of whom we consider friends. The regulars are also a family, or what we refer to as “gamily” (gambling family). It’s worth noting our “gamily” members have expressed their concerns with the renovation and shift in vibe, but their loyalty to Ellis Island is preventing them from bailing completely. Locals casinos are geography-based as well, so switching to another casino, even a short distance away, is a big change. Locals can be set in their ways. Many are just thrilled they can get into the casino from the parking garage again. We are them.
We don’t get that feeling at any other casino.
The feel of Ellis Island may have changed, but the heart’s still there, which is why we’ll keep going back.
The Champions League knockout phase play-off round concludes on Wednesday, with the second legs of the remaining four ties.
The final four Champions League knockout phase play-off round ties take place on Wednesday, including Benfica’s visit to Real Madrid.
Along with that clash at the Santiago Bernabeu, Atalanta host Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray travel to Juventus and Monaco face a trip to Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid -1 vs Benfica @ 11/10 Acca pays @ 14/1
Home advantage key for La Dea
Atalanta were beaten 2-0 in the first leg at Borussia Dortmund, leaving themselves with plenty to do to get back into this tie, but having home advantage in the reverse fixture should make a huge difference.
La Dea lost just one of their home games in the League Phase of the competition, picking up wins against Chelsea and Club Brugge and a draw with Slavia Prague.
It is six wins out of the last seven fixtures at home for the Italian outfit, who have also netted at least twice in six-successive matches at the New Balance Arena.
Dortmund lost their last two away games in the League Phase, going down at Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, while they have won just four of their last 10 assignments on their travels.
Juventus were crushed 5-2 by Galatasaray last week in Turkey and they were beaten 2-0 by Como in Serie A on Saturday, compounding their recent misery.
A return to Turin could help their cause and given they need to win 3-0 just to draw this tie level, they should be attacking from the off.
Luciano Spalletti’s side went unbeaten at home in the League Phase of the competition, scoring nine goals in four fixtures.
Galatasaray only netted four goals in their four away matches in the League Phase, but they should be able to get themselves on the scoresheet after managing to slot five Juventus in the first leg.
Leg 2: Over 2.5 goals – Juventus vs Galatasaray @ 4/9
Champions to learn their lessons
Paris Saint-Germain survived a scare last week against Ligue 1 rivals Monaco, when they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
Luis Enrique’s side should have far too much quality for Monaco on this occasion, especially with the game taking place at the Parc des Princes.
PSG have lost just two games at home all season, while Monaco have won just three of their last 11 away trips and two of those victories came against Auxerre and Orleans in the Coupe de France.
Monaco have failed to score more than one goal in four of their last five away games and the value here is backing Les Parisiens to win to nil.
Benfica and Real Madrid will meet for the third time in a month, but this time the game takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Primeira Liga side suffered on their travels in the League Phase, losing three of their four ties and conceding at least twice in defeats at Newcastle United and Juventus.
Madrid have won five of their last six home games by more than one goal, while they have scored 19 goals in their last five outings at the Bernabeu.
Los Blancos, leading 1-0 from the first leg, should have more than enough in their ranks to stick a few past Benfica and
Virginia officer stole $831K to fund gambling habit
Fake inheritance story used to secure 33 loans
Court orders $747K restitution, three-year prison term
A now-ex Virginia police officer who told friends and colleagues he was waiting on a large inheritance was, in fact, funneling most of their money into gambling, federal prosecutors said – the second law enforcement gambling scandal reported today.
A Virginia police officer was sentenced to three years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors said he fabricated an inheritance story to fund gambling losses. (Image: Shutterstock)
Jerry Keith Brady Jr., 38, of Belle Haven, was sentenced in the US District Court in Norfolk to 36 months after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Brady’s prison term was 12 months less than prosecutors had requested.
Prosecutors said he used the credibility of his badge to pry money from people who thought they were helping him with short-term loans.
In this way, Brady convinced at least 13 people to cough up roughly $831,000, from November 2020 through November 2024, in 33 transactions, according to the DOJ.
Phantom Inheritance
The inheritance didn’t exist, according to prosecutors. Most of the money was poured into gambling: casino trips, online sports betting, and slots-style machines placed in convenience stores, described in court filings as “Queen machines.”
“What no one knew was that the defendant harbored a gambling problem,” prosecutors said in court filings summarized by Shore Daily News. “And to feed this problem, the defendant defrauded friends, acquaintances, and even strangers by convincing them that his position as a police officer meant he could be trusted.”
Brady was a local officer in a small, close-knit community, and prosecutors said he exploited public trust in law enforcement and used repeated reassurances to keep money flowing even after promised repayment dates passed.
“Some victims had Brady sign a written contract or promissory note agreeing that he would repay the money,” prosecutors said in a statement. “When the due date passed without repayment, Brady told victims that without more money he would lose the inheritance entirely, and in many instances the victims provided Brady additional funds.”
At sentencing, the court ordered Brady to pay $747,050 in restitution to victims. Under the terms set at sentencing, he must make monthly payments of at least $200 or 25% of his net income, whichever is greater. If he complies with the repayment plan, no interest will accrue on the restitution balance. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment.
Connecticut Case
Brady’s sentence comes as another law-enforcement gambling scandal unfolded in the US.
A former police chief in New Haven, Connecticut, was charged earlier this week with felony larceny after a signed affidavit alleged he stole tens of thousands of dollars from a fund used to pay confidential informants, money state police say he diverted to cover online gambling losses on DraftKings and FanDuel.
The British government has unveiled proposals to consult on a possible ban on sports sponsorships by unlicensed gambling operators, as part of a broader crackdown on the black market.
Under the proposed measures, unlicensed operators could be prohibited from sponsoring UK sports teams, including Premier League clubs. Ministers are reportedly “deeply concerned” about the risks posed by the unlicensed gambling market, according to a press release issued on February 23 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). The government said that unlicensed operators fail to comply with regulations intended to safeguard consumers, such as compulsory financial vulnerability checks, responsible advertising standards, and others.
Several football clubs currently maintain partnerships and advertising deals with unlicensed operators, a situation that the DCMS has confirmed is not illegal. However, the government noted that because UK consumers could be exposed to these risky sites, there is a compelling argument for prohibiting this type of advertising altogether.
It could be argued that the most recent considerations are part of a broader push from UK authorities to curb black market gambling. Recently, for example, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) scrutinized Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for allegedly not stopping illegal gambling ads.
However, despite the UKGC’s efforts, this still may not be enough to have a significant impact on the black market, which had reportedly pocketed over GBP 100 million just on 2025’s Boxing Day alone.
Officials Support the Decision
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is one of the supporters of this new proposal. According to her, fans should have confidence that the platforms they use are properly regulated and provide appropriate protections when placing a bet. She added that it was wrong for unlicensed gambling operators to sponsor some of the country’s largest football clubs, arguing that such partnerships increase the operators’ visibility and could steer supporters toward sites that fail to meet regulatory standards.
Fiona Palmer, chief executive of GamStop Group, which helps individuals struggling with online gambling, said that any effort to stop unlicensed operators from gaining exposure through Premier League sponsorships would be a positive measure for consumer protection.
Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has also been a supporter of a stronger reaction to illegal gambling. She explained that the government is well aware of the real harm unregulated gambling can inflict by exploiting vulnerable individuals and leaving consumers without the protections they are entitled to.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry in the UK has also had an impact on legal offshore companies as well. Earlier this month, several large offshore gambling sites frequently used by UK players shifted their operations to a new licensing framework under Curaçao jurisdiction, a move that comes as campaigners, journalists, and regulators pay more attention to these sites.
