ShareAs the COVID-19 pandemic entered its second year, Ante Up admitted defeat and cancelled the print run for the February 2021 edition. Co-founders Chris Cosenza and Scott Long indicated that they hoped to be up and running again once the pandemic was over but now it looks like they’ve finally thrown in the towel and put the operation up for sale.
No End in sight
Although the situation in the United States has improved massively, the growing prevalence of the Delta variant has raised the possibility of forcing many card rooms to close their doors once again.With no end of the troubles in sight, it looks like the 12-year run of one of the most popular poker magazines in the world is over.
The popular podcast has run for 15 years and will be handed over to the print magazine’s new owners along with the website.
DraftKings Launch NFT Collectibles Marketplace
DraftKings, the largest daily fantasy sports provider in the world, has announced plans to launch a digital collectibles marketplace. DraftKings Marketplace will allow users to buy and sell NFTs using just the one account.Matt Kalish, DraftKings co-founder and president, said: “The NFT boom has reinvented the collectibles industry and driven excitement to early-adopting audiences worldwide—including the DraftKings community. DraftKings Marketplace will sit at the center of this technological and cultural phenomenon, providing our immense existing customer base with an easily accessible experience that rivals all legacy marketplaces.”
This latest expansion is expected to go live before the end of the summer.
Will Players Have to Wear Masks at the WSOP 2021?
It is looking likely that mask wearing will be mandatory at this year’s World Series of Poker. A new mandate came into effect at the end of July forcing patrons in all indoor public settings to mask up or get out. With less than two months to go before the first event kicks off, it looks like this will be the “new normal” for the time being.This is the latest setback for what had all the makings of a festival to remember. The travel situation is still unclear but there are no indications that it will be easy for European travellers to enter the United States in time to play. One option is to layover for a couple of weeks in Canada but that obviously won’t suit everybody.
MGM Enters the Race to Build a Super Casino in Japan
MGM Resorts International has submitted a joint bid for one of the four casino licenses on offer in Japan. The country recently formalised the Integrated Resorts Implementation Act that passed through parliament three years ago, and has constantly frustrated the likes of Las Vegas Sands Corp. who pulled out of the bidding process.MGM is hoping to partner with Japanese financial services company Orix Corp. to build a $9.08 billion casino in Osaka, Japan’s third largest city. As of yet, no rivals for the license bid have publicly declared their intentions, and the city governor claims that the casino resort could even be open before the end of the year.
Watford FC Teams Up with Stake.com
English Premier League club Watford FC has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Stake.com. When the season kicks off later this month, Stake will take pride of place on the front of the team shirts as they return to the top flight.Watford FC chairman Scott Duxbury, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Stake as our principal shirt sponsor ahead of the 2021/22 season. This will be an extremely exciting campaign for the club as we return to the Premier League and we couldn’t be happier to join with a partner who matches our ambitious outlook and commitment to innovation in order to achieve success.”
Stake is an upcoming crypto casino and sports betting site that has grown rapidly over the last couple of years. To celebrate the deal—that will be paid for in cryptocurrency—Stake will be running promotions that include giving away a whopping 10 million Dogecoin.
