Poker enthusiasts in the Czech Republic have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of GGPoker, which was to open in the country following its licensing in early 2023. However, this much-anticipated launch may be indefinitely postponed.

At the start of 2023, GGPoker obtained an online poker licence in the Czech Republic, thanks to a partnership with King's Casino. According to the Czech Ministry of Finance, GGPoker has either lost or surrendered its licence. The Ministry’s list of licensed gambling operators, which is updated bi-monthly, included GGPoker.cz in June but no longer features it in the August edition.

The exact reasons for GGPoker's loss of its Czech licence remain speculative. However, the timing suggests that legislative changes introduced earlier this year could be a key factor. These regulations included an increased gambling tax. they also require online poker rooms to implement tight measures, such as self-exclusion options and a "panic button" that allows players to block themselves from all licensed poker rooms within the country. These requirements are not only challenging to integrate but also come with significant costs.

GGPoker’s representative in the Czech Republic, King’s Slots, has the option to reapply for a licence once they have met the new legal standards. There is also a possibility that GGPoker might adapt its software for other markets and use this modified version to re-enter the Czech market.

For now, Czech poker players will have to carry on using the two online poker rooms currently available to them. Despite the setbacks, GGPoker has confirmed its exit from the Czech market but hinted at potential future plans. A company spokesperson mentioned that they are reassessing their strategy for this jurisdiction and are considering reapplying for a licence when conditions are favourable.

In its latest report for the second quarter of 2024, Portugal's gambling regulator, Servi?o de Regula??o e Inspe??o de Jogos (SRIJ), brings to light a marked disparity in the performance of the nation's gambling sectors. While there’s been a noticeable jump in online gambling with an impressive 27?percent?increase in revenue, traditional land-based venues, including casinos and bingo halls, have faced notable declines.

In the second quarter of 2024, Portuguese land-based casinos and gaming machines collectively generated approximately €63.7 million in gross revenue. Compared to the same period in 2023, there was a notable decline of 4.5 percent.

The downturn in overall revenue can be largely attributed to a significant decrease in banked games, which saw a dramatic 21.7 percent drop compared to Q2 2023. Banked games, including popular variants like Baccarat Punto Banco, Blackjack 21, and American Roulette, contributed about 19.95 percent of the total revenue. In contrast, non-banked games and automatic machines—accounting for 80.05 percent of the revenue—experienced revenue increases of 12.1 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.

In bingo halls, the second quarter of 2024 also saw a decrease in gross revenue by 6.1 percent compared to the preceding quarter.

On the contrary, for online gambling in Portugal, the total gross revenue surged to €261.8 million, marking an impressive 27.1 percent increase from the same period the previous year.

Within this sector, sports betting contributed €103.3 million, representing a 23.1 percent increase compared to Q2 2023. Games of chance generated €158.5 million, a substantial 29.9 percent increase from the previous year.

Sports betting made up 39.5 percent of the total gross revenue, whilef gaming accounted for 60.5 percent. Football was the dominant category in sports betting, comprising nearly 70 percent of the total bets. Tennis and basketball followed, making up approximately 20 percent and 7 percent of the sports betting total.

Among games of chance, slot machines were the most popular, contributing 82.3 percent of the total revenue.

The online gambling market also saw an impressive rise in player registrations. The total number of registered players reached 4.4 million, a 16.2 percent increase from the previous year. New registrations surged by 51.2 percent, reaching 287,600, while self-excluded players increased by 41.5 percent, indicating a growing awareness of gambling risks.

The highly anticipated 2024-25 NBA season kicks off on 22 October with a classic rivalry matchup between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. This opening game will not only set the tone for the season but also feature the Knicks’ newest addition, Mikal Bridges, (pictured above) as they attempt to spoil the Celtics’ championship ring celebration in Boston.

The NBA revealed its full schedule last week, highlighting the Knicks-Celtics game as the season opener. Following this exciting matchup, Olympic teammates LeBron James and Anthony Edwards will face off when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Last season, the Knicks finished second in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Celtics by 14 games. However, their postseason run was marred by injuries, leading to a loss in the conference semi-finals to the Indiana Pacers, who were subsequently swept by the Celtics in the conference finals. In a bold move to close the gap with the reigning champions, the Knicks executed their first trade with the Brooklyn Nets since 1983, acquiring Mikal Bridges in exchange for five first-round draft picks, a first-round pick swap, and a second-round pick.

The Knicks are optimistic that Bridges, reuniting with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, will improve their chances of winning the Eastern Conference. The Celtics, who finished last season with the NBA’s best record (64-18) and clinched their 18th championship, are expected to defend their title.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, aim to build on their success from last season, which saw them reach the Western Conference finals. The Lakers’ opener will also be a significant moment for rookie Bronny James, selected 55th overall out of USC, as he makes his NBA debut.

The excitement continues on the second night of the season with a marquee matchup between two Eastern Conference powerhouses. The Philadelphia 76ers, featuring their new big three of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, will take on the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Clippers will inaugurate their new state-of-the-art Intuit Dome with a game against the Phoenix Suns, featuring Olympians Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. This venue will also host a highly anticipated game two weeks later when Paul George returns to face his former team, the Clippers, after signing a four-year, $212 million deal with the 76ers.

Another major storyline this season is Klay Thompson’s move to the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson will debut alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving against the San Antonio Spurs and their rising star, Victor Wembanyama, on 24 October. Thompson’s return to Golden State on 12 November to face Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will undoubtedly be an emotional and highly watched event, as he seeks to prove his enduring prowess after contract negotiations with the Warriors fell through.

The 2024-25 NBA season promises to be filled with thrilling matchups as teams vie for supremacy on the court.

Czech poker talent Roman Hrabec has once again demonstrated his prowess in high-stakes competition, winning the $25,000 PGT Super High Roller Series opener held at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel in Cyprus. Hrabec’s performance earned him a $316,000 top prize, capping off the event with a heads-up win against India's rising poker star, Santosh Suvarna.

The first event of the PGT series was a $25,750 no-limit Hold’em 8-Max tournament. 39 players competed for a share of the near-million-dollar prize pool. Hrabec’s path to victory was far from straightforward. Yet, through a combination of skill and fortune, he made it to the final table.

The final table was filled with tension as the remaining six players battled for the top spot. The first to be eliminated was Maksim Vaskresenski from Poland, who earned $62,000 after his ace-king fell short in a three-way hand dominated by Canadian Sam Greenwood’s straight. Meanwhile, Hrabec began his ascent, doubling up through Suvarna with pocket aces against king-ten.

As the field narrowed, Sam Greenwood was the next to exit. His tournament run ended in fifth place, earning him $83,000 when his jack-ten couldn’t overcome Norwegian player Kayhan Mokri’s ace-jack. Maue followed soon after, departing in fourth place with $116,500 after his queen-jack failed to improve against Suvarna’s pocket fives.

Down to the final three, Suvarna held a significant chip lead, but Hrabec’s tenacity paid off when he doubled through Mokri, eventually eliminating the Norwegian in third place for $158,000. This set up a dramatic heads-up showdown between Hrabec and Suvarna, with the title on the line.

With only two players left at the final table, Hrabec had a strong chip lead of $5.52 million compared to Suvarna’s $2.28 million. As the $50,000 blinds increased the pressure, Suvarna went all-in with ace-deuce, but Hrabec's pocket kings were unbeatable. Suvarna finished in second place, earning $220,000, while Hrabec won the title and the $316,000 top prize.

Hrabec’s win in Cyprus is the latest in a series of impressive achievements. Earlier this year, he claimed the Triton Jeju $100,000 Main Event title, earning $4.33 million, and followed that with his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in the $333 No-Limit Hold’em Triple Treys online event.

With this latest victory, Hrabec’s career earnings have now surpassed $8.67 million, reinforcing his status as one of the top poker players from the Czech Republic. His performance in Cyprus also earned him 190 PGT points, moving him into 221st place on the PGT leaderboard. As the 2024 Super High Roller Series continues, Hrabec is well-positioned to pursue further successes and solidify his place among the poker elite.