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.

Italy's updated regulatory framework for online gambling and licensing is approaching its final legislative stage, now under review by the European Commission (EC). If the reforms are approved, the price for securing a gambling license will escalate from €200,000 to €7 million.

The new licensing system is currently in a mandatory three-month review period, which allows EU member states and other stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed regulations. This review, which began with an open consultation, is set to conclude on 18 October. It focuses on technical specifications and requirements for licensed operators, including compliance with EU data protection laws.

Under the proposed reforms, the cost of obtaining a gambling licence is set to rise from €200,000 to €7 million. This increase will ensure that only financially robust operators can enter the market, potentially favouring larger, established companies and impacting smaller players.

Critics argue that these high fees could drive smaller operators out of the market, diminishing diversity and competition. Conversely, proponents believe that a more consolidated market could strengthen the industry.
Licences will be valid for nine years.

The new framework also introduces rigorous measures to address gambling addiction. These include mandatory self-exclusion tools and options for players to limit their gambling activities. Operators will face restrictions on offering services through affiliate websites and will be required to submit separate applications for different types of games, such as poker, betting, bingo, and casino games.

If the consultation period ends without significant objections, the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) plans to implement the new licensing regime. The licensing process for online gaming is expected to begin in early January 2025, setting the stage for a more regulated and secure gambling environment in Italy.
This reform represents the first stage of Italy's Gambling Reorganisation Decree and is the most important update since online gambling was legalised in 2011.

Online poker player and circuit ring winner Dan Sewnig passed away earlier this week at the age of 33. Known in the poker community by his handles “mj23style" and “RedsoxNets5”, Sewnig amassed over a million dollars in online earnings and was recognized as one of the best online poker players in New Jersey.

Reports of Sewnig’s death surfaced on social media with an obituary confirming he passed on 13 August. The obituary highlighted his success as a self-employed professional in the poker world, his athletic prowess, and his love for various games, running, hiking, nature walks, and basketball.

Sewnig learned poker from his cousin at the age of 11. By the time Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 Main Event, Sewnig was already playing $5 sit and gos with his seventh-grade friends. He recalled a memorable moment when he predicted Moneymaker’s victory, despite not knowing the shows were prerecorded.

Sewnig graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a degree in math and a concentration in education. He initially aimed to become a teacher but decided to explore the newly regulated online poker market in New Jersey. This decision proved fruitful as he quickly built a reputation as one of the best online players in the region.

In December 2020, Sewnig shared with PokerNews how he dedicated 18 months to improving his game. “I’ve put more work into studying and improving over that timespan than I have in the rest of my career combined. I’ve also done a much better job of dealing with adversity. Downswings are inevitable in poker and people react to them in all different types of ways.”

Sewnig’s poker accomplishments included a World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOP) ring victory in 2022, earning him $12,107, and back-to-back deep runs in the WSOP Main Event in 2021 (79th - $81,000) and 2022 (112th - $62,500).

When news of Sewnig’s death reached the poker community, several players remembered him for his positivity and kindness. Asher Conniff described Sewnig as “one of the nicest guys you could ever meet,” while Matt Paoletti noted that he “brought a lot of positivity to many people.”

Condolences poured in on social media from notable figures in the poker world, including Christian Harder, Daniel Strelitz, Jeff Stellwagon, Mike Holtz, Ryan Feldman, and Chris Hunichen. Sewnig’s legacy as a talented poker player and a beloved friend will be remembered by many.