Casino City’s Friday Five: Sports betting, winning streaks and jackpots edition
29 March 2024By Dan Ippolito
Earlier this week, a player on the Las Vegas Strip went home with a life-changing amount of money. Also this week, an EmuCasino player went on an impressive winning streak, while news broke about F1 Las Vegas in November, a new sportsbook opening in Connecticut, and Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani being all over headlines in the sports betting world for all the wrong reasons.
Let’s begin this week with a six-figure payday:
5. Caesars Palace awards massive jackpot
It was a successful evening for a Caesars Rewards member, winning a grand total of $667,750 in slot jackpots at Caesars Palace.
On Tuesday, 26 March, a lucky player hit a $125,000 jackpot. Later that night, the guest won an additional $383,500 at 10:58 p.m. The winning streak finished with another win of $159,250 in the early morning of Wednesday, 27 March at 12:27 a.m.
Congrats to this lucky @CaesarsRewards guest who won a $125,000 Jackpot playing Dragon Link! ?? ??
— Caesars Palace (@CaesarsPalace) March 27, 2024
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or text 800GAM. pic.twitter.com/AUhSO0Vk1T
4. EmuCasino player goes on big winning streak
Last weekend, a 47-year-old player from New Zealand, who chose to stay anonymous, decided to play Brick Snake 2000. On one of his $10 runs, he hit the slot’s Max Win Multiplier of 8,100x and won $81,100.
After the big win, the player turned to the Floating Dragon: Hold & Spin slot where his $50 bet resulted in another $24,325.
He wasn’t done there. The player's largest win cashed when he continued playing Playtech’s Solar Eclipse: Jaguar's Lair slot and won a massive $106,900 on a $500 bet. By the end of his two-day slot streak, the player’s wins amounted to $277,550.
$277K in just 2 Days? It's Possible at EmuCasino! A New Zealander's slots play turned into a fortune. Read the winning story here. https://t.co/AwFdCRBE4F#EmuCasino #EmuCasinoBigWin pic.twitter.com/4yMpI0qbGP
— EmuCasino (@emucasino) March 26, 2024
3. Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix returns in 2024
MGM Resorts International's Bellagio Fountain Club makes its return for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 in November. Last year’s inaugural Las Vegas event saw plenty of watch party opportunities as Max Verstappen cruised to victory.
Bellagio Fountain Club will deliver track and Fountain views; front row seats of the Las Vegas Grand Prix Winner's Stage; private indoor and rooftop hospitality decks; and unlimited food and beverage throughout the weekend.
Mario Carbone, David Chang, Alain Ducasse, Masaharu Morimoto and Jean-Georges Vongerichten are the first set of chefs confirmed for the culinary program, offering eventgoers selections of fine-dining delights nightly. Throughout the weekend, Bellagio Fountain Club guests will be treated to exclusive pop-up performances from Las Vegas' signature entertainers, nightlife experiences, and an open bar crafted by master sommeliers and award-winning mixologists.
Bellagio Fountain Club packages include three-day event tickets and accommodations within MGM Resorts' premier portfolio of rooms and suites, all walking distance from the circuit.
You’ve heard about it. Now witness it.
— Bellagio Las Vegas (@Bellagio) March 25, 2024
Welcome to Bellagio Fountain Club–where luxury meets thrill for an unforgettable @F1LasVegas experience. #F1 #LasVegasGP
Now on-sale at https://t.co/APALsj90ED. pic.twitter.com/gMk32t5chF
2. Baseball’s betting scandal: Is Shohei Ohtani in jeopardy?
Shohei Ohtani, the highest paid baseball player ever, has been in the news lately but not for Opening Day. I. Nelson Rose, an expert in gambling law, breaks down Ohtani’s last couple of weeks and how the gambling law in the U.S. plays its role, especially since it is not legal in California, where Ohtani now plays for the Dodgers.
After an illegal bookie was busted in California, $4.5 million in money wires from Ohtani was discovered. Ohtani’s friend and former translator, Ippei Mizuhara, said that he was paying off Ohtani’s gambling debts.
The Los Angeles Dodger superstar’s spokesmen and lawyers quickly claimed it was not true. Mizuhara stole the $4.5 million from Ohtani. And Mizuhara recanted, even before he was fired.
California has a 115-year-old statute making it a misdemeanor to accept, record or even make a bet on a sports event. Of course, a small-time bettor is never prosecuted. But things get much worse when more than one person is involved. If two people agree to violate the law, even a misdemeanor, it is a felony. And that is just state law.
Many questions are still being thrown around. Why would any bookie allow a guy like Mizuhara to run up a gambling debt of $4.5 million? The current story is that Mizuhara wired the $4.5 million from Ohtani’s account with Ohtani knowing anything about it.
As of now, there is little evidence that he made the bets, or even knew about them before the gambling debts were paid.
1. Fanatics opens new retail sportsbook in Connecticut
The Connecticut Lottery, in partnership with Fanatics Betting and Gaming, opened a new retail sportsbook location on 25 March at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport.
This new location is more than 2,300 square feet and features betting windows, self-service betting kiosks from Suzohapp, and high-definition TVs situated all around the sportsbook. The full-service restaurant will have food and drink options for sports fans to enjoy while watching the games. The Fanatics Sportsbook at Total Mortgage Arena will offer viewing experiences and betting markets for all major sports, including professional and college football, basketball, hockey, baseball, alongside tennis, soccer, golf, MMA, and boxing.
Patrons can enter the Fanatics Sportsbook at Total Mortgage Arena near the main parking garage entrance at the site of the former Limerick Pub. Hours of operation will be 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. seven days a week, including days when arena events occur.
Fanatics Sportsbook has been making its mark in the U.S., as it is now live in 16 states, including New York where it launched just last month.
The Fanatics Sportsbook at Total Mortgage Arena is OPEN TODAY! Come grab a bite to eat or a pint of your favorite beer for March Madness from 11:30am to 10pm.
— Total Mortgage Arena (@TotalMtgArena) March 25, 2024
Must be 21+ to sports wager. Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit https://t.co/L4RNbFKPDz pic.twitter.com/gEQ8OkXnIc