Casino City’s Friday Five: WSOP Main Event and Las Vegas casino closings edition
22 July 2022By Dan Ippolito
The 2022 World Series of Poker came to an end earlier this week on the Las Vegas Strip with the final event, the Tournament of Champions, handing out the last bracelet. Before that, we had the Main Event come to a conclusion and one lucky player walked away with $10 million.
Also this week, we have several Las Vegas casinos permanently closing, a familiar name returning to Palms Casino Resort, a new Evolution live studio and a huge jackpot from a California casino.
Let’s begin with a big win:
5. Two slot jackpots a year apart at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City
Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City in California had two lucky winners of mega jackpots hit nearly one year apart.
In 2021, Kari and Michael of Washington state took home $668,777 from the Wheel of Fortune slot machine when they hit the mega jackpot. Most recently, a “lucky but shy” winner, who asked to remain anonymous, took home $256,149 Buffalo Legends.
4. Evolution launches fourth US live casino studio
On Monday, Evolution announced the launch of its new Connecticut live casino studio, the company’s fourth studio serving the growing regulated U.S. iGaming market.
Existing Evolution casinos FanDuel and DraftKings went live on Day 1 of the studio launch, initially offering live dealer roulette and blackjack.
Evolution expects many more games from its portfolio of live casino games and live game shows to be made available for operators serving Connecticut later this year, including baccarat and the award-winning Lightning Roulette.
3. Ghostbar returning to Palms Casino Resort
The return of Ghostbar at Palms Casino Resort is official. The Las Vegas nightlife icon will reopen its doors on Wednesday, 3 August.
Originally debuting in 2001, this popular bar and lounge is perched high atop the 55th floor of the Las Vegas resort.
From the Red Rocks to the west to Downtown Las Vegas in the north to the famed Las Vegas Strip in the east to the new Allegiant Stadium in the south, there is literally no point in the city that is not visible from Ghostbar.
Ghostbar will begin taking table reservations beginning on 10 August for first tables available on 17 August.
In late April, Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas made its return and officially re-opened the doors to one of Las Vegas’ most iconic casino resort destinations. Once opened, it became the first Native American owned Las Vegas resort.
IT'S OFFICIAL ??
— Palms Casino Resort (@Palms) July 21, 2022
The iconic Ghostbar will be will reopen its doors on Wednesday, August 3, 2022! Stunning Views, Bewitching Cocktails, and Immersive Entertainment Experiences...
Who's ready? ???? pic.twitter.com/oaT80MF9yR
2. Three Las Vegas casinos closing forever
This week's gambling video finds three Las Vegas casinos closing forever. Having been shut down since the pandemic began, these three Station Casinos were never able to reopen, and now they will be demolished.
We have Texas Station Gambling Hall and Hotel closing, along with Fiesta Rancho Casino Hotel and Fiesta Henderson Casino Hotel also shutting its doors.
The land those casinos occupied was over 107 acres of prime real estate, which will be sold, and rumor has it that the money from selling the casinos and their property would be used to invest in other company projects, and perhaps to open a new Vegas Casino in the northern part of the city.
1. Espen Jorstad wins 2022 WSOP Main Event
After nine days of Main Event play, Norway's Espen Jorstad solidified his place in poker history as the first World Series of Poker Champion to be crowned on the Las Vegas Strip and took home $10 million.
Jorstad defeated 8,662 players from around the world, the second-largest turnout in the tournament's history, falling just 110 players shy of the record set in 2006.
Last Saturday afternoon, Jorstad outlasted Adrian Attenborough and Michael Duek at the final table. The 23-year-old Duek took home third place, with a total of $4 million in earnings. Attenborough called Jorstad in heads-up, setting Jorstad up for a dramatic victory once he revealed his winning hand – a full house.
“It was a very emotional call,” said Jorstad about calling his mom right after the win. “She could barely speak. She is my biggest fan, so to be able to share that moment with her was very special.”
Your 2022 WSOP Main Event Champion is Norway's Espen Jorstad! Jorstad ultimately topped a field of 8,663 players claim the grand prize of $10,000,000 and his second gold bracelet of the series.
— WSOP (@WSOP) July 17, 2022
?? @hayleyochohttps://t.co/A4PqWvKJEL pic.twitter.com/kdOAYi63Ia