Written By Martin Harris on April 7, 2021
PASCOOP Returns With $2 Million in Prize Pools

With both the latest Pennsyl-MANIA and Bounty Builder Series still prominent in the rearview mirror, PokerStars PA today announced the new Pennsylvania Spring Championship of Online Poker (PASCOOP) schedule.

The second go-round of PASCOOP expands on the first, featuring 120 distinct tournaments with the total guarantees exceeding $2 million.

The series will run from April 17-May 3, culminating with a two-day, $300 buy-in Main Event with a $200,000 guarantee.

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Three-tiered PASCOOP schedule accommodates all buy-in levels

Last year’s PASCOOP was the first in the site’s history.

Staged last April, the series featured 50 events each with a “high” and “low” tier to total 100 tournaments. Guarantees then also added up to $2 million, although by the end more than $3.2 million was awarded across the series.

This time PASCOOP features a three-tiered schedule, much like the annual SCOOP series currently ongoing on the global PokerStars site. There are 40 events, each with a “high,” “medium,” and “low” buy-ins, thus totaling 120 tournaments altogether.

Buy-ins range from as little as $5 all of the way up to a couple of “high”-tiered High Roller events costing $1,000 and $2,000 to play.

Highlights among the preliminary events include:

  • Event #4-H — $100 NLHE Sunday Special SE, $75K gtd. (Apr. 18)
  • Event #11-H — $2,000 NLHE 8-Max, High Roller, $100K gtd. (Apr. 21)
  • Event #11-M — $500 NLHE 8-Max, High Roller, $50K gtd. (Apr. 21)
  • Event #20-H — $200 NLHE Sunday Special SE, $100K gtd. (Apr. 25)
  • Event #27-H — $1,000 NLHE 6-Max, High Roller, $75K gtd. (Apr. 28)
  • Event #33-H — $500 NLHE 8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO, High Roller, $50K gtd. (May 1)

The three Main Events get started Sunday, May 2:

  • Event #36-H — $300 NLHE PASCOOP Main Event, $200K gtd.
  • Event #36-M — $75 NLHE PASCOOP Main Event – Mid, $40K gtd.
  • Event #36-L — $30 NLHE PASCOOP Main Event – Mini, $20K gtd.

There are a number of different no-limit hold’em variations scattered throughout the schedule, including short-handed and heads-up events, turbo events, several featuring the popular progressive knockout bounty format, and a “Win the Button” event.

Additionally, there are a number of non-NLHE events on the schedule, including multiple pot-limit Omaha tournaments, plus 8-game and H.O.R.S.E. events.

Satellites, freerolls provide alternate ways to play PASCOOP events

As PokerStars PA has done with earlier series, there will be multiple PASCOOP satellites all series. There are also freerolls offering an even less expensive way to play events.

A PASCOOP Depositor Freeroll scheduled for Sun., May 2 at 2 p.m. ET will award $15,000 worth of Main Event tickets.

Players who deposit $30 or more using the code “PASCOOP” between now and 1:59 p.m. ET on May 2 receive tickets into the freeroll.

There will also be PASCOOP Second Chance Freerolls throughout the series.

Any player who gets knocked out of an event without making the money will receive an entry into the following day’s Second Chance Freeroll. Those freerolls will each award up to $1,000 in tournament tickets, with $15,000 worth of PASCOOP entries ultimately up for grabs.

PASCOOP hopes to continue momentum of Pennsyl-MANIA, Bounty Builder

As noted, PASCOOP arrives following the PokerStars PA Bounty Builder Series as well as another installment of Pennsyl-MANIA.

The Bounty Builder Series that ran from late Feb. to early March had guarantees adding up to $1.67 million. Ultimately more than $2 million was awarded across the series’ 75 tournaments.

The fourth running of Pennsyl-MANIA on April 4-5 was successful as well. The $300 buy-in event attracted 1,476 total entries (919 uniques, 557 re-entries). That was enough to create a prize pool of just over $413,000, thereby besting the event’s $400,000 guarantee.

Player “throwitinthebag” ultimately took the top prize of a little more than $63,000.

Of the three big Easter Sunday events on PokerStars’ US sites, only Pennsyl-MANIA on PokerStars PA exceeded its guarantee.

The Michigan Classic on PokerStars MI was also a $300 buy-in, two-day event. It attracted 1,551 total entries, though still had an overlay of about $65,000 thanks to the big $500,000 guarantee.

The New Jersey Classic on PokerStars NJ was a $500 buy-in tournament with a $100,000 guarantee. With 178 total entries, that one had an overlay as well of just over $16,000.

2021 PA SCOOP Schedule

No.DateTime (ET)EventBuy-inGtd.
1-HApr. 17 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE (Nightly Stars SE)$100$30,000
1-MApr. 17 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE$30$15,000
1-LApr. 17 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE$10$6,000
2-HApr. 17 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Turbo, Zoom)$100$20,000
2-MApr. 17 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Turbo, Zoom)$30$10,000
2-LApr. 17 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Turbo, Zoom)$10$4,000
3-HApr. 18 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Marathon SE)$100$25,000
3-MApr. 18 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Marathon)$30$12,500
3-LApr. 18 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Marathon)$10$5,000
4-HApr. 18 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Special SE)$100$75,000
4-MApr. 18 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Warm Up SE)$30$25,000
4-LApr. 18 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Storm SE)$10$10,000
5-HApr. 18 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (6-Max, Progressive KO)$50$7,500
5-MApr. 18 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (6-Max, Progressive KO)$15$3,500
5-LApr. 18 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (6-Max, Progressive KO)$5$1,500
6-HApr. 18 (Su)8 p.m.NLHE (Turbo, Second Chance)$50$10,000
6-MApr. 18 (Su)8 p.m.NLHE (Turbo, Second Chance)$15$5,000
6-LApr. 18 (Su)8 p.m.NLHE (Turbo, Second Chance)$5$2,000
7-HApr. 18 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Sunday Supersonic SE)$50$7,500
7-MApr. 18 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Sunday Supersonic)$15$3,500
7-LApr. 18 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Sunday Supersonic)$5$1,500
8-HAprl 19 (M)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale SE)$100$25,000
8-MAprl 19 (M)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale)$30$15,000
8-LAprl 19 (M)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale)$10$5,000
9-HAprl 19 (M)9 p.m.NLHE (Escalating Antes)$50$15,000
9-MAprl 19 (M)9 p.m.NLHE (Escalating Antes)$15$7,000
9-LAprl 19 (M)9 p.m.NLHE (Escalating Antes)$5$2,500
10-HApr. 20 (T)8 p.m.NLHE (Super Tuesday SE)$200$35,000
10-MApr. 20 (T)8 p.m.NLHE (Mini Super Tuesday SE)$50$20,000
10-LApr. 20 (T)8 p.m.NLHE (The Big $20 SE)$20$7,500
11-HApr. 21 (W)8 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, High Roller)$2,000$100,000
11-MApr. 21 (W)8 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, High Roller)$500$50,000
11-LApr. 21 (W)8 p.m.NLHE (8-Max)$200$30,000
12-HApr. 21 (W)9 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Turbo, H Roller Second Chance)$200$20,000
12-MApr. 21 (W)9 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Turbo)$50$10,000
12-LApr. 21 (W)9 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Turbo)$20$4,000
13-HApr. 22 (Th)8 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE)$200$35,000
13-MApr. 22 (Th)8 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO, Mini Thursday Thrill SE)$50$20,000
13-LApr. 22 (Th)8 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO, Bounty Builder $20 SE)$20$7,500
14-HApr. 23 (F)6 p.m.NLHE (Rebuy)$50$20,000
14-MApr. 23 (F)6 p.m.NLHE (Rebuy)$15$10,000
14-LApr. 23 (F)6 p.m.NLHE (Rebuy)$5$4,000
15-HApr. 23 (F)8 p.m.NLHE (4-Max)$100$15,000
15-MApr. 23 (F)8 p.m.NLHE (4-Max)$30$7,500
15-LApr. 23 (F)8 p.m.NLHE (4-Max)$10$3,000
16-HApr. 24 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO, Bigstack)$200$25,000
16-MApr. 24 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO, Bigstack)$50$15,000
16-LApr. 24 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO, Bigstack)$20$7,500
17-HApr. 24 (Sa)8 p.m.5-Card PLO (6-Max)$100$10,000
17-MApr. 24 (Sa)8 p.m.5-Card PLO (6-Max)$30$5,000
17-LApr. 24 (Sa)8 p.m.5-Card PLO (6-Max)$10$2,000
18-HApr. 24 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (Heads-Up, Turbo, Progressive KO, Zoom, Total KO)$50$15,000
18-MApr. 24 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (Heads-Up, Turbo, Progressive KO, Zoom, Total KO)$15$7,500
18-LApr. 24 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (Heads-Up, Turbo, Progressive KO, Zoom, Total KO)$5$2,500
19-HApr. 25 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Bigstack, Sunday Marathon SE)$100$25,000
19-MApr. 25 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Bigstack)$30$12,500
19-LApr. 25 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Bigstack)$10$5,000
20-HApr. 25 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Special SE)$200$100,000
20-MApr. 25 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Warm Up SE)$50$35,000
20-LApr. 25 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (Sunday Storm SE)$20$12,500
21-HApr. 25 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (8-Max)$100$12,500
21-MApr. 25 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (8-Max)$30$7,500
21-LApr. 25 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (8-Max)$10$2,500
22-HApr. 25 (Su)8 p.m.NLHE (Turbo, Second Chance)$100$20,000
22-MApr. 25 (Su)8 p.m.NLHE (Turbo, Second Chance)$30$10,000
22-LApr. 25 (Su)8 p.m.NLHE (Turbo, Second Chance)$10$3,000
23-HApr. 25 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Progressive KO, Sunday Supersonic SE)$50$7,500
23-MApr. 25 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Progressive KO, Sunday Supersonic)$15$3,500
23-LApr. 25 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Progressive KO, Sunday Supersonic)$5$1,500
24-HApr. 26 (M)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO)$200$25,000
24-MApr. 26 (M)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale SE)$50$15,000
24-LApr. 26 (M)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO)$20$5,000
25-HApr. 26 (M)9 p.m.PLO (6-Max, Progressive KO)$100$10,000
25-MApr. 26 (M)9 p.m.PLO (6-Max, Progressive KO)$30$5,000
25-LApr. 26 (M)9 p.m.PLO (6-Max, Progressive KO)$10$2,000
26-HApr. 27 (Tu)8 p.m.NLHE (Super Tuesday SE)$300$40,000
26-MApr. 27 (Tu)8 p.m.NLHE (Mini Super Tuesday SE)$75$25,000
26-LApr. 27 (Tu)8 p.m.NLHE$30$8,000
27-HApr. 28 (W)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, High Roller)$1,000$75,000
27-MApr. 28 (W)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max)$250$35,000
27-LApr. 28 (W)8 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Wedenesday 6-Max SE)$100$20,000
28-HApr. 28 (W)9 p.m.8-Game$200$15,000
28-MApr. 28 (W)9 p.m.8-Game$50$7,500
28-LApr. 28 (W)9 p.m.8-Game$20$3,000
29-HApr. 29 (Th)8 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE)$300$40,000
29-MApr. 29 (Th)8 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO, Mini Thursday Thrill SE)$75$25,000
29-LApr. 29 (Th)8 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO)$30$8,000
30-HApr. 30 (F)6 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO, 25% PKO$200$25,000
30-MApr. 30 (F)6 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO, 25% PKO)$50$15,000
30-LApr. 30 (F)6 p.m.NLHE (Progressive KO, 25% PKO)$20$6,500
31-HApr. 30 (F)8 p.m.HORSE (6-Max)$100$8,000
31-MApr. 30 (F)8 p.m.HORSE (6-Max)$30$4,000
31-LApr. 30 (F)8 p.m.HORSE (6-Max)$10$1,500
32-HMay 1 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Win the Button)$100$25,000
32-MMay 1 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Win the Button)$50$15,000
32-LMay 1 (Sa)6 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Win the Button)$10$4,000
33-HMay 1 (Sa)8 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO, High Roller)$500$50,000
33-MMay 1 (Sa)8 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO)$200$35,000
33-LMay 1 (Sa)8 p.m.NLHE (8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO)$50$20,000
34-HMay 1 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (4-Max, Turbo)$50$25,000
34-MMay 1 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (4-Max, Turbo)$15$5,000
34-LMay 1 (Sa)9 p.m.NLHE (4-Max, Turbo)$5$2,000
35-HMay 2 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Deepstack, Sunday Marathon SE)$100$25,000
35-MMay 2 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Deepstack)$30$12,500
35-LMay 2 (Su)3 p.m.NLHE (Deepstack)$10$5,000
36-HMay 2 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (PASCOOP Main Event)$300$200,000
36-MMay 2 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (PASCCOP Main Event – Mid)$75$40,000
36-LMay 2 (Su)6 p.m.NLHE (PASCOOP Main Event – Mini)$30$20,000
37-HMay 2 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (6-Max)$200$15,000
37-MMay 2 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (6-Max)$50$7,500
37-LMay 2 (Su)7 p.m.PLO (6-Max)$20$2,500
38-HMay 2 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Bigstack, Sunday Supersonic SE)$100$10,000
38-MMay 2 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Bigstack)$30$6,000
38-LMay 2 (Su)9 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Bigstack)$10$2,000
39-HMay 3 (M)8 p.m.NLHE (Nightly Stars SE)$100$25,000
39-MMay 3 (M)8 p.m.NLHE$30$10,000
39-LMay 3 (M)8 p.m.NLHE$10$5,000
40-HMay 3 (M)9:35 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Progressive KO, Mach 50)$50$7,500
40-MMay 3 (M)9:35 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Progressive KO, Mach 15)$15$3,000
40-LMay 3 (M)9:35 p.m.NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Progressive KO, Mach 5)$5$1,500
TOTAL$2,097,000
Martin Harris Avatar
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Martin Harris

Martin Harris is a writer and teacher who has reported on poker, online gambling, and sports betting since the mid-2000s. Once a full-time academic (Ph.D., English), he currently teaches part-time in the American Studies program at UNC Charlotte. In 2019, his book Poker & Pop Culture was published by D&B Books.

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Written By Staff on April 6, 2021
Mega Millions winning numbers

The Mega Millions jackpot is fast building up, again.

The next drawing, which is Tuesday, April 6, has an estimated jackpot of $184 million with a $123.9 million cash option.

Nationwide, only one ticket sold in Maryland matched all five white balls worth $1 million from the last drawing.

Winning Mega Millions numbers for Tuesday, April 6

Two Mega Millions drawings take place weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays after 11 p.m. EST. Check back for this evening’s winning numbers.

Winning numbers: 1 – 19 – 20 – 32 – 42 Mega Ball: 17

Megaplier: 3x

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$1 million NC Match 5 winner

Out of Greensboro, NC, Adrienne Wynn won $1 million on a Mega Millions ticket for the March 30 drawing. Apparently, Wynn woke up in the middle of the night and thought, “Let me call and check the ticket.”

Fortunately she did because the $2 ticket matched all five white balls. Wynn said, “After I found out it was real, I was jumping up and down on my bed like it was a trampoline. If I could have done a cartwheel without breaking anything I would have.”

There was no hesitation for Wynn on claiming her prize the next day, taking the lump-sum amount of $707,501 after taxes and withholdings.

Mega Millions online

While Wynn called to check her tickets, if you play the lottery online in Pennsylvania, you are automatically notified of winners. The PA online lottery pays out most winning tickets directly to your player account along with the automatic notification.

Otherwise, there are other states where you can purchase online lottery tickets:

  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • New York

Different state lotteries benefit various state-run programs. In the Keystone State, the PA Lottery benefits older Pennsylvanians. Please play responsibly.

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Written By Kevin Shelly on March 17, 2021Last Updated on April 5, 2021
Parx Mini Casino Project Back on Track

A stalled mini-casino proposal by Parx Casino in Shippensburg Township is back on track with a replacement site which once was a Lowe’s home improvement store. An opening of the satellite casino within a year is possible.

The proposed location is at 250 South Conestoga Road in the South Central Pennsylvania borough. The property is close to PA Rt. 11 and I-81.

April 5 update: Shippensburg Township officials have signed off on a conditional use permit for the site, meaning work on the conversion is greenlighted, according to Penn Live.

The news site recently reported:

“Parx proposes to fill the Lowe’s site with 600 slot machines, as well as a nationally-branded restaurant/sports bar with seating for about 250. Projected hours are 9 a.m. through midnight Monday through Thursday, with the casino then operating around the clock from 9 a.m. Friday through midnight Sunday.”

A rendering from the company shows the regionally well-known sports bar Chickie’s & Petes as a part of the rehabbed building.

C&P already does business with Parx and is looking to expand by setting up horse racing and sports betting venues in several PA locations. A site in South Philadelphia has been controversial and is working its way through zoning review, with a community group fighting the plan.

Replacement location for mini-casino is a repurposing

As a rehab and refit, rather than a ground-up building site, the location might be able to launch within a year pending no significant delays, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) learned during a meeting Wednesday.

The PGCB meeting has for now resolved disputes over the size and cost of a required traffic impact study, a first step in moving the stalled project along. Some widening or replacement of existing roadways is a possibility.

Original mini-casino location proposal sunk

Sinkholes sank the original location near Exit 29 of I-81. Much of the Cumberland Valley sits atop limestone, prone to subsidence accelerated by acid rain eating away the soft stone understructure.

Parx’s Chief Marketing Officer Marc Oppenheimer told PennLive in July 2019:

“There were significant issues that developed with the original site. We are currently working with the Shippensburg community and leaders to identify alternatives in the community.”

There had been no subsequent public discussion of any alternative location for the mini-casino until today.

When Shippensburg first was named the Parx mini location in 2018, a 2020 opening was projected.

Next step is a hearing

Spokesman Doug Harbach said the next step toward approval for the PGCB is to hold a public input hearing in the town. There is no firm date yet.

Stewart said his client, technically named GW Cumberland OP Co., is ready, and Parx hopes the meeting can happen this spring.

The vacant Lowe’s is about 140,00 square feet and sits on 21 acres. It is 2.5 miles from a PA state university with 8,000 students, more than the borough population. Several national lodging chains are nearby.

“We’re confident it is a good site,” said Stewart. He added the redevelopment of the site should make the opening swifter than building. He added the site already has adequate parking.

Lowe’s shuttered the site, built for $18.5 million, in 2018 after a decade of operation. About 20 stores nationwide closed then. All were near other Lowe’s locations.

Mini-casino track record

Satellite casinos have not turned out exactly as planned in PA, which was hungry for more license sales, fees, and gaming revenue.

The enabling law passed back in 2017. The law allowed 10 mini-casino licenses for auction.

PA held five auctions. The initial sales brought in $127.7 million. Then the market said enough, and there was no bid for the sixth possible license.

Despite that, a new auction was held at the legislature’s direction, and once again, there was no bid.

Next, a license approval for Mount Airy Casino got yanked.

Then that newly available license went up for auction again. The winning bid came from Philly financier Ira Lubert for just more than $10 million. Lubert partnered with Bally’s Casino in January and aimed to site the property near State College.

Meanwhile, the only open mini is Live! Casino Pittsburgh. The property, a rehabbed mall space, opened in November.

And another two minis owned by Penn National Gaming are finally getting attention after work stopped due to the pandemic.

Lead image via Dreamstime.

Kevin Shelly Avatar
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Kevin Shelly

Kevin C. Shelly is an award-winning career journalist who has spent most of his career in South Jersey. He’s the former assistant city editor of The Press of Atlantic City, where he covered the casino industry and Atlantic City government as a reporter. He was also an investigative, narrative enterprise, and features reporter for Gannett’s Courier-Post.

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Written By Nathan Frederick on April 5, 2021
Gonzaga vs. Baylor Title Game Specials at PA Sportsbooks

Can they top it?

Gonzaga advanced to college basketball’s national title game by winning an epic overtime game with UCLA, sinking a near half-court buzzer beater to beat the Bruins 93-90.

It was the best basketball game of the tournament and perhaps one of the greatest in recent memory. When it ended, Jalen Suggs, the Gonzaga guard who had just banked in the winning buzzer beater, jumped atop a courtside table in jubilation.

But there’s no more time to celebrate. The Bulldogs face No. 1 seed Baylor in Monday night’s National Championship game. And the Bears have an imposing team themselves, led by first-team All American Jared Butler.

So the betting line is fairly close and the competition should be intense. Gonzaga hopes to maintain its magic for at least one more game. And Baylor is hoping to steal the spotlight.

With a number of betting options and a few promotions available at the best PA sportsbooks, the elements are all present for an outstanding game.

Let’s take a look at the odds for the final game of March Madness to get you ready for tip off.

DraftKings promotion moves the line in Gonzaga’s favor Monday

Gonzaga is a 4.5-point favorite in Monday night’s title game, which will be broadcast at 9:20 p.m. on CBS.

But thanks to a DraftKings Sportsbook promotion, an alternate spread of Gonzaga +4.5 has odds that have been boosted to +100. The original line for Gonzaga +4.5 was -375.

To take advantage of the promotion, players must opt-in first and make sure the boosted odds are selected in the betslip. (You may have to go to Game Lines and Select Alternate Point Spreads to find the odds boost.) The maximum wager is $25.

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If you prefer bigger wagers or other betting lines, DraftKings has Gonzaga at -190 on the moneyline, while Baylor is +155. The game’s over/under is set at 159 points.

There are also alternate lines available and wagers on the first/second half spreads and totals as well. Live betting odds will also be active after tip off.

Updated Gonzaga vs. Baylor odds at PA sportsbooks

See below for the latest championship game odds in PA and find betting splits and stats here.

FOX Bet also boosting odds on national championship wagers

FOX Bet PA also features some boosted bets for tonight’s action, with more than 70 total wagers listed at the sports betting app. One of the biggest returns would arrive if both teams score 80 or more points and Baylor wins the game. That bet has been boosted to +800.

Another option pays out +500 odds if either team wins by one or two points. And if both teams score 40 or more points in the first half, wagers priced at +450 would become winning tickets.

The full offerings at FOX Bet are worth a look with a lengthy list of alternative lines, team totals, and winning margin wagers as well. FOX Bet also has a number of custom bets, some with odds as high as +25000 on the exact final score.

Bulldogs or Bears in NCAA basketball title game?

Tonight, the national title game tips off featuring two teams who arrived there in very different ways. Baylor had little trouble with Houston in Saturday’s Final Four showdown, cruising to a 78-59 victory.

Gonzaga, however, needed overtime and an incredible buzzer beater to get by the UCLA Bruins.

Now, the game becomes even bigger. And Gonzaga is the favorite.

But after such an epic win Saturday, it’s pretty reasonable to wonder about how the Bulldogs will perform today.

Can they top it?

Lead image credit: AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Nathan Frederick Avatar
Written by

Nathan Frederick

Nathan Frederick is an award-winning writer with more than 1,000 published bylines and two decades of journalism experience. His work has won awards from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Journalists, the Keystone Press Association, and the Associated Press Sports Editors. He has also authored three books, one of which debuted as an Amazon No. 1 New Release.

View all posts by Nathan Frederick

Written By Staff on April 3, 2021
Image via Shutterstock

Although the Powerball jackpot just hit two previous drawings ago, interest and sales remain high.

For Saturday, April 3, the Powerball estimated jackpot is $32 million or a $21.8 million cash value.

Winning Powerball numbers for Saturday, April 3

Powerball holds drawings twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays after 11 p.m. EST. Winning numbers are posted below when available.

Winning numbers: 1 – 12 – 17 – 39 – 53 Powerball: 5

Multiplier: 2X

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CA Match 5 April Fool’s winner

One lucky ticket for the last drawing sold in California managed to celebrate a happy April Fool’s Day indeed. As a reminder, the winning numbers from the last drawing were 3 – 10 – 44 – 55 – 68 with a Powerball of 24.

The winning ticket sold at Circle K located on Temecula Parkway in Temecula, CA. The winning retailer received a $13,824 bonus. More importantly, typically a Match 5 ticket that misses the Powerball is worth $1 million. However, in California, prizes are based on a pari-mutuel basis. Therefore, this Match 5 ticket won $2,656,980.

Online lottery play

Did you know that you can purchase lottery tickets online? Here in Pennsylvania, the PA online lottery offers online tickets to the major draw games and other exciting games as well.

For those of you not located in PA, there are other states that offer online lottery sales too:

  • New York
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Virginia

A happy holiday weekend to you and please play responsibly.

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Written By Staff on April 2, 2021
Image via Shutterstock

Heading into the holiday weekend, the Mega Millions estimated jackpot for Friday, April 2, sits at $168 million.

Alternatively, a potential jackpot winner can opt for the $112.1 million cash option.

Winning Mega Millions numbers for Friday, April 2

Weekly, there are two Mega Millions drawings on Tuesdays and Fridays after 11 p.m. EST. Check back for this evening’s winning numbers.

Winning numbers:  10 – 42 – 48 – 53 – 62 Mega Ball: 19

Megaplier: 2X

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NY couple claims and splits a $96 million jackpot

A lucky couple from Blossvale, NY claimed the $96 million Mega Millions jackpot held on Feb. 16. As a reminder, the winning numbers from that date were 1 – 26 – 44 – 54 – 66 with a gold Mega Ball of 10. Their lucky ticket matched all numbers from the drawing, winning them the big jackpot.

Leonard and Lorraine Padavan opted to split the jackpot evenly, which after taxes and withholdings amounted to a single lump sum payment each of just over $23 million. Ultimately, the plan is to pool together the money to purchase an RV and live out the American dream.

Play the lottery online

In the Keystone State, you can play and buy online lottery tickets through the state-run PA online lottery. Also, as a new player, you receive an excellent welcome bonus. Existing customers receive access to fantastic ongoing promotions such as reload bonuses or bonus money. Finally, new games are constantly being offered.

Players in certain other states can play the online lottery as well:

  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • New York

Please play responsibly.

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Written By Nathan Frederick on April 1, 2021
Final Four PA Bet Boosts

College basketball’s biggest night is almost here.

The Final Four, the exclamation point at the end of the NCAA Tournament, tips off on Saturday night.

Two Texas teams, Houston and Baylor meet first at 5:15 p.m. Then, two West Coast teams, UCLA and Gonzaga, meet in the nightcap at 8:34 p.m.

And those looking to get in on the action will have plenty of options at Pennsylvania sportsbooks. Both FanDuel and DraftKings are boosting odds for new users to help them snag some big returns on the big games.

DraftKings has been giving 100-1 odds for new players in a promotion that began during the Sweet 16. And FanDuel is giving new users 40-1 odds for a special promotion surrounding the Final Four. You can find all the details inside the PA sports betting apps.

But new users certainly won’t be the only ones betting on the Final Four. Let’s take a quick look at some of the Final Four odds to get everyone else ready for Saturday night’s games.

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Baylor is the favorite in the Final Four’s “Battle of Texas”

In the early game, No. 1 Baylor is a 5-point favorite over No. 2 Houston according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Bears are -215 on the moneyline, while the Cougars are +180. The game’s total is set at 134 points.

FanDuel also has other options available for the big games beyond the traditional spreads. Players can wager on alternate spreads and totals, as well as the first half-spread (Baylor -3), first-half moneyline (Baylor -196) and first-half total as well (62).

Those bets can provide more immediate returns than the end-of-game lines. You can also expect several live betting options as the games progress.

Oddsmakers expect UCLA’s improbable run to end Saturday

In the late game, Gonzaga, the tournament’s top seed, will face a pesky UCLA squad that has survived as a No. 11 seed. The Bruins were on the ropes in a First Four game with Michigan State, but have since managed a Final Four run. As noted in a recent tweet from ESPN, the Bruins are the first team since VCU in 2011 to advance all the way from the First Four to the Final Four.

FanDuel has Gonzaga listed as a healthy 14-point favorite with a moneyline price of -1100. UCLA’s moneyline is +700. And the game’s over/under is listed at 145.5. First/second-half wagers and alternate lines will also be available for this contest.

Futures odds are live for all the Final Four teams

One other way to get into Saturday’s action is to place a futures wager on one of the four remaining teams. Futures prices for each team to win the NCAA Tournament are as follows:

  • Gonzaga: -190
  • Baylor: +260
  • Houston: +800
  • UCLA: +2700

A win by your chosen team on Saturday sets you up for a possible hedge on the national title game Monday. Odds for that contest should be posted early Sunday.

But first up are the national semifinals, or as most people know it, the Final Four.

A tournament that has been held exclusively in Indiana, with a number of surprising upsets, is nearing its next chapter.

A team from Texas will make the final. So will another one from the West Coast. But how exactly they get there is anyone’s guess.

We’ll have to watch and see.

But the wait won’t be long.

Because college basketball’s biggest night is almost here.

Lead image credit: AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Nathan Frederick Avatar
Written by

Nathan Frederick

Nathan Frederick is an award-winning writer with more than 1,000 published bylines and two decades of journalism experience. His work has won awards from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Journalists, the Keystone Press Association, and the Associated Press Sports Editors. He has also authored three books, one of which debuted as an Amazon No. 1 New Release.

View all posts by Nathan Frederick

Written By Valerie Cross on March 12, 2021Last Updated on April 1, 2021
Rush Street Interactive Reports Strong 2020 Earnings

Last year was a bumpy ride for most casino companies. And while it faced many challenges on the land-based operations front, Rush Street Interactive had a fruitful 2020.

The Chicago-based parent company of the BetRivers brand well-known in Pennsylvania, Rush Street posted strong revenue and ended the year on a high note, taking $RSI stock public on the NYSE.

In RSI’s earnings report released this week, investors were likely pleased to see revenue of $100 million for Q4, a 260% increase year-over-year, and full year revenue up even more YoY.

As with most US casino companies that came out of 2020 unscathed financially, the source of revenue growth for RSI was from online gambling streams. Monthly active users (MAU) for RSI’s real-money betting products increased 22% from Q3 to Q4 and 116% YoY for Q4. Average revenue per MAU for Q4 was $328.

$RSI stock opened at $16.12 on March 10, the day of the earnings call, and rose 18% to close Friday at $19.04.

Greg Carlin, CEO of RSI, said:

“We are proud to be reporting our first financial results as a public company. Throughout 2020, RSI continued its rapid expansion in both new and existing markets achieving revenue growth of 337%.

Major online growth for Rush Street in 2020

To start 2020, Rush Street had online casinos in two states and online sports betting in three states. It now has online casino in three states and online sportsbooks live in eight states. RSI most recently launched casino and sports betting in Michigan and sports betting only in Virginia.

Perhaps RSI’s biggest win in 2020 was finishing as the second largest US online casino operator in terms of gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the year (and for Q4), according to Eilers & Krejcik.

Other Full Year 2020 financial highlights:

  • Revenue of $278.5 million, up 337% over $63.7 million in 2019.
  • US monthly active users up 165% YoY; average revenue per MAU $341 in 2020.
  • Adjusted EBITDA $4.4 million compared to -$7.8 million in 2019.
  • Marketing expenses $56.5 million (20% of revenue) compared to $28.3 million in 2019.
  • Cash flow worth $255 million as of Dec. 31, 2020.

Rush Street Interactive poised for more growth

RSI is ready to continue growing, with projected revenue for 2021 between $420 million and $460 million. That’s up from a previous estimate of $320 million. If they hit the halfway point of their projection ($440 million), it would be a 58% YoY increase.

This projection assumes the sports calendar proceeds uninterrupted and continued operations in current states with no new state launch in 2021.

According to Carlin, Rush Street is in solid position to achieve or even surpass current projections.

“Our significant cash balance at year end plus the incremental cash from our ongoing warrant redemption will allow us to significantly increase 2021 marketing spend and leverage what we believe to be industry leading acquisition costs, payback rates, and average revenue per user.

“We are significantly increasing 2021 guidance and intend to aggressively pursue opportunities for further growth now that we are better capitalized than at any time in our operating history. We are confident these additional investments will support our goal of being the leader in online casino and driving significant profitability over the long term.”

Rush Street plans to enter more markets as they become available. Recently, RSI secured market access deals in West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and Missouri.

Lead image via Dreamstime.

Valerie Cross Avatar
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Valerie Cross

Valerie Cross is a senior content manager for Catena Media’s Play network of sites including Playin Pennsylvania, PlayMichigan and PlayNJ.com. Valerie was a poker writer and editor for PokerNews before joining the regulated sports betting and online gambling industry in 2019. She received her BA from Furman University in 2007 in Spanish and Psychology and completed her MA and Ph.D. at Indiana University in Language Education.

View all posts by Valerie Cross

Written By Nathan Frederick on January 5, 2021Last Updated on April 1, 2021
Rush Street Interactive and Golden Nugget Take Stock Public

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The bell rings and the action begins.

Whether it’s inside the boxing ring or on the stock trading floor, the bell starts it all.

And that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday, when Rush Street Interactive‘s leadership team, along with its Board of Directors and some other RSI employees had to honor of ringing the famous bell to start the day’s trading at the New York Stock Exchange.

Rush Street Interactive, the parent company of Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and Rivers Philadelphia, officially launched on the NYSE on December 30th following a merger with special purpose acquisition company, dMY Technology Group Inc.

Today, the group got to celebrate all the hard work that went into the public offering with the symbolic ringing on Wall Street.

“This ceremony is a tribute to our incredible team, investors and partners who all made this day possible,” said Greg Carlin, Chief Executive Officer of RSI in a news release provided by the company.

Rush Street rings the bell

Rush Street Interactive got its start not far from Wall Street. The company launched its first online casino in New Jersey in 2016 and has been on an upward trajectory ever since. RSI’s BetRivers site was the first regulated online gaming site in Pennsylvania. The brand was also the first to enter the market in Indiana, Colorado and Illinois.

The company also earned some extra shine this year with a trio of awards. RSI was named the 2020 Global Gaming Awards Digital Operator of the Year. It also won the Casino Operator of the Year and Customer Service Operator of the Year at the EGR’s North America Awards.

Rush Street’s stock has also been performing well in a market that has been high on gambling stocks. The early versions of the stock traded below $10 this year. But that value has more than doubled as it successfully navigated its way to a full public offering. $RSI closed Monday at $20.52.

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The Golden Nugget stock also went public December 30

Another gaming entity went public on the same day as RSI, but Golden Nugget Online Gaming ($GNOG) landed on the NASDAQ stock market. The Golden Nugget stock also used the SPAC route, led by Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Fertitta helped transition Landcadia Holdings II to the public GNOG offering on December 30.

Interestingly enough, Golden Nugget is also likely to land in Pennsylvania at some point. Golden Nugget is a leading online casino operator in neighboring New Jersey. The company was able to apply for a license in Pennsylvania as well. As noted previously at Playin Pennsylvania, the company was approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming and Control Board in January of 2019, along with MGM. Golden Nugget paid a total of $8 million ($4 million each) to offer online table games and online slots in Pennsylvania.

Soon Pennsylvanians will be able to play Golden Nugget online games

Now, all that’s left is for Golden Nugget’s online casino games to go live in the Keystone State. And with the public stock offering complete, that should be a major focus for the company. An exact date for that launch is still uncertain, but it grows nearer every day.

On Tuesday though, it is RSI taking the biggest bow on Wall Street. But it’s been a busy year for both Rush Street and the Golden Nugget gaming entities.

Their stocks are both public now. Both available for trading on Tuesday.

Rush Street rang the bell and the action is underway.

But it won’t end there.

Lead image credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Nathan Frederick Avatar
Written by

Nathan Frederick

Nathan Frederick is an award-winning writer with more than 1,000 published bylines and two decades of journalism experience. His work has won awards from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Journalists, the Keystone Press Association, and the Associated Press Sports Editors. He has also authored three books, one of which debuted as an Amazon No. 1 New Release.

View all posts by Nathan Frederick

Written By Valerie Cross on January 11, 2021Last Updated on April 1, 2021
Penn Stock Price Passes 100 Dollars

Penn National Gaming continues to garner positive headlines and $PENN stock investors have taken notice. The latest surge to $100 comes in a moment of positive momentum for sports betting in the US.

The $PENN hot streak has also been helped along by bullish analyst predictions, legal gambling launches, and increasing interest in online gambling stocks.

The PA-based gaming company shifted gears from regional land-based gaming to online betting months ago. That included buying a 36% share of Barstool Sports in early 2020. They are now seeing the fruits of their labor – the March 18, 2020 stock price of $4.52 a distant memory.

Barstool sportsbook and stock analysts drive Penn price

The Barstool Sportsbook launched in Pennsylvania in mid-September and has captured third-highest market share in a crowded, competitive environment. As more states roll out online betting, Barstool looks to be one of the first to market, which was far from the case in PA. (They were the tenth online sportsbook to go live in the Keystone State.)

Recent nods from stock analysts provided an extra boost to the price, no doubt. Rosenblatt Securities increased its $PENN price target from $90 to $115 on Dec. 23 in a note to investors.

“Market share in new state launches (MI and VA) as the Barstool sportsbook app will be at the same starting line as competitors. New state legislation for online sports betting and iGaming as state governments deal with the impact of COVID-19 on their budgets. Continued recovery at regional casinos, helped by the rollout of the vaccine.”

CNN Business analysts also maintain a BUY rating for Penn stock.

Positive news boosts Penn stock

As more states look to pass legislation to regulate online gambling, Penn is in good position to capitalize in new markets. Last week was dominated by news from New York that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is now in favor of online sports betting as chances for a viable bill this year increase. Massachusetts is also making moves toward legalizing. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is sick of losing tax dollars to his neighbors and is also trying to mobilize his state to pass online betting.

The rolling out of coronavirus vaccines should help land-based gaming operations across the country. Penn has 41 gaming properties across 19 states.

Despite some political unrest making the market somewhat uneasy, the latest COVID-19 relief/stimulus package is also a likely booster for gaming stocks.

But the good news for Penn doesn’t stop there. Penn has been making positive headlines in association with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy‘s pet project, the Barstool Fund. He seeded the multi-million dollar relief effort for small businesses struggling to survive the pandemic with $500,000 of his own money. Several small businesses in PA got the call, and the fund continues to grow.

Last week, Penn kicked in $1 million, among some other charitable efforts to help their community as well as many of their displaced workers.

Barstool Sportsbooks multiplying

While retail sports betting is and will continue to take a back seat to online sports betting, it still has its importance. For Barstool and Penn, retail books will serve as convenient advertising for their online betting apps. They will also likely be meet-up spots for events and parties for Barstool fans (Stoolies) and bettors in various jurisdictions.

Penn has yet to rebrand the sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National in Grantville, PA. But they are opening up in other states.

In November, Colorado got a Barstool Sportsbook at the Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk. In December, Penn National’s two Indiana properties are got re-branded Barstool Sportsbooks. As did Michigan.

  • Dec. 23 – Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
  • Dec. 24 – Ameristar Casino East Chicago (in East Chicago, IN)
  • Dec. 23 – Greektown Casino Hotel (Detroit, MI)

About the rebranded books in Indiana, Rafael Verde, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National said:

“The new designs incorporate the spirit of the Barstool Sports brand, resulting in unique sports wagering and dining experiences that we expect our customers will thoroughly enjoy.”

Penn National online sports betting opportunities coming soon

While the Barstool Sportsbook app is only live in PA so far, that will soon change. Colorado is expected to launch online betting early in 2021, and Barstool should be one of the first to go live. Other states where Penn plans to launch online sportsbooks, according to Legal Sports Report:

  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • New Jersey
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia

But Barstool is not the only online betting brand in Penn’s playbook.

The online casino game

Sports betting gets a lot of the media attention, but Penn’s online casino game is even more important for the bottom line. Online casinos bring in more revenue than sportsbooks, and the Hollywood online casino is an important brand and vertical for Penn National.

In PA, the Hollywood Casino has brought in nearly $106 million in revenue since launching in mid-July 2019. In their first 2.5 months of sports betting, the Barstool app brought in:

  • September: -$2.4. million
  • October: $3.4 million
  • November: $3.8 million

While online sportsbook launches are important, Penn will also be looking to launch online casinos as more jurisdictions legalize and launch iGaming.

In another recent twist that has likely contributed in part to recent stock jumps, Penn has partnered with BetMGM in PA. BetMGM gained approval to enter the PA online betting market, but needed a land-based partner to do so.

The BetMGM online casino that launched Dec. 4 did so under Penn’s Hollywood Casino (Grantville) license. Then, the BetMGM online sportsbook made its official PA debut Dec. 18 under Penn’s Hollywood Casino Morgantown (future mini-casino) license.

Lead image via Dreamstime.

Valerie Cross Avatar
Written by

Valerie Cross

Valerie Cross is a senior content manager for Catena Media’s Play network of sites including Playin Pennsylvania, PlayMichigan and PlayNJ.com. Valerie was a poker writer and editor for PokerNews before joining the regulated sports betting and online gambling industry in 2019. She received her BA from Furman University in 2007 in Spanish and Psychology and completed her MA and Ph.D. at Indiana University in Language Education.

View all posts by Valerie Cross