Most of the poker world is focused on the 2017 World Series of Poker where the field is whittling down to the final table. However, there were some other key headlines from around the world that are important to note. Here’s our weekly look at the poker news.
WSOP International Circuit Schedule Announced
As the 2017 World Series of Poker works towards a conclusion in the main event, the schedule for the 2018 World Series Of Poker International Circuit has been announced. It’ll start off on August 2 at the Casino Iguaza in Iguaza in Argentina.
In total, there are 13 tournaments as the World Series Of Poker International Circuit will make stops in Holland, Italy, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the Caribbean, France, Australia, Uruguay, Morocco, Italy and the Czech Republic one more time before ending in Georgia (not in the United States). At each tournament, there will be two qualifiers that get a pass to the World Series Of Poker Global Casino Championship, which will have the qualifiers from the American tour as well.
Sousa Monteiro Wins World Series of Poker Side Bet
Although most players at the WSOP Main Event are gunning for the big prize, there are usually a couple of side bets going on. One of those was run by 888Poker, which had an eight-team competition. The player who lasted the longest would earn a free buy-in to next year’s Main Event. As it turns out, that man was Brazil’s Joao Sousa Monteiro, who outlasted qualifiers from Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden.
Going into the fourth day there were two players from Germany, Sweden and Canada remaining along with Monteiro. Eventually, the Brazilian won when Canada’s Timothy Cavallin busted in 695th place. Monteiro would go on to finish 583rd with $22,449 and that was good enough to send him on to next year’s Main Event.
Monteiro has only been playing since 2010 when he discovered poker on a random trip to Las Vegas. His best finish so far was second place at a No Limit Hold ‘Em PCA event in the Bahamas in January 2015 where he took home $59,940.
Australian Senate Will Cut Off Online Poker Inquiries
The battle over online poker in Australia is coming to a close. The Australian Senate has announced that they’ll only accept submissions for their inquiry into online poker until July 21. Joseph Del Duca, who is a poker activist and founder of the Australian Online Poker Alliance, is urging those that love the game to act now and send in their opinions to the Senate. Online poker is hanging in the balance in Australia and if nothing changes it will be banned. That’s due to the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 that is making its way through parliament right now.
This bill is slated to continue the banning of online poker as well as other types of gambling but there is a small window that if enough people create an uproar the decision might be reconsidered. Del Luca is calling on the community to step up their efforts and keep the game legal. It might fall on deaf ears, though, as the government has been viewed as dead-set on seeing this through and a number of big online poker brands have already planned their exit.