Monthly Archives: January 2021

WSOP Main Event Heads-Up Finale Preview: Joseph Hebert Vs. Damian Salas

Although it’s technically 2021, the 2020 WSOP Main Event winner will finally be crowned tomorrow at the Rio in Las Vegas. And that individual will either be Joseph Hebert or Damian Salas.

Will Damian Salas or Joseph Hebert win the 2020 WSOP Main Event? (Image: ESPN)

This year’s $10,000 buy-in world championship event is vastly different compared to the previous 50 years due to COVID-19. Not only did the event take place in December instead of the summer. But most of the tournament was played online instead of at the Rio.

GGPoker kicked off the event for the international players on Nov. 29 and then WSOP.com in Nevada and New Jersey ran the same tournament in December. The nine finalists of the GGPoker tournament met at King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic for a live final table. And then the WSOP.com final table ran at the Rio in Las Vegas.

Macau casinos slow slide in December, second year of negative growth

Macau casino gaming revenue showed a modest flicker of life in December, but it wasn’t enough to rescue a year of negativity. 

Figures released Friday by Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) show the special administrative region of China posted gaming revenue total of MOP7.8b (US$978m) in December, 65.8% below December 2019’s total. 

On the plus side, that’s the highest monthly total and lowest rate of year-on-year decline since the pandemic took the market to the cleaners in February. December’s sum also represents a nearly 16% gain from November’s result. So, um, hurray? 

In financial terms, there is no real way to polish this turd, although the Macao Government Tourist Office released data this week showing average hotel room occupancy hit close to 70% during the Christmas period of December 23-27. Daily visitor arrivals averaged 24,503 during this period, a significant improvement over the 20,385 average over the first 22 days of December.