Author Archives: The Daily Payoff

Capcom denounces loot boxes in 2020 report

Video game developers have each reacted in their own ways to governments and regulators cracking down on loot boxes. Capcom, the storied developer of games like Street Fighter and Resident Evil, has declared that they have no further interest in the lucrative money-making mechanic.

In their 2020 Annual report, Capcom has declared their intent to minimize, if not eliminate entirely, loot boxes from their games. “In the Japanese game market, discussions have been taking place for several years on the problem of gacha, or lottery-style game mechanics, primarily in mobile games. Overseas, gacha-like “loot boxes” have been banned in some countries,” they wrote.

Years of discussion weren’t enough to stop Capcom from previously offering loot boxes. The 2020 release of Resident Evil Resistance has gacha, as did the 2019 release of Devil May Cry 5. The growing opposition of several countries is a much more likely factor.

In May 2019, fellow Japanese developer Nintendo announced they would no longer support loot box filled games for customers in Belgium, where loot boxes have been regulated. Electronic Arts (EA) is rumored to be working on a similar geofencing on loot box options for FIFA, as they have been labeled one of the more aggressive pushes of loot box gaming.

Luke Reeves wins Super MILLION$ title for $408,406

The latest Super MILLION$ title went to Irish player Luke Reeves as he overcame a stacked final table packed with talent to win the top prize of $408,406.

With Melker Larsson going into play as the chip leader, much of the betting action actually ended up going on Ole Schemion and Daniel Dvoress, but after a rollercoaster ride across the best part of four hours, it was the Irishman Reeves who closed it out for the Super MILLION$ win.

Early Exits

The first player to leave the final table was no major surprise in terms of chipcounts going into the action as short-stacked American player Connor Drinan (who once lost all-in pre-flop with aces against aces in the million-dollar entry Big One for One Drop) busted first.

Roberto Romanello wins the latest WPT High Roller

Roberto Romanello recently left partypoker after a very successful period as an ambassador. Soon after, however, he decided to enter the WPT Montreal High Roller on partypoker online for $5,000, but what led to that decision, what does he think of his time at partypoker and how did the Bet Clever owner and director get on?

We spoke to Romanello to find out, kicking off with his time wearing the orange diamond as a partypoker Team Pro and ambassador.

“Although my partypoker contract come to an end, it’s been an amazing time playing with the partypoker badge on,” says Romanello, that trademark glint in his eye ever-present. “They’ve been brilliant in every way and I only have good things to say about the company and all the people at party.”

Looking at the WPT Montreal High Roller, Fish and Chip restauranteur Romanello was licking his lips at the potential to win big money, and he knew it would be a tough field. Far from this putting him off, this only encouraged Romanello to play.

Chattha, Schulze and Shak all reach WPT Montreal Main Event Final Table

After 888 entries provided a seven-figure prizepool, the WPT Montreal Main Event has reached the final table and there are some outstanding players still in the hunt for the massive $447,859 top prize.

With the player who busts in ninth place only guaranteed a return of $37,024, the competition is going to be extremely fierce at the start. It’s Dan Shak who leads the way, bagging up just under 30 million chips, and with the big blind at 350,000, Shak will be armed with 85 big blinds.

Shak may have the lead, but he’ll be closely pursued by some of the best in the game. Germany have four players in the final nine, and Andrei Kriazhev (28.6 million) will be the player with most hope of putting those chips to the best use in the final, although Lebanese player Rayan Chamas (29.1 million) has even more with which to attack.

Two British players follow the top three in the chipcounts, with Jack Hardcastle in 4th place heading into the action wit 25.4 million and Chaz Chattha, who has previously enjoyed a lot of success in World Poker Tour event, 5th with 19.4 million chips.

Super Bowl 55 MVP odds: QBs lead the pack

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

We can’t do a Super Bowl 55 props story for the February 7 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and not have one of them feature odds on the game’s MVP as that’s always one of the most popular betting options for the big game at sportsbooks.

While there is no such thing as a lock in sports betting, if you wager on someone other than the two starting quarterbacks to win MVP then it’s probably lost money. A quarterback has won the award a whopping 30 times and thus the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is the -120 betting favorite for Super Bowl 55 (because his team is favored) and the Bucs’ Tom Brady is the +210 second favorite – and then there’s a massive dropoff on the odds.

There is also a prop on the Super Bowl MVP winner’s position and a quarterback is -375; betting on that obviously eliminates the need to predict which team wins the game. A wide receiver is +375, tight end +850, running back +1000, any defensive position +1100 and a kicker +5000. No tight end or kicker (or offensive lineman) has won Super Bowl MVP.

Wales Beats Germany to Win APAT World Team Championship

They’re celebrating in Wales this week thanks to an impressive performance by some of the country’s top amateur poker players.

The Welsh flag is flying high after four of the country’s amateur poker stars won the 2021 APAT World Team Championship. (Image: BT)

As part of APAT’s World Championship of Amateur Poker (WCOAP), 10 teams lined up for an international showdown on Partypoker.

When the final chips fell, Team Wales emerged victorious. To make the victory even sweeter, they did something the Welsh national soccer team rarely does: they beat Germany.