The Mike Postle drama is a bit like the 11th and final season of the U.S. sitcom Happy Days. By the time it comes to an end, you’re not sure whether you’ll like any of the characters involved.

That might change after the weekend just gone, however, as Phil Galfond, the poker player even other players like, vowed to assist others in investigating Mike Postle

There have, of course, been plenty of investigations into the actions of Mike Postle at the time of going to press. As well as YouTube detectives Joey Ingram and Doug Polk branding up clips with their inimitable styles and slogans, Postle has already had his case heard in court – well, kind of. So far, the jury may not have needed to go out, but Postle’s name is hardly clear. It very much feels like he simply has been caught up yet. While the alleged Stones Live cheat started out a good couple of states clear of his pursuers, however, it does feel more and more like Postle is just a couple of blocks ahead of those behind him.

A shot in the arm for the plaintiffs still trying to seek compensation, emotional, financial or otherwise from Postle could come in the form of Phil Galfond. The Run It Once owner reached out to the poker community to help this weekend.

The business end of the National Rugby League (NRL) Finals series is set to kick-off this week after a COVID interrupted season. The Panthers locked in the minor premiership for only the third time in the club’s history with 15 consecutive wins. They are set to take on back-to-back champions the Roosters in the opening fixture.

We’ve taken a look at the finals line-up and given our tips on who is likely to advance to the second week of the NRL finals.

Panthers vs Roosters

The Panthers have been in superb form, off the back of 15 consecutive wins to close out the regular season. Under the guidance of a coaching duo of Ivan Cleary and Trent Barrett, the Panthers have been humming nicely in attack, while their opponents are coming off a horrendous 60-6 defeat to the Rabbitohs in the penultimate round of the regular season.

Gambling ads could be a slightly more endangered species on UK Facebook feeds following a deal between the social media giant and the country’s gambling regulator.  

On Monday, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced a partnership with Facebook to help UK residents limit the number of gambling come-ons they encounter while using the platform. Basically, it involves users ignoring their Qanon research long enough to bother investigating their content options via the site’s tools and settings.

The UKGC reached a similar understanding with Twitter in January, the specifics of which were equally apparent to any user who could be arsed to examine what tools were already at their disposal rather than simply moan about unwanted product pitches.

It’s worth remembering that the UKGC’s own surveys indicate that gamblers’ overall engagement with and susceptibility to social media marketing was already on the decline. However, there were increases in the impressionable 18-24 age demo, so perhaps less cynical types can see some actual merit in these ‘being seen to be doing something’ exercises.

Ukraine’s cyber-cops have busted a major online casino technology hub, as the government continues to prepare the ground for its regulated online gambling market.

On Monday, the Cyberpolice of Ukraine announced the arrest of an undisclosed number of individuals working for a “turnkey online casino creation and technical support services” operation in Kyiv. The operation reportedly had over 80 staff supporting over 20 illegal online casinos with around half-a-million customers.

The unidentified company was ostensibly set up for the development of legal online games and support services but in reality charged would-be gambling operators US$20k for a bare-bones online casino product with a full marketing service available for an additional $100k monthly fee. The group reportedly earned up to $500k per month through its illegal services.

Last week, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov said that cybercrimes had increased 250% over the past five years, necessitating greater coordination among the country’s law enforcement agencies. But illegal gambling is also flourishing offline.

Thailand’s anti-online gambling campaign is now targeting international social media giants and the nation’s telecom operators, as previous efforts fail to staunch the interest of local gamblers.  

Last week, Thailand’s government filed formal complaints against Facebook and Twitter for allegedly failing to comply with local court rulings ordering them to block content involving online gambling, porn, illegal drugs and unflattering profiles of the Thai monarchy, all of which are forbidden under the country’s Computer Crime Act.

Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta said the social media giants had failed to comply with court orders requiring them to block hundreds of online accounts within the required 15-day period. Facebook reportedly blocked only 215 of 661 offending accounts while Twitter had blocked only four of 69 suspect accounts on its platform.

A police spokesperson warned that the social media firms could face fines of THB200k (US$6,300) plus additional daily fines of THB5k until the accounts are blocked. Given Facebook’s earnings, the penalties hardly represent an existential threat, so the Thai government may be forced to take more drastic measures in future.

Cambodia’s casino sector is slowly coming back to life after its prolonged pandemic hibernation.

Last Friday, Australian-listed casino operator Donaco International Ltd announced the “limited reopening” of its flagship Star Vegas casino in Poipet, Cambodia. All Cambodian casinos were ordered to close in April as the government tried to lower its COVID-19 infection count.

Donaco said the limited relaunch would allow Star Vegas to “test its operational systems whilst ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff and visitors.” The company tempered expectations by noting that Thailand’s border with Cambodia remains closed, blocking the primary source of Star Vegas clientele, while insisting the property wouldn’t incur “any material additional expenses” due to the limited nature of the restart. 

Earlier this month, Donaco revealed the financial toll the shutdown had on its fiscal 2020 performance, including a non-cash impairment charge of AU$50.5m due to its downgrading of the value of the Star Vegas casino license amid the ongoing pandemic uncertainty.

The battle for supremacy between two of poker’s top players has begun and Phil Galfond has finished the first few sessions at the felt with an early lead.

After a dramatic clash with VeniVidi in his first challenge, Phil Galfond spoke to us about the experience and his thoughts for the remaining challenges ahead.

Everyone is expecting this €100/€200 Pot Limit Omaha battle against Chance Kornuth to be one of toughest challenges he faces. So Galfond getting off to a strong start, winning €78,500 so far is impressive.

While the summer has been a quiet one for Galfond, he’s clearly been working hard on his game and it has showed that both men are focused on PLO in the first handful of sessions. Having played only 2,500 of the 35,000 hands that will take place, there is a very long way to go, but Galfond has made the slightly stronger start.