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Articles by Ivan Potocki
New Zealand Applications Spell Bad News for Poker Players
The New Zealand online gambling landscape is going to change significantly on December 1, as this date represents the deadline by which all the providers not in possession of a locally issued license will have to stop serving customers in the country.
BetMGM Casino Launches LegendSCARY, Its Biggest Halloween Campaign to Date
Halloween is usually one of the biggest holidays in the online gambling industry, with many operators going out of their way to bring those spooky vibes to life and set the Halloween mood on their sites. This year, it is BetMGM Casino leading the way among regulated US online casinos, launching LegendSCARY. This is by far the operator’s largest seasonal campaign of the year, with the spirit of Halloween fully taking over the site.
Which Poker Training Sites Have Solvers?
In today’s environment, players looking to learn poker, especially after getting out of the beginner’s stage, have many proverbial balls to juggle. Back in the day, the simplest way for someone to improve was to join a poker training site of their choosing and, if they liked what they found, stick with it. These days, though, in addition to learning from videos or lessons, players looking to excel often need to put in additional work with solvers.
PokerNews Online Championship Returns to 888 This October
Once more, 888 is joining forces with PokerNews to bring an exciting online tournament series to life. The 2026 PokerNews Online Championship will be taking place on the 888 poker platform, running Oct 18 — 27 and featuring 40 individual events. The series is set to dish out just under $800,000 in guaranteed prizes, and the rich schedule features buy-ins to fit every bankroll. Starting from just $8.80 and going all the way up to $525, there are tournaments for players of all experience levels.
Mixed Game Festival XV Day 5 Recap: Josh Arieh Helps Us Go Out with a Bang!
It is true what they say – time flies when you’re having fun. The final day of Mixed Game Festival XV crept up with no warning as the crowd started to gather at Bellagio for one last day of fun-filled dealer’s choice action. Things got off to a good start, with three tables running right off the bat – two $4/8 and one $9/18. But while poker obviously plays the critical role in our Mixed Game Festivals, they’re not really about the stakes or the money.
PokerStars Exiting Alberta on October 13, No Information on Re-Launch
PokerStars sent out emails to its Alberta players, notifying them that it will be exiting the market on October 13. PokerStars has previously blocked access to its casino and sports products, and now the poker site will be closing down, too. The development is due to regulatory changes in the Canadian province. Alberta launched a regulated online gambling market on July 13, 2026, requiring operators to acquire a local license from the AGLC.
Mixed Game Festival XV Day 4 Recap: Eli Elezra in the Mix, and More Free Merch
Following on all the excitement from the previous day, Day 4 of Mixed Game Festival XV was a bit of quieter affair, but there was still plenty of fun to be had, and many nice surprises for those who took their seats at the table. The peak moment of the day was when Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra popped up and sat down to splash around in the low-stakes dealer’s choice streets.
888 Poker’s YouTube Channel Hits Major Milestone, Reaching 500,000 Subscribers
In a LinkedIn post published a couple of days ago, Heli Hecht, Global Video & Production Manager at 888holdings, announced that the 888poker YouTube channel, which is one of her key responsibilities at the company, has reached 500,000 subscribers. This is a major milestone for the popular poker site, as the channel celebrated its 100,000 milestone in 2023. Today, about three and a half years later, the number of subscribers has grown fivefold, and it continues to climb every day.
Mixed Game Festival XV Day 3 Recap: Everybody Gets a Prize!
Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XV is in the books, and it was certainly the most vibrant one so far. This was evident not just in the number of players who showed up at Bellagio, but also in the energy-filled, positive atmosphere that took over the room. Of course, the sheer number of surprise prizes that were flying left and right certainly helped.
Mixed Game Festival XV Day 2 Recap: Our First TORSE Tournament and (More) Free Pizza!
The second day of the Mixed Game Festival XV kicked off at noon at Bellagio. At the center of the daily activities was the $300 TORSE tournament, which got off to a somewhat slow start, but ended up exceeding expectations for a “random Tuesday in October.” The action started with two tournament tables and one low-stakes dealer’s choice cash game running, but with three hours of late registration, players had plenty of time to get over to Bellagio and join the fun.
Mixed Game Festival XV Day 1 Recap: The Festival Returns to Bellagio!
Once more, the Las Vegas Strip is hot with non-Hold’em action as the Mixed Game Festival is back in town. This is the fourth time that Bellagio is hosting the popular festival, and the first time in autumn, as the previous three iterations all took place during peak summer season.
Octopi Poker Is Rolling Out Some Big Changes This October
There are some big changes coming to Octopi Poker that you should be aware of, whether you’ve already used this poker training platform in the past or are considering signing up. In case you are just hearing the name for the first time, Octopi Poker is a fairly fresh training platform that caters to players of different skill levels.
Happy Hour Rakeback Promo Returns to 888 for Another Week
888 has some good news for all cash game grinders, as the Happy Hour Rakeback promo is back for another week. Running through October 6, the promo gives all players a chance to get 30% extra rakeback across all cash game tables during designated time slots. This is one of the longstanding promotions at 888 Poker that the operator brings around every couple of months.
Poker-Driven Team and the Community: BetRivers Poker’s Unique Approach to Rewarding Players
Since the day it launched, BetRivers Poker has been focusing on giving back to the players and creating a platform that combines fun, competition, and extra value. But there is a gap between wanting to provide extra value and actually coming up with ways to do it. Helping to bridge that gap is the job of the promotional team at BetRivers Poker, managed by Nick Steiner.
888poker’s Ian Simpson Dominates at the UKPL Manchester Festival
The Manchester leg of the UK Poker League organized by 888poker and Grosvenor Casinos is in the books. It was another successful stop for the popular UKPL, but one player in particular came back from Manchester with some great memories. The player in question is none other than Ian Simpson, one of 888poker’s most prominent ambassadors. Simpson came to Manchester ready to play, and he left the city with two new titles to his name and £54,000 in prize money.
BLAST Cashback Returns to 888poker for Another Week
The second half of September is shaping up to be quite an eventful period over at 888poker. A few days back, the operator announced its popular XL Autumn Series, giving tournament players plenty to get excited about, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For those who enjoy a faster brand of poker that involves jackpots and big win multipliers, the operator is also bringing back its popular BLAST Cashback promo, running Sep 17 — 23.
888poker’s XL Autumn Series Returns With a $300k Main Event
As the summer of 2026 is coming to its official end, 888poker is welcoming the new season with its trademark XL Autumn Series. Running September 20 — 29, the series features 41 events and a spread of buy-ins to fit every bankroll. At the center of it all is the $250 Main Event that comes with a guarantee of $300,000.
The 2026 WPT World Championship Is Returning to Las Vegas This December
Last verified: September 2026 New Account Required PokerStars on FanDuel is Live! Special Launch Welcome Offer: up to $1000 deposit bonus for all players! Free $30 in Spin and Goal tickets at signup for a chance to win $1M All new software and three-state online poker network Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, visit the National Council of Problem Gambling.
Aaron Barone’s Deep Main Event Run Concludes 888poker’s WSOP Docuseries
The six-part WSOP series powered by 888poker has concluded with the final episode published this past weekend. The focus was entirely on Aaron Barone, the only ambassador left in the running. Barone is not primarily a live tournament player; last year, he even jokingly wore a shirt with a print of his less-than-impressive Hendon Mob stats. That said, the Main Event has a special place in his heart, and he’s shown it throughout this mini-series.
Best Poker Training Sites That Teach Mixed Games
There is an abundance of resources for players of all levels looking to improve their No Limit Hold’em skill. Lately, there’s been a rise in training sites offering PLO content, too. However, if you’re looking for the best poker training sites featuring mixed game content, your options are quite limited. There are currently no training sites fully devoted to mixed games, which is expected, considering this is still a niche segment.
Double Glitch Promo Returns to BetRivers Poker
There is some great news coming from BetRivers Poker for all the fans of Cub3d games, the operator’s popular jackpot format. Specifically, the site is bringing back its Double Glitch promo, awarding extra cash to players who finish in second and third place. For those not familiar with the site, BetRivers Poker does things a bit differently when it comes to its jackpot sit and gos.
Alex Theologis Releases Practical ICM Mastery on Run It Once
For all tournament players out there looking for quality poker training resources, there is a new course available on Run It Once, and it is designed to help you make better decisions when it really matters. Practical ICM Mastery was created by Alex Theologis, one of the best online tournament players around, and the course brings a wealth of modern poker knowledge.
PokerStars on FanDuel Announces September Dynasty Series in the US and Ontario
Last verified: September 2026 New Account Required PokerStars on FanDuel is Live! Special Launch Welcome Offer: up to $1000 deposit bonus for all players! Free $30 in Spin and Goal tickets at signup for a chance to win $1M All new software and three-state online poker network Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, visit the National Council of Problem Gambling.
Alberta Backs International Shared Liquidity in Major Canada Online Poker Case
Ontario and Alberta, the only two Canadian provinces with regulated commercial online gaming markets, have been fighting a legal battle to get approval to go outside provincial borders and create a shared player pool. There are two goals that both provinces want to achieve. The first (and an easier-to-obtain) target is for Ontario and Alberta to be allowed to combine their players, much like regulated US states do through the MSIGA.
From Chill Moments to Heartbreaks, 888poker’s WSOP Mini Series Has It All
In case you’ve missed the news, 888poker has been releasing its WSOP mini-series over the last few weeks, and four out of a total of five episodes are now available to watch on the operator’s YouTube channel. The series follows five 888poker ambassadors on their 2026 WSOP Main Event journey, starting with preparations and arrival in Las Vegas. While all five have the dream of winning, the way they approach the tournament and what the Main Event means to them differs a lot.
Justin Young Joins the PokerCoaching Team, Reveals New Course for Live Cash Games
PokerCoaching.com, one of the biggest and best-known poker training sites around, has announced a new member joining their team. The man in question is Justin Young, who is probably best-known to the wider poker community for his role as a host of the popular Table 1 Vegas Podcast. Young has had many interesting guests on his podcast over the years, often featuring players who don’t give many interviews.
888poker’s Noche de Poker El Festival Is Coming to Seville Next Week
888poker’s Noche de Poker El Festival is coming back for the third time this year. Starting on August 31, the operator’s new live tour will take place in Seville, bringing heaps of hot and affordable poker action. The festival is taking place at the Casino Admiral, running August 31 — September 6, and offering a colorful schedule of live tournaments with very low buy-ins.
PokerStars on FanDuel Launches Nightly Stars Leaderboard With $2,500 in Weekly Prizes
The next couple of weeks bring some extra excitement for all tournament players on PokerStars on FanDuel as the operator is launching a new weekly leaderboard with generous prizes up for grabs. Dubbed the Nightly Stars Leaderboard, the promo will dish out $2,500 on a weekly basis, giving the winners valuable tournament tickets to use in the upcoming Nightly Stars events. For now, the leaderboard is set to run for just two weeks (Aug 24 — 29 and Aug 31 — Sep 5).
Core Changes to the PLO Trainer Software That You May Have Missed
Pot Limit Omaha has grown tremendously in terms of popularity in the last few years. That growth has resulted in increased demand for poker training sites and software solutions aimed specifically at the four-card game. One of these is the PLO Trainer, a Pot Limit Omaha poker solver developed by PLO Mastermind.
GTOWizard Launches Multiway ICM Postflop Solving
The world of poker solvers continues to evolve, presenting us with more advanced solutions for different aspects of the game. Until relatively recently, poker solvers were mostly limited to heads-up spots, but in the last couple of years, we’ve seen serious advancement in multiway spots, too. GTOWizard is one of the leading products in the poker solver space, and they are usually the ones leading the charge when it comes to innovation.
Win up to $500 in Tournament Tickets via BetRivers Poker Founders Double Promo
If you are a tournament player and enjoy the competition, the new Founders Double promo on BetRivers Poker is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. The operator is raising the stakes and offering all players a chance to claim additional rewards by reaching the final table of select tournaments on the same night. Should you happen to go all the way and win both, you’ll pick up $500 in tournament tickets, on top of all the cash from the actual prize pools.
Top Poker Training Tools of 2026
If you’re looking to learn poker today, things have changed quite a bit compared to 10 or 15 years ago. We’ve moved on from watching videos and reading coaching materials to a much more hands-on approach that involves a variety of poker tools. These range from simple collections of preflop charts that you can always have ready on your phone to complex solvers that cater to the most studious of players who can spend hours looking at different scenarios and node locks for specific situations.
Phil Galfond’s Beyond The Game Poker Training Program Is Back for Another Season
Phil Galfond is a player who needs no introduction. Over the years, he established himself as one of the best Pot Limit Omaha players alive; he founded a popular Run It Once training site, and, as of late, he’s been one of the main ambassadors for BetRivers Poker. There is no denying that Galfond is one of the most passionate students of the game, but he is equally as passionate about spreading the knowledge. It was that passion that gave birth to Run It Once, but that didn’t feel like enough.
888poker Reveals a Five-Part Series Following Its Ambassadors’ Main Event Exploits
Once more, 888poker is bringing a docu-series following its ambassadors on their Las Vegas journey, with a focus on the Main Event. This year’s series follows five players, starting from the moment they embark on the journey. The first episode is out now, and it is aptly titled The Pilgrimage, as it brings us glimpses of traveling from different parts of the world to Las Vegas, as well as players’ thoughts and emotions about playing in poker’s biggest tournament.
888poker Launches UKPL Manchester Challenge Ahead of Its September Live Event
The popular UK Poker League (UKPL) is coming to Manchester in September, and 888poker is giving all players from the United Kingdom a chance to qualify for the Main Event via a special challenge leading to a big freeroll that will send 30 players to the tournament. UKPL Manchester is the penultimate event of the season, coming on the heels of Luton, Blackpool, and Reading South festivals. It is set to take place Sep 15 — 20, 2026.
Best Poker Training Sites That Teach PLO
If you’re looking to expand your poker knowledge beyond Texas Hold’em, the next best variation is Pot Limit Omaha. The four-card game has exploded in recent years, becoming a go-to option for many players live and online alike. Of course, although there are quite a few similarities between Hold’em and PLO, you can’t exactly make the jump from one to the other and expect to be a winning player. PLO is, in fact, quite complicated, and it differs from Hold’em on many levels.
Jason Koon Is the Lone Inductee for the 2026 Poker Hall of Fame
The votes are in, and the decision was made. Jason Koon is the only player to receive the Poker Hall of Fame honor this year, and his name will become forever a part of poker history. The PokerStars ambassador who turned 40 last year only became eligible for poker’s greatest honor this year, and the fact that he was inducted on his very first nomination speaks volumes not just about his success on the felt but also the respect Koon enjoys among his peers.
888poker LIVE Season Wraps Up in London in October
888poker is gearing up for an exciting festival in London, which will crown yet another successful season of the operator’s main live tour. Following the festivals in Madrid, Glasgow, and Barcelona, 888poker LIVE is coming to London’s Grosvenor Victoria Casino October 8 — 18, bringing with it an extensive schedule of fun and affordable tournaments.
PokerStars on FanDuel Upgrades Its Nightly Stars Tournaments
A couple of days back, PokerStars on FanDuel announced some major improvements to its tournament schedule, but instead of adding new events, the operator focused on improving the existing ones and giving players more bang for their buck. The changes focused on Nightly Stars tournaments, daily events that form the backbone of the operator’s MTT schedule, attracting the biggest crowds and offering the best value for money.
Get on the Road to the Multi-State Summer Series on BetRivers Poker
The 2026 World Series of Poker may be behind us, but the heated poker action continues. Online players in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia can look forward to the Multi-State Summer Series coming up on BetRivers Poker and even win some entries into the upcoming series ahead of time.
888poker Rolls Out Summer Fest Featuring $8,000 in Prizes & Live Event Packages
The summer is here, and 888poker is ramping things up, giving players something to keep them busy over the next few weeks. Running July 20 — August 23, 2026, the Summer Fest brings $8,000 in guaranteed prizes and opportunities to win packages to live events via special freerolls taking place every Sunday.
The 2026 WSOP Main Event Final Table Is Set: Action Resumes on August 3
The biggest of all final tables was set last night as the 2026 WSOP Main Event field dwindled down from 21 players who started the day to just nine. All in all, it took over 11 hours on Day 8 to reach this point, but now, we have the names of the nine players who’ll be coming back on August 3 to resume the chase for the most coveted of all WSOP bracelets. All nine are guaranteed a handsome payday, as the minimum any of them will take home is a cool million.
888poker’s Aaron Barone Accomplishes His Career-Best in the 2026 WSOP Main Event
The WSOP Main Event is a tournament unlike any other. Gathering thousands of players and featuring a field made up of hardened professionals, complete amateurs, and everything in between, it continues to write new stories and create unforgettable memories. One of this year’s stories is that of Aaron Barone, one of the most prominent 888poker ambassadors and the man whose focus is largely on online poker.
The 2026 WSOP Main Event Down to 533, ‘The Grinder’ Still in the Mix
From the starting field of over 9,200 players, the 2026 WSOP Main Event is down to just 533. The defending champion, Michael ‘The Grinder’ Mizrachi, is among the survivors, and the dream of going back-to-back in poker’s biggest event is still alive. Mizrachi will have his work cut out for him when the action resumes today for Day 5, though, as he is starting with the stack of around 30 big blinds and some serious catching up to do.
Happy Hour Rakeback Promo Returns to 888poker This Week
888poker is bringing back its popular Happy Hour Rakeback campaign, giving players a chance to claim an additional 30% in rakeback when playing during designated times. The promotion runs July 8 — 14, 2026, and it will be active across all eligible cash tables every day between 17:00 and 19:00 GMT (13:00 — 15:00 EST). The campaign runs alongside any additional active bonuses or promotions a player has active during the time, so the extra rakeback comes on top of these.
The 2026 WSOP Main Event Attracts the Field of 9,208 Players
With the registration for the 2026 WSOP Main Event officially closing, we have the final number of entries for poker’s biggest live tournament, and that number, according to the WSOP Live app, is 9,208. While it is possible that a few more players will be added to the total over the next couple of hours, we don’t expect any significant changes. All participants have to be entered into the app system to be assigned their seats, so this number should be quite accurate.
The Clubs Poker Summer Series Halftime Report: Over 220,000 in SC Awarded
The Summer Series over at Clubs Poker is now in full swing, with almost half of the schedule in the books. So far, the series has posted some strong numbers, and there is plenty more action to come. The series kicked off on June 26, featuring a total of 190 events, 400,000 SC in guaranteed prizes, and more than 20 different poker variations, making it the biggest and most ambitious online festival we’ve seen on Clubs Poker since its launch.
Daniel Negreanu Breaks the Dry Spell and Claims His Eighth WSOP Bracelet
It took some effort, but Daniel Negreanu finally managed to get the monkey off his back at this year’s World Series of Poker, taking down the $100,000 PLO High Roller. Triumphing in a small but extremely stacked field, Negreanu claimed over $2.2 million in prize money and his eighth WSOP bracelet. The win comes just at the right time, as Daniel has had quite a rough series so far. Despite a few deep runs, prior to this result, he was stuck well over $500,000.
Enjoy Another Week of the BLAST Cashback Campaign at 888poker
Once more, 888poker is putting its popular BLAST format right, front, and center, inviting players to get involved, play as much as possible over the next few days, and reap additional benefits. The new BLAST Cashback campaign runs July 2 — 8, giving everyone a chance to get up to 50% cashback on all the tournament fees paid playing BLAST games during the period. Depending on how much you play, you can end up with as much as $500 in cashback, regardless of your actual results.
The First-Ever WSOP Super Circuit Montreal Brings Over $14M in Guarantees
New Account Required PokerStars on FanDuel is Live! Special Launch Welcome Offer: up to $1000 deposit bonus for all players! Free $30 in Spin and Goal tickets at signup for a chance to win $1M All new software and three-state online poker network Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, visit the National Council of Problem Gambling.
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