Poker Wins, Prison Sentences, and Prediction Market Battles: October 17 Digest

October 17 saw significant developments in the worlds of poker, sports, and regulatory battles. Here are the key stories:

Poker Highlights

Patrick Howard shared his strategies for effective bankroll management in poker, emphasizing the use of a specialized calculator. Meanwhile, Vitalijs Zavorotnijs secured his second PGT title and $224,000 by winning Poker Masters Event No. 4, outlasting a strong field including Clemen Deng and Nicholas Palma.

888.es introduced the Run It Twice feature to their cash games, allowing players to deal the board twice after an all-in, adding an extra layer of excitement and strategy.

Sports and Legal Developments

In sports news, Jalon Smith, a key figure in a college basketball game-fixing scheme, was sentenced to six years in federal prison. The scheme involved bribes and point-shaving across multiple NCAA games. The NFL has taken a strong stance against prediction markets, filing a brief in support of New Jersey against Kalshi, citing a lack of regulation and consumer protections. Former Arkansas senator Blanche Lincoln, who once opposed prediction markets, is now lobbying for Kalshi, a leading prediction market firm. Kalshi has paid Lincoln $480,000 since 2024.