Venezuelan Underground Poker Thrives Amid Chaos as Caesars Seeks Rent Relief

The underground live poker scene in Venezuela is booming despite the country's chaos. Gambling in Venezuela is only permitted in five regulated casinos, with online poker sitting in a legal grey area. Alex Vasquez reported queues forming outside illegal poker clubs in Venezuela since the pandemic began. Police even arrived at an underground poker game to provide security for a high-ranking politician.

Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment has requested rent relief from Missouri politicians for their Harrah’s Kansas City Hotel & Casino. The company pays the state rent on the land, which is $2 million or 2% of the gaming revenue, whichever is greater. Despite this, Caesars Entertainment has sold off the rights to the Bally’s brand to Twin River Worldwide Holdings.

In other news, GVC Holdings, owner of the partypoker brand, acquired the Portuguese online sportsbook Bet.pt. This move could smooth the path for partypoker into the Portuguese market. Additionally, more than $150 million has been wagered in Europe on the upcoming US presidential election, with 70% of those bets being placed on Joe Biden.