WPT Returns with Seven Events, Crown Resorts Faces Scrutiny

The World Poker Tour (WPT) has finalized its North American schedule for the remainder of 2021, with seven tour events planned. Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour, stated that the tour is eager to meet the great demand for WPT events leading up to their twenty-year anniversary in 2022. Angelica Hael, VP of Global Tour Management for the World Poker Tour, expressed excitement about the full and exciting schedule of events for their players.

A Royal Commission in Victoria, Australia, conducted an enquiry into alleged irresponsible gaming practices at the Crown Resorts casino in Melbourne. Crown Resorts reduced the number of hours a patron could gamble before an employee would step in to assess any welfare concerns from 24 to 18 hours. Two years ago, one customer gambled for an incredible 34 hours straight, and then they were only asked to take a break for 8 hours instead of the usual policy of 24.

Back in February Crown Resorts was prevented from reopening a casino in Sydney after a New South Wales committee enquiry concluded that the business was unfit to hold a gaming license. Crown Resorts changed its policy to only allow patrons to gamble for 12 hours in any 24 hour period. Macau casinos have brought in more than $1 billion for the third month in a row, indicating that the Asian gambling paradise has finally recovered from the pandemic. Gamblers lost a total of $1.3bn during May 2021, a period when visitors from mainland China are now finding it easier to travel abroad as restrictions ease. A total of 167,000 tourists entered Macau during May, with 93% of those coming from the mainland.