Casino City’s Friday Five: Big money edition

The 2018 World Series of Poker is underway, but that isn’t the only highlight of the week. Some large amounts have been won on jackpots or spent to expand or acquire a casino. Everyone wants to make money, and, not to be cliché, but sometimes you have to spend money to make money. So, let’s jump right into the stories.

5. Huge jackpot win at Slotland
Leprechaun Luck gave out a $286,206 jackpot this week. John W., a retired member of the Coast Guard, is looking to use his winnings from the Slotland game to purchase his own boat. It isn’t a bad day when it ends with having the problem of choosing a boat and being the captain of it.

John credited his patience for the payout. So, it makes sense that patience is a virtue, especially when it results in over $286,000.

4. Record $3 million won on Millionaires Island
PokerStars Casino player Anchor72 took home an even larger amount on a progressive jackpot slot game. The player won $3,047,961.04 on Millionaires Island. This is the highest payout from an in-house developed game on PokerStars Casino.

3. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa undergoing expansion
As I mentioned before, everyone wants to make money, and, not to be cliché, but sometimes you have to spend money to make money. That’s exactly what the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is doing. The Tampa casino announced an expansion that will cost close to $700 million. The expansion will bring about 5,000 more slot machines and 200 gaming tables.

The goal is to have it completed by the middle of 2019, so players and visitors can experience the 200,000-square-foot space of entertainment and, of course, gaming.

The expansion isn’t exclusively gaming-oriented, either. It will include a 15-story hotel tower with over 564 rooms and suites. The culinary amenities will be renovated and enhanced, as well. This is a well-rounded renovation that covers all areas of interest for guests.

Calling all Hard Rockers! It's an exciting day as we proudly unveil the full details of our $700M expansion that is projected to be completed in mid-2019. Check out our blog for the inside scoop: https://t.co/nf0zCJvoLj pic.twitter.com/omGB7MLU8E
— Seminole Hard Rock (@SHRTampa) May 30, 2018

2. MGM Resorts to acquire Empire City Casino
MGM Resorts is heading to New York. Empire City at Yonkers Raceway was obtained by MGM Resorts at the price of $850 million. This expense could even rise to a total of $900 million in the near future. If a license for live table games is awarded to Empire City by the end of the 2022 calendar year, then MGM Resorts will pay the additional $50 million.

Both sides are hopeful that the transactions in this case will close in the opening quarter of 2019.

Breaking: Casino industry acqusitions continue full steam ahead. MGM Resorts and MGM Growth Properties scoop up Empire City Casino in Yonkers, New York for $850 million. @reviewjournal
— Todd Prince (@toddprincetv) May 29, 2018

1. What to expect at the 2018 World Series of Poker

Welcome in the King's Lounge for the WSOP 2018!#POKERROOMKINGS #WSOP2018 pic.twitter.com/kiCGnPlfPR
— King's Casino (@PokerroomKings) May 29, 2018

The 49th edition of the World Series of Poker is underway. There are 78 gold bracelet events this year along with some new events and new rules being implemented.

The tournament has come a long way since the debut back in 1970 to the current 2018 tournament held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

All eyes will be on the $10,000 Main Event that begins 2 July and will end on 14 July. Last year’s showing at this event was an impressive 7,221 entries. We will see if 2018 can beat that!

Day One of @WSOP!! At the table w @JenniferTilly in $10,000 buy in NoLimHold’em Turbo tourney #POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/JZGhl3j5tx
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) May 30, 2018