Alex Weldon

Managing Editor for PokerScout, Gaming America, and Techopedia. Painting, cooking, disc golf, puns, politics, game design. Broadly curious.

[Gaming America @_GamingAmerica_]

https://t.co/BuKsbe1E9D

[Gaming America @_GamingAmerica_]

Florida's crackdown on illegal gambling continues to intensify. A raid this week resulted in the seizure of nearly 500 slots-like devices, including 80 from a single venue.

A bill to strengthen anti-gambling laws failed to pass this year, but enforcement actions continue.

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

https://t.co/XJTplsaOh8

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

Although poker fans were excited by WSOP's new "Mothership" for featured tables, that enthusiasm has given way to frustration for those hoping to sweat their favorite players in real time. GGPoker's approach to editing means streams are on a multi-hour delay, sparking complaints.

[Alex Weldon @BeneFactumGames]

@lilyraynyc @heynavtoor I know, right? "Is AI getting blander, more predictable?" -> Posts the blandest, most obviously AI tweet in the history of AI tweeting.

[Gaming America @_GamingAmerica_]

https://t.co/8VzCBVeDnq

[Gaming America @_GamingAmerica_]

Kalshi's volume on the World Cup winner was $123 million as of midnight yesterday, $165 million now. But that's a misleading metric. In markets like this, the amount of money actually at risk is much smaller, as most of that volume belongs to the No side and only one team can win

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

https://t.co/Q1KNE4yClt

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

States are split on whether a "game of chance" means one based partially on chance, or entirely on chance. Texas is now in the former camp, as AG Ken Paxton has affirmed to authorities that skill features do not exempt a game from the legal definition of gambling.

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

https://t.co/hZ0U1NJFyN

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

Field sizes are down at WSOP this year. Tighter discretionary budgets in the U.S. may be a factor, but international players' reluctance to travel to the U.S. looks even more significant, based on less diversity in deep-tournament fields. And then there's the World Cup.

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

https://t.co/3XBXRFeA1S

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

Death, taxes, and player complaints at the WSOP. You don't need to be a prediction market sharp to have foretold that there'd be whinging about dealers and parking, rake and structures... but is it worse than usual this year? Quite possibly.

[Gaming America @_GamingAmerica_]

https://t.co/XZZtRbXlp3

[Gaming America @_GamingAmerica_]

Anything that would hurt Nevada's gaming industry is usually a political nonstarter, but longshot gubernatorial candidate Alexis Hill says it's time casinos paid a tax rate similar to other states', in order to focus on help for small business and affordability for everyone else.

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

https://t.co/TWvyyGKHob

[PokerScout @pokerscoutcom]

Federal authorities have been on a roll with gambling busts since last October's high-profile indictments. One of the latest busts, dubbed 'Operation Porterhouse Parlay', took place in northwestern Indiana in April, and the feds have now added RICO charges for the suspects.

[Gaming America @_GamingAmerica_]

https://t.co/cLsRtzZerk

[Gaming America @_GamingAmerica_]

When American prediction bettors on Kalshi take note of a foreign election, you know it's an interesting one. Leftist Peruvian presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez holds the tiniest of leads, but sharps believe expat mail-in votes will swing it for his opponent, Keiko Fujimori.