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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Luke Littler gets reality check as he's told he wouldn't get near darts icon
Luke Littler has been tipped to surpass Phil Taylor as the greatest darts player of all time, but Dennis Priestley believes the 18-year-old wouldn't be able to rival 'The Power' Darts legend Dennis Priestley has suggested that Luke Littler wouldn't "get close" to Phil Taylor if they played in the same era. Littler, 18, has made huge waves on the darts scene since his remarkable debut at the PDC World Championship in 2023. Following his extraordinary journey to the final at Alexandra Palace when he was only 16, Littler went on to become the youngest ever darts World Champion in January this year. Despite the teenager's meteoric rise and predictions that he could break Taylor's record of 16 world titles, 1991 World Champion Priestley remains sceptical. He even places Littler's fierce rival, Luke Humphries, above him. "I think Phil Taylor in his prime was more consistent than even Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are at the moment," the 74-year-old told OLBG. "Phil's records tell us the whole story and he was so good that it was hard for anyone to get close to him. I think if you put a prime Phil Taylor into the current game he would be world No. 1 with Humphries in second and Littler in third." Littler, known as 'The Nuke', is also chasing Taylor's haul of six Premier League Darts titles, just one behind Michael van Gerwen's seven. The prodigy has already claimed one title, having won it on his first attempt last year, reports the Express. However, he failed to retain his title on Thursday night, as Humphries triumphed over him 11-8 in London, avenging last year's defeat. In an unexpected twist, Humphries disclosed that it was Taylor himself who offered him some sage advice to help him defeat Littler. "Phil Taylor has given me a lot of support over the last couple of weeks or so," Humphries shared with Sky Sports. "Phil, if you are watching, thank you. He gave me a lot of advice and that extra support." The notion of 'The Power' backing Humphries is bound to raise eyebrows, especially after the 64-year-old suggested that Littler would need to make a significant impact in the sport if he wants to surpass him. "If he wants to carry on and win, beat my records, then he's going to have to be dedicated. And I mean dedicated for at least 25 years," Taylor told talkSPORT. Taylor had a glittering 31-year professional career from 1987 to 2018, during which he clinched two BDO world titles in 1990 and 1992. He also won the World Championship 14 times between 1995 and 2013. However, in what some saw as a veiled jibe at the man he's trying to outdo in the history books, Littler suggested that Taylor would "struggle" in today's environment. "He (Taylor) also won the World Matchplay 16 times, so he's won two of the big majors 16 times - it'll take some doing," Littler said on the Stick to Football podcast in April. "It (the competition) is a lot better now. You still had Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow - it was still a good field but nowadays, I think Phil would struggle," he added. "If I can be bothered to stay around for that time (I could maybe beat his record). If I want to (continue playing), then I will." Littler has been confirmed to represent England in the 2025 World Cup of Darts alongside Premier League winner Humphries. The duo will join forces at the event scheduled from June 12 to 15 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
8 most popular online casino card games
8 most popular online casino card games Online casino games continue to become more and more popular. Casino card games for real money are no exception, and you might be wondering what different types of card games are available in online casinos. The list below from OLBG provides a guide to the most popular and easiest gambling games to play online. What card games are available at online casinos? 1. Poker There is no bigger online card game available than poker. So big, in fact-with so much prize money available-that it supports many professional players from around the world competing for millions and millions of dollars year-round. The aim of the game is to have the best hand in the group playing. You have two cards that only you see, and five more cards for everyone to use to make a hand. There is betting throughout the dealing of the cards. The skill of this game is understanding the probability of what you have in your hand against what everyone else might have, and it then becomes a mental battle as your betting decisions are used to either back up what you are holding in your private pair of cards, or convince your opponents you have something better than what you really have and prompt them to fold. Online poker has many dedicated sites based solely only the game, but online casinos will also host tournaments and offer variations of the basic game 2. Blackjack 21 is the name of the game, the holy grail, and the unbeatable hand. That said, having your cards total 21 doesn't always mean a win should the dealer match you with the same number. This fast-paced game is one of the most popular online casino app games after slots and roulette. Real money blackjack online continues to grow in popularity and, as such, can be played at live online casinos, or in various video variations. There are even progressive blackjack games available with growing jackpots that can be won. These jackpots can be life-changing amounts. There are many variations of the classic 21 blackjack games. Online casino blackjack variations: Classic BlackjackLive DealerMicro LimitHigh LimitsAtlantic City777 BlazingPro Multi-HandEuropean BlackjackVegas BlackjackSingle DeckMulti DeckMonte CarloProgressive Jackpot The list of variations of blackjack is almost endless. Some online casinos offer in excess of 30. 3. Video Poker Classic video poker remains as popular today as it has been since the advent of video poker gaming machines in land-based casinos were introduced. Video poker is a fast-paced game-that is part of its charm. In its most basic form, it begins with a five-card draw, of which you can keep or switch out as many as you like for a second draw. Prizes for two pairs and upward, rolling through three of a kind and so on, pay out based on your stake in the game. In terms of value, highest to lowest, these are the hands you would be looking to have to win: Royal Flush - 10, J, Q, K, A in same suitStraight Flush - 5 card run in same suitFour of a Kind - 4 cards of the same valueFull House - 3 cards of one value, 2 of anotherFlush - 5 cards in same suitStraight - 5 cards in sequenceThree of a Kind - 3 cards of one valueTwo Pair - 2 cards of one value, 2 of another Beyond the basic video poker game, there are variations that introduce wild jokers, games where any pair from jacks or better pay a prize, multihand variations, and progressive jackpots for landing the royal flush. 4. Baccarat One of the lesser-known games, baccarat is a game that many people have heard of but few know how to play. While it may sound or look complicated, it is like blackjack in that you are trying to get to a certain number, but as opposed to 21, in baccarat you are looking to land as close to 9 as possible. In baccarat, a single round is called a "coup." Each hand has three possible outcomes: Player wins, dealer wins, or they tie. All you have to do is bet on the correct outcome. Once again, different from blackjack, you are dealt two cards, but you can bet on either yourself or the dealer to win, and can even bet on the tie. You can request additional cards if the first two deals do not total eight or nine. In land-based casinos, this tends to be a game whereby stakes are high, so one advantage of playing baccarat online is the availability of the game at much lower stakes. 5. Three Card Poker (Brag) Three card poker, as it suggests, involves just three cards in your poker hand. You get a hand, the dealer gets a hand. Fast-paced and volatile in terms of betting, there is a whole world of language and bet types that go with this three-card version of poker. What makes this game so exciting is you can win with a terrible hand and lose with a great hand. The speed of play is also attractive to many casino card game players. It starts with the ante, the stake you have to pay to begin the game. From there you are dealt your three cards, at which point you can review the hand you have and either play on, or give up your hand and the stake you have already placed in the way of the ante. If you win, you win the ante and any in-play bets. In the vast majority of cases, this is even money, so if your ante was $10 and in-play bet was $20, you would win $30 for beating the dealer. There are other versions of the game, and in one, you get to see one of the dealer cards before making an in-play bet. Based on the fact you still get paid even money if you win, this could be considered better odds as you have a little insight into what you are going to be betting against, so it could be considered a better value game to bet on. 6. Joker's Wild Joker's wild poker doesn't cover just one variation of poker but could cover several depending on the individual rules of the specific game you decide to play. Most decks of cards will come with one to four jokers. Joker originated in the United States during the Civil War, and was created as a trump card for the game of euchre Playing with a single joker usually means that if the joker appears it can be used as the highest value card to make a hand. Introducing more jokers into the game-up to four-can make things even more interesting for the player. If adding two jokers-one red, one black-they can be considered wild cards, but for only red or only black depending on which joker you draw. Then you can have four jokers, each with an individual suit, and these can replace those suits only. Beyond that, there are any number of permutations and rules as to how the jokers can be used, including all four being totally wild cards. Check the rules of the individual joker poker game you decide to play. There is something quite fun and appealing about the potential of landing wild cards to make great hands in joker poker. 7. Stud Poker Stud poker is available in many different forms and variations, but the basic premise and most popular of those is seven card stud. Seven card stud was the most popular form of poker before Texas Hold 'em came along. With a seven-card hand, you may be wondering how it differs from Texas Hold 'em or Omaha. The simple answer is that in seven card stud poker there is no flop. You are dealt two face-down cards and a third face-down (door). Beyond that, you get a fourth, fifth, and sixth street card, and finally the river. Each of these cards is yours; there are no community cards like in Hold'em. Each player is dealt their own seven cards in this format, and at each juncture, you can fold, or stand and bet to continue. Given the number of rounds in this game and the possibility of up to eight players, even with a small stake, the pot can be a considerable prize, and it can be expensive to stay in until the final round. Get to grips by playing for very small stakes, or practice on a free table before committing any level of real money to the game online. 8. Caribbean Stud Poker Caribbean stud poker is different from other forms of poker because you play against the house rather than the other players at the table, and it is also played with five cards. Caribbean stud also removes the bluffing element of the game, which some players can find so tricky to get hold of in other variations. This is straight-up five-card poker against the house. If you have no poker face and can't bluff, Caribbean stud could be for you. Betting and payout limits will vary depending on the online casino or the particular table you join. Below are standard Caribbean stud poker payouts with even money on the ante. Caribbean stud poker payouts: Royal Flush - 100/1Straight Flush - 50/1Four of a Kind - 20/1Full House - 7/1Flush - 5/1Straight - 4/1Three of a Kind - 3/1Two Pair - 2/1One Pair or less - 1/1 In addition, you can find a progressive jackpot in Caribbean stud poker. What is paid out by these jackpots will depend on the casino you are playing at, but will almost always pay 100% of the pot on a royal flush, around 10% for a straight flush, and there will be lesser value prizes for hands from a flush upward. How can I win money playing online table games? To win money playing online card games, you have to stop if you get into a position whereby you have more money in your bankroll than you did when you started playing. Regardless of the card game, there will also be a house edge, even when playing against other players and not the dealer, as the rake will always take a percentage of each hand. There are various strategies for playing each variation of casino card games, and rather than trying to master them all, the more you learn and practice one game, the more proficient you will become at it. That said, it would be worth playing a little at each of the games to get a feeling for which one you enjoy playing the most and which one you think you may be able to pick up the more advanced strategies and mathematical outcomes of. How much money do you need to play online card games? With the advent of online casino card games, you do not need to have a lot of money to play. With very low stakes and even some penny tables in some cases, online casino card games are accessible to anyone of the minimum age and with an online casino account. If you have never played online casino card games before, start with very low stakes, even if you have experience playing cards with friends, or at a land-based casino-just until you get a handle for the pace and feel of the online game. Remember, in many cases, you are playing a video version of the game that is purely mathematical with a house edge. If you are playing multiplayer tables, you can not see your opponent, so that poker face will count for nothing. Consider using casino offers, too. Welcome bonuses offering to match the amount you make as your first deposit. Do online card games require a strategy? It is worth having an idea of how the game works, and in some cases, employing a strategy can be beneficial. Even if not improving your chances of winning, you can ensure you do not lose as often. Employing the basic blackjack strategy is one way of doing this, as long as you can find a suitable table to play on. Learn as much as possible about the game you plan to play, and practice your strategies on free-to-play games before playing for real money at an online casino. The best way to use and employ an online casino card game strategy would be on live dealer tables that can be found on a range of online casinos. Here you get to see and play with a human dealer by video link and can even interact and chat with the dealer. They will answer any questions you have, congratulate you on wins, and in some cases, you can even tip the dealer as you would in a land-based casino. This story was produced by OLBG and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Luke Littler backed to secure "easy" £10million fortune by darts legend
Luke Littler has become the biggest star in darts after winning the World Championships at the start of the year, earning him a £500,000 payday, and the teenager is continuing to build up his profile and influence as he prepares for the Premier League Darts play-offs Luke Littler has been told he can secure a "simple" £10million fortune if he "keeps his head down" by darts legend Dennis Priestley as the teenage sensation continues to make waves in the sport. The 18-year-old is breaking records left, right and centre after becoming the youngest winner of the World Darts Championship at the start of the year. He reached another landmark this week by breaking his own points record in the Premier League Darts, averaging more than 114 during his 6-1 thrashing of Stephen Bunting, before later beating Nathan Aspinall and Luke Humphries. Littler won a sixth Premier League night of darts in Sheffield to maintain his spot at the top of the standings ahead of the play-offs on May 29 as he looks to retain his crown that would help him collect a £275,000 prize. It would add to Littler's growing influence in darts, having already won £500,000 when he won the World Championship in January. He is understood to have a net worth of £1.5million. Phil Taylor - the game's greatest ever player - raked in around £8.5m in prize money during his legendary career and Priestley believes Littler will far exceed his total - but thinks a £100m target is perhaps too ambitious. Instead, he has urged Littler to aim for £10m, which is more than the likes of Taylor and even Michael van Gerwen have managed so far in their careers. "Luke Littler and several other young players will win more prize money than Phil Taylor ever did, by a long way, Dennis 'The Menace' told OLBG. "But getting to £100million like players in other sports will be some ask. "Getting to £10million will be simple for Luke if he keeps his head down with the new £1million prize money, then he can go from there." Despite breaking more records in Sheffield, Littler dismissed his nightly win as a "warm up" for the play-offs at the O2 Arena in London. "It is a tough format but I have got myself through. I am very happy to be top again and breaking all these records once again. I am very ready. I am ready for the semi-final. "It is the O2, I have been there before, I have won a semi-final there before but so has Gerwyn [Price]. I am looking forward to it." "In the Premier League there is always points up for grabs, there is always the £10,000 bonus, so we are always going to be playing for something. "For myself, it is probably just a warm-up."
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rory McIlroy's net worth set to hit big milestone as he joins elite group
Rory McIlroy has become one of the world's wealthiest sports stars, after winning the US Masters a month ago. The 36-year-old's completion of golf's Grand Slam will see his earnings rocket past the likes of controversial fighter Conor McGregor. The golfer came from humble beginnings in Holywood, Co Down, with his parents Rosie and Gerry working extra jobs to support his fledgling career. Now he is on the cusp of becoming a billion-dollar athlete. His personal brand and sponsorship deals/potential currently stand somewhere in the region of €578m ($658m, £494m) while game/ sponsorship earnings are being bracketed with icons such as Roger Federer and LeBron James, as his profile puts him in the same space as David Beckham and Lewis Hamilton in terms of global visibility. Domestically, McIlroy sits at the head of the Irish sports rich list, which comprises (1-10) McIlroy, McGregor, Eddie Irvine, Robbie Keane, Roy Keane, Padraig Harrington, Damien Duff, AP McCoy and Shane Lowry. After his Masters win, first he has to deal with the US taxman. They will take a not insignificant bite of the $4.2m Masters prize money he earned. The golfer will get to keep around €1.75m ($2m, £1.45m). "If current trends continue, McIlroy is almost certain to become the wealthiest Irish sportsperson in history," says Professor Rob Wilson, of Applied Sport Finance at Sheffield Hallam University. "With projected career earnings approaching €614m ($700m, £525m), across all income streams, he could surpass other high earners like Conor McGregor who, despite large individual paydays, lacks McIlroy's stability and career longevity. "The golf ecosystem is also more conducive to sustained revenue generation over decades. "Rory is building an inter-generational financial legacy - a bit like Tiger Woods." His Masters win last month saw McIlroy achieve a career Grand Slam, joining an elite club of golfers such as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus who have won golf's four biggest tournaments. Achieving the Grand Slam elevates him into an ultra-exclusive echelon, both historically and commercially," added Prof. Wilson. "His personal brand valuation is likely placed at €578m ($658m, £494m), factoring in endorsement renewal potential, equity stakes and media rights. "It also opens the door to expanded commercial partnerships in North America and Asia. The brand's value will now grow independently of his performance. "The long-term commercial upside from sponsors, branding and new markets is far more valuable than the prize cheque itself, although, given his sizeable earnings already, the Green Jacket will be the biggest prize." The golfing and wider sporting world is wide open, with McIlroy only having turned 36 on May 4. "If McIlroy continues playing competitively into his mid-to-late 40s, his on-course earnings should exceed $200m, assuming a continued uptick in prize purses," continued Prof. Wilson, speaking on the OLBG bookmaker/betting site. "Off the course, however, endorsement and equity deals could push his total career earnings toward the $800m range and, who knows, if he can maintain a level of winning performance, we could be talking about a $1billion athlete. "This would put him in the same bracket as elite global athletes such as Roger Federer or LeBron James. Much depends on longevity and brand stewardship in the post-competitive phase. "Course design, academy licensing and golf-tech investments could generate McIlroy upwards of €175m (£149m) post-retirement. "Jack Nicklaus has reportedly earned €350m ($400m, £299m) from non-playing ventures, and McIlroy is well positioned to follow that blueprint. "His name now carries an architectural cachet, and the globalisation of golf offers vast opportunities. "The Grand Slam win ensures perpetual demand for 'McIlroy-endorsed' experiences." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
Irish Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rory McIlroy could lose €20 million following Masters win
2025 has already been one of the best years of Rory McIlroy's incredible career. It's only May and the Northern Irishman has three wins to his name including a historic victory at Augusta National last month, a win that clinched the career Grand Slam. He has taken home a hefty chunk of change for those three wins and will be looking to add to his season' winnings when he tees it up at the PGA Championship this week. But with those wins comes a hidden cost. The taxman is lurking around the corner and this year, it is expected that McIlroy will be stung with a gigantic bill. Research indicates that McIlroy, who is thought to be on course to earning more than €90 million this year, will be hit by a staggering tax bill at the end of the year. 'With Rory McIlroy, we're talking about a player who will be earning north of €60 million annually. That of course is across his prize money and his endorsements," Dr. Wilson, a professor of Applied Sport Finance at Sheffield Hallam University told OLBG 'This year, you're looking at a potential €90 million a year given his recent success at the Masters. The PGA Championship alone offers around €3 million ($3.5m) for the winner but as we know the tax implications depend very much on the jurisdiction so where the tax earnings are situated in the world. 'So let's just take Rory as a Northern Irish resident, he'll be subject to UK tax. On any worldwide income that will be up to 45%. 'When he competes in the US, he's also liable for US federal and state taxes, though he can claim tax relief under the existing UK US tax treaty. It's interesting to see whether that will continue under President Trump. 'Overall, I would suggest he's probably losing somewhere between 40-50% of his gross playing income to tax depending on where that's earned. 'Obviously you need to deduct all of his expenses and they're to be significant because of the lifestyle of a golfer, travel, accommodation, all that stuff is going to come off a lot of those figures. 'Say we take that €60 million annually, he's not going to lose €30 million of that, but he'll lose a heavy proportion, perhaps €20 million in tax. 'Critically though, his corporate structures and image rights vehicles will be optimised of course to defer and reduce some of those liabilities. So it's difficult to put a headline rate on it for you. 'Around 40-50% is what you would expect to pay, but the corporate structures will reduce that. It'll be a heavy tax bill I would imagine, but you can only pay tax if you've earned the money.' While the taxman will be rubbing his hands together, McIlroy is solely focused on adding to his haul for the season. Last month's win ended an 11-year major drought, and with the PGA Championship being played at Quail Hollow, a venue which Rory has won at multiple times, he has a genuine chance of winning his second major of the year.
