Following the success of its biggest Mystery Bounty and PLO Venom events in August, ACR Poker is bringing another doubleheader to the table this October with its dual Venom PKO tournaments, featuring a total of over $6.5 Million in guarantees.

Starting Sunday, October 13th, poker players can dive into two major Venom tourneys: the $5 Million guaranteed NLH PKO and the $1.5 Million guaranteed PLO PKO, each with five Day 1 options to choose from.

Running over four days, the $5 Million NLH PKO Venom offers huge bounties and the chance for potentially life-changing payouts, with the last champion taking home over $544,000 in prize money and bounties. Meanwhile, the $1.5 Million PLO PKO Venom debuts as ACR Poker’s largest-ever PLO PKO event, providing players with the opportunity to compete for big prizes in this 3 day-tourney.

“Our Venom PKO’s are always fun and full of surprises, and this time it’s going to be even better with both the NLH and PLO tourneys running at the same time,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “Chasing those big bounties and payouts adds that extra layer of excitement, and with all the different ways to qualify, anyone can jump in and be part of the action.”

While the buy-in for both Venom PKO tourneys is $2,650, players can also secure their seat for much less or even for free during ACR Poker’s Venom Fever. With 644 seats guaranteed for the NLH PKO Venom and 71 seats for the PLO PKO Venom, players can qualify through a variety of satellites, such as the Beast, Venom Madness, Direct Satellites, and Mega Satellites—with paths starting at $0.

Moneymaker also noted that for a buy-in of only $66, players can warm up for the Dual Venom tourneys with the $1 Million GTD Venom Warmup, running from October 1st-27th. What’s more, ACR Poker is running a variety of ‘Venom Special’ tourneys during each Day 1 of the Dual Venoms, with over $11 Million total guaranteed, and buy-ins ranging from $16.50 to $1,050.

Across its previous eight editions, ACR Poker’s Venom NLH PKO has consistently surpassed its guarantee. The last tourney in January of this year attracted a strong field of 2,839 players, resulting in a prize pool of $7,097,500—easily exceeding its original $5 million guarantee.

For more information on the upcoming Venom PKO tourneys, including the full schedule, visit ACRPoker.eu or read the ACR Poker blog.

Genius Sports Limited, the official data, technology, and commercial partner that powers the global ecosystem connecting sports, betting, and media, today announces the appointment of Mark Kropf as its Group Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”).

Kropf joins Genius Sports from Google, where he held the esteemed position of Technical Director within Google’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer. In this role, Kropf played an instrumental role in advancing Google’s generative AI capabilities, improving developer experience and driving sustained innovation.

This deep expertise will be pivotal as Genius Sports expands the deployment of GeniusIQ, the next-generation sports data and AI platform which leverages powerful machine learning and generative AI to deliver unmatched game analysis and ultra-immersive experiences.

Kropf brings over two decades of experience in technology leadership, software engineering, and infrastructure management across a diverse range of sectors, including financial services, information technology, and cybersecurity. Prior to his tenure at Google, he was integral to the commercialisation of Cloud Foundry at Pivotal, where he also founded and led the Office of the CTO.

Driven by a career-long commitment to innovation, Kropf holds numerous patents in enterprise software and financial services technology. He is also a distinguished tech-focused investor and advisor, with a passion for supporting startups led by underrepresented groups.

Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Mark Kropf as our Group CTO. His outstanding track-record of technology leadership at both Google and Pivotal, combined with his deep experience in AI-focused innovation, will play a critical role in our future. Our cutting-edge GeniusIQ platform is already driving the AI revolution in the global sports ecosystem and Mark’s expertise will play a key role in amplifying and accelerating that transformation”.

Mark Kropf, newly appointed Group CTO, added: “Genius Sports’ technology is redefining how sports are understood and consumed globally. I look forward to supporting this continued growth and working with a remarkable team that has already positioned Genius Sports at the forefront of data and technology innovation in sport”.

Gordon Moody, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to providing residential treatment for people severely affected by gambling-related harms, is delighted to announce the launch of their new Gambling Support First Aid training.

Most people know how to respond to a medical emergency such as a heart attack, but few people know how to react if they noticed someone struggling with gambling, or know how to recognise signs of gambling-related harm in a family member, friend, or colleague.

Our new Gambling Support First Aid training helps to reduce the fear and uncertainty of addressing gambling issues. It empowers individuals with the skills and knowledge to recognise and respond to signs of gambling-related harms confidently and responsibly.

This two-day course (two full days or four half days) can be delivered online or face-to-face and is suitable for anyone aged 18 and over who is looking to develop their skills and understanding. Developed by our experts, the highly supportive learning atmosphere will help people become the vital link – connecting individuals in need with the right support services.

Monica Shafaq, Gordon Moody CEO, said:

“I am delighted that we are launching Gambling Support First Aid training. It’s important to us to address the stigma associated with seeking support for gambling-related harm. This requires individuals and communities to have a greater understanding and empathetic approach to the issue.

“Our training will help individuals create supportive, non-judgmental environments where not only speaking about these issues is supported, but where there is a clear action plan in place to help individuals who may be affected gain professional help.

“With 4.2 billion people across the globe gambling at least once each year, this is an issue that requires more attention.”

Offering a holistic approach, this programme will blend mental health awareness with actionable first-aid techniques, highlighting the integration of emotional and practical support, and focus not just on intervention, but on understanding the mental and emotional aspects of gambling-related harm.