2018 Gambling Olympics Diary, July 9: Justin Phan Leads Main Event After Day 1

Highlights

• The 2018 Gambling Olympics is a two-day contest in Las Vegas on July 9-10. The buy-in is $2,500, and the winner gets $10,000.
• Justin Phan has five top-four finishes and leads the field heading into Day 2.

The total prize pool for the Gambling Olympics is $30,000, with $10,000 being paid to first, $6,000 to second and $4,000 to third. The winning team also receives $10,000.

Be sure to follow all of the action in the Gambling Olympics section of the site.

Introducing the 2018 Gambling Olympics: A $30,000 Betting Free-For-All

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Standings

Individual Standings (as of 11:15 p.m. PT)

• 1st: Justin Phan (for Michael Mooney)
• 2nd: Scott Blumstein
• 3rd: Jonathan Bales
• 4th: Adam Levitan
• 5th: Sean Koerner
• 6th: Peter Jennings
• 7th/8th: Joey Ingram
• 7th/8th: Matt Brown
• 9th: Paul Lo Duca
• 10th: BlackJack Fletcher
• 11th: Pete Manzinelli
• 12th: Brandon Adams

Team Standings (as of 11:15 p.m. PT)

• 1st: Team Bales
• 2nd: Team Levitan
• 3rd: Team Jennings

Day 1 Analysis

Bales, Levitan, Jennings and Koerner all had top-six odds to win entering the Main Event, and all of them head into Day 2 in the top half of the field. Sometimes the betting market is incredibly efficient. With Adams, though, the market seems to have been off.

He was the biggest pre-event favorite at +400, but after a day of competition, he is last in the field. Many of the challenges are still yet to be settled, so Adams could rebound, but he'll need to have markedly better performances if he hopes to finish in the top three.

Amazingly, at the top of the field are two guys who were big +900 dogs before the event. Although he isn't known as a sports speculator, Blumstein more than held his own in the sports betting and daily fantasy challenges, finishing fifth and seventh in those events. In fact, he's yet to place outside the top 10 in any challenge and is the only participant with multiple No. 1 finishes.

But as impressive as Blumstein has been, Phan has been even more so. A last-second fill-in, Phan had less than a day to prepare for the event, but he has been utterly dominant, ranking in the top four in every event so far except for one. His three top-two finishes lead the field. Even if he returns to the pack tomorrow, he should still have a good shot of placing in the top three.

Team Jennings — consisting of Jennings, Adams, BlackJack and Lo Duca — opened as a strong +125 favorite, and that line never moved, but right now the unit is a distant third behind Teams Bales and Levitan. Although Jennings himself has a respectable No. 6 ranking, the team owns three of the four lowest spots in the standings. To have a real shot at the team title, the Jennings squad will need to have a massive effort tomorrow.

CONTEST NOTES: The Lodden Thinks answer session was originally scheduled for Day 1 but has been moved to Day 2. Beer Pong was intended to be a two-day challenge, but the Day 1 competition was canceled due to inclement weather. Acey-Deucey, which was scheduled for Day 2, has been canceled because of time constraints.

Participants & Final Odds

The Gambling Olympics features a who’s who of industry personalities (listed according to odds to win entering the Main Event):

• Adams: Professional Poker & DFS Player, +400
• Jennings: FantasyLabs Co-Founder, +450
• Bales: FantasyLabs Co-Founder, +500
• Koerner: Action Network Director of Predictive Analytics, +500
• Levitan: DraftKings Analyst, +550
• Lo Duca: Former MLB All-Star Catcher & Action Network Analyst, +700
• Blumstein: 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion, +900
• Brown: Media Producer & Sports Speculator, +900
• BlackJack: Well-Dressed Man & Action Network Analyst, +900
• Ingram: Professional Poker Player & Podcaster, +900
• Phan: Action Network Managing Director, +900
• Manzinelli: Gambling Legend & Physical Cryptocurrency Pioneer, +1,400

Teams

The field has been divided into three teams captained by the Donkeys (listed according to odds to win entering the Main Event):

• Team Jennings: Adams, BlackJack, Lo Duca, +125
• Team Bales: Blumstein, Brown, Koerner, +160
• Team Levitan: Ingram, Manz, Phan, +200

Main Event

The Gambling Olympics consists of 12 separate events, which run the gamut of the speculation spectrum:

• Crypto Portfolio: Monday & Tuesday
• Daily Fantasy Sports: Monday & Tuesday
• Sports Betting: Monday & Tuesday
• Poker: Monday & Tuesday
• Blackjack: Monday & Tuesday
• Beer Pong: Tuesday
• Rock-Paper-Scissors: Monday & Tuesday
• Acey-Deucey: Tuesday
• Yahtzee: Tuesday
• Connect Four: Monday
• Lodden Thinks: Tuesday
• Standings Prediction: Monday

Day 1 Schedule

Day 1 features part or all of 10 events.

10 a.m. PT: Rules & Guidelines

The participants arrive, and Scott the Intern runs through the rules. Mooney and the Times photographer run through everyone associated with the event.

Scott the Intern hands out the Crypto Portfolio, Standings Prediction and Lodden Thinks forms for everyone to fill out.

The Main Event of the inaugural Gambling Olympics has begun.

10 a.m. PT: Crypto Portfolio

• Must select a minimum of three coins on Binance
• Equal-weighted portfolio
• Use price on Binance as of 10 a.m. on Monday as open and Tuesday 6 p.m. as close
• Cannot change portfolio
• Final standings based on profit/loss

The outcome of this two-day event is determined in the second half of Day 2.

10 a.m. PT: Standings Prediction

• Predict the final standings, first through 12th, by Monday morning
• Points are awarded for inaccuracy (if a guess is 12th and the person wins, that is 11 points)
• Fewest points wins
• Tiebreaker is best guess on winner

The outcome of this two-day event is determined at the end of Day 2.

10 a.m. PT: Lodden Thinks

• Everyone answers two questions as accurately as they can before the competition
• Scott the Intern will come up with the questions, and no one will know them ahead of time
• Sheet handed out with 22 questions listed (the questions asked to the other entrants)
• Example: How many black holes does Peter think exist in the universe?
• Get score of 1 to 11 on each question based on how close a guess is compared to others
• Final standings based on highest total score
• Tiebreaker is most questions won

The outcome of this event is revealed in the second half of Day 2.

Noon PT: Connect Four

• Bracket style; matchups chosen at random
• Best-of-three series
• Two most dominant wins get bye (fewest pieces used to win)
• Final standings for losers based on pieces used

Round 1

Total pieces used in parentheses.

• Blumstein (21) vs. Brown (20): Blumstein wins, 2-0
• Manz (40) vs. Koerner (39): Manz wins, 2-0
• Jennings (29) vs. BlackJack (28): Jennings wins, 2-0
• Bales (46) vs. Adams (45): Bales wins, 2-1
• Phan (40) vs. Lo Duca (40): Phan wins, 2-1
• Levitan (48) vs. Ingram (49): Ingram wins, 2-1

Round 2: Winners Bracket

Blumstein and Jennings have byes.

• Manz vs. Ingram: Ingram wins, 2-0
• Phan vs. Bales: Phan wins, 2-0

Round 2: Losers Bracket

Adams and Levitan have byes.

• Lo Duca vs. Brown: Brown wins, 2-1
• BlackJack vs. Koerner: Koerner wins 2-1

Round 3: Winners Bracket

• Blum vs. Jennings: Jennings wins, 2-1
• Phan vs. Ingram: 2-1

Round 3: Losers Bracket

• Koerner vs. Adams: 2-1
• Levitan vs. Brown: Brown wins, 2-1

Round 3: 5th- & 11th-Place Bracket

• 5th – Bales vs. Manz: Bales wins, 2-0
• 11th – BlackJack vs. Lo Duca: BlackJack wins, 2-0

Round 4: Finals & 3rd-Place Bracket

• Finals – Jennings vs. Ingram: 2-0
• 3rd – Blumstein vs. Phan: Blumstein, 2-0

Round 4: 7th- & 9th-Place Bracket

• 7th – Brown vs. Koerner: Brown, 2-1
• 9th – Levitan vs. Adams: Levitan, 2-0

Connect Four Final Individual Standings

• 1st: Ingram
• 2nd: Jennings
• 3rd: Blumstein
• 4th: Phan
• 5th: Bales
• 6th: Manz
• 7th: Brown
• 8th: Koerner
• 9th: Levitan
• 10th: Adams
• 11th: BlackJack
• 12th: Lo Duca

Connect Four Final Team Standings

• 1st: Team Levitan
• 2nd: Team Bales
• 3rd: Team Jennings

4 p.m. PT: Daily Fantasy Sports

• DraftKings MLB lineups selected on Monday and Tuesday
• DraftKings WNBA lineup selected on Tuesday
• Final standings based on cumulative score from all three contests

The outcome of this two-day event is determined at the end of Day 2.

DFS Final Individual Standings and DraftKings Points, Day 1

• 1st: Phan, 151.85
• 2nd: Levitan, 120.10
• 3rd: Brown, 117.10
• 4th: Jennings, 111.10
• 5th: Koerner, 104.85
• 6th: Bales, 100.40
• 7th: Blumstein, 89.25
• 8th: Ingram, 86.85
• 9th: Lo Duca, 82.20
• 10th: Adams, 79.65
• 11th: BlackJack, 67.25
• 12th: Manzinelli: 66.55

DFS Final Team Standings, Day 1

• 1st: Team Bales
• 2nd: Team Levitan
• 3rd: Team Jennings

4 p.m. PT: Sports Betting

• $1000 to spend, must bet at least three games (spread or moneyline) on Monday and Tuesday
• Can place between $1 and $998 on each game
• Everyone uses same lines
• Final standings based on profit/loss after two days

The outcome of this two-day event is determined at the end of Day 2.

Sports Betting Final Individual Standings & Money, Day 1

• 1st: BlackJack, +$797.96
• 2nd: Phan, +$740.00
• 3rd: Levitan, +$414.55
• 4th: Ingram, +$369.54
• 5th: Blum, +$171.43
• 6th: Koerner, -$143.18
• 7th: Bales, -$195.00
• 8th: Brown, -$260.00
• 9th: Jennings, -$367.50
• 10th: Manz, -$447.27
• 11th: Lo Duca, -$998.05
• 12th: Adams, -$998.60

Sports Betting Final Team Standings, Day 1

• 1st: Levitan
• 2nd: Bales
• 3rd: Jennings

4:30 p.m. PT: Rock-Paper-Scissors

• Bracket style; matchups chosen at random
• Best of 21 head-to-head matchups
• Top two in fewest losses after first round get bye in second round
• Rankings for losers based on total throws won
• Tiebreaker is best of seven among all tied parties
• Final standings based on average finish after two days

The outcome of this two-day event is determined in the second half of Day 2.

Round 1

• Koerner vs. Brown: Koerner wins 11-5
• Blumstein vs. Ingram: Blumstein wins, 11-8
• Phan vs. Manz: Phan wins 11-6
• Adams vs. Jennings: Jennings wins, 11-9
• Levitan vs. Bales: Bales wins, 11-9
• BlackJack vs. Lo Duca: Lo Duca wins, 11-8

Round 2: Winners Bracket

Koerner and Phan have byes.

• Bales vs. Blumstein: Blumstein wins, 11-7
• Jennings vs. Lo Duca: Lo Duca wins, 11-8

Round 2: Losers Bracket

Adams and Levitan have byes.

• Ingram vs.BlackJack: BlackJack wins, 11-7
• Manz vs. Brown: Brown wins, 11-6

Round 3: Winners Bracket

• Koerner vs. Blumstein: Blumstein wins, 11-10
• Phan vs. Lo Duca: Phan wins, 11-8

Round 3: Losers Bracket

• BlackJack vs. Brown: BlackJack wins, 11-4
• Levitan vs. Adams: Levitan wins, 11-7

Round 3: 5th- & 11th-Place Bracket

• 5th – Bales vs. Jennings: Jennings wins, 11-7
• 11th – Ingram vs. Manz: Manz wins, 11-6

Round 4: Finals & 3rd-Place Bracket

• Finals – Phan vs. Blumstein: Blumstein wins, 11-5
• 3rd – Lo Duca vs. Koerner: Lo Duca wins, 11-7

Round 4: 7th- & 9th-Place Bracket

• 7th – BlackJack vs. Levitan: Levitan wins, 11-7
• 9th – Brown vs. Adams: Adams wins, 11-10

Rock-Paper-Scissors Final Individual Standings, Day 1

• 1st: Blumstein
• 2nd: Phan
• 3rd: Lo Duca
• 4th: Koerner
• 5th: Jennings
• 6th: Bales
• 7th: Levitan
• 8th: BlackJack
• 9th: Adams
• 10th: Brown
• 11th: Manz
• 12th: Ingram

Rock-Paper-Scissors Final Team Standings, Day 1

• 1st: Team Bales
• 2nd: Team Jennings
• 3rd: Team Levitan

5:30 p.m. PT: Blackjack

• $1000 to start, can bet any amount each hand
• Standings based on staying in (first person to bust is last)
• If still in after one hour, rankings based on total money won/lost
• Final standings based on profit/loss after two days

The outcome of this two-day event is determined in the second half of Day 2.

Blackjack Final Individual Standings, Day 1

• 1st: Brown
• 2nd: Bales
• 3rd: Ingram
• 4th: Lo Duca
• 5th: Levitan
• 6th: Koerner
• 7th: Manz
• 8th: Jennings
• 9th: BlackJack
• 10th: Blumstein
• 11th/12th: Phan
• 11th/12th: Adams

Blackjack Final Team Standings & Points, Day 1

• 1st: Team Bales
• 2nd: Team Levitan
• 3rd: Team Jennings

6:45 p.m. PT: Poker

• No-Limit Hold ‘Em tournaments on Monday and Tuesday
• Two six-handed tables until six remain, then one table
• Final standings based on average finish after two days

The outcome of this two-day event is determined in the second half of Day 2.

Poker Final Individual Standings, Day 1

• 1st: Blumstein
• 2nd: Adams
• 3rd: Phan
• 4th: Bales
• 5th: Manz
• 6th: Lo Duca
• 7th: BlackJack
• 8th/9th: Levitan
• 8th/9th: Koerner
• 10th: Jennings
• 11th: Brown
• 12th: Ingram

Poker Final Team Standings & Points, Day 1

• 1st: Bales
• 2nd: Jennings
• 3rd: Levitan

Side Action

Rock-Paper-Scissors

• Bales vs. Adams: $1,000, one throw – Bales wins, paper over rock

Poker

• • Ingram vs.  Brown Draft: $100, winner rosters Day 1 tournament champion – Brown wins, Blumstein wins tournament

Freedman’s Recaps

In the days leading up to the Main Event, several of the participants competed against each other in a series of bets. You can read about these preliminary props in Matthew Freedman's previous Gambling Olympics journals.

• Thursday, July 5: High-Stakes Tomfoolery
• Friday, July 6: Low-Key High-Stakes Day
• Saturday, July 7: Betting on a 400-Yard Dash, 6-Mile Run and WNBA Game
• Sunday, July 8: From Racquetball to Rock-Paper-Scissors to Water Basketball