Seven months into 2021 and some Portuguese have been confined or living with Covid restrictions for almost 5 of them until now. Having my base in Cascais since last September, I am one of them. The latest lockdowns were enforced in January and it took authorities until May 1st to reopen Casino Estoril. The action was great in May but I had to leave Portugal for 2-3 weeks in early June for film shootings abroad. Unfortunately, while I was away, Covid numbers started rising rapidly again and, in a total despair move, the Portuguese decided to confine large parts of the Lisbon area again. The casino has been closed since early June again with no sign of any reopening to come.

Trusted sources and contacts of mine amongst the casino management staff are confident they will be able to open again during August but there is no sign for that coming from authorities and they have no idea about the playing conditions they will be able to offer to players.

After the Israel Poker Tour of early July, Cash Game Weekend is back with another cash game festival during the early August period so why not get back to Batumi on the Georgian Black Sea shores for some great live Poker action around the clock?!

​Dates: 04-09 August, 2021
Location: Royal Casino & Hotel Batumi

Get in touch with me for complimentary service & accommodation offers for players. You can get your premium room for free for 7 hours of play per day or 35 hours of table time over the 5 days.

If the pandemic has taught me something at all, it is to give up all sorts of mid- & long-term plans. I haven't quite learned the lesson yet though... So here I am transitioning between two apartments in Portugal and not being able to go back since the casino closed recently and many new lockdown restrictions are in place again since Covid numbers have been climbing rapidly again after only two months of opening on May 1st.

I carefully planned and set myself up for an awesome summer of grinding in Portugal. I gave up the flat I have been using as a base in Cascais since September 2020 to take another one in Estoril closer to the casino and practically by the Atlantic ocean in order to be able to focus mainly on playing the PLO tables at Casino Estoril. Since Portugal busted temporarily in terms of my July plans, I am turning my attention to Bratislava. This last minute decision will take me far away from the beaches but the Poker action should be great. 24/7 cash game action and a tournament event for those who are into playing flips.