Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[rex008]

Fact alert. The London underground has made more money out of selling copies of harry Webb's tube map than it ever has running its train services. Gatso, eat that.

I don't need Gatters, I can call bullshit on that one.

Unless Cliff Richard designed an alternative groovy tube map I've not heard about.

Although it's just possible you meant Harry Beck. In which case, possibly believable.

[TightEnd]

Harry Beck. Even Gatso can't get a bullshit reading on that fact

[doubleup]

bwin/Party reported their interim results a day or two ago, & the CEO said a most remarkable thing, & I quote.......

In response to a Q3 analyst call question from Barcap’s Ed Birkin over whether the “disappointing” NGR from poker in the quarter, given the boost provided by the launch of ring games in Italy and the opportunity to grab market share from the currently non-operational Full Tilt, had been impacted by high levels of bonusing, Weigold (pictured) said:
“We haven’t seen any significant movements in bonus rates through the period. As Jim [Ryan] said earlier, the reality is, whilst we have benefitted from the FTP closure, the bottom line is that until any action is taken against PokerStars that results in them shutting down, we are unlikely to see a huge benefit.

Now, a fall in revenue was expected, & theirs is very small, compared to the market as a whole - all the biggies are falling, some are in fatal decline - so that was not so bad, really. But the remark about 'Stars was, I thought, quite an extraordinary thing for a CEO to state so openly. Bit churlish, really.

Of course, the DOJ will hit 'Stars in due course, how & when is anyone's guess, (but deffo when least expected) but there's not a snowballs chance in hell they will let go now. A monetary fine would be useless, 'Stars own the world, so not sure what the action will be. I think 'Stars would settle for perma-exclusion from the USA when Regulation arrives rather than some potentially worse options. Still, quite something for the CEO of bwin/Party to say out loud what the whole of the Trade is thinking. Very odd & un-Corporate speak, that. I'm sure 'Stars sent him a nice "thank you" note.

"....until any action is taken against PokerStars that results in them shutting down..." Say what you think, Party!

I think it is a complete indictment of the gaming industry that Jim Ryan who was in connected to UB/Absolute when they were superusing can prance around the US looking for deals and he has a collosal cheek to moan about stars.  (Oh and btw Bwin has illegal pre-2006 US sportsbetting activity still not "accounted for").

Its a complete lol to sugggest that Stars will ever get shut down.  The Tapie/ftp deal and the heat that the DoJ has caught over holding players funds will mean that the fine will have to be pretty small in relative terms (as they clearly can't fine FTP a token amount and Stars a business threatening amount).

[gatso]

? ? How are they making money? Millions of paying customers each year vs a tube map that no-one ever pays a penny for. Are they licensing it to people?

[Bongo]

Maybe they're just really bad at running the trains for profit!

[TommyD]

? ? How are they making money? Millions of paying customers each year vs a tube map that no-one ever pays a penny for. Are they licensing it to people?

Licensing for the tube map is huge.  Think about all the things it's in.  London/UK atlas's, diaries, personal organisers, guide books, all sorts of modern tech and apps etc.  They've been doing it for decades.

[kinboshi]

It's also probably based on profit rather than revenue, and the running costs of the Tube will be a little higher than printing and licensing maps.

[Machka]

Re the staking for this trip - I did send you a message as I was interested but didnt see anything posted about it. I guess I've missed the "opportunity" this time.

All returns from the previous trip were paid.

Shame you missed Luke Schwartz on the show last night. Or didn't miss...

[TightEnd]

Schwarz was brilliant. Especially loved him dissecting a hand Mickjenn1 played, implying he was a beginner...

I wonder how his direct style would have gone down with the edicts of the channel described by tikay above though, as to not criticising the sitrs players...

[tikay]

Schwarz was brilliant. Especially loved him dissecting a hand Mickjenn1 played, implying he was a beginner...

I wonder how his direct style would have gone down with the edicts of the channel described by tikay above though, as to not criticising the sitrs players...

Whoops @ the Mick Jenn comment!

"criticising" is absolutely fine, & on message, but it's how you say it that matters. Flaming is just not acceptable, the players are Clients, & why send players away with a flea in their ear, & do so on Live TV & thus humiliate them? 865 costs a bloody fortune to run, & it's MO is to attract more business, not piss off & risk losing the existing Client Base. If we feel a need to criticise strongly, we - I usually, in fact - do it privately, via PM.

I've perused a hundred or more comments on various media platforms this morning about Luke's appearance, & the reception was mixed, as expected. (I have not seen it). But the reaction is, really, neither here nor there.

There were two factors to consider, & remember, "Live" TV can be VERY dangerous -  - would he remain on-message & within our OFCOM, ASA & 865 criteria? (I gather he did). And would he satisfy the 865 remit - that is to say, attract a wider audience than our regulars, (our "captive audience", who we have already converted), & convert a reasonable % to migrate across to Sky Poker. That is what it was about, after all.

He is, of course, by any yardstick, a "High-Roller", which is not exactly mass market. Worldwide, industry-wide, less than 2% of the total poker player base are High Rollers. Around 80% are "micro-stakes" players. But micro-stakes players are abso fascinated by High Rollers, they are the draw card. An interesting thought as to who Poker Sites need to "sell to", & how to best look after that Client Base in a cost-effective way. Worlwide Online Poker Revenues are down 20% year on year, the Networks are the ones feeling most of the pain. (See Playtech's results yesterday, yet another painful drop in revenues).

Fortunately, & for now, all is well - very well - in the Mothership. But one false step, & all that.....

[tikay]

I must be the world's worst time-manager, even on holiday, I don't seem to manage to do everything.

Huge mailbox this morning, but I've now cleared most of it, but not enough time to write about yesterday, poler & non-poker, a very eventful & fun day. I'm entered for today's noon Deepie - $550 today - so will be off shortly, pop into Starbucks on the way, & take my seat. What a great life! Seat 4 today, for a nice change.

[tikay]

Brekkie with LilDave, Dom, & a random lurker, at Grand Lux, yesterday. The lurker/hanger-on was wearing a Peterborough football shirt, ffs, I have never been so embarrased in my life.

The food was excellent, so was (the majority of) the company.

Dave is immense fun, & I like him a great deal. Very intelligent, good eye contact, smiles readily, usually one step ahead of the convo, & thinking. His boyish looks must be incredibly +ev @ the High Stakes Omaha cash Tables. I'd not swap my lot in life with anyone or anything, but if I could be anyone in poker, I'd not mind his skills, brain, & lifestyle. Love to be in a room with him, Jen Mason, Tom, AndrewT, & Tighty, I'd be out of my depth but in complete awe.

The food was excelent, too - 3 eggs, sunny side up & snotty, hash browns, sausages, lots of toast & real butter in a real butter dish.

Ended up being an hour late for the Tourney, but you don't get "penalised", you get the full starting stack.

[tikay]

Infected by the laggyness of Dave & Dom, perhaps, my opening Table woes were compounded by the presence of Kev O'Leary & a chap in a Peterborough Football shirt, which caused much mirth & eye-rolling amongst the Americans, who included Flushy's "ten pin bowling" mate.

I just played silly poker, it was ridiculous, & I'm not gonna mix with these laggy sorts again, it's just not me.

Sat down with 12k, & testosterone took over, & I ran an outrageous & stupid bluff against what looked like a newbie very first hand, happy days, up to 19,000!

Within a single orbit, I was down to 8,000. I quite reasonbly got involved multi-way with   & trapped my oppo all ends up when he got stubborn with me on a flop of  , the fool. He had A-6. Turn A, goodbye chips.

This all happened because Chompy tried to steal my BB, & I felt that dumb urge to resist.

Soo 8,000 was 2,000, & now I want to dump them off & Re-Enter, so I played a ridic hand as bas as bad could be, & got there somehow.  So embarrassing, but I just called off & then hit.

Now, up to a monsta 15 Bigs, I deliberately limped UTG with J-J. I'm not sure a soul on earth could not see my transparent plan, even Chompy lolled at the obvious ploy, but I knew tht Kev O'Leary, on the Button, could not resist squeezing me, assuming he even noticed the limp whilst he was busy on his i-pad. He squuezed with Q-7 for the lot, hello 2xup.

Now I had to re-assess again, as the Re-Entry time was looming, so I settled down & played "proper poker" (pass, pass, pass) & dodged the re-entry bullet.

Soon, or so it seemed, the 307 entries were down to sub 100, & I was going along quietly, but a kid was abusing my Blinds too much, & I was happy to go for it with K-Q & re-shoved on him, he showed up with 7-7. Door card K, river 7, off to the Cash Game we go.

Dom was on the next Table, & it was abso hilarious, he really is the Vegas version of angry Greg Raymer, getting plent of abuse, & dishing it back with some added. He has HUGE spirit & heart, he really has.

[tikay]

The Omaha Cash Game was a real test. It was $2 $5, & the game had been playing a goodly while, so it was pretty dumb to sit down initially with only $500, but I'm such a bankroll nit, & the trip has  way to go yet.

I managed to lose the bloody lot on the first hand, too, with A-Q on a Board of A-A-3-K-Q, but I was pot stuck long before the River anyway. He had A-K, obv.

Pulled up another $1,000 - gulp - & really struggled for 2 hours, the stacks were deep, the big stacks were mercilessly bullying me with active strraddles, & I could not find acceptable starting hands, & I got a bit down on myself, "I'm so crap", but hung in.

Eventually, patience was rewarded, especially when a new Chinese player arrived with loads of gamble, & seemingly not aware of my nitty nut-peddling tendancies. I flopped top set, but a draw heavy board, he re-popped me, the board ran out dry, & I got the lot, phew. Think he had 2nd set, as he paid my river bet off, too.

Got a nice Pot on a Q-T-9-8-7 Board too, top set, & my man tickle betted me on the end with what looked like the obv str8, but it was $100 into a $700 pot, so I called with a sigh, & he only had top two!

Eventually cashed in for $3,246, so a profit of $1,746. Just as well, I'm not exactly threatening the judges in the Tourneys.

[tikay]

There was a lovely Chinese lass on my Table, she was playing Chinese Poker on her i-Pad with another Chinese chap on the adjacent Table, if that makes sense.

They were laughing & lolling, & exchanging comments across the Tables, all good.

I think she, & he, combined, must have said "sick", or "so sick", sixteen trillion times. Think the kids really do need to get a bit more creative with the lingo.

Wonder how many times "sick" or "so sick" has been typed in Online Poker chatboxes?

Come on guys, toddle on, next hand, it's poker, it happens.

I adore watching & listening to all these different characters at Live Poker though, & all the standard poker nonsense, sick, super sick stuff. It's the nuts. It's all rather jolly & enjoyable.