Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Your old mates Ladbrokes said this in their results this morning.

'Whilst poker has to date not been a strategic area of focus, we will be working increasingly to address performance throughout 2012.'

Which was preceded by.....

Poker continues to be challenging, although the rate of decline slowed significantly in H2.

"Decline slowed significantly" according to the numbers, means the decline was down from £18.8 million (12 months) to 14.4 million, a decline of 24.5%. 

Some "slowdown in decline" when the decline was 25%! They seem to say the same thing every time about poker - "in decline, but we plan to sort it". Sorry to say it, but I can't see a way back for their poker product.

They are opening 60 new High Street Shops in the next FY, too. Seems extraordinary, given the huge & rapid growth in digital, & the overheads & hassle of B & M stuff. Guees they know what they are doing.

They also stated that Betting was adversely affected by "favourable results for punters, & a lot of favourites winning, in the Premier League".  

Still, in the absence of my Yoof & Perv Corry (gone to LA today) at least I have an excuse to post some stuff for Team Perv.

[smashedagain]

http://pokerfuse.com/news/poker-room-news/ipoker-considers-dividing-two-separate-poker-network/

Just seen this on Barry Carters f/b

[tikay]

http://pokerfuse.com/news/poker-room-news/ipoker-considers-dividing-two-separate-poker-network/

Just seen this on Barry Carters f/b

Wow, a new twist on "divide & rule".

Wonder what Mr Channing thinks of that? He is part of Boyles, I think, & their name was not mentioned.

I can't quite see what the angle is.

[AlunB]

http://pokerfuse.com/news/poker-room-news/ipoker-considers-dividing-two-separate-poker-network/

Just seen this on Barry Carters f/b

Wow, a new twist on "divide & rule".

Wonder what Mr Channing thinks of that? He is part of Boyles, I think, & their name was not mentioned.

I can't quite see what the angle is.

Really? It's pretty obvious. The sportsbooks are fed up of their 'recreational' players losing money to smaller pure poker sites. It's long been an issue for them. One sportsbook poker room manager once told me 'the trouble is our guys are rubbish at poker and keep losing all their money'

[AlunB]

Your old mates Ladbrokes said this in their results this morning.

'Whilst poker has to date not been a strategic area of focus, we will be working increasingly to address performance throughout 2012.'

Which was preceded by.....

Poker continues to be challenging, although the rate of decline slowed significantly in .

"Decline slowed significantly" according to the numbers, means the decline was down from £18.8 million (12 months) to 14.4 million, a decline of 24.5%. 

Some "slowdown in decline" when the decline was 25%! They seem to say the same thing every time about poker - "in decline, but we plan to sort it". Sorry to say it, but I can't see a way back for their poker product.

They are opening 60 new High Street Shops in the next FY, too. Seems extraordinary, given the huge & rapid growth in digital, & the overheads & hassle of B & M stuff. Guees they know what they are doing.

They also stated that Betting was adversely affected by "favourable results for punters, & a lot of favourites winning, in the Premier League".  

Still, in the absence of my Yoof & Perv Corry (gone to LA today) at least I have an excuse to post some stuff for Team Perv.

I just thought it was a funny quote. It basically translates to we are struggling with poker, but might possibly try and do something about it maybe so long as it doesn't cost us much.

[tikay]

http://pokerfuse.com/news/poker-room-news/ipoker-considers-dividing-two-separate-poker-network/

Just seen this on Barry Carters f/b

Wow, a new twist on "divide & rule".

Wonder what Mr Channing thinks of that? He is part of Boyles, I think, & their name was not mentioned.

I can't quite see what the angle is.

Really? It's pretty obvious. The sportsbooks are fed up of their 'recreational' players losing money to smaller pure poker sites. It's long been an issue for them. One sportsbook poker room manager once told me 'the trouble is our guys are rubbish at poker and keep losing all their money'

Ahh yes, of course - I was told that very story only weeks ago by someone who was in that very position with a major room, all the money was being sucked off the site, instead of migrating cross-platform to the sports books. In fact, sportsbook winnings were heading first to poker, & then off the site completely. Makes perfect sense now. It is fiddling at the edges of the problem though, it is not addressing the decline in the Online Poker market generally, which Neil Channing said last week was 28%, y-o-y.

I just saw this from the Ladbrokes Analysts meeting, too.....

Mobile bingo and poker apps are also due out in H1,

Everyone will have one soon, I guess. Next door's offering is also fairly imminent.

[AlunB]

http://pokerfuse.com/news/poker-room-news/ipoker-considers-dividing-two-separate-poker-network/

Just seen this on Barry Carters f/b

Wow, a new twist on "divide & rule".

Wonder what Mr Channing thinks of that? He is part of Boyles, I think, & their name was not mentioned.

I can't quite see what the angle is.

Really? It's pretty obvious. The sportsbooks are fed up of their 'recreational' players losing money to smaller pure poker sites. It's long been an issue for them. One sportsbook poker room manager once told me 'the trouble is our guys are rubbish at poker and keep losing all their money'

Ahh yes, of course - I was told that very story only weeks ago by someone who was in that very position with a major room, all the money was being sucked off the site, instead of migrating cross-platform to the sports books. In fact, sportsbook winnings were heading first to poker, & then off the site completely. Makes perfect sense now. It is fiddling at the edges of the problem though, it is not addressing the decline in the Online Poker market generally, which Neil Channing said last week was 28%, y-o-y.

I just saw this from the Ladbrokes Analysts meeting, too.....

Mobile bingo and poker apps are also due out in H1,

Everyone will have one soon, I guess. Next door's offering is also fairly imminent.

It's been the next big thing for about 10 years now.

Playtech's mobile poker has been coming soon for a while now too. Agree with you that Stars long-awaited app is very impressive indeed.

[tikay]

http://pokerfuse.com/news/poker-room-news/ipoker-considers-dividing-two-separate-poker-network/

Just seen this on Barry Carters f/b

Wow, a new twist on "divide & rule".

Wonder what Mr Channing thinks of that? He is part of Boyles, I think, & their name was not mentioned.

I can't quite see what the angle is.

Really? It's pretty obvious. The sportsbooks are fed up of their 'recreational' players losing money to smaller pure poker sites. It's long been an issue for them. One sportsbook poker room manager once told me 'the trouble is our guys are rubbish at poker and keep losing all their money'

Ahh yes, of course - I was told that very story only weeks ago by someone who was in that very position with a major room, all the money was being sucked off the site, instead of migrating cross-platform to the sports books. In fact, sportsbook winnings were heading first to poker, & then off the site completely. Makes perfect sense now. It is fiddling at the edges of the problem though, it is not addressing the decline in the Online Poker market generally, which Neil Channing said last week was 28%, y-o-y.

I just saw this from the Ladbrokes Analysts meeting, too.....

Mobile bingo and poker apps are also due out in H1,

Everyone will have one soon, I guess. Next door's offering is also fairly imminent.

It's been the next big thing for about 10 years now.

Playtech's mobile poker has been coming soon for a while now too. Agree with you that Stars long-awaited app is very impressive indeed.

As will, one can guess, their own version of "Rush Poker".

[tikay]

The ever wily Mr Channing sent me an e-Mail the other day - well, it began "Hello Everyone" so we can safely assume I was not alone in receiving his pearls of wisdom.

After setting the scene rather nicely, like this.....

We are still battling away at running an internet poker business in the howling gale of economic downturn while the whole market has shrunk by 28%. We seem to be surviving though, and I'm quite proud that we employ people and have an office and we've built a "thing" that lasts.

He then went on to start his actual blog. It went like this.....


As somebody who has been involved in this gambling lark for a few years now I find I have to constantly reinvent myself. Sometimes I change and I fancy one form of gambling more than another, because one seems more interesting to me and sometimes the form of gambling changes with one becoming harder than another. Sometimes I'm very quick to adapt; other times I'm terrible at it...

And then stopped!

It was, of course, followed by a link to BBP, where you need to go to read the rest of the tale.

No flies on Mr Channing, what a tease!

Anyway, I had better be nice to him, so here's a photo of him in his sponsors apparel.

[mondatoo]

For those of you not quite so up on BMX stuff as me, this is the old 720 double tailwhip. Very rare, this.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waneHjpiaP8

Not impressed? Here it is in slow-motion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=T-VArPLwQ-g&NR=1

Here's his bike - got a 20.6 top tube, you know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=zjZWtVWz740&NR=1

Bit of a ledge, is Dan.

No idea why you posted this but that is incred skills.

Think he's took to just copying other diaries in order to compete, I put it up 24hours previously. 

[bobby1]

http://pokerfuse.com/news/poker-room-news/ipoker-considers-dividing-two-separate-poker-network/

Just seen this on Barry Carters f/b

Wow, a new twist on "divide & rule".

Wonder what Mr Channing thinks of that? He is part of Boyles, I think, & their name was not mentioned.

I can't quite see what the angle is.

Really? It's pretty obvious. The sportsbooks are fed up of their 'recreational' players losing money to smaller pure poker sites. It's long been an issue for them. One sportsbook poker room manager once told me 'the trouble is our guys are rubbish at poker and keep losing all their money'

Ahh yes, of course - I was told that very story only weeks ago by someone who was in that very position with a major room, all the money was being sucked off the site, instead of migrating cross-platform to the sports books. In fact, sportsbook winnings were heading first to poker, & then off the site completely. Makes perfect sense now. It is fiddling at the edges of the problem though, it is not addressing the decline in the Online Poker market generally, which Neil Channing said last week was 28%, y-o-y.

I just saw this from the Ladbrokes Analysts meeting, too.....

Mobile bingo and poker apps are also due out in H1,

Everyone will have one soon, I guess. Next door's offering is also fairly imminent.

If only they had listened a little more carefully back in the day ;o)

[JaffaCake]

Well if you wrote that, Jeff, you should pack up poker & go back to journalism, it was a beautifully balanced & paced little piece, well presented, very professional, & I mean that. The gift of writing well should not be underestimated.

Anyone suggesting Jeff should give up poker and return to journalism must think he either a) really loves journalism or b) really hates money

Oh and +1 on the well written.

Ha, I took it as a rub to my abilities at da pokerz....tyty for the compliments, always available for further gainful employment should your fine mags require my service

[AlunB]

Well if you wrote that, Jeff, you should pack up poker & go back to journalism, it was a beautifully balanced & paced little piece, well presented, very professional, & I mean that. The gift of writing well should not be underestimated.

Anyone suggesting Jeff should give up poker and return to journalism must think he either a) really loves journalism or b) really hates money

Oh and +1 on the well written.

Ha, I took it as a rub to my abilities at da pokerz....tyty for the compliments, always available for further gainful employment should your fine mags require my service

Send me a PM with your email and let's have a chat.

[nirvana]

We mentioned footballing cliches the other day, & one of them is the player who has taken a handbag style slap to the face, or hurt his arm, they immediately fall to the floor. Why? Why does laying down make it hurt less? It's not their bloody leg!

Here is the same theme, with a difference - now the Linesmen are joining the charade. No wonder players get away with it.

Note how, despite his severe head wound, he manages to stagger, dramatically, & theatrically, halfway to the middle of the pitch (so more can watch his agony) before collapsing & dying. Nearly.

The mortally wounded chap is far right, as the video commences. He actually falls to the ground on the touchline, gets up, & staggers to midfield before collapsing again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBUZX4jxB0k

Love the players reaction when he goes to look at the projectile wepon

[bobby1]

I just noticed Erik Compton is on the US tour leader board at the mo Tony. A small write up on Wiki, but a great story.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Compton