DTD Blog - Rob Yong

[snoopy1239]

(London Clubs were at least big enough to agree). 

Well, they would, wouldn't they because they're not in Nottingham.

Snoops, London Clubs are most definatley in Nottingham. See link below

http://www.lcinottinghamcasino.com/pages/index.html

Oh, I see, I thought you meant clubs based in London had accepted the deal.Thought that sounded odd.

Yep, fair dos, that was big of them - shame Gala and Stanley can't follow suit though. LCI obviously don't make as much from the poker players as the latter two do.

[LLevan]

Quick question. If LCI accept the offer and you sign an agreement with them wouldn't they then withdraw their objection against the club which means you could get on with things? Or is it too late for that?

No Boldie, LCI would withdraw their objection BUT Gala and Stanley would still which effectively still means long draw out hearing. 2 or 3 objectors will make little difference unfortunatley. I made the offer to all 3 objectors, so the casinos collectively could be reassured that Dusk Till Dawn would not compete with their "core business" and even if Dusk Till Dawn Club was sold to another casino group (which I have no intention of going) the new owners could not operate blackjack, roulette etc.

It proves that they have a problem with POKER being operated outside of their walls, which I suppose indicates the revenues that they must make on the table games from poker players is significant.

Regardless of what the revenues generated from poker and poker players playing casino games the big corporates just hate the idea that the loss of 1 punter let alone hundreds of punters will make a big dent in their bottom line. The refurb at the vic shows that Grosvenor now realise that its better to have a full cardroom upstairs as opposed to 15 or however many high roller casino tables they used to have upstairs that were constantly lying empty with the occassional punter and yet they had to keep them staffed in case a high roller walked in, it goes back to the old saying that 10% of £1000 is far better than 50% of £0. The days of the high rollers and casinos milking it in are gone and most of them have realised that they can make a profit from poker and since it has become so popular in recent years they just want to keep their own little closed shop as regards to legal card rooms.

Just out of interest Rob, when LCI applied for their license in Nottingham were there any objections from any of the other casino groups?

PS Good luck in court and lets hope the magistrates see sense and do the right thing and allow someone who has been vetted by the gaming commission and gone through everything you have done to toe the line to legally open a licensed poker room as its definetely for the good of the game in this country.

[robyong]

I went to Stanley's new Casino in Nottingham a couple of nights ago, they all seems a nice bunch over there, and quite a few are ex gala employees as I guess you would expect, now there is an alternative casino employer in Nottingham. The Duty Manager noticed me speaking to one of dealers and came accross........but only to wish me all the best on the poker club, what a nice gesture, I think he realises that Dusk Till Dawn will actually bring in business to Nottingham, not steal from the casinos.

In reply to LLevens last post, I am not sure if LCI got any objections, but I know for a fact the Stanleys Casino in Nottingham which opened a few months ago got ZERO objections at their hearing, how this happended, I could only speculate, I don't know the answers (hmmm)

The evidence from the objectors is due back to us on the 28th August, I guess I'll get more of an idea on how the case will go when I can see there evidence, or if in fact I have missed anything. I don't think you need to be a rocket science to forecast their case will contain:

1. "expert market analysis" on demand for poker and/or a casino by some Dr of Gaming
2. Don't give DTD a licence as they will not be able to make any money from poker so they will put in casino tables/or sell to another casino
3. Staneys card room is not full - so how can there be more demand for poker
4. blah blah

I'll be really interested to see LCI's argument that there is no need for DTD when they are having to hold the WSOP Europe in 3 separate casinos due to the demand for poker!

Gala never even had the respect to reply to my offer of signing an agreement not to have casino games/sell ot another casino company, so I guess that is a dead duck.

I wish the case was next week, not in 4 weeks time, we are all fed up of the waiting around and for me personally, whatever the outcome, I am looking forward to putting these last couple of years behind me and focussing on the future for DTD and my other projects, plus having some time to play a few poker tournamants and watch a few more football matches...

Cheers Rob

[Tragic]

I don't know if it's relevant but one part of the demographic that has never really shown a demand for a regulated poker game is that of students...I'm lucky enough to have done OK online over the past year and be able to play the odd £1/2 game at gala, but I know for a fact that a hell of alot of people are put off by these limits which are very high for any student. I have encouraged plenty of people to play but a £0.50/1 game or even lower is as high as the majority are prepared to go, and gala don't even do 50p chips anymore. They seem perfectly happy to throw away £40 on blackjack but then £40 at £1/2 is blackjack...Offering a wider range of limits is hopefully something DTD will do and I think you will then see far more young players then willing to take the plunge...Basically current provision for young players without so much money is utterly non existent, I don't know if that's something you can stress?

[thediceman]

DTD's USP (unique selling point) is that it will offer a variety of different games, at a variety of different limits, at a variety of different times. This is far beyond anything that is currently on offer and will therefore attract a new market as well as the already established poker market.

I would love to hear the big boys counter arguement to this claim.
 

[Thappers]

I don't know if it's relevant but one part of the demographic that has never really shown a demand for a regulated poker game is that of students...I'm lucky enough to have done OK online over the past year and be able to play the odd £1/2 game at gala, but I know for a fact that a hell of alot of people are put off by these limits which are very high for any student. I have encouraged plenty of people to play but a £0.50/1 game or even lower is as high as the majority are prepared to go, and gala don't even do 50p chips anymore. They seem perfectly happy to throw away £40 on blackjack but then £40 at £1/2 is blackjack...Offering a wider range of limits is hopefully something DTD will do and I think you will then see far more young players then willing to take the plunge...Basically current provision for young players without so much money is utterly non existent, I don't know if that's something you can stress?

As an ex-student at Nottingham I was still going along to their games last year and there is HUGE demand from students for decent poker. If DTD could work with the Unis poker societies at say a £.25/$.50 game (or maybe £.50/£.50) and ran it once every couple of weeks the students would flock to the club, guaranteed. I chatted with quite a few who would simply never take several hundred quid to a casino game but would happily sit down with fifty quid in a well-run cash game.

[Jon MW]

Don't you think they might mention the new legislation?

After all a delay is all they want (and another and another etc) - I would have thought they might try to justify an adjournment by claiming they need to see what affect it will have.

[CRIPPIN]

Couple of points:

With regard to the offer of signing an agreement relating to casino games, the responce of the casinos is not relevant - it's the offer that is important, just by bringing the offer to the attention of the magistrates should be enough to prove your intentions.

Secondly, I would be very careful about usuing the student demand in your arguament. Poker is seen as gambling and students are seen as kids or young people, encouraging young people to gamble will not win you any supporters.

[boldie]

Don't you think they might mention the new legislation?

After all a delay is all they want (and another and another etc) - I would have thought they might try to justify an adjournment by claiming they need to see what affect it will have.

Yeah but the reply to that would surely be "How long have you guys know about this new legislation coming in now? And surely any decent well run company has already looked into what the expected outcomes of that would be?"..Ignorance is no excuse

[Tragic]

Couple of points:

With regard to the offer of signing an agreement relating to casino games, the responce of the casinos is not relevant - it's the offer that is important, just by bringing the offer to the attention of the magistrates should be enough to prove your intentions.

Secondly, I would be very careful about usuing the student demand in your arguament. Poker is seen as gambling and students are seen as kids or young people, encouraging young people to gamble will not win you any supporters.

The point is that alot of these students do just gamble with their £50 on blackjack because there is no availability of a suitable poker game which introduces an element of skill. You are correct of course, though, robbing students might look bad .

[boldie]

 You are correct of course, though, robbing students might look bad .

why?..All they do is rob from society..useless no-good hoodie wearing lay-abouts, the lot of 'em

[TheChipPrince]

Rob, just a side issue which Pab metioned in the old thread but i dont think was answered, is the future of DTD online poker safe whatever the outcome of the hearing??

[dazzaster]

God this thing is dragging on isn't it, it must be so frustrating but i am sure sanity will prevail and the license will be granted.
I hope so as i'm planning on moving into the car park so i can be in there all the time. LOL.

Keep your chin up Rob this time next year we'll all be toasting the success of the best poker club in Europe.

[TheChipPrince]

Rob, just a side issue which Pab metioned in the old thread but i dont think was answered, is the future of DTD online poker safe whatever the outcome of the hearing??

 

[jizzemm]

 You are correct of course, though, robbing students might look bad .

why?..All they do is rob from society..useless no-good hoodie wearing lay-abouts, the lot of 'em