AmayaStars

[The Camel]

Just my 0.2 cents

But I don't think all the changes at Stars are down to Amaya most of the things they have implemented will have been in the pipeline for a long time already. Cutting off affiliates, introducing spin and go's, now the currency charge.

Stars has always planned things out long in advance and most of these (specifically spin and go's) would have been a long time in development. The site has been moving away from the stars of old steadily since BF and this accelerated when they bought FTP and essentially killed off  the site (which I think everyone thought had a chance of becoming firm #2 again)

Amaya might have moved up the timescales on some of these things certainly but, Stars was alredy going down this route

I don't think the "old Stars" would have brought in the currency charges

Also think they would have given the reason for cutting off the grey area countries (if they cut them off at all)

You might be right about the other things. Perhaps the Scheinberg's were delaying bringing in them in to maintain their popularity.

Wonder how long the deal precludes them from opening a new poker site.

Because if they opened one tomorrow it would be a serious rival for Stars.

[redarmi]

Wonder how long the deal precludes them from opening a new poker site.

Because if they opened one tomorrow it would be a serious rival for Stars.

You really think this is likely?  I can see this when you sell your company for £50m or something but when you sell it for billions surely you spend a bit of time with your family, random hookers and your coke dealer?

[DaveShoelace]

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/announcement-pokerstars-changes-rake-spin-go-prizes-battle-planets-1485512/

End of battle of the planets, rake increases etc.

Probably a good strategy by Stars to get all their bad news out in quick succession.

[George2Loose]

was always going to happen and I doubt a handful of people withdrawing their custom will touch them.

[rfgqqabc]

The hyper turbo rake increases are pretty hilarious. Attacking the people who start games, especially at the small stakes seems pretty flawed and counterproductive. How long until the new 230$ Sunday million coming up with its new ko format is revealed? I really hope they have thought about this, it doesn't seem like the greatest decision ever.

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Amaya-Gaming-Group-Reviews-E473086.htm some interestng comments here.

[tikay]

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/announcement-pokerstars-changes-rake-spin-go-prizes-battle-planets-1485512/

End of battle of the planets, rake increases etc.

Probably a good strategy by Stars to get all their bad news out in quick succession.

Seems to have been well-received on 2+2, then?

[Matt.NFFC.]

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/announcement-pokerstars-changes-rake-spin-go-prizes-battle-planets-1485512/

End of battle of the planets, rake increases etc.

Probably a good strategy by Stars to get all their bad news out in quick succession.

Seems to have been well-received on 2+2, then?

Yes, they seem to be going nuts over there.

I'm not particularly up to date on current events, but I guess the other sites are rubbing their hands at a potential player exodus from Stars?

[DaveShoelace]

IMO there will lots of complaints and very little in the way of an exodus. Reminds me of all the people I see moaning about and claiming they will leave Facebook.......on Facebook.

However it would be great, no offence to stars, if another room became a major competitor.

[bergeroo]

IMO there will lots of complaints and very little in the way of an exodus. Reminds me of all the people I see moaning about and claiming they will leave Facebook.......on Facebook.

However it would be great, no offence to stars, if another room became a major competitor.

Personally, I don't mind causing offence to Stars anymore.

[TightEnd]

In part they can do this because the players have no where else of the same quality to go to right?

Competitors are cheaper, as of now i think...but no sign anyone can match the software platform, service, player base

[George2Loose]

Also the average player will be oblivious of these changes because altho price of games have increased they show as the same price in the lobby for the majority (unless I'm mistaken)

[Karabiner]

In part they can do this because the players have no where else of the same quality to go to right?

Competitors are cheaper, as of now i think...but no sign anyone can match the software platform, service, player base

Exactly this having virtually dismantled FTP as far as I'm concerned.

[arbboy]

IMO there will lots of complaints and very little in the way of an exodus. Reminds me of all the people I see moaning about and claiming they will leave Facebook.......on Facebook.

However it would be great, no offence to stars, if another room became a major competitor.

Just a carbon copy of when betfair introduced the premium charge to big winning customers.  Everyone cried, moaned for 2 days then got on with giving betfair all the business day in day out as per usual as there was nowhere else they could make a living.   Everyone said 'let's move to betdaq' but nobody did because there was no liquidity there to bet against.

[arbboy]

Also the average player will be oblivious of these changes because altho price of games have increased they show as the same price in the lobby for the majority (unless I'm mistaken)

This is so true for over 98% of their customers which is why they do the rake like this so they can increase the price of the product without the vast majority of their customers even realising.

[AlunB]

IMO there will lots of complaints and very little in the way of an exodus. Reminds me of all the people I see moaning about and claiming they will leave Facebook.......on Facebook.

However it would be great, no offence to stars, if another room became a major competitor.

Just a carbon copy of when betfair introduced the premium charge to big winning customers.  Everyone cried, moaned for 2 days then got on with giving betfair all the business day in day out as per usual as there was nowhere else they could make a living.   Everyone said 'let's move to betdaq' but nobody did because there was no liquidity there to bet against.

This