AmayaStars

[DaveShoelace]

Justin Bonomo was heads up in a 2k side here in Monte Carlo. Did a deal with the guy (chip leader) where he (Bonomo) got the trophy so he could boycott the winners photo in protest of the VIP so called fraud.

Stars tell him he won't get paid if he doesn't do the photo, thats what he signed up for etc.

He then decides to make a sign with "Pokerstars stole $50,000 from me" to hold up for the photo.

They threaten to ban him from all PSLive events if he doesn't co-operate.

Believe he's given in and done the photo now.

Good story, thanks for posting, Alex.

Let me get this right - Mr B is a Stars 'Pro, & wants to embarrass 'Stars with that stunt?

I'd sack him on the spot.

Don't think he's a stars pro - and stars only got away with the "no payout without a photo stunt" because the event was in a 3rd world environment.

Ahh, understood.

Just ban him from future PS Live Events, then.

I instinctively want to be on the other side of Justin Bonomo in an argument.

Justin Bonomo stole much more than 50k from the poker community with his multi accounting.

He should have been banned for life for what he did.

Where there any estimates given at the time as to how much he probably won as a result of the cheating?

[The Camel]

Having said that, silly of Stars forcing him to be photographed.

If they just said "fine, no picture", Bonomo gets no publicity.

[DaveShoelace]

If I was Stars I'd just threaten not to submit the result to the Hendon Mob database. I know loads of players who would view that as a legit threat.

[The Camel]

If I was Stars I'd just threaten not to submit the result to the Hendon Mob database. I know loads of players who would view that as a legit threat.

Just imagine winning a tournament and nobody knowing about it!

[Simon Galloway]

I can think of a few players that would pay to not have the result submitted.

[rfgqqabc]

I'm not sure why poker players aren't allowed to moan about their living being taken away. It seems oxymoronic to me to even suggest that a group of people shouldn't be allowed to complain when something significantly negative effects them in a manner which is at least somewhat underhand. The moaning might be pointless and ineffective (hence why I've stopped bothering talking about it) but to go to a poker forum and seek it out and then complain about it seems much sillier. Can you imagine a football forum where the guy who has a box starts moaning about people being upset about ticket prices? Having said all that I'd still give Bonomo the banhammer for this charade, what a clown.

[Doobs]

Stars have changed the late reg period in the 320 PLO8 to nigh on 4 hours.   That is pretty close to the time people would cash if it was a freezeout.  The best strategy may well be to late reg with 6 bbs.  I know the word is overused in internet poker, but the most prestigous plo8 tournament of the week has now become a joke.  

fwiw they have 2 hour late reg on the 55 normal speed too.   you can late reg 7 bbs.  13 mins before the end of late reg and we are down to 14 from 40 entries and re-entries.

edit.  given my background in hypers this should be in my favour, but it just seems an awful thing to happen.

[SuuPRlim]

Justin Bonomo has always been,, is still and I'm pretty ssure is going to remain a completely socially inept overly-serious bore and I personally couldn't be less interested in anything he has to say about pretty much anything.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz Bonomo

[The Camel]

Stars have changed the late reg period in the 320 PLO8 to nigh on 4 hours.   That is pretty close to the time people would cash if it was a freezeout.  The best strategy may well be to late reg with 6 bbs.  I know the word is overused in internet poker, but the most prestigous plo8 tournament of the week has now become a joke.  

fwiw they have 2 hour late reg on the 55 normal speed too.   you can late reg 7 bbs.  13 mins before the end of late reg and we are down to 14 from 40 entries and re-entries.

edit.  given my background in hypers this should be in my favour, but it just seems an awful thing to happen.

Damned by faint praise.

[Doobs]

Bonomo still digging

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1som9c1

and Amaya produce increasing revenues

Click to see full-size image.

[doubleup]

but quite a big fall in poker revenue....

[Doobs]

but quite a big fall in poker revenue....

Before they increased charges at the end of March.

[Whollyflush]

Its always been fairly clear they've been looking to transition their revenue from poker to sportsbook type themes.  One of Baazov's opening statements mentioned how large and loyal Pokerstars consumer base was to allow them to offer "new and exciting" platforms. I'm sure a point in time will come when Pokerstars name becomes "Betstars" as the revenue streams cross and Pokerstars becomes more irrelevant, how quickly times change...

[arbboy]

Its always been fairly clear they've been looking to transition their revenue from poker to sportsbook type themes.  One of Baazov's opening statements mentioned how large and loyal Pokerstars consumer base was to allow them to offer "new and exciting" platforms. I'm sure a point in time will come when Pokerstars name becomes "Betstars" as the revenue streams cross and Pokerstars becomes more irrelevant, how quickly times change...

In five years poker won't even be their major income stream.  Might even be quicker than that.  Poker is dying.  Why don't people realise this?  the pro's have spent ten years teaching the mugs how to play via training video's etc. Now if you don't watch the videos you can't win,  casuals will just play casino or sports because you don't need training videos to bet on them its more fun.  They know they will lose long term but they will lose slower on these products and get more bang for their buck.

[SuuPRlim]

I work with some guys who operate multiple mulit, multi-million pound grossing poker/sports/casino platforms, poker is an almost completely risk-free and very steady stream of income for them but pales utterly into insignificance compared to the profits generated from sports and casinos.

And these guys are 0.1% the size of stars.

With the player database they have turning pokerstars into an online sportsbook and casino will almost without fail be a move worth many billions of dollars.