Poker News
Poker News

WPT relaxes logo rules

Thursday, August 25, 2005

The World Poker Tour and the Travel channel have relaxed their stance on player sponsorship, but still seem to be very much against the sponsorship of players by online poker rooms.

I read the new rules, and don't see how any online poker room could sponsor players because of this clause.

"In the event Sponsor is a website, such site is prohibited from accepting wagers currently or in the future and containing links or references to online gambling or any online gambling websites which accept wagers currently or in the future in order to be pre-approved by WPT. WPT Enterprises, Inc."

Containing links or references to online gambling or any online gambling websites. To me a logo is a reference. A brand name is a reference.

Some people in the online poker industry have been celebrating this change and plan to use a '.net' version of their site to sponsor players playing in WPT events. But how is the same logo with a .net on the end instead of a .com not a reference to an online gambling website? How is OnlinePoker.net with the same logo & brand not 'a reference' to OnlinePoker.com?

A few other rooms use this tactic promoting free '.net' sites on TV to work around TV network rules in regard to advertising online gambling. But lets call a spade a spade. Everyone knows the purpose of these ads is to drive new players to a real money poker site eventually, which is exactly why the WPT & Travel channel were so specific in the wording of their new rules.

The public is not stupid. They know that businesses exist to make money. Sure, here at Poker.com we love our free players, but we wouldn't be here and wouldn't have games for free if we weren't trying to make money from our real money business. It's crazy to think that anybody is fooled by this tactic.

If the WPT does allow sites with a .net extension to advertise where the .com extension is a real money poker room, then it is against their own rules and certainly against the 'spirit' of the rules if not the actual written rules of the US TV networks.

If only the US government would take a definite stance on online poker, then all of this ridiculous cat and mouse activity would dissappear. We'd know where we stand in regard to advertising and players would know where they stand in regard to the legality of them actually playing.

We get heaps of requests every day to sponsor US sporting teams or events and advertise on TV or radio, but we are reluctant to do so because we do not want to break any rules and get in trouble with the government.

If online poker rooms like Poker.com can't sponsor WPT players, then I guess it will be alcohol companies as they seem to have been the first endorser to jump on the poker bandwagon. As we all know that drinking bourbon is so much better for the state of the union than anyone playing a few hands of their so called 'national card game' from the comfort of their home!

Hello George W if you are listening. I won't tell anyone about your Poker.com account and tendency to bluff to the river if you give us an answer on whether you consider online poker to be legal or not!

Your people love poker 'Dubbya', so why don't you want to tell them they can play?

kris @ poker.com





Posted at 11:47 PM Permalink | 2 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Some Poker News Links

Monday, August 22, 2005

I've been too busy lately to think about potential blog topics, so here's some links to Poker news or articles I've read over the past couple of days.

Mark Gregorich, writing for CardPlayer, provided a good rundown of how Harrahs could improve the running of the WSOP next year.

Here's a good article as to why online poker isn't rigged.

Here's some details on the 2006 Aussie Millions in Melbourne, Australia. Poker.com will be organising satellites to this event soon, so stay tuned for details of how you can win a trip down under to visit us in 2006!

And to continue the staff introductions, I present to you Liam, our player host. Liam is the newest and tallest member of the Poker.com team. A basketballer and barman extraordinaire, Liam has lots of exciting ideas for how we can make sure that our site is always fun for our players. Look out for him on the poker forum.

kris @ poker.com


Posted at 7:41 AM Permalink | 1 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Poker Blog Evolution & Vegas

Thursday, August 18, 2005

The Poker Prof over at Las Vegas & Poker Blog has written an article on the evolution of Poker blogging. We didn't even rate a mention though! Yet..... Nice article anyway Prof.

Poker.com is thinking about offering a weekly freeroll to any blogger that links to this page. We want to try and unite the blogging community in a weekly tournament. So if you have a blog, link to http://www.poker.com/blog, let us know about it, and we'll invite you to our first weekly bloggers freeroll. Guest Poker.com staff members may even be allowed to play in this event to get to know everyone a little better.

I booked a trip to Vegas today to attend a conference in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to hitting a couple of the strip's Poker rooms and will be meeting with a poker room manager to see if we can arrange a deal to get special comps & discounts for Poker.com members at a Vegas casino. Not saying which Casino yet... But it's a good one. With a GREAT poker room.

I'm looking forward to revisiting the strip. I've been before, but have been too busy with work and catching up on sleep to really take in the sights. This time I am going to make sure I fight the jet lag and get out for some long walks and see more touristy things. I especially want to enter a couple of freezeouts and see if I can't relieve some card chasing tourists of their chips.

Next on our list of staff introductions is Paulie, one of our software developers. Paulie is the inspiration behind quite a few of the cooler Poker.com features and he goes out of his way to interact with our players and answer questions on the forum. He's said that he's keen to post on the blog and I'm looking forward to what he'll have to say. I especially want to see some reports from him when hits the Canadian ski fields later in the year decked out in his Poker.com ski gear.

I've been playing a game of Limit Holdem at p______poker.com whilst writing this post and I'm up a whole$7.25! Yay big bucks!

Until next time.

kris @ poker.com


Posted at 3:33 AM Permalink | 3 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Poker.com Headwear!

Monday, August 15, 2005

If you have been promised a Poker.com hat and haven't received it yet, it's because I have been waiting on the latest batch to arrive.

My good friend Niki who looks after the production of our merchandise has just told me that they are being created now and I should have them here within a couple of weeks.

The first player to make a comment on this post will join "The Hat List" and become a recipient of a fresh Poker.com hat from the new batch arriving soon.

paul @ poker.com


Posted at 1:57 AM Permalink | 4 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


The Logo Argument

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Poker.com's Bullitpete at the WSOPI've been reading up on the rules and regulations surrounding various WPT, WSOP and other big tournaments around the world as Poker.com is about to start offering seats to these type of events through satellite tournaments.

I've been reading not only the rules of the actual organisations holding the events we may send players to, but also the guidelines that other online poker rooms set for the players that they send via satellites.

A lot of the rules astoundingly deal with 'Logo Wear'. In case you're not aware, there is a lot of conjecture surrounding exactly what attire players are allowed to wear at the poker tables when playing in a tournament. Some TV executives have set draconian rules as to the size and wording of logos able to be worn on clothing, and most of the forms you have to sign before playing in a tournament deal with this issue.

To me it seems a little ridiculous, especially when compared to other sports. Look at a NASCAR event for example, or watch Tiger Woods play golf, or check out the jersies of even international Rugby teams these days. Sponsorship and endorsement is everywhere in all other sports, what makes Poker any different?

What really pushes my buttons is that Poker players are playing with their own money as well! It's fair enough if the TV network is ponying up the cash prizes, then they should be able to have some say in how the players appear. But in the case of WPT events, the players are paying upwards of $10,000 to play. Why should any TV exec have any say in what that player wears. The TV people are not contributing one brass razoo to the prize pool.

If poker was struggling with ratings and there was no interest in having it shown on TV, then players could cater to the TV executive's wishes in the best interest of the sport. But poker on tv is booming. It is one of the highest rating sports around! The TV networks are cleaning up with advertising revenue, but the players that everyone tunes into watch are still being stuck with crazy rules governing how they can make a living from their chosen occupation.

The worst thing is that this stupid rule is filtering down to the grass roots level also. I've heard of many non-televised events at your everyday local casino that will not permit 'Logo Wear'. Why not! Imagine if your local basketball league told you that they did not permit Nikes to be worn... Only brand free footwear is allowed.... You'd laugh in their face and I really can't see how this is any different.

I think that the players need to take a stand and stick up for their right to wear what they like and make some extra income on the side by helping a poker business advertise their product.

I think I might get some t-shirts made up with "This is not a Poker.com t-shirt" emblazoned across the front. I wonder what they'd say to that.....

Poker.com's Bullitpete at the WSOPTo continue the staff introductions, I present to you Helen, the Poker.com Webmistress. Helen loves F1 racing and arguing with Paul. Although she's one of the few girls currently working in the Poker.com office, she is not afraid to take on the boys and most of us are a little scared of her.... Say hi to Helen if you see her policing the Poker.com forum and tell her to start posting n the blog more often!

kris @ poker.com


Posted at 10:50 PM Permalink | 3 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Hard at work or hardly working?

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Ever wondered what the Poker.com staff or offices look like? I'm going to make a few consecutive posts and introduce the staff . There'll be some sneaky little pics from around the office too. We moved offices recently and although it was only across the street, we feel like we've gone from the outhouse to the penthouse!

First up is Paul, Poker.com webmaster and Tourney Director. He always wins the 'who has the biggest monitor' contest. I think he's up to 24 inches... He's got a bar fridge full of tasty soda next to his desk and is never seen without an ample supply of Poker.com caps to randomly give away.

Next up will be Helen, our webmistress and feared forum administrator. I just have to try and get a photo of her..... Could be tricky...... Getting a photo of her is like trying to take an injured zebra away from a lion ...

kris @ poker.com


Posted at 11:20 PM Permalink | 4 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Joe to to be rivered by the tax man?

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

I really hope that the Australian tax office does not hit up WSOP winner Joe Hachem for half of his remaining winnings. There's an article in an Aussie paper stating that he may lose 47 percent of his $US 7.5 million if he is classed as a professional poker player.

I think it's wrong for a number of reasons.
1. He's already been taxed 30% in the USA. Doesn't Australia have a tax treaty with the US to prevent 'double dipping' of taxes?
2. It's illegall for Australians to play poker online. As a part of it's decision to make online poker illegal, the government deemed that it was primarily a game of chance. So how can they now tax somebody's winings in this 'game of chance'. It would hypocritical to say he uses skill to win at poker when they have already said it is all luck in order to stop people playing online!
3. Would he have been able to claim his $10k entry fee and trip expenses as a deduction if he had lost at the WSOP..... I think not......

It could be a clueless reporter making up half of what is written, but anyway I really hope that he doesn't get taxed again. Or actually, please do tax him, (he'll still make plenty from endorsements) and then let us allow Aussies to play at Poker.com!


Posted at 1:35 AM Permalink | 0 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Have you made a final table yet?

Thursday, August 04, 2005


I'm sitting here at home watching the final table of a $500 Poker.com freeroll. We have to wait until the tournament finishes before the development team can perform a little software update.

I was just thinking how cool some of our Poker.com features are. I love the way that you get a new table for the final table of tournaments (pictured). And how when you win a freeroll, you get a trophy or medal accolade on your player box.

We're down to 4 players now. Sparks11 (who has a shiny little trophy next to his name indicating he has previously won a $3k freeroll) has a big chip lead with the blinds at level 18.

I really wish I could play at Poker.com. It's kind of tough thinking up all the things you would like at a poker site, helping build them, and then never being able to play there!

Oops down to 3 now with thogo81 in the lead... just....

We have plenty more features on the way too. Two especially are going to be great additions to our unique tournaments. I can't tell you what they are yet, but it definitely makes playing online a lot more realistic with some 'gamesmanship' type functions.

2 left in the $500 now. Sparks11 was busted by thogo81. Down to thogo81 and SoulJaYi. Hurry up and finish guys before the dev team gets mad about being kept up late!

If you haven't heard already we're also holding a $10,000 freeroll this weekend. Anyone that has ever made a deposit is eligible. Check out the forum for further details.

Congrats to thogo81 who just took out the $500 freeroll. Now we can update the site!


kris @ poker.com


Posted at 6:44 AM Permalink | 0 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


What a week!

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

I haven't posted to the blog for a little while, mainly because everyone at Poker.com has just been too damn busy!

In the past week we've done a major upgrade, been fixing bugs in the upgrade (or fighting fires as Paulie likes to call it) and moved offices. Our office move was only across the street, but getting everything set up in a high rise office space is a nightmare. Phones, internet, air conditioning, fire safety, security, painting, carpet, electrical, lighting, networking, desks, chairs, printers, faxes, fridges, computers, poker tables, barbeques, tvs, xboxes etc etc etc. We've been busy to say the least.

There were a couple of bugs in our last update, but hopefully most of them have now been resolved. But on that I have a tip for anybody who ever needs to email a support department. Keep it short, polite and informative. I've been reading some of the support requests we have been receiving lately and oh my do we get some doozies.....

Some emails are three pages long complaining and swearing simply because the player has forgotten their own password! Or they lost on the river to a guy with a 2,3 who flukes a straight! We will answer every email we receive, but you have a much better chance of getting a speedy, accurate answer if you can structure a sentence and use your manners. It's amazing that some people feel that they can speak however they please in an email, the rudeness is astounding. I was brought up to always respect others and treat everyone as I wish to be treated and I apply that practice not just to face to face dealings, but written communication also. If only everyone else on the internet acted like that too - it would be a much nicer place!

Back to poker - if you live in Canada, keep your eyes peeled for a new poker 'insert' publication called Poker Unlimited. It will be distributed next month inside Transcontinental publishing's mens and outdoors magzines throughout Canada and will feature a Poker.com ad featuring Tina, our Queen of hearts. We're also about to develop Poker.ca as a Canadian poker portal which should be a lot of fun for all you Canucks.

I'll try to start posting regularly again and get some others posting more often too to keep our blog interesting.

kris @ poker.com


Posted at 7:14 AM Permalink | 0 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum

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