[grjr]

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If it is being sponsored by a big online startup - why so much money? Do they not think that they could get Ivey, Brunson, etc to show up for a paltry 20 million dollar first prize?

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I don't know man, they're building a dome, putting up 100 million...they're going all out for this...I think they don't realize how big poker already is because it sounds like they're trying to jump the bandwagon before poker gets "really big"....lol a little too late.

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From what I've read the $60 million tourney will not be played in the Pokerdome. It will be played in a casino in Australia. Apparently Todd Brunson and Jen Harmon(?) will be in it with Ivey and Hachem.

The Pokerdome will be in Las Vegas and will host their weekly shows (which will feature the 15 second clock--I don't think that will apply to the mega-event). The Pokerdome itself will not be a dome really it will be a room with a single table surrounded by one-way glass. Presumably so the audience can see the players' hole cards without being able to signal anything to the players.

If the players can't see or hear the audience, however, I don't see the advantage of being in the same room with them. Just put them in another room like it's always been done.

So far it's being reported that the players in the mega-event are buying in for $10 million apiece. However, it's also reported that Mansionpoker is paying $100 million over the 3 years into this series. If so, where is that $100 million going? Personally, I don't see these high profile players running off to Australia to play in a $10m sit and go. If they wanted to do that they could play at Brunson's house and not pay taxes on the winnings.

Some of that $100m from Mansionpoker has to be going into the prize funds of these mega-events. I wonder when we'll find out how much.