Party Poker the Evil Empire?

[nolanfan34]

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inevitable

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Who are you, OneWordAnswer guy?

Let's hear some Grannie analysis! <font color="white"> Without the fake plastic hands and fists, please. </font>

[Thythe]

Haha, you know, the universe only exists in the mind. Since Party controls the mind, then they control the universe.

[Cubswin]

wouldn't you be focused on using marketing and pricing to take market share

Im getting a little off topic with this.... but do you think traditional models of pricing to take market share would really apply to online poker sites? If party decreased its max rake to $2 or even $1 for a period of time would this significantly increase traffic? Im not convinced that anyone would take notice except us serious players... though id be interested to hear what others may think about this.

cubs

[Greg J]

I'm more of a public opinion guy than a finance guy, so I feel comfortable in reassuring you here Cubs: no, most people won't give a sh!t.

[GrannyMae]

it has always been inevitable that after the dust clears, there will likely be only 2-3 sites total due to acquisitions. it makes sense and was predicted by many.

for example, party has the resources to purchase pokerstars and ultimate bet at any time. if the offer is good, either site would sell to party in an instant. if we see big mergers, as it appears vikrant is after, they will then proceed to scoop the smaller sites they want as well.

a final landscape might be party (and purchased properties), paradise (which will probably not sell since they are now part of the sports book empire) and prima.

small sites will have been purchased if they are desireable. the rest will be forced to close due to lack of traffic soon after if they were passed up on the buy-outs. there will be NO competing with these supersites, so the places like full-tilt and absolute will sell so as not to be bankrupted.

the money that could be saved on the synergy of these deals is enormous. those savings would be pumped back into product improvement, marketing and profit. that would be good for all.

as it is, party poker is now running 60 second spots on NBC affiliates all day on saturdays and sundays during sports hours. yes, the ads are for .net, but we all know this will drive massive players to .com. party has convinced the cable providers that a commercial advertising the worlds largets pokerschool is kosher. the cable companies insisted on disclaimer black boxes during the commercials that read "this is not a gambling site", and therefore the DOJ won't be able to go after anyone.

when i saw this new blitz for partypoker.net last week on NBC i knew that things were about to change yet again.

[gabyyyyy]

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so the places like full-tilt and absolute will sell so as not to be bankrupted.



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How can a company with almost zero overhead go bankrupt?

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the cable companies insisted on disclaimer black boxes during the commercials that read "this is not a gambling site", and therefore the DOJ won't be able to go after anyone.



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I think you are seriously underestimating our current administration.

[Cubswin]

there will likely be only 2-3 sites total due to acquisitions

Im not sure i agree with this given that many poker rooms are attached to major sportsbooks or casinos. There casinos/sportbooks can run a poker room that is barely profitable as a 'service' to their casino/sportsbook patrons. While there are going to be mergers and aquisitions down the road i dont see the likes of a Interpoker or Pacific closing their rooms. I can easily see their being only 2-3 major players in the future (heck, we are prolly there already), but i dont see operations with profitable casinos or sportsbooks throwing in the towel on its poker room even it is barely keeping its head above the water. There is a certain pride issue in being a 'full service' operation.

cubs

[One Word Answer]

insulted

[GrannyMae]

i think a place like pacific, if it stayed under the CON flag, could not attract players if 95% of the base were elsewhere. the mergers will mean the strong get stronger and the weak will really suffer due to the strength gained by each merge.

a place like pacific may just become part of an all new skin-type sytem that we have not even envisioned. if there are some big mergers, i think the landscape will change in many ways. however, any site that takes a stand to remain independant would have a tough time imo.

it will be fascinating to see this unfold, that's all i am certain of.

[GrannyMae]

awesome