PokerStars funnybusiness in EPT

[Jonathan]

Hi,

Has anyone else noticed the way PokerStars is playing
fast and loose with their FPP qualifiers to EPT events?

For example, Fossilman and NoMercy are both listed as
FPP Qualifiers to London and Baden even though I never
saw either of them compete in the 3000 FPP buy-in
qualifier. This week, once again, NoMercy is listed
as an FPP winner for Dublin even though she did not
compete.

If PokerStars wants to send their TeamPlayers to these
events, why not just pay their entry fees and expenses
in cash and book it as a marketing expense (which in truth
it is) rather than muck about with the FPP? By using
this funny accounting they dilute the value of their
customers hard earned FPPs.


Greg, I know you are busy with the move to North Carolina
(good move!) but when you get a chance, could you
please explain just what is going on? Thanks.

Suerte,
Jonathan

[Greg (FossilMan)]

I don't understand why you are concerned. I hadn't realized they listed me as playing through FPPs, but either way, no customer of PokerStar's paid for me. It is a marketing expense. It is not as if they took FPPs from you or others and used them to buy me in. I honestly do not understand why you think listing me there "dilutes" the value of your FPPs.

The money was in the prize pool in London and Baden, and that money came from PS marketing budget. Nobody lost a penny in online sats or at the live events, so where is the damage?

PS wanted to list us online at the PS site, and they chose to put us into the FPP list intead of the cash list. Either way, I don't see a difference.

If there are some facts I'm missing or not understanding, let me know.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[willie]

greg do you have to pay them any percentage of potential winnings if they're putting you in

i'd imagine not, but wouldn't be overly suprised.

[Greg (FossilMan)]

No, I keep anything I win.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[sublyme]

I think the situation is that he feels like he's wasting his FPP's on a tournament where stars is putting one of their name players in?

I'm confused as well.

[Benoit]

I think he means that if they were to give you guys free FPPs (that were not earned from actual rake drops), then it might devalue them somehow. If that was the situation I would understand the concern.

But you just said it was chalked up to the marketing budget, so there is no reason to think that would devalue the current FPP system.

Actually, personally I don't care much for the FPPs anyway except to get a private tournament going... But I guess getting a poker book will be cool when I eventually get enough. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[MicroBob]

As Greg explained...the total number of FPP winners for these events is completely unaffected.
You can see that they have 2 FPP satellite winners each week in the 3kFPP buy-in events.

They are sending Raymer...and they wanted to list his name as going to the tournament.
He is also being sent for free (it is my understanding anyway) so it is appropriate for them to just simply list him under their 'free winners'.

Perhaps they should have just started another list of Raymer and NoMercy (and others) to avoid confusion.
Obviously they want an accurate figure of the number of players they are sending...so they don't want to leave these players off the list.
The more players Stars sends the more they get to brag about it.

I don't think that too many people actually think that Raymer is sitting at the FPP tourneys trying to win his seat....and I don't think that many people believe that Stars is thinking "okay...we have to send Raymer too....so lets just take out 1-million FPP's from the various satellites so that we are able to send him."

[drewjustdrew]

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, personally I don't care much for the FPPs anyway except to get a private tournament going

[/ QUOTE ]

How do you do this? I play with a bunch of friends live, but sometimes we can't all meet. Is there a minimum number of points you need for a private FPP tourney?

Does PStars have private cash tourneys too? If so, do you just contact support? Are the fees the same?

[Kevmath]

I think it's something like 2000 FPP's earned or something like that to create your own tournament. You can always email support and they'll gladly help you out. Tournaments go at 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200 or 500 with the standard fees.

[Quicksilvre]

Maybe he's saying that putting Isabelle and Greg through on FPPs reduces the chance of other FPP satellite players getting in...?