Why Party Blackjack is Wrong

Bosox · #1 10-21-2005, 05:50 AM

You might think that this is a post about me tilting away my bankroll at blackjack. This is not so. I am writing because I am pissed off at what party blackjack is doing to my poker game and the status of partypoker itself.

Blackjack is not a bad thing. Going to casinos to play or even playing online has its cocaine-like advantages. I love the game. The problem is that when Partypoker decided to include blackjack in with their main poker program, they have done damage to the dynamics of their poker room. This is the problem:

We poker players recognise that playing anywhere other than our own homes will require some sort of cost in the form of rake. That is generally accepted, and small enough to be little more than an inconvenience. Despite this, poker is for the *most* part a zero sum game for us. When one fish goes on tilt and blows his bankroll, the rest of us are right there to scoop it up and that's mostly how we make our living (not playing against other good players). This isn't really news to you.

The problem comes when you add blackjack to the equation. Blackjack is a black hole of fish money. Now, when something clicks inside the addicted gambler or fish on tilt's head that makes him go crazy and decide to lose half his role, the path of his money to us is blocked. Sure, he can try and take his shot at 5/10 or 10/20 against the pros where he would have to play for hours to tilt up a reasonable sum. But why do that when he can just throw it all down on blackjack and burn it up in three and a half minutes? Partypoker wins again, and instead of the fish's money going to the deserving sharks he feeds, it is sucked out of the system but the now not-so-insignificant establishment.

Again, I am not against blackjack or online casinos - if you want to get your gambling fix (and i do from time to time) that's allright with me. What really pisses me off is that by partypoker including the casino features within the poker program, they have robbed the successful players of a significant portion of their income by sucking out the tilt money that would have trickled up to us eventually.

No longer is the establishment a necesary evil skimming a little bit off the top each time. Now, in their greed, partypoker has robbed us of our best source of income and in doing so, marred the once pure arena of texas holdem.

Justin A · #2 10-21-2005, 06:02 AM

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No longer is the establishment a necesary evil skimming a little bit off the top each time. Now, in their greed, partypoker has robbed us of our best source of income and in doing so, marred the once pure arena of texas holdem.

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Uh no. Their greed is called business. And what is this crap about the "once pure arena of texas holdem"?

Bosox · #3 10-21-2005, 06:40 AM

Honestly, I quickly get bored with writing so it tickles me to make outrageous claims sometimes. Sue me. You clearly missed the point. It isn't really to argue whether party is right or wrong or greedy because yes, that's business. I was really just trying to bring up something that perhaps people haven't thought of and might provide decent fodder for discussion.

Schneids · #4 10-21-2005, 06:44 AM

There will be fish who win more money to play poker with too. Yes, overall it takes a little out of our pockets probably, but don't forget there'll be fish who make a quick hit in blackjack then take it back to the poker table.

Guernica4000 · #5 10-21-2005, 07:24 AM

Play in another site. Problem solved!

crunchy1 · #6 10-21-2005, 07:37 AM

Since the skin break-up and the addition of side-bets/blackjack - I've moved back to Party and I'm having my best month ever.

I don't think it's so bad. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

TStoneMBD · #7 10-21-2005, 08:19 AM

when party released blackjack i said that it will be bad for us winning players because when people go on tilt they will go play blackjack now instead of poker.

you could have just said that instead of making an essay out of something that could be just as well explained in one sentence.

Guernica4000 · #8 10-21-2005, 08:20 AM

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when party released blackjack i said that it will be bad for us winning players because when people go on tilt they will go play blackjack now instead of poker.

you could have just said that instead of making an essay out of something that could be just as well explained in one sentence.

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[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

GuyOnTilt · #9 10-21-2005, 09:09 AM

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Despite this, poker is for the *most* part a zero sum game for us.

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Online poker is nowhere near a zero sum game for players.

GoT

Jeffage · #10 10-21-2005, 09:17 AM

Party is a business. They exist to make money, not help pros make a living. As has been clearly illustrated in recent threads, not only will this earn them more money (from degenerate gamblers or fish who like blackjack), it will also siphon some winnings from professional players who have gambling problems. See, some of these people can beat poker at a good clip, but they STILL have a gambling problem and Party knows many will blow off steam at the BJ tables...JUST LIKE IN REAL LIFE. Why do you think many casinos include poker? It is a loss leader, and many poker players can be found in the pit after they get stuck hard (or just for the hell of it).

Just don't play it. If you can't control yourself to the point that an icon on a screen can make you tilt half your roll off, well, you were gonna go broke playing cards at some point anyway. Might as well rip that band-aid off quick.

Jeff