(OK, OK. I know, I can't stop posting about this bill)
It looks like one the biggest hits to poker from the online gambling bill is going be live WSOP and WPT tourneys. The poker sites that remain are not going to be sending people to the World Series of Poker or the World Poker Tour events in the United States. Unless they find a work around this is very bad news for those of us (US Players) that want to play in the World Series of Poker or a WPT (US based) event.
Maybe more WPT events in the Bahamas or Caribbean will start to pop up.
Gboro780 won a FTP Winner's Choice Satellite before the bill and just received the following email that he posted on Pocket Fives:
Date: 10/07/06 07:33 pm
Subject: Re: Important Winner's Choice Prize Information
Dear gboro780,
Unfortunately due to the upcoming change in legislation Full Tilt Pokerwill no longer be able to satellite US residents into live tournaments inUS. This policy will be effective immediately. There are currently 3options that you have with your winner?s choice package.
1. We can credit your account with the $10K buy in. This money would beyours to do with what you please. We will also send you a full assortmentof Full Tilt Poker gear and accessories.
2. You can choose to attend the WPT $10K tournament at the Falls ViewCasino in Niagara Falls, Canada. This event starts on the 24th of Oct andwe would need to know by this Wednesday, the 11th if you would like toplay in this tournament.
3. You can choose to attend the Dublin All-Star Tournament in Dublin,Ireland. This tournament begins on the 17th of Nov. The prize packagefor this event is $8K so in addition to the $2k that you have alreadyreceived and the entry into the tournament, you would be credited another$6K for travel expenses and spending money.
We are extremely sorry for this inconvenience and we hope that you canunderstand the position that we have been put in because of the currentlegal situation.
Please feel free to respond with any questions you may have along withyour decision about what you want to do with your prize package.
Thank you,
Team Full Tilt
It was pretty cool for FTP to give him all of those options, but it sounds like no more WSOP/WPT sats for US Players on FTP.
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Mr. Lobo won a WPT Foxwoods Satellite on Paradise Poker before the bill and received the following email that he posted on Pocket Fives:
Dear Mr. Lobo,
The World Poker Tour 'World Poker Finals' event is taking place November 12-16 at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino. Due to the uncertainty of recent US legislation, Paradise has decided to provide the cash value of your $10,000 seat win directly to your ParadisePoker Player Account.
The funds have now been placed in your account balance and are available for cashout. This is detailed in your account history as per the following transaction line:
(...$10,000.00 added to account)
Please note that you will need to purchase your World Poker Finals seat if you are planning on attending the upcoming event. Attached to this email, you'll find a "Foxwoods" document that provides tournament structure, start times and seat purchase directions should you buy your seat upon your arrival at Foxwoods. For information on how to purchase your WPT seat in advance, please call Foxwoods Resort at 1-800-FOXWOODS and ask for the Poker Room.
We regret not being able to host Team Paradise at the WPT main event at Foxwoods this fall and offer our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Should you have any further questions regarding your seat or if assistance is required to help expedite a cashout, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at wpt@paradisepoker.com. Please be assured that the upcoming Team Paradise Niagara event is not affected.
Looking forward to seeing in Niagara in just a few weeks,
Best Regards,
Lara
Paradise Promotions
This means there probably won't be many/any poker sites running satellites to the Main Event this year and that sucks.
Posts
this may be a blessing in disguise. the field will be smaller in next year's Main Event. i'll be spending less time playing satellites and more time winning $$$. the aussie millions satellite is looking better and better now.
smokkee
5:54 PM
This makes the WPT press release from the other day even more puzzling.
Anonymous
8:38 PM
It's a little depressing for those of us who got interested in NLHE late and were planning on spending a lot of time and fair bit of dough trying to win an ME seat next year.
Iakaris aka I.A.K.
12:45 PM
I'm with Smokkee on this one. This is a GOOD thing. 8k people in a tournament is not a requisite to making the WSOP big. In fact, its just the opposite. Less satellites mean more serious players and less casual players in the ME. As it currently stands, the event takes weeks to complete and if they didn't cut down on numbenrs it was only going to get worse. So, interesting angle on the legislations' impact, but I'm placing this squarely in the Pros column. Notably, its the only thing in the Pros column.
Jordan
3:46 PM