The WSOP is upon us again. We’ll see what Harrah’s has in store for us this year. On a good note, I was able to sign up at the main cage at the Rio last week for the early events. This can save a lot of hassle for those who are able to get down there before the crush. Hopefully the rest of the cage and signup logistics throughout the WSOP will also be improved.

As par for the course, Harrah’s gives a little and take a little. Last year they had a really cool player’s lounge. Membership required a $1000 donation to the Nevada Cancer Institute. At the time I joined I asked for assurance that all the money would go to the charity and I was given that assurance. My thought was that this was a nice gesture on Harrah’s part and that I hoped they wouldn’t turn this into another profit center. I got an email notice of the players lounge for this year. Again, $1000 would go to charity. The problem is that the cost this year is $2750! Poker players are constantly being asked to donate to charities, sometimes directly, often through money taken out of prize pools. I have nothing against giving to noble causes. However, while poker players, many of whom are struggling to stay solvent, are very giving to charitable causes, what do the card rooms give back? Maybe they just don’t publicize it, but I’ve yet to see a card room do anything like putting up a matching donation for what the players give. Many fund-raising events even charge juice on top of what the players give. The player’s lounge was a chance for Harrah’s to give something back, if not to the players, at least to a worthy cause. Charge $5000 if you want, but give it all to charity!

During the media conference call about the WSOP, most of which centered on the main event final-table delay, a question was asked as to whether Harrah’s or ESPN were going to give anything to the players out of all the revenues that their efforts produced. After all, the players put up all the money (actually more than all the prize money when the juice is considered) and now are being asked to wait four months to finish the FT so it works out better for television (i.e, make more money for them). The answer was--”of course we’re giving back. The prize money not distributed will be put in an interest bearing account and that will be added to the FT prize pool!” So, they’re going to give back the interest they earn on our money. That’s what I call sharing!

Speaking of players getting their due, I’m running for a seat on the the World Poker Association Board of Directors of for the next year. I’m probably going to chair the membership committee. I agreed to do this because I feel that for poker players to have any chance to be treated fairly we have to have a unified voice. Many players think that joining the PPA is enough, but the fact is that the PPA doesn’t care about player’s rights, only their right to keep playing and providing profits for the card rooms, both B&M and online. The WPA is a true, non-profit player’s organization. The board is populated by intelligent, successful people who serve for no pay, just for their love of the game. In my opinion, the WPA is our last hope, as players, to keep poker viable as a profession. Without a strong voice, players will be at the mercy of the card rooms, who will make all the rules and policies and eventually end up with all the money.

Today, May 28th, is the election and general meeting of the WPA. At 4:30 there’s a seminar by Mike Caro that is free for members and at 6:00 a cocktail party and silent auction. At noon tomorrow Harrah’s has donated a room for a $550 WPA sponsored satellite for ME seats. As a concession to the WPA’s wishes, the satellite will be played nine-handed. (Many of you know my stance on nine vs ten-handed poker). Come out and support the WPA if you can. If you’re not in town, go to

http://www.wpapoker.org/

and check out what the WPA is all about.

I’ll have much more to say about the WPA in the future.

P.S As critical as I am of Harrah’s at times, I like to think I give credit where it’s due. I have to give them a big thumbs up for their co-operation with the WPA at this year’s WSOP. They have donated the rooms for WPA functions and a booth thoughout the tournament for players to get a chance to find out about and join the WPA. In this regard, cheers, Harrah’s!

Mr Rodman,

We all appreciate your support and it sounds like the WPA will be a great organization in support of our favorite game/sport/career/pasttime. But a blanket statement like:

"the fact is the PPA doesn’t care about player’s rights, only their right to keep playing and providing profits for the card rooms"

seems a little out of line. To say that the PPA doesn't care about player's rights and is only concerned about card rooms' profits is an outright fabrication. There are plenty of PPA members who work very hard to support the rights of US poker players. I could be taking it wrong. Perhaps you mean the principal concern and focus of the PPA is to ensure poker players have the right to play in the US. I wouldn't claim to be in touch with the pulse of the poker world in the same way that you are, given that you are a well-respected professional. But I have witnessed the PPA grow and the effort some individuals have put into the fight against the UIGEA, and will not stand by idle while you simply dismiss the entire organization.

Good luck to you and the WPA.

PS -- PM theEngineer

Do you have a link to the 10 man vs 9 man thing.

 

Originally Posted by Glo4m

Mr Rodman,

We all appreciate your support and it sounds like the WPA will be a great organization in support of our favorite game/sport/career/pasttime. But a blanket statement like:

"the fact is the PPA doesn’t care about player’s rights, only their right to keep playing and providing profits for the card rooms"

seems a little out of line. To say that the PPA doesn't care about player's rights and is only concerned about card rooms' profits is an outright fabrication. There are plenty of PPA members who work very hard to support the rights of US poker players. I could be taking it wrong. Perhaps you mean the principal concern and focus of the PPA is to ensure poker players have the right to play in the US. I wouldn't claim to be in touch with the pulse of the poker world in the same way that you are, given that you are a well-respected professional. But I have witnessed the PPA grow and the effort some individuals have put into the fight against the UIGEA, and will not stand by idle while you simply dismiss the entire organization.

Good luck to you and the WPA.

PS -- PM theEngineer

My intention wasn't to disparage the PPA. I'm sure there are many dedicated and hard working people involved in the fight against the UIGEA, and it's a fight that needs fighting. My point is that the focus of the PPA and the WPA are quite different. What's frustrating is that many players think they are similar and that it isn't necessary to support both organizations. There are many issues, such as ethics, rules and procedures, revenue sharing and the basic problem that players are too often not treated with the respect that they deserve that aren't the province of the PPA. The PPA has hundreds of thousands of members. If the WPA had those numbers, the poker world would be a much more player-friendly place.

Lol @ scarface still trying to drum up a hustle...

Thx. What you and everybody who populates this board can do is join the WPA. Help us help you as poker players to stand up and be heard.

Jesus Christ.

If you want to take a stand, don't play in their god damn events!!

What's the point in creating all this controversy when you've already "signed up at the main cage for the early events."

I don't get it. As my landlord always says, "You can't complain about the smell of cat shit when you're always eating out of the litter box."

You know what I say to that? "Fuck you landlord!"