Scenario:

You are one of the few dozen high stakes pros in Las Vegas. You play 5-10 and 10-20 (nl and plo) regularly, and whenever a VIP walks in to Bellagio or Wynn or Aria and a bigger game starts, you play in those as well. You make a considerable % of your income in these bigger games- that only run for as long as the VIP plays.

Lately just about all VIPs have been poached by one or two players who set up essentially private games, where lineups and waiting lists are organized and everyone who gets to play with the VIPs works for the poachers in one way or another (paying to play, selling pieces, colluding, etc). These games are typically run at the Aria, and the poachers go to great lengths to shut out high stakes pros- and not because they aren't social or whatever. They do it strictly out of greed.

The poaching epidemic is not only problematic for the high stakes player pool, but for the VIPs as well. They no longer get a fair game and they end up losing way more than they would have otherwise (partially because of the colluding, partially because games get kicked up to nosebleed levels).

So what can be done? The poachers will not budge and the casinos (namely Aria) won't do anything to stop it. The gaming commission also seems pretty worthless from what I've heard.

u have to play when the whale isnt there to get to play when the whale is there.

to beat the whale u must become the whale.

after the whale sits there are no more seats left. fair or not

Oh boo-hoo, cry NVG a river.

I quickly realize I posted this in the wrong forum. Mods, please move to the high stakes section. Thank you.

Become friends with poachers.

If the whale is unhappy he can go somewhere else. Nobody has a right to face any other player in a live cash game.

If collusion is taking place, I think that is a separate issue and should be dealt with according to the rules.

You think the people the poachers put in are their "friends"? "Pawns" describes them much more accurately.

If it's a large portion of your income missing, I would try becoming a pawn, or offer poacher some of your action in the game. The end goal is to become friends with the whale so he wants to play with you.

Why do the VIPs want to play with the poacher? Why can't you give the VIP the same poker experience as poacher does?

Become friends with the whale so he happily gets you into the games with him.

Lol sounds like H******n.

Unfortunately not much you can do other than move your action to the other room(aria) if you're a reg somewhere else and put your name on all the lists when you get there. I know they've arranged some games in less known casinos and literally nothing you can do about it unless the whale wants it to change.

This. Do you have evidence of collusion?