***Hero Poker CEO Official Player Relations Thread***

[caspermatic]

How will I be notified of the promotions that your staff will make up at random times for each level?

[jimmyfingers]

Originally Posted by Knytestorme

This would be really cool, if SC2 had LAN play.

You're saying all the right things, but little things like this really stick out to me.

I'm sure he meant sitting in the same room playing together on BNet. A lot of people say LAN just to mean playing on the same network or in the same place.

[Hero Poker CEO]

Originally Posted by jimmyfingers

I'm sure he meant sitting in the same room playing together on BNet. A lot of people say LAN just to mean playing on the same network or in the same place.

That's exactly what I meant, thanks.

1. Will respond to all posts and PMs within the next few hours, had my grandfather's annual memorial service today and his grave is located on a mountain near the DMZ, so it was a long day and I'm at desktop now. -I only responded directly to the post above, as my first response of this session, simply because it was last one posted and not because of any other reason. -I will respond in order of post moving forward.

2. If a post has been seemly not addressed, apologies, I will address it or link it to the post where I did address it in response to another member asking a similar/same question.

Thanks & Regards,
David

[caspermatic]

How about the option to get the current tournament reward or the upcoming cash reward upon hitting the next level? I know regs will always choose one or the other but casual players (or at least me) play both tourneys and cash depending on mood.

[TiltTheTilt]

Couple of things that others have posted that I want to +1:

1. The rewards do seem more geared towards tournament players and I do agree with FutureInsight that I will keep my RB on another skin, but still plan on playing tournaments on this skin possibly. D

NOTE: Did HeroCEO say that they were releasing a new VIP system that would be geared more towards cash players? I'll have to reread the thread because I was thinking he mentioned that.

2. I agree with the poster that said they are concerned with the $15 cost to Cashout by check. I think it would be good to have atleast one free Cashout option.

3. Overall I like what Hero is doing and the effort the CEO has put in here to be up front and honest. I can't say enough about how important that is in the current US climate.

[Protential]

Could we get some of your sponsored pros to post in here about you/the company/etc.... ("refs to confirm you are legit" so to speak ) ???

[bubblegoose]

Originally Posted by TiltTheTilt

3. Overall I like what Hero is doing and the effort the CEO has put in here to be up front and honest. I can't say enough about how important that is in the current US climate.

THIS X100000. I may deposit in the near future if things like this continue.

[Hero Poker CEO]

Originally Posted by FutureInsights

I sent that part in PM, since that doesn't show up on the VIP page. I would presume yes.

Not for Hero, they are earned at 20% instead of most other network sites at 65%.
Reasoning:
1. VIP points themselves can be exchanged at a 10% rakeback value without any RB, so with RB, its 6.5% on other sites, with Hero its 2%.
2. Your cumulative VIP points also are linked to the reward system; for a site which has basically no reward system except for a bonus when you reach x number of VIP points, giving out 6.5% additional is good because the additional 'in kind rakeback' would probably not be realized regularly, but in the case of Hero, the system was designed to stand alone without RB.

So over the range of a division you're looking at, on average including the divisional awards + tournament tickets- about 25% to 30% additional in kind RB. Thus, the amount returned at generating VIP points at 20% would be between 6%-8% which is basically the same.

The best analogy I can give is if you had both the FT rakeback at 27% and were on the Stars rewards program at 65%. Obviously everyone who love to have this kind of situation, but this would leave no margin to do any other type of player rewards or promotions. Coupled with need to do mass marketing, and work with affiliates, that would set up a break even situation at best.

But to break it down, even if I do have a rewards system, the other sites currently will have better value on RB than Hero by a few percentage points, but on Hero I would make up for that with other more targeted promotions, such as this 30k +30k freerolls.

I think ultimately, a rewards system is not there to acquire players, I mean, you don't fly a certain airline at first because it has a better rewards system than other. You fly because in the first place it was a better service or had the right route and right schedule that matches your initial expectations. But it will be the mileage plan that retains you.

To utilize a rewards system as a tool for acquisition, to me, is a lose/lose situation as, inevitably it will be compared to other such programs and you engage in cost cutting (i.e. best marginal deal) and your focus is distracted. As a casual regular depositor really gets little value from even 40% rakeback, when then end up only playing two tables and donking off their online balance in 10 played hands. The site and the player raked very little, but the other players obvious reaped the benefits there.

So in terms of an acquisition tool, again, if you are a reg and you want that extra 2-5% somewhere else, then I'd say go for it, but I wouldn't be able to operate my site properly for the long term by focusing on this as my main value point. And of course the main value point is directed to the more casual regular depositor because ultimately they are playing, enjoying poker as just a game/hobby and I think my own efforts are better spend on making them feel as though they are just not being abused, but rather find that they also can get rewarded in other ways.

This is very difficult to accomplish or focus on in a network environment as the regs would just go the reg's preferred skin and nibble from there on the casual players brought in from a network site with more my predisposition, but again, in the long run, our site will get a stronger mainstream brand and momentum and also appreciation from the network that may lead to some other benefits on more of a B2B level.

[Hero Poker CEO]

Originally Posted by DanjR

Right now I am playing on RPM. I know there is a 60 day period of inactivity needed to switch rakeback between skins, but since this is not a rakeback model on Hero, would we get all benefits right away or would there be a similar 60 period where certain rewards are limited or unavailable?

Also, cant wait for those upgrades to the software. If it does turn out to be similar to Stars 2008, I will be verrrryyyy happy!

I'd say that our rewards system, when it is fully tweeked will be the most immediate incentive based rewards system where every incremental level is rewarded with milestone rewards. It is not there yet, but when it does, I'm pretty sure it will have a value that stands clearly on its own. Cheers.

[Hero Poker CEO]

Originally Posted by TiltTheTilt

This really sounds great, IMO.

I also agree with Dstock.

I would like to add that you can get 50% off if you sign up to WU online but what I really think would help to bring in more recreational players is instructions to walk them through how to use the WU online site, right in the Cashier. A recreational player is less likely to deposit when they realize they have to go to WU and buy it and then ship it to someone in another country.

It should have detailed instructions including links to go directly to the WU store, and be as simple as possible. If done right, a recreational player could be online playing within 20 min of downloading the Poker Client. Thats huge to the entire Network and definitely to your skin! Obviously, the more recreational players that there are, the grinders will follow.

HeroCEO,

Do you use the Merge Cashier? I was thinking that you may have hinted at that in one of your earlier posts. Sorry if you did say it and I misunderstood.

Yes we do, currently Merge handles all our payments, except, in the Australian market should that occur in the near future. Merge does not do any payments related to the Australian market.

[Hero Poker CEO]

Originally Posted by punter33-3

How come Hero Poker only rewards players with rakeback only 2x VIP Points per dollar rake vs those without rakeback get 10x VIP Points per dollar rake? It seems like Carbon Poker and RPM Poker both offer 6.5x VIP Points per dollar rake for rakeback players and 10x VIP Points for non rakeback players. So how come does hero only give out 2x? That seems so much lower. It also seems that Carbon and RPM are better place to play promotion wise as they have many promotions such as The Super Money Tree on Carbon along with 6.5x points and much more. So I am having a hard time to see how your poker room is even competitive with your competition for rakeback players. At 2x VIP Points per dollar rake it seems like it would take forever to finally reach Level 300 on Hero Poker and we all would be much better off playing at Carbon or RPM as they offer the same rakeback % that you do, but over 3x more points then you for rakeback players, and also many more cash promotions.

I apologize if this post seems very critical of your poker room but I am trying to see where the best value lies between all the Merge Poker Rooms taking on US Players. I do like how you are on this forum answering questions and seem very involved in player relations.

Please see the previous post (should be 2-3 above this one) regarding this but I'd like to throw out the following:

1. if there is no more rb accounts given out after June 1st, and if all rake back related promotions (rakeraces/chases) are then handled by the network, and Hero was to opt in, would you consider this to significantly level the playing field in terms of RB return competitiveness.

2. I'm honestly not focused on competing on a price/cost basis, but rather proactive value basis. Now as a starting site, we have yet to really display this and it is a long term strategy related to building brand momentum and player loyalty (as a rb player will go where the better rb is provided they can freely move their roll around). I just am not part of that camp and as a business professional I want to build value into the company itself instead of being a seller of commodities.

But definitely, right now pre-June 1st, there will be much better sites out there with much better deals on a cost basis, but come this time next year, I think that will be the measure and moment I would be considering as if Hero does grow we will be able to constantly offer more to the player in value outside of just rake while a site with a razor thin margin will just have to hope that their existing players stay loyal, but I'm sure that they will, after all, if you can feed off the network with the better deal, I say go for it. But that isn't what Hero is and will be about. I want to have international tournaments, workshops and party always like it's 1999 with my players. But lets see if that comes to fruition and right now, it is just empty words- but then again, I did start two card rooms in Macau, did the poker legislation for Macau and set up the contracts for APPT during its initial years and founded the biggest regional tournament in Asia.. but again, another time and place.

All I can say is, if you want to be part of a poker company, then Hero is as good or better choice as any. You want to just grind, you can still even find better deals than at best rb value skin at Merge on another network.

[derek_richmond]

Hi Dave Jung,

Interesting OP

2. I'm honestly not focused on competing on a price/cost basis, but rather proactive value basis. Now as a starting site, we have yet to really display this and it is a long term strategy related to building brand momentum and player loyalty (as a rb player will go where the better rb is provided they can freely move their roll around). I just am not part of that camp and as a business professional I want to build value into the company itself instead of being a seller of commodities.

This I find particularly interesting and good to hear.

However, I am always concerned when I see another skin set up on a network which doesn't have any clear way of attracting new players that otherwise wouldn't have joined that network.

There must be a huge duplication of work by sites on a network.

For example, let's say there are 10 skins on Merge, each with an affiliate manager, each with some support staff, each with a CEO, each with a website developer etc.

Why is it that the rake needs to be spent to pay all of these different people?

Wouldn't it be far better to all consolidate the backend staff, and then spend the rake saved instead going into advertising?

For example, how will Hero Poker provide more fish to the Merge network than if it never existed? Or will it just spread the existing rake across more staff, reducing other skins advertising budgets?

This is nothing personal at all towards Hero Poker, it's just I've been thinking this for ages and feel it's an inherent problem in the network system that really needs addressing. As it's the first time I've seen the CEO of a new skin making the OP (as well as a fellow former PwC employee ) and you have made a lot of interesting replies I thought it was worth asking

Derek

[Hero Poker CEO]

Originally Posted by FutureInsights

You should post this in the Merge Software Improvement thread, and the Carbon thread, with PM's to CarbonAtil, CarbonChris, and RPMSeth. These are the biggest rooms right now, and have the greatest sway.

I have forwarded this on for discussion with Merge, I can't comment on it at the moment as is because this type of question requires discussion. That being said, we all work in conjunction to assist the network to be better, but FutureInsight's suggestion is also a good one as when Merge gets the same information from multiple sources they will take it with more urgency/consideration.

In terms of influence of bigger rooms and sway; if there was a truly urgent issue that needs in depth consideration, I can ring up the CEO of Merge directly or fly over to meet him to discuss, as could any CEO of the other network's site.

[Hero Poker CEO]

Originally Posted by TheStuntman

Ahn young ha sae yo. As a Korean American, I am rooting for you! Were you rooting for Joseph Cheong on his FT ME run? Also I have a serious question, can we get rakeback through an affiliate ie. Raketherake and get rake chases/races to go with it?

ㄳ^^

you can get rb directly from the link in the OP, unfortunately I don't have very many affiliates and the ones that I do have are more media/community oriented rather than affiliate rake driven. While I sincerely did try to figure out the entire rakeback affiliate industry aspect, it just hasn't made sense to me for the long term as Hero is not looking for cash flow but rather intrinsic value/equity in our company as a long term entity.

That being said, I think many of the site, which did first inform their affiliates about the ending of new RB accounts, have been extremely selective in what they have leaked about the memo. Had they leaked everything instead, you may have a very different angel to your question, but after June 1st, Hero will opt into whatever the network promotion does in regards to rake related promotions.

Cheers and thanks,
Dave

[RideTheBeav]

Greetings David,

1. If I send the verification form and a copy of my id in, Is it possible to transfer my existing bankroll from a different merge account to my new Hero Poker account?

I would feel more comfortable doing this instead of having to pay another western union fee.

2. Also, how do you feel about account to account transfers for staking purposes?

The reason I ask is that based on responses from your support team, you would need to make a real money deposit in order to initiate money transfers. However, many U.S. poker players are hesitant to deposit and are looking for backers to fund their play. I understand the need for verification, but having to verify and make a real money deposit makes it much more difficult to stake.

Thanks for your time.