Quote:
Originally Posted by barryg1
1. One concern I have as I fight for regulation of online poker in the US is that we tell the politicians about the billions regulation will bring, but ultimately that money is going to come out of the player's pockets. Maybe the effectiveness of this strike can be used as an example to lower the fees when PokerStars becomes licensed in the US.
2. PokerStars loses money on lots of things they do: poker tours, TV shows, small markets (like pokerstars.fr). They hope to gain in branding or to eventually turn a profit. Also, they go headfirst into each of these endeavors because they can afford the losses better than the competition since they make a lot of money on their core business.
3. The CEO of PokerStars is too smart to openly lie to people about the facts concerning their costs in the French market. It isn't that hard for people inside and outside the company to calculate approximately how they are doing financially.
4. Of course the CEO is frustrated that only PokerStars has been targeted. If something isn't done to get the attention of the French government, PokerStars will keep losing money in this market or be forced to pull out.
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Dear Barry,
What are your personal thoughts about this ridiculous tax and the fact that Pokerstars do not want to absorb any of it and instead pass it on to the players? Do you sympathise with the players who are forced to pay this ridiculously high and almost unbeatable rake, and may be forced to quit playing completely? Do you think this can kill poker in France?
Of course, wrong Government regulation is the primary cause and should be fought against. But Pokerstars, as the market leader, could surely show some care for the player and the poker community? For example, they could use their market position and try to influence the French Government to make the tax reasonable and not deadly for the game? Or, if they didn't want to do that, they could at least absorb some of the tax so that players have some incentive to play? Or if they can't, why didn't they just refuse to take the French licence? Greed?
I know you are affiliated with Pokerstars in a certain way, and probably can't say much on this. But still, what about Pokerstars.fr CEO being a son of some shady politician who is on friendly terms with the President? Doesn't this fact alone suggest that there is some sort of collusion going on in order to rob the players by passing the tax on them completely, and on top of this, even increasing the rake more than necessary to accommodate the tax?
Two Plus Two
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