This is a ****ing joke. Utter abomination. But utterly predictable. Free market economics at it's worst. In the end though, monopolies generally get challenged, but there's no-one on the horizon to challenge these money grabbing bastards.

Pokerstars Nick. Get your arse in here for once and answer some bloody questions- using my one time just for you or any Stars rep to answer legitimate questions.

Guess the faux show of sending reps to your offices in the IOM where they ask for lower rake might be over.

I just hope now that maybe the EU starts turning it's attention to online poker.

Awful news obviously, but the one thing that i can't quite get my head around is the rake increase for two players in a table. I mean are you really punishing table starters? The players that generate the most overall traffic by starting games? Wow, just Wow.

It's only a 300% increase

Looks like the measures being taken are a direct attack on winning players. Things will defo get worse before they get better.


Next week and beyond is massive too to see if Stars ditch the likes of Russia and Australia.

If they leave Russia and Australia, I'm gonna stop generating action.

**** this.

What's happening next week?

New UK licences come into effect.
This could mean Stars exiting "illegal" markets.

Do you have a link for that?

http://www.casino.org/news/pokerstar...ca-middle-east

also search the user "richas" who is somewhat of a guru on the subject.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29...ayers-1475590/

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29...-area-1478565/

Better get grinding eh?

Not exactly direct cause and effect, but yeah now Stars are owned by Amaya, they're trying to get a bit more "legit" and looking to only operate in regulated markets. The two events just happen to coincide.

It definitely feels like Amaya are bluntly enforcing changes to increase revenue, completely disregarding the player-focused business ethic that made Pokerstars such a success in the first place.

I was saving up my FPPs to purchase the cash bonus when/if I could move up VIP level but honestly I feel like they could be taken away at any moment or their value slashed. Anyone else cashing out on these a.s.a.p?

Yep, i buy mtt tickets, i used to save. Just have this nasty feeling they can reduce value on these points at any time(unanounced ofc!).

VIP rewards will remain unchanged in 2014 for UK players.

http://www.pokerstars.com/uk-migrati...ardsbeaffected

Solid info.

On the more emotive FU side of things

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29...stars-1485582/

Interesting reading on the acquistion.

http://www.amayagaming.com/wp-conten...-For-SEDAR.pdf

As far as I can see stars made a 16.7% increase in profits from 2012-2013. So they need to increase rake why? Do they really think demand is so inelastic that raping people with rake will have no effect on the profitability.

Problem is according to the report they took out a 3.1billion loan to make the purchase which will be gathering sweet interest.

Coupled with reading them insta moving out of dodgy anti-Western markets, it may be that they are expecting the U.S market to return in the next 5 or so years.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns...-online-gaming

"Amaya took on almost $3 billion in debt to finance the PokerStars deal. Baazov told the leveraged finance conference that the company plans to reduce its debt through cash flow."

"Success for Baazov and Amaya will come the first time a legal hand of online poker is dealt from a PokerStars website located in the United States."

“Statistically, young adults are more likely to play slots,” Baazov said. “It’s an increased demand from the customer that is driving us to innovate.”

Budapest is a great city, one of the most beautiful I've visited and it feels very safe. I've seen no crime, and heard about 2 incidents in the last 12 months or so, which is pretty reasonable considering the amount of people I know here. My costs are probably close to half of what they would be in the UK and I'm nearly as close to home timewise. The weather in the summer is great and there is quite a big group of grinders who do a lot of stuff together. Its nice to have people who are always going out to dinner/drink/play sport and even people to grind with. We had some ridiculous days during scoop where the houses total buyins probably hit 100k or so lol. I've met so many guys here who I'm sure I'll be friends with for the rest of my life. I'm going back to the UK over November/December but definitely plan on coming back out here next year if nothing else happens legislation wise. I'd recommend Budapest for either a visit or a more longterm stay, and everyone who has visited me on holiday has said the same. I don't really know anyone who has had a bad word to say.

Anybody see Vandir playing 1k/2k flo8 today. Dropped about 200 or so from my gorilla math. I suppose it gets boring counting your money all day everyday and never getting to the bottom of the pile.

Glad to hear you enjoy living here.

comon tell us the truth, womens are hotter in budapest then in london

that´s impossible
the U.K. is know for there gorgeous girls

damn their natural tanned, olive skin colour! Brits are so pale.

i'll take brazil and korea..u can take USA...on the fence re England.

don't be creepy though

Yeh I sooooo wish I had access to more sun so I can increase my chances of getting skin cancer. Totally worth it. Being tanned is just vain Western bull****.

I mean yeh, she's so ugly, but if she had a tan she would just maybe stand a chance of looking hot.

good choice street

Hi,

Any screen names to follow on PS for PLO8 tourneys ??

I have one : Agat63 , she plays mainly microstakes and is crushing them. Since there are no videos/or other stuff available on PLO8 i watch players I consider as good players to learn.

Counterfeiter