And don't forget the Australian Open tennis is on January 16-29

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/tickets/book.html

Stars have never hosted it, FTP did a few years back (RIP!). I'll be there for a little while I think.

Wonder what the fields will be like without FTP qualifiers.

25% down? Maybe more?

Also, the how many runners will the 100k and 250k events have with FTP putting in Seidel, Lederer, Hansen, Lindgren, Ivey and Patrik.

My guess is they won't run.

If anyone wants to check field sizes for previous years, have a look at

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/venu...no-8/festivals

Melbourne is surely too close to Macau for the shrs not to run

20 players last year, of which 11 were either TFTP or Red Pros.

http://www.pokernews.com/live-report...ller/chips.htm

I guess Juanda, Seidel, Benyamine, Jesus, Feldman, Ivey, Roland, Annette and Dwan were staked by FTP.

Without those players, will the businessman travel for possibly 7 opponents?

What odds will you lay me the shr doesn't run in the 2012 Aussie Millions?

I agree. The SHR will not run.

I'll take the other side for $1.

The SHR will def run with many confirmed entrants

The businessmen like Durrrr/Ivey etc, but they like each other more.

Rake is a major problem in Australia and only getting worse. While 663366 post is fairly accurate, I think the perception of how the games are running is off. Yes 5/10 doesnt get up very often but Crown has themselves to blame for this a little I think by constantly trying to force it way to early.

The action isnt what it used to be but it isnt terrible. I can confirm there are enough terrible regs that are biting at the teeth for Aussie Millions to come.

2011 Aussie Millions had a lot less action than 2010, and with Aussie dollar even stronger this year than last(save for this week but it should get back up) and European economies doing a lot worse plus the U.S. still doing badly, plus the ridiculous rake increase that Crown's put in, I personally expect Aussie Millions numbers and cash action to be even worse. Also some U.S. players who were able to visit AUS in Jan 2011 now won't be able to because they've just relocated to Canada etc to play online and wouldn't want to risk getting their re-entry denied... and of course a ton still have money locked up on Full Tilt. They were able to visit Vegas for WSOP but spending $200 on an airfare is not the same as $2,000 to AUS + $100 a night minimum for hotel.

Which is a pity because Melbourne is a great city and there are a lot of people doing very well in Australia ready to donk off their $$$ at the tables... but I guess what Crown is doing is no different than what Woolworths would do if you outlawed Coles, or what Telstra would do if you got rid of Optus etc etc.

this sure is a bleak picture but I cant find any reason to think you're wrong

I guess for me its a good thing though. Lots of great tournaments filled with the bad regs

Just hope theres no knee jerk reaction from a bad series from Crown...

I sent them an email and they've yet to get back to me about this, so I'll ask 2p2...

If you're an American and cash for 6 figures in an event, can you easily get a bank wire to your account? and more importantly, do they give u a fair exchange rate from AUD to USD?

They told me USD to AUD is fair exchange rate which obviously makes sense for a casino to do that, but my main concern is if I win a lot of $...I don't want to get screwed on the exchange rate back to USD.

Thanks for the help, I'm sure someone on 2p2 has experience with this.

Satellites on Pokerstars start tomorrow. (seat + cash, no hotel)

2012 Aussie Millions structure sheets

is there a reason every other 10k is either $9700+300 or $10000+300 and aussie millions is $10000+600? nice scam