Hi folks -
This is the regular PokerStars Roundtable and we're going to discuss day-to-day PokerStars stuff. Very specifically, we're not going to discuss anything related to FTP or DoJ, okay? You can see our official thread about that here, but there are plenty of interesting things going on at PokerStars.

Q: Is it true you're raking play money games? If so, why?

A: Yes. We've been raking PM cash games for about a month now (tournaments were always raked). The rake is 4.5% on ring games, with caps ranging from 2-500 chips. PM Tournaments are raked at the same rate as RM games: 50+5, 100+9, etc.

We rake these for a couple of reasons:

• It lets players get used to the idea that if/when they switch to real money, there will be rake taken.
• It creates a (small) drain in the PM economy, which inflates over time because of the chips we give away.

Q: I understand that you are moving to a single "speed" for ring games?

A: Well, sort of. We are moving to a model in which the speed of every table "type" is the same. For instance, all $.01/$.02 NLH and PLO are now "fast" games. As is all razz, except at the highest stakes. This will roll out over a period of time, but the goal is to eventually have one speed per table "type".

Q: What's going on on the tournament front?

A: Well, we recently finished off MicroMillions II (which, because I'm a geek, I like to call "μMII"), with a total prize pool of about $8 million.

We've also got WCOOP coming up in early September, which is the month in which college freshmen must choose between rushing frats and playing in the most prestigious online poker series in history. Then again, winning a WCOOP bracelet will ensure you get your choice of frats, imo.

Satellites should be starting by the end of this week.

Q: And the Red Spade Open is coming back?

A: Absolutely. That’s on Sunday, August 12th, with bounties on a bunch of our Team Pros and Team Online Pros. So:
1. Register for $55
2. Bust Vanessa Selbst
3. Profit

Q: I heard something about a party...

A: You did, indeed. PokerStars VIP Club Live makes its debut in London at the end of September. It will be a social event where PokerStars players can mix, mingle, and attach faces to screen names. Details will be forthcoming shortly.

I know you've probably been glued to the PokerStars/FTP/DoJ wire, but things are busy here on the site. Ask questions and I'll answer whatever I can.

Best regards,
Lee Jones

Do you think the FPP tourneys with added value will be brought back to previous years standards? As it is there has been at least a 50% cutback this year compared to last.

What happened to the $11 180 mans?

Why are there hardly any tournaments in the ~$30-$40 range at Euro prime time?

Since u dont answer in the thread here: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/36...hread-1166624/


Then u can maybe answer all those questions here that we never got an answer for!

PLEASE, answer these questions!

Will definitely see you in September! Was nice meeting you at the PS.com one earlier this year

Are there any other games coming to Zoom - specifically 7 Card Stud and Razz?

I think the happy hour was great.. I play a lot of nl100 zoom fr and i can tell you that there is an increase of around 80-120 entries at some points. really bought in a lot of action hope something like this can be permanent.

whats going on with the shorthanded play for zoom fullring to start tables, when is it gonna be ready, 1-2 and 2-5 zoom fullring is not running because of this only reason

I also really miss the FPP feaders to live events, was in my mind a great use of my FPPs.

I'm wondering how it is possible that pokerstars.fr is not the French number 1 site despite of the fact that Winamax's budget is much much lower.
How in the world could you explain that humiliation?
What happened is like a Fiat running faster than a Ferrari or David beating Goliath.
When you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there's no end to what you can't do.

Who do we email to suggest improvements for the stars.fr schedule cus like the other guy says, alot of improvements could be made

Lee, is PokerStars going to come up with a plan for rescuing non-holdem games (mainly mtts), which die slowly due to the more and more player pools being excluded from the global market and due to the insufficiently optimized daily schedule? Is it important for you to keep games like Omaha hi/lo a viable part of your offer?

Cheers.

Would definitely be nice if this was a regular feature. The games at 2.5/5 ran much more frequently with this promotion

+1

Could Stars start offering U.S. dollar wire transfers again?

could u run a daily 10$ HORSE tourney at europian prime time?
would u consider to give mixed games a daily happy hour?(HORSE cash is dead after BF )
a 5$-10$ nlo8(plo8) shootout tourney between 18-20 oclock ECT would be great too.

Are there plans to expand the "happy hour" promotion?

do something with the daily plo8 109 tourney. and add maybe a daily 6max plo8 mtt 22 rebuy like the plo 6max.

FTP is coming back with happy hours so I assume Stars will start offering it every day.

Right?!

+1

I approve of a single speed but it shouldn't be as low as fast tables today. With fast tables having 18 seconds to act and normal 35 seconds, you should settle it somewhere in the 25-30 area, especially at higher stakes where you wouldn't want someone to make a mistake of the size of an avg monthly wage because he was rushed. You have the fast thing covered with zoom already anyway.

Please make happy hours a regular thing! Games were so good during the promotion, doesn't seem like it would cost Stars much at all and I know I for one would get alot more hands in everyday.

really?
cus over here games during happy hours sucked enormous ass

Midstakes CAP was way better, quality and quantity.

This is a joke, surely you guys at pokerstars cant be seriously thinking about moving all ring games to fast tables, that will decrease amounts of tables that will run as grinders that 16+ tables FR and 6m wont be able to continue doing that if ever table changes to fast tables when you only get 8 seconds to react. Personally id like pokerstars to consult with people that multi table 16+, before making any decisions to change the speeds of tables.

What is the reason for the hold up on mobile coming to canada?