The official site of strike against changing of PokerStars VIP-program -
http://www.theykillpoker.com/
Hello 2+2. I am a member of the russian initiative group, which is engaged in the organization of poker players protest against 2016 VIP changes. Our group is led by storo08 - oldschool HU SNG/SPINnGO regular, it also includes high stakes players such as MAPA3MATuK(hyper sats/6maxSNG), SGrifon(NLH Cash) etc.
Many of you must have already heard that starting from 2016 PokerStars introduce the new conditions of the VIP-program, stating that it allegedly will enhance the poker ecology and let amateur players benefit from bonus programs and the game itself. Actually, it is not quite accurate. Or, rather, not accurate at all.
In reality, these changes in the system will lead to increased rake for regular players. They get less rakeback, consequently, the rake indirectly increases. In exchange for that, PokerStars will increase the payouts for Chromestars by 10%, which is equivalent to 30 cents a month, funny, ain't it?
So how exactly the poker ecology will be enhanced? We tried, we really tried to find the bright sides for recreational players... But failed. We failed to understand how the money, taken from the regulars, could possibly help the recreational players feel more comfortable at the tables. We are more likely to get a reverse effect: some of the regulars would go down the stakes, some of them, on the contrary, would put more focus on the quality of their game, and amateur players would start losing money even faster than before.
Changes that we see in PokerStars (games, promotions, rules, rake) since the change of ownership — it's a smooth transformation of poker from an intellectual kind of sports with gambling element into a funny roulette. And if we, players, don't take any measures and just become bystanders, in a couple of years we'll see on our monitors some slot-machines that no one can ever beat, instead of a sports game and challenge of minds and stamina.
And it doesn't matter now, who's amateur and who's professional — our favorite game turns into a bingo lottery right before our very eyes.
What measures we offer:
We believe that complete freezing of games at PokerStars and FTP is the only effective way of struggle in the given circumstances.
Why do we think we can win?
Precisely a year ago PokerStars have announced a rake increase, we conducted a strike, and some time after it the vast part of changes was canceled.
Expert opinion:
Quote:
(feruell aka jama-dharma) @ 2.11.2015)
Actually, the reality is that the decisions at PokerStars are made by incompetent people, and that they are ready to back-pedal when facing wide protests. Just like it happened with this "rake increase". That's why I think that the chances are quite high that they will cancel some part of their decisions for 2016.
So it's more reasonable for most players to wait till some action group comes up with a good plan and just join it.
I will back your protest within reason.
The instructions for the protesters:
1. Starting from January 1, withdraw your funds and stop playing at PokerStars and FullTilt. Go on protesting until the company revises its policy relating the VIP-program.
2. Send a letter to
support@pokerstars.com saying that you no longer will play at PokerStars. Point out the reasons for your leave and your attitude towards the changes in the VIP-program. It is not recommended to send carbon copy letters.
3. Use our avatars(can be found on our website) in all of your accounts and share this link with all of your friends who play poker.
"They Kill Poker
#TKP We are against changing of pokerstars VIP-program
theykillpoker.com"
4. Watch for the topic updates.
If you're in, let us know by posting your PokerStars nickname in this topic.
The list of protesters:
Last edited by nwDanon; 11-06-2015 at 04:53 PM.