Neeme, Owen and Polk buy stakes in "The Lodge" poker room, Austin TX (Lodge containment thread) - Page 4 - Poker News

Couldn’t tell you either lol… I actually played with him once and he was terribly boring in person. I’ve never watched a full poker vlog so couldn’t tell you the appeal there either. My guess is he’s white, not fat and above average height. That counts for a lot on social media.

In general I'm not a huge vlog watcher, but they'll pop up in my YT based on what I watch.

He's fine, he seems like a the blank template for a create-a-player. He's like a solid player, but there's no hook or whatever. I'm not sure why he has 500K Subs whereas the other 100 vloggers that do the same exact same thing, and sometimes are more interesting and charismatic, all have the same like 20K sub ceiling.

I guess people really do just want hand histories

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01-04-2022 , 05:16 AM

#77

Same_again

old hand

Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 1,645

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rmbxr9

In general I'm not a huge vlog watcher, but they'll pop up in my YT based on what I watch.

He's fine, he seems like a the blank template for a create-a-player. He seems like a solid player, but there's no hook or whatever. I'm not sure why he has 500K Subs whereas the other 100 vloggers that do the same exact same thing and sometimes are more interesting and charismatic all have the same like 20K sub ceiling.

I guess people really do just want hand histories

I think the fact he was one of the earlier vloggers definitely helped gain a following. If he launched his channel today then maybe it wouldn't be as popular

In defence of Brad when people say he's boring it is probably because he is a bit monotone and avoids controversial topics and focuses on being nice. However, he is also very funny but delivers a lot of deadpan and sarcastic jokes which probably fly under the radar a bit

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01-04-2022 , 06:36 AM

#78

pocket_zeros

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4,388

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rmbxr9

Absolutely no offense to Owen, I fully understand he has a huge audience.
But... I've encountered more charismatic/interesting wallpaper, I don't get it
(Please feel free to explain)

He has a boring facade but is smart and witty and provides his viewers an emotional roller coaster ride for each session. He does this with masterful poker narration and pacing. This vlog is a good example of that:

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01-04-2022 , 09:38 AM

#79

fozzy71

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 38,192

Article on PokerNews about it:

Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme & Brad Owen Team Up to Purchase Austin Poker Room

Quote:

....
Owen told PokerNews: "The group that I'm involved in, which includes Doug and Andrew, owns the majority."

"The previous owners still own a lot," he continued. "We're just teaming up with the previous owners."
...

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01-04-2022 , 11:19 AM

#80

Dream Crusher

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 18,786

I'm curious as to how many owners this poker room has. Based on Polk's video, it sounds like 8 new owners plus the existing owners, so at least 10 owners.

Makes me wonder how much involvement any of them will actually have and whether or not any will try to split and start their own room. Also curious as to what expansion plans they may have. It seems likely that they would like to open more rooms throughout the state.

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01-04-2022 , 11:28 AM

#81

auralex14

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,914

I wouldn’t be surprised if a big chunk of Brad Owen’s subscribers are 50+. His humor is of the Elk Lodge/Shriners variety.

That aside, his editing is quite good.

Not my cup of tea, personally, but he seems like a nice enough guy.

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01-04-2022 , 11:37 AM

#82

pocket_zeros

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4,388

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dream Crusher

Doug said in his announcement video he first looked into starting his own room but realized it would take too long and that he didn't have the knowledge to do it.

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01-04-2022 , 11:42 AM

#83

Dream Crusher

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 18,786

Quote:

Originally Posted by pocket_zeros

Doug said in his announcement video he first looked into starting his own room but realized it would take too long and that he wouldn't know what he's doing.

Sure, what a better thing to do than to join with an existing poker room and learn the business prior to starting your own. Perhaps there are non-compete clauses. Perhaps all 8 new owners are happy to be passive investors (or relatively passive), while owning just a small piece of the business. Or perhaps some of the 8 will not remain happy in that role.

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01-04-2022 , 11:49 AM

#84

PTLou

JellyBean

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,516

xpost from other TX card club thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTLou

The anti-gaming legislature in TX is very strong. Its a weird combination of religious right evangelicals (same ones that own a fleet of lear jets and pack in 25,000 each sunday all in the name of his "lord" ) and competing casino interests of Tribes in OK (chickasaw/choctaw). Austin is just not gonna pass any gaming legislation any time some. The below will happen WELL before that.

These clubs are about 1 year away from approaching a tipping point to where the above interests (along with a few others) will force the issue and the industry will be shut down (google pots of gold in SC or Lottery Sweepstakes machines in NC, same for many other states)

All should agree on four things

1) They are going to keep growing
2) Lobby money to stop these clubs is 100X more than lobby money to authorize them.
3) As they approach CA card type sizes, the above lobbies will have them shut down.

4) Thus they will eventually all be closed.

not to say it wont be a great business until/if above happens. I just wouldn't be signing any leases for locations for longer than 3 years. or at least ones that require personal guarantee

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01-04-2022 , 12:01 PM

#85

Dream Crusher

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 18,786

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTLou

xpost from other TX card club thread.

not to say it wont be a great business until/if above happens. I just wouldn't be signing any leases for locations for longer than 3 years. or at least ones that require personal guarantee

Why 1 year? Why not 3 years ago? Isn't what you are saying something people have been saying for 7 years now? They were never supposed to open, then were gonna get shut down, but now we're going on close to 7 years.

You think Winstar is going to take a big hit because of these rooms? Have they taken a big hit yet? Who are the religious right members pushing to shut poker rooms down?

I'd love to believe you but it sounds like the same speculation we've heard for 7 years.

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01-04-2022 , 12:10 PM

#86

PTLou

JellyBean

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,516

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dream Crusher

its about scale. they are starting to expand at an expanding rate. If they number of rooms stayed like it was now then prob be ok forever. they

Seven years ago . just rooms in Houston (whole diff story there)

3 years ago a few more rooms pop in Austin/Dalls

1 Year ago a few more rooms

1 year from now and more and more and bigger rooms. At some point it will start to look like CA card club market. various lobby groups just not gonna let continue when it starts to approach that level. thats my only point.

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01-04-2022 , 12:11 PM

#87

Dream Crusher

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 18,786

The first room was in Austin.

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01-04-2022 , 12:16 PM

#88

Dream Crusher

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 18,786

I'd argue that the market that primarily affects the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes is Dallas Ft Worth and that market has largely been held in check with just one successful poker room, which has 25 tables (for close to 8 million residents). It seems unlikely that will change much in the next year.

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01-04-2022 , 12:17 PM

#89

pocket_zeros

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4,388

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dream Crusher

Probably a wait and see approach to first see how popular the poker rooms became before incurring the hassle and expense to shut them down. In other words, picking their battles.

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01-04-2022 , 12:20 PM

#90

Dream Crusher

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 18,786

I don't know if the Chickasaws are a wait and see type of bunch scared of throwing money at something. They are the type to buy Lonestar Park (horse racing track in DFW) and land near downtown Dallas "just in case."

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01-04-2022 , 12:20 PM

#91

Shanghai

grinder

Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 428

Quote:

Originally Posted by auralex14

I believe a lot of people like Brad’s honest image in his vlogs. Not afraid to show mistakes, talk about losing sessions, not always trying to be right, etc.

As for the majority being 50+? Basing the demographics of what I’ve seen from the meetup games, it’s definitely not a boomer crowd. Lots of younger to middle aged dudes.

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01-04-2022 , 12:26 PM

#92

Dream Crusher

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 18,786

Speaking of demographics, did anyone notice the demographic profiles of the new owners.

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01-04-2022 , 12:30 PM

#93

Hellmuth was right

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 5,793

Quote:

Originally Posted by auralex14

I wouldnÂ’t be surprised if a big chunk of Brad OwenÂ’s subscribers are 50+. His humor is of the Elk Lodge/Shriners variety.
.

I bet a lot of his viewers have thought I want that guy to bang/marry my daughter. He gives off those vibes. cause you know hes gonna treat her well and hes not gonna cheat. after girls go through their slut phase they usually end up with someone like Brad.

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01-04-2022 , 12:33 PM

#94

PLIKITYPLAK

veteran

Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2,786

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dream Crusher

Poker rooms pay vloggers like Neeme and Owen to visit their rooms because when they come to town they'd absolute fill the room. Personally, I could give a **** less who is playing poker in the room or at my table but apparently their fans absolutely love them. I have to think that is part of the reason they decided to get in the poker room business. Being able to get large amounts of players to come to the room will certainly give them an advantage out of the gate. I do wonder if that novelty will wear thin over time though.

Whether you care about the vloggers or not, I've always found the games much more juicy and fresh when it was a vlogger game. It draws people to the room who normally wouldn't be there, games are much easier/better.

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01-04-2022 , 12:35 PM

#95

PLIKITYPLAK

veteran

Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2,786

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondsOnMyNeck

Trooper is definitely the OG of vlogging but he didn’t have the clean cut, blond, blue eyed aesthetic working for him. He was never going to have widespread appeal outside of his base of middle America, mid/low stakes, male viewers.

come on son, the chicks dig Trooper. He's definitely banged a groopie or two back in the day.

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01-04-2022 , 12:35 PM

#96

EastCoastBalla

banned

Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 1,765

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmuth was right

What?

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01-04-2022 , 12:42 PM

#97

auralex14

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,914

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmuth was right

Yikes lol

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01-04-2022 , 01:21 PM

#98

coordi

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 22,811

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastBalla

Not when these clubs will all be forced to shut down sooner rather than later.

This has been the narrative for years and years and years

Still waiting for the sooner now that its later

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01-04-2022 , 01:42 PM

#99

DiamondsOnMyNeck

adept

Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 1,022

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLIKITYPLAK

come on son, the chicks dig Trooper. He's definitely banged a groopie or two back in the day.

Haha true. I shouldnÂ’t disrespect the OG like that

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01-04-2022 , 01:43 PM

#100

pocket_zeros

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4,388

Quote:

Originally Posted by coordi

This has been the narrative for years and years and years

Still waiting for the sooner now that its later

The same was said about online poker sites in the USA. Then one day they were no more.

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