I just was hoping to start a discussion here. This is really killing Vegas high stakes poker. It already happened in South Florida where there isn't the same kind of regulation that Nevada supposedly has. What I don't get is why the gaming board hasn't fined Aria for the private games. Is it just that nobody has filed a complaint? I saw a news article from a few years ago when Aria was fined 100k for not letting two undercover gaming agents watch a roulette table.

Also, I don't really want to start the same old thread where people debate the ethics of private games. I'm trying to avoid the spot where a lot of people who don't know what they are talking say how if pros aren't social and fun then they don't get to play. Because, the real problem is that nobody gets to play unless you're in the club. It's not like they see who it is and then say "oh, okay, he is a good player but fun so he can play. But, not that guy. He was on his iPad a lot last week."

Poker was always supposed to be a true meritocracy. If you have the money you can play. Anyways, just wanted to start a discussion because the games seem clearly illegal but have been going on for a few years. Curious why the gaming board hasn't gotten involved.

Where did you get that ‘meritocracy’ vibe from? In my experience, the best games always were invitation-only and Vegas & LA were the only places in the US where you could play high stakes poker in open to the public games almost around the clock.

As far as Aria goes, it looks like several people complained to the gaming commission and since they didn’t stop the practice I have to assume they deemed it to be legal? It’s almost 6 years since Greg Merson started that whole thing by complaining on Twitter about not being allowed in the game.

All I hear from these whiny idiots is "I'm rich so let me play in any game I want to!"

Did anyone ever file a formal complaint with the NGCB?

It does? Who did this and when?

Not these whining hoodies again?

I guess what I was curious about was has anyone actually made a complaint with the gaming board? And if nothing happened was it because the games are fine? or the board is just ignoring it? Because, if it is illegal (and it really looks like it is clearly violating the law) someone could also file a civil suit?

I'm just curious if this has already happened and isn't getting anywhere or if there was a reason someone hasn't done this yet?

Based on what law? I am certainly not an expert on Nevada law, but the fact that the games are ongoing seems to strongly suggest that this is not the case.

You don't know what meritocracy means.

OP, it's been discussed and discussed:

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/2...-aria-1636898/

I should point out that the LLSNL forum has "reserved" tables over the years at events at casinos in LV going back as far as 2010. The basic rule is that once the game is running, any one can go on the list to join the table if there is an opening. Remarkably, the entire table quits after one person leaves.

Read more about last years event here.

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/1...ighlight=vegas

Ask this guy:

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/members/24822/

They find ways around the system, so it's technically not a private game. But obviously you can't join their tables.
It's unfortunate but it happens everywhere. Whining about it is only going to decrease your chances of playing, so you just have to take it on the chin, build up your network and hope they give you a chance.

1) which law/regulation do you believe has been violated? After all, clearly you MUST have spent time reading NGC regulations...

2) which game were you not permitted to sit at?

3) how long has it been since you filed YOUR complaint with the NGC? After all, if you have been directly harmed, then surely you took steps to protect your interests...

Yeah, this is all fine and how such request tables are supposed to be handled.

What happens in practice with the private games is that whales/connected players bypass the list, open seats are held for other players, sometimes "dummy stacks" are left out for players who aren't arriving until later, and the number of seats in the game is changed depending on if they want the next player or not.

lol at poker being a meritocracy though. You're not owed a game with a whale.

Don't say you don't want people to debate the ethics of private games and then make this statement.

A lot of times, "giving you a chance" means having to give the host half of your action.

I don't see that aspect getting talked about much, but it is something that goes on. So not only is someone controlling the player pool, they also have half of all the winning players in the game.

Regardless of your opinion of entitled whining "hoodies" or the nuances of gaming regs, you have to admit this is all extremely shady. Especially by Aria staff. Sean McCormack in particular is absolutely shameless about it.

You are far more famous in the poker world than all the commenters on this thread. But where you do draw the line. Vegas was built on top dogs getting treated better than that the rest. Comp lines at check in, status lines at buffets. Good customers get taken care of.

Is it acceptable for a long time customer at say Bellagio to tip the floor man a few bucks to get an early seat in a backed game? Or tip them to move to a better game?

You will eventually get to check in or get into the buffet though, whatever status you have.
There's the difference.

privately run/invitation only poker games are/were an inevitable result of the way poker was shaping and has has been shaped over the years. Easy to say it's the "whining hoodies" faults for not playing splashy enough (which is nonsense actually) or that it's shady of the people organising the games wanting to keep "fish to themselves" (which is slightly less nonsense but also slightly nonsense) but it's a mixture of all these nuances and more and it's not really anyone's fault nor is anyone really doing anything wrong.

Some people have benefited hugely whilst others have lost out, not exactly fair no but we don't live in the socialist bloc, this is the way the world is - debating it won't change it you basically either need to change your focus or change yourself because you cant change the world (not in this element of it anyway)

Op have you ever asked to get in the game?

That was asked of them and they have elected not to respond...which suggests that they made no attempt (and thus would have no real standing in a complaint made through the regulatory channels).

I complained to gaming commission around 2013. Belande kept his fat feet up on open chair said the game was full. Triggered me.

Got a call from Aria poker room manager couple days later and said he apologized and to ask for him personally if that ever happens again.

Or that OP hasn't logged on since he/she last posted.

Not saying you're wrong, but we won't know for sure until OP comes back.