I know a guy who rarely plays in vegas. He was playing at Bobbys and an action player wanted to go to Aria, so he drives over, gets on the top of the list. The action player shows up followed by a flood of regulars. When they try to start the game the regs demand they draw cards to see who gets seats, he's like what about the list? They say at Aria when everyone arrives at roughly the same time we draw cards for seats.

A couple days later action player wants to go over to the Aria again, so my friend goes over. This time he gets there right after everyone and is at the bottom of the list. The players ahead of him take seats and my friend says aren't we drawing cards? And the regs say, why would we draw cards? We have a list.

Greg Merson needs to learn that your experience at the Aria will improve dramatically when you tip the floor a couple hundred a day.

This. If you commonly wear glasses and hoodie at the table, you aren't training to play high stakes games. It's social party for rich men, so you should be responsive and be able to carry entertaining and non-offensive conversations.

And you should learn mix games.

Greg, they don't want you in their games. Show some maturity and deal with it.

Yup, read DGAF's excellent "a poker story" thread in the medium-high-stakes forums. He talks about how you can be net good for the game even though you are winning, because of the entertainment value and good vibes you provide for the game. He's willing to give up some EV by drinking alcohol, doing flips, making high variance plays and he also has a great personality.

You want to make it big in live poker, you gotta be this kind of guy. Also you are doing a public service and helping secure the poker ecosystem by actually doing your job of being an entertainer.

It all starts with the fact that players in those live games don't call action players "bum" or "fish" but provide them with a fun environment where they are able to have a good time while gambling away their money.

One of the reasons why high stakes online games are dying is that most regulars don't even try to disguise what they are doing. If action players don't have a good time, they won't be back. Therefore people like JRB bend the rules to make sure no net negative players get into the games.

Yes, that is technically true. That is why the high-limit rooms of the casinos that appear to be roped off are "open to the public." Although I am sure they also have the "right to refuse service" which is broad as long as there is no discrimination involved in their ruling.

this is why the term "fun player" isnt GTO. strong, winning players can and should be fun players too

yeah, online bumhunters do that too, most of them go out of their way to chat up their opponents and be nice. About not calling marks "fish", you're like 5 years too late, everybody's using "recreational" for a long time now.

As for predatory feel that scripts give, isn't waitlist blocking exactly the same? Also, bumhunting online was frowned upon long before seating scripts.

Didn't read all the replies, but isn't Tommy Gun a porn star?

Does JRB derive any sort of compensation from any players for "hosting" game and acting as gatekeeper for lineup?

He is actually an employee of Aria/MGM unless that has changed in the recent past. His job is to rep the poker room and host big games in Ivey's room. I assume he was hired because of his "stardom" and he is a great host for the whale's.

Also Tommy Morrison's character in Rocky V

Yeah I think so. Didn't he have a cameo on Entourage?

This is a level right? You honestly think that successfull rich people want to spend time with JRB and view him as pinacle of entertainment..LOL

Not giving people very much credit thinking this, u dont think all the "fish" in these games realize they're spots in the game? Online just isn't as much fun, These guys probably realize they are going to lose a lot less per hour live, and have a lot more fun socializing etc.

I think 90% of the people who criticized bumhunting in general were and are clueless. Most actual pros realize they are hypocrites and all do it to some degree. The over the top bumhunting is what all the scorn was directed at, HU players refusing to even post a blind vs someone with a pulse, 6M guys shamelessly sitting out then right back in when the fish took a break, etc.

It is a lot less predatory for one. Not saying that it should be glorified (i don't really think it is, they are saying it in a negative light itt)

Greg played some 25/50 nl at Bellagio over the summer, and while he didn't wear a hoodie or glasses, he never spoke a word. Same for his buddy Anthony Gregg. Not hating at all, seemed like an ok guy but just never talked, and people here are right, if you want to be invited or in the txt message circles of the big games you need a personality and to "fit" in their world. The Bobby's room guys live in a different world than the rest of us, and if you don't fit in you're excluded from the club

ya, i don't get why someone feels they have some god given right to play in a poker game. Technically all games are open in a casino but the casino wants to keep the rich recreational players happy.

Rich businessmen don't want to play with the typical quiet internet grinders. I'm sure there are some younger fun players that get in that game, Merson just doesn't happen to be one of those types.

No biggie, I'm sure he can find 100's of other games in Vegas to play in.

The Aria is breaking the law. The Gaming commission should be notified. Its not a home game.

You could be the chattiest most friendly pro in the world they aren't going to let you play unless you offer something else to the game (bringing fish, loaning money, putting up bail, backing JRB etc).

The game is pretty much a closed circle. If you are a good poker player don't expect to play too much.

If they have a choice between "survivor" JRB and some sour anti-social pro with no personality or life stories outside of poker, JRB gets chosen every time. I bet most don't even mind losing to JRB, but would hate to see their money in the hands of a pro that they don't like and added nothing to their entertainment.

Why is this not obvious to you?

Yes, you're correct in terms of Aria game which is way more closed off than sitting in Bobby's room with their regs. They will let anyone play that can pony up the buyin. Aria seems more closed off than Bobby's room.

Also, ftr you're the type of guy they want in games. Give action, have a personality and you give out basketball winners at the table

It has everything to do with the game. And the higher up you go the more it matters.In many cases it's more important than your play at the table.

A couple years ago when Greg Merson brought up that topic for the first time, there was a lot of legal / gaming commission talk. Looks like the Aria isn't breaking any rules, because they don't prevent anyone from putting their name on the waitlist. How they handle the wait list and if everybody occupying a spot at the table is playing any hands, is a different story. But apparently they figured out how to handle the situation without violating any gaming laws.