Poker Player JJ Hazan appeared on Dragons Den, BBC2, tonight asking for a £65,000 stake in return for 40% of his tournament winnings.

You can watch it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/entr.../jjhazan.shtml

Here are his Hendon Mob stats: http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=75939

Promo Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtJg0nIT7ms

Does this really present viable investments to people now? Or is this an out and out degen who can't manage money and is on his last legs.

Discuss




*as some people can't watch the video*

JJ Hazan walks up the stairs with his shades on, now he is either blind, a cool dude or a poker player.

He uncovers a poker table as he sits in the den, and proceeds to stare down the Dragons with his poker face. The asks two of them to join him for a few hands, leaving the others mega bored.

He then asks for £65,000 in return for a 40% cut of his winnings, under these rules:

He will play 33 live tournaments, of which he says he will cash in 8. Giving an estimated revenue of £250,000.

He also guarntees the first £50,000 as being safe, effectively offering the dragons a return of 50k regardless.

He gives his stats, of over 500k$ in cashes, but none of the dragons ask "how much did you lose?" which they probably should have done.

The dragons look perplexed, as a number immediately drop out citing its "gambling". He defends poker, saying its not gambling etc etc.

He then loses the final two dragons, and he leaves with nothing.

using my first post to say repost.

Not available in your area

I was watching it and thinking it wouldn't even cover the cost of travelling & hotels.

OP, please post a short version of the presentation in your words.

Haha. I love this show.

It just proves that you can't convince non-players that we aren't gambling.

I've been thinking of doing this for years for a ME stake.

Will update original post with it.

http://uk.pokernews.com/news/poker-p...hazan-1273.htm

Interview with him after the show as well as an audition promo type vid he did

Heh, I just saw that, couldn't figure why he would bother going on Dragons Den. His pitch was based on lifetime earnings of $550k - but almost all of that was one tourney in 2006. Since then he only cashed $100k (roughly the amount he is asking for) so probably no one else will stake him.

I'm going to bed now, but post it itt if you get locked out from editing and I'll edit it in tomorrow, or pm another mod to do it for you.

Promo Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtJg0nIT7ms

PN: Why didn't you. go to the poker community/a staking website instead?

JJ Hazan: The problem with most poker community backing is that they tie you into on-line play and I am very much a live player and am not so effective on-line. Even Neil Channing's BlackBelt Poker is based around rakeback and I think they must play a minimum of 30 hours on-line a week, which is fine for most but not me. I still work and love my job. I have had some private backing for certain tournaments over the last couple of years and have been pleased to give most of them a good return. However, piecemeal backing is not good for player or backer. It's too hit and miss. I offered the Dragons 40% of 30 specified tournaments over the year, which I felt would increase the chances of a good return for us all. You need a spread of tournaments to guarantee success. My record is 1.5 cashes in 5 major tournaments (30%) I have played, which stands up pretty well.

This block above just sums up why its not a good investment. Lol live donk, and then no real sample size. God how do people not understand variance.

wat

He boasted of his $500k winnings since Nov 06.
What he didn't mention was that came from one second place (in Nov 06) for $450k and then some other cashes - which of course were paid for with that large winning cash.

There's too many people claiming winnings and profits are the same thing.

He claimed he paid off his mortgage and bought a holiday home. If was really that confident in his ability, he wouldn't need a backer.

Reading between the lines:

I had a lucky win. My wife made me pay off the house and buy a holiday home before I lose it all. Now I've got no liquid and my wife will divorce me if I lose any more. Can I lose yours instead?

Was going to post this but someone else beat me to it

What the dragons really should have asked was how much did you lose? I seem to remember he only mentioned a figure for tournament winnings..

I was just about to say that until I read your post. He claims that he has an edge but if he's that good as he clearly thinks he is he should have able to do it himself.

I just watched this. It was hilarious. I'm not sure why he didn't think he was a gambler. Anyway, it's not the right place to go to get a stake.

As I have already said, I was tempted to try it.
I would've done it very differently though.
I want 10k to play in the main event. I'm better at poker than the dragons but I don't have 10k.
You can patch me up for the whole tournament.
Whatever I cash, you get a cut.

Lets negotiate the cut.
If they commented that it was a total gamble, I would agree, but it would be fun.

Asking for £65k is a total joke.

i'd say it's a bigger joke asking for 10k to play the wsop main event with a 7k field and which you have to run like god to do well in.

If nothing else, it's another voice out there on tv arguing that poker is actually a game of skill.

edit: actually watched the thing and tbh he didn't do a good job of selling that fact at all so meh.

I would suggest you reread my penultimate line.

[ ] I know what the dragons den is.
[ ] This guy will cash 8 out of 33 tournaments.
[x] Giving someone 40% on 33 MTTs is ridiculous.

I've played with him, he is an excellent mixed-game player. Many good pros speak highly of him - nice guy as well.

"So what's with the sunglasses ?"

"Er ... poker player ? Image ?"

LOL.

Overall rating : LOL