Hey everyone,

There has been a thread in Internet Poker for some time now, but I thought I should make sure there was one in NVG as well, given how much traffic there is here. If you are interested in signing up, please post in the other thread as well as this one so that everyone is able to keep track of the numbers.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28...tests-1569711/


What is happening?

PokerStars/Amaya has announced an aggressive overhaul of the 2016 VIP system. They have deceived SNE players about benefits they would receive, are discontinuing the SNE program, and they have completely removed all rewards for high stakes (5/10+) cash games. While PokerStars claims the changes are to provide relief to recreational players, there is no such change happening. They are telling their players outright lies, and we will not stand for it. Beyond that, it follows an ongoing trend that PokerStars/Amaya has been taking in recent years. A site that was once clearly for the players, has completely lost sight of that.

I did my best to outline the changes and why they are so outrageous in this post:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...&postcount=283

What are we doing about it?

We are organizing a strike/boycott of PokerStars from December 1st-3rd, starting at 12:01 AM EST. We ask everyone who values the game of poker at all, recreational or pro, to show their support. We especially ask those who put in high volume on Stars to do so. Please do not play a hand of poker on PokerStars for those 72 hours. It goes without saying that games are likely to be softer on those days, and we hope that you can resist the urge to play because of that. I truly believe that these changes will bring about devastating effects to the online poker community.

What’s the point of a strike?

No one has any illusions of sinking PokerStars stock with a 3 day strike, or bringing down the company. That’s not what this is about. This is a demonstration of force, and an effort to show PokerStars that we are a body of players, and not just individuals. We have the ability to act as one, to make our voices heard, and to rally players behind a fair grievance. PokerStars has made it clear they do not respect us, so we need to demonstrate that we are able to fight back with volume and force.

Why should Stars care? Don’t they want less pros on the site anyway?
I very thoroughly address that here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...postcount=1387

Where do I sign up?
Here! http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28...tests-1569711/

Please sign, preferably with your PS name, VPP count, and what games you play. And beyond that, please tell your friends.

If anyone has any questions at all, please ask. Ask me, ask this thread, just get involved! I want everyone to be passionate about this. PokerStars has got to understand that we will not take this lying down. The fight is on, this is the first battle and we will continue fighting as long as we need to.

Thank you,
Dani Stern

+1
amazing post Ansky!

any chance of ike or kanu doing this? since your in the loop with the highstakes guys, i thought maybe you could bring it up.

the only problem is whether or not they would be willing to lose ps sponsorship, if they had the balls to pull a vicky coren i think that would definitely make an impact against stars decisions to fk everyone over

I think Amayastars ccl, I think both their contracts are on the chopping block. Them participating would give Amaya an early relief.

Pros in Pokerstars owes us a living shocker.

[x]Throw toys out of pram.
[x]Strike pointlessly.

If you had real balls you wouldn't propose a three day strike - you would refuse to play on Stars until something changed. But hey, you dont wanna cost yourself too much money, so three days'll do!

This misconception that Pokerstars owes anything to you...
High-Stakes-players behave like little kids.
The site has treated you with the upmost respect for a decade, giving you numerous priviliges, and you thanked them by bumhunting and taking advantage of every loophole there is to do what's best for you.
If the removal of SNE is such a big deal to you, don't play on Pokerstars any more, period. Where is the problem? But that's not really an option, is it?
A three day strike is just a joke, a bluff that Pokerstars will gladly call.
Pokerstars doesn't need you, and the sooner you realize that the better.
You guys should stop for a second and think about all the things Pokerstars has done for you voluntary in the past decade before crying foul when one thing doesn't go in the right direction for you to benefit.
You just come off as spoiled brats that don't know real work and think the whole world should naturally revolve around their best interests.

^dont be mad at the rest of us bc u went busto

THIS! 3 days are pointless.

Very good post.. I'm with you ansky! thanks for doing this


Stars employees invading the thread in
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lawl, jus go on permanent strike from stars if they pissed u off that much, grow up and move on with ur life u seem like an intelligent guy.

I'm in the US and will support this. I respect your rational, logical, and well-guided rage.

Guy above this must like being bent over in life

Isn't it kinda stupid doing this and not visibly switching to another site or something?

This way they know you'll always be back.

Is this something apart from the tiltbook's "we are all in" campaign?

I don't play on Stars but would definitely support this/take part in any strikes if I did, and would encourage anyone swithering about this to get involved. It's a chance for poker players to unite and at least try to make themselves heard.

Good luck!

I've been supporting you Stars guys from the start (I live in US but was a "pro" for years before BF) but this is just so true. ZeeJustin for example wrote in the zoo thread that he's at 910 VPPs so he's obviously going to just finish the year strong and get SNE handing Amaya a bunch of money. They know that people are always going to be back and perhaps working stronger than ever after missing three days of work. A strike is a ridiculous idea that accomplishes literally nothing. I do wish you luck though.

Id agree this 2 day strike is pointless, all it does is show Pokerstars that you will continue to be there next year.

You should all cease playing at Pokerstars on 1st Jan and say you won't be back until changes are made. See who blinks first. I'm guessing it will be the players.

Wow, this is pretty good idea. If everyone just played let's say on 888 on the same days and posted it on their social media, 888 might get huge traction and might realize that this is their chance to pick up players big time.

This.

Don't just stop traffic for 3 days, move the traffic elsewhere.
I'll be on 888.

If enough people participate, the other players might get a sneak peak of how much softer it might get on Stars after some of the regulars quit next year.

This is actually part of the plan. This strikes purpose is to see how many players are willing to participate, after that the plan is to quit playing on stars since the 1st of january. (If I remember it correctly from the other thread)

Why is the strike taking place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and not Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

Is it because pros create the most volume on those days (M-F) and stars will experience the most 'pain'? Or are the pros being self-interested because the weekend is when most recreational players play?

I'm a high volume MTT player and will support this.
Good initiative

I'll do it

So frustrating to read all of the stupid and shortsighted posts in this thread already. Poker players literally battling against their own interests by shooting down the efforts to band together and affect some change. You might as well be Amaya shills.

A three day strike is a perfect first step. This can be repeated or expanded upon with ease. It is possible and perhaps most effective to enact a strategy like this instead of a permanent sitout. It's easy to critique from the sidelines if you aren't supporting yourself or a family. If it's so easy for you keyboard warriors to quit playing then join the strike and work with the community to do even more. Don't attack the people that have their/your interests in mind.