Quote:
Originally Posted by Richas
Those withdrawing cash are not essential, in many ways they hurt the model. There is no reason to have regs grinding volume to earn a wedge for themselves when the alternative is fewer regs and more depositors and more players just passing cash about with just the rake hole draining the cash not the professional player taking cash from the bucket.
I don't disagree with your general point, but I think this overstates it. Poker works on a winners welcome model. The idea that your fate is in your hands is why it is attractive to all players and why they can't get people to play blackjack even with the 40000 percent rakeback deal they had for it in February.
I won a live MTT this week (small field, small buy-in, small 1st prize), had a beer while I was waiting for the nightbus, played off some promotional chips I had and walked away a winner. The guy who came second lost his whole prize on roulette within 30 minutes - and more, as he handed over his last 5 euros his friend said "you need that for a taxi." Now, is this guy better for this casino, or is it me, getting photographed behind my pile of chips holding my K
2
and sharing it on facebook where my students and other facebook acquaintances can see my being out and proud as a winning poker player and decide to have a go themselves? Ok - maybe the other guy is better for the casino as a big net loser but its not just a straight financial calculation.
I actually think the difference between poker and online slots is that poker genuinely needs both kinds of players - the winners attracts the others. But that's why there needs to be equal treatment for al players. No lobby bots, bumhunting, asymmetrical rakeback, third party huds, team play etc.