Just curious why people think that these two guys, who are not only popular and well-known in the virtual world, but also who have many live successes haven't been picked up ? Other smaller names have all ready become red on FTP -- why haven't they?

I suppose it's because they are asking for more than just the standard 35/hr + 100% rb, but it's not like they are restricted to just playing on FTP (see CR Pros), so any thoughts?

If I was them I'd want a PA type deal with partnership options.

What kind of deal did PA get?

I imagine durrrr wants a bigger deal. He's worn the FTP patch before, so I doubt it has anything to do with him not wanting to brand himself.

Question, is there at all any confirmation that every pro is making $35/h? My suspicion is that every contract is different. I can't see Phil Ivey only making 35 dollars an hour playing.

He's not just a red pro, he's a team member. He's making much much more money than someone like David Benyamine (who should be a team member, wtf full tilt?).

Ivey is not just a red pro, he's a team member.

I think "friends of Full Tilt" make 35/h + 100% rakeback. I could be way wrong though.

ivey is on the 'team' so hes makng a ton more. rumors are that team get percent ownership of full tilt. who knows

I wonder how much they are losing in rakeback, because they are not part of the FTP-team.

That should be enough reason for those guys to sign with FTP, but apparently they don't really need extra cash?! wtf.

Dear God I hope this is a level.

That would make a lot more sense. I don't think they have a standard contract they just hand out to every red pro. David Benyamine shouldn't have the same hourly wage as Beth Shak, and I don't think he would accept that.

So you don't think it's not good idea to get as much money as possible? We are talking about tens of thousands a year.

Let's face it. Duuurr isn't enough popular to be promoted a full tilt memeber just yet IMO. Galfond I don't know.

The 35/h + 100% rb is the min which i assume extends to most of the "friends", I hope the pay scale slides within the friends but it obv does for the team.

If the point is to get as much money as possible as you say they should, then the rakeback + 35/h is an awful deal for Tom and Phil. You talk about some ten thousand/year for signing with a pokersite - thats is pretty bad compared to what they should get. Both of them are worth more in marketing than say 20K for a whole year.

if they play 40hrs/week its still 72k at the end of the year, i mean its better than nothing... even thought these guys can bluff more than that in a single hand...

Ivey makes a lot of money on stock per month.....its a sick number too

My take:

Both guys make a lot of money playing poker. A deal that would please them is likely much bigger than what is being offered to them at the moment.

From a sites perspective, if you are going to sign a player you have to figure out a way for the deal to make sense from a financial perspective, in that, if you sign player X for $250,000 a year, will that player create that much value for the site by bringing in new players?

Signing an online player has limited value. The reason for that, is that an online players fan base likely ALREADY has an account and already plays at the site. When a site considers signing a player they must gauge that players mass appeal on television and to the casual watcher. Being a big name in online poker, or even a player who's gotten some TV time but hasn't found his niche audience, isn't going to demand big bucks from a site.

Both players have potential to make a big splash on television and in live tournaments. Since that hasn't happened yet, it would make more sense for them to wait until their stock price rises rather than selling at a low point.

I'm not speaking for either of them, but I imagine that would be the main reason you don't see them signed to a site. There would certainly be interest in both guys.

Good reason why so many of these pubescent turds don't have deals with Stars/Full Tilt.

Because of condescending arrogant attitudes that make anyone over the age of 18 want to puke.

theyll both be signed, just a matter f time

Being popular on these forums isn't going to do much for the poker sites. If we're on these boards already then it's likely we've already signed up with poker sites or are well aware of our options. I don't think Tom or Phil are going to be a big draw on the uninformed public.

Which is my guess about where the divide occurs. Tom and Phil know they're way better than some of the "pros" signed by the sites. So, they want a much better deal. However, their value to the sites aren't as great as their skill. Until they start pulling down a bunch of WPT & televised WSOP wins I doubt they're going to get the attention they deserve. That's my take on the situation anyway.

I think that is pretty unfair. Tom has been on NBCHU, PAD, WSOP final tables and a WPT final table (I think?) which were all on TV. P.Gandolf also has been on TV (including HSP) and won a bracelet this year?

However, I do agree that sites like FTP and Stars will gain little if anything from signing them.

Well said, and is pretty much the case. Both Tom and Phil know that what they can get right now pales in comparison to what they will very likely be able to get in the near future. Esp if Phil's WSOP PLO bracelet is televised(?). Obv Durrr's star is on the rise with a good overall showing on PAD cash game. While he doesn't interview the greatest, he is very compelling to watch play, and I think he will get more and more TV time for cash games when they have them.

If an online poker site is signing a pro, what they have to ask themselves is what that pro will bring to the table.

FTP signed a ton of people you think are no-namers, but they're celebrities in the countries they are from. Like... Sascha Biorac? Or Nikolay Evdakov? We think they're bad, and we wonder why they're getting deals over others. It's because they'll attract more players than a hot internet player, since most of the internet guys play at FTP/stars anyway.

A site like stars/ftp won't benefit from getting a Dwan/Galfond anymore than they'll benefit from signing any random online player. Plus, these sites probably aren't offering enough money to even interest them.

Also, these are guys who have made a name for themselves through hard work. Do you think they really want to get "lost in the crowd" with FTP pros or stars people? Stars/FTP has everyone, signing with a site like that won't help them build their own brands at all.

Because of the manditory "red pro" downswing. DUH

they aren't sell outs
nuff said
/thread

Forget sponsorship...Why isn't Phil making videos for someone...!