9 months ago i was bust when I was offered the following deal at a private game. My losses would be covered by my backer and we would split any profit. If in the negative, all wins go to the backer until even and then we start splitting the profit. Unfortunately I couldn't win a session and he cut his losses at around 10k. Can't blame him. I told him that the money went in good and I'm sorry for the outcome and that i was grateful for the opportunity.

Fast forward to today, after working and now back to playing full time I have been asked to play again. Because I have a roll now, and this feels dirty to say, i would rather not continue the freeroll and would instead offer to split both loss and profit, in order to play smaller for roll consideration, which we've typically done in the past. Is this unethical? is it even allowed? If we switch to me putting up half the cash, is the loss from the previous deal over and done with, unless it's picked up again? Can you just switch to a cash deal like that? I'm a puppy in these parts of the game and any guidance you can offer is very welcomed. I want to be fair of course to my partner and also to myself.

Thanks for your time,

You need to have a discussion with him about the makeup. Typically, you are still considered to carry the mu from past deals with the same backer. With that said, perhaps you can negotiate a buyout at a lower rate and an agreement to "reset" after the payment. Another option is to structure in a payment through your deal -- for example, offering to give him 10-20% of your profits over time to pay off the mu, and then getting the 10% back to yourself once the mu is gone.

Regarding fairness, whatever agreement you guys reach is "fair," but you should be considered to carry the mu and work out how to deal with that before starting a new deal.

In regards to you putting up half the cash, that's completely fine. Consider it selling 25% of your action for 50% of the buyin. Very standard.

Very simple. What was your original deal? When he let you go did you still owe the 10K(in which case this was not even remotely a freeroll) or did it disappear? If it disappeared a deal where you all of a sudden owe the backer $10K that you didn't before as it had disappeared when he dropped you is a bad deal for you that you should not accept. I will also note that you seem to be winning where you are currently playing but were losing at the private game. Take the hint and figure out what that might mean and who actually is the fish. And if you were losing at the private game before(you described yourself as bust) you got given the backing offer realize what a backer willing to back a loser means.

He explained that he would cover the loss and it would not be 'owed money'. I understand if we continue the deal, the makeup needs to be cleared first.

however, if this is a new deal where I put up half the buy-in and half the loss, how can the make up carry over? can it? does it? should it?


could you spell it out for me? sorry

thanks so much for your time,
it is much appreciated,

If you have money for a portion of starting roll, i think you should just play on your own.

If you really want to include your friend, i think you should offer a new deal with clean slate, where both parties have contributed at proportions consistent with the agreed split. This is certainly in your best interest as player and youre under no obligation to offer a piece. Thus such an offer is well within the ballpark of good business ethics. He can take it or leave it and nobody is being taken advantage of.

Perhaps selling action at discount would be a nice gesture, but is unnecessary. Or if you hit a huge run up, throw him some tribute. Stuff like that goes a long way with people, especially if they're smart enough to understand that it is your option.

If he agreed he would not be "owed money" NEVER agree to a deal that effectively puts you $10K in debt for saying yes. Fair is abiding by the deals you make. Since the first deal ended when he ended it any deal should be a new deal with neither of you owing the other person anything. But your money your choice.

If someone backs you when you are a known loser it means their profit is coming from the game running as you are not expected to be the source of profit. This would ordinarily be by a high rake, the game being crooked, or some combination of the two.

the deal ended when he cut you and hence the makeup was dissolved. any new deal would be a new deal, as if the old one never happened.

is the only game in town or something? why not play at the casino?

normally if a backer cuts you off that means they're dropping the makeup

unless specifically agreed otherwise I'd assume that's the case

Never just give a unlimited line of credit if u don't have a fall back in place to recoup some of your losses. Buy having that not discussed your horse really had no reason to not gamble your money instead of looking at it like it's our money. U gave him a blank check and never discussed what terms applied as far as stake back. the dude wasn't playing poker anymore he was just purely gambling with house money. So alot of strategy I'm sure was neglected because he just wanted to get the chips in in almost any 45/55% position in hopes of lucking out. U literally handicapped him and yourself. I've been in many deals. And the most profitable ones were when we both had incentive to play well because we both had at least somewht of our bankrolls involved. Every deals different but that just seemed not well thought out

have you considered cleaning his house/car(s)?