Hello poker fellows

Back in october 2008 Pokernews announced a rakerace (http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2008/10...-rake-race.htm) where the winning would get a €6k package.

The race was supposed to go on from November 1st until December 31st 2008, but I first joined the race in the end of November 2008. It took a while for me to gain 1st place, but after a week - and many hours of play - I was 1st. I raked as much as possible, playing more than usual, to secure the win of this great package.

To my surprise Pokernews annouced on December 20th 2008 - 11 days before it was supposed to end, that the rake race was expanded with 1 month, so it now ended January 31st 2009 (http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2008/12...-rake-race.htm) Needless to say I was more than surprised by this as it seemed like a violation of terms on a rakerace that had already been established.

Through my efforts to get in touch with Pokernews, I came across a thread on the UK Pokernews forum (http://uk.pokernews.com/poker-forum/topic3961/) where other rakeracers were frustrated. But it seemed like there were nothing to do about it, so I did not contact Pokernews at that time (which, in hindsight, I should have done). I tried to keep my spirit high. But due to work I could not play as much in January 2009 as I did in December 2008, yet I managed to keep my leadership position in the rakerace!

Around January 15th Pokernews managed to upset me again. Pokernews changed the package from a €6000 package to a €1500 package (seat only). I calmed down a bit when I read this - "The PokerNews LuckyAce Rake Race goes into overdrive as we award past winners, and launch an extension so we can give away even more prizes!" (I got a screenshot of that on another computer – I will upload this as soon as I get a chance). I was sure it meant that I would get my €6000 package. I headed for the forum thread to get it confirmed. This only served to upset me further as I was able to read that the UK rakerace had been cancelled. (http://uk.pokernews.com/poker-forum/...61/3.htm#11296) nothing official on the UK Pokernews frontpage, just a post on the forum. I was very confused - had I won or what? I decided to post on the UK forum; even though it said I would be contacted. I think it was the day after that I returned to check if there was a reply. No reply, but my post had been deleted. This was starting to smell really bad, but I decided to post again and this time also email Pokernews (freerolls@pokernews.com - email sent January 15th 2009 – I have yet to receive a reply) because I wanted to know what was going on with my package. A couple of days later I returned to the forum, just to find out that my post was deleted again, and the thread was now closed.

I got in contact with the winner of the French LuckyAce rakerace. He told me that he recieved a comfirmation email. He gave me info on his contact person - Tricia. I emailed both her and LuckyAce - LuckyAce replied that they had nothing to do with the rakerace. So they couldnt help me (=they didnt care). Trisha from Pokernews did get back in touch with me. However, her promises to look into the matter and get back to me straight away have been nothing more than empty words as nothing has happened since I first heard from her on the 26th of January.

To sum it up:
(i) Pokernews cancelled a promotion without notifying participants.
(ii) Pokernews failed to compensate any participants and have as such benefitted from a promotion without fulfilling any of their obligations.
(iii) When participants voiced their concerns in public, Pokernews have done their best to delete any criticism/evidence, deleting forum posts and ignoring emails.

Since I haven’t received any compensation from Pokernews, I would encourage everyone to stop participating in tournaments and rakeraces established by Pokernews. You guys might end up like me, with a particularly bitter taste in their mouths. Mine is acerbated further by the fact that I lost even more money booking a flight to this event when I thought I had won.

Regards,
Ronni Borg

if this is an accurate and fair representation of events then it SUCKS.

I hope they get back to you on this one. I'll be following this thread.

Good luck!

Ouch, would love to hear an official explanation.

Good luck mate, we're with you!

Update - Along with this thread, I made a thread at the Pokernews (both UK and main) forum. Some people replied - but I guess Pokernews didnt like it, so they deleted the thread. How can a site like Pokernews act this way?

I confess to having very little knowledge on this but is this something that Casinomeister can get involved in?

This smells really bad. WTF is pokernews doing? Cancel a race and then try to shove everything under the carpet and believe they get away with it?

Who is Casinomeister??

http://www.casinomeister.com/

I hope this get solved. PokerNews certainly doesn't lack the funds to compensate you and this might end up giving them bad name, so I would be fairly optimistic about getting what you deserve.

Also this is a great example how a complaint should be written, especially if you don't have many posts at 2+2.

This. OP I suggest posting your issue on CM. They are the industries number one watchdog and have a ton of clout.

Maybe OP you could copy/paste your post over at the casinoaffiliateprograms.com forum too.

Basically just get the word out far and wide, this is terrible behaviour by poker news.

I would go straight to Casino Meister. They are pretty good blokes at Poker News and I am sure they will resolve this appropriately.

Small update: I just found out that Pokernews revoked my access to post on their forum.

@most
I registered at both casinomeister.com and pokeraffiliateprograms.com, will post there as soon as I get permission to do so.

not that it really matters but do you have some sort of proof of you getting the 1st place in the November race?
just thought it would add even more credibility to your claims.

Hey best of luck with this, be sure to keep us updated.

I might have a screenshot at my girlfriends computer, but she is not home until sunday. Will ofc upload it asap if its there!

@all
...got some problems posting at both pokeraffiliateprograms.com and casinomeister.com - can anyone help me out?


Finally I got this email from Pokernews - Im not at all happy with what they are proposing. A €1500 seat only instead of a €6000 package ...hmm! What do you guys think?

From: trixx@pokernexx.com
To: tastemyxx@hotmaxx.com
Subject: RE: Pokernews rakerace scam...
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:31:00 +1100


Hi Ronni,



We have come to an agreement to offer you a Main Event seat only to the 2009 PokerNews Cup Alpine. This is non transferable/exchangeable/refundable for cash and is only valid for the 2009 PokerNews Cup Alpine. Please let me know if you wish to accept. Should I not hear back, I will assume you are no longer interested.



Warm regards,

Trish

[Edit]Removed her and my email, nothing else deleted/changed[/Edit]

i don't like it.

if that is the entire message they sent you then i can't help but read it as them saying ''oh for god's sake, here, have a tournament entry that we assume you'll probably not take anyway. maybe now you'll go away''

i may be wrong.

i am not in your position but i'd be tempted to refuse it with the intention of taking it further. unless they mentioned something along the lines that they were admitting no wrong doing but this was a gesture of goodwill, i can't help but see this as an admission of guilt and they're hoping this will satisfy you.

nik

If that is the full email I would make sure that they bleed a little more.

1st you should get a $6k price of the rake rake, then less, now they offer you so bad conditions (probably they hope you will not use the ticket anyways) - that a way to appreciate the high amount of work you put into getting the ticket.

I will never ever consider them to be a serious page, as long as this is not solved and I hope most other 2+2 users see it the same way.

As others in this thread, I have been following it for updates and I have to agree that whereas it's nice to see Pokernews finally getting back to you, the offered compensation does not really hold enough value to consider it.

However, if they would agree to throw in something for travel expenses and a hotel stay, I would definitely say that the compensation was fair. In my mind you should inquire about the possibilities of getting these things covered in your prize package.

I, too, won't be using Pokernews until this matter is resolved in a satisfactory manner. It's awfully poor form to treat your customers like this.

This is an absolute disgrace and the email they sent you is downright insulting.

Is 6k such a big amount for PokerNews?

I really doubt it is. It seems like a slap in the face of the OP. I see the $1500 ticket off as an admission of guilt, and if this is the case, they should just pay the original package of $6k.

Tony G owns pokernews or is a big player in it i believe...

First t6 poker now this, not cool...

wow pokernews sucks