Aside from bringing an enormous pile of cash on a plane, how can someone from the USA play the EPT Barcelona? The casino does not accept wires really?

That cant be right?

I wired in money to the casino...
e-mail is pokercasinobarcelona@grupperalada.com, they are pretty responsive

they said they need to receive funds by tuesday to register for main event though... not sure if you can just wire in to the main casino and withdraw as cash?

Can you answer my question Neil?

they have cap, it's 20 eur afaik

Are you sure? I called up the casino and they told me they have no cap on PlO.

Have there previously been PLO cash games running in San Remo? Just trying to determine when I should book my tentative return flight.

Hi All,

Gorgeous here! Sunshine, good food, full beach... EPT Barcelona back in August where she belongs!

Muk - 515/525 - Delayed, but here is the cash game info...

***the regular games are Texas No Limit, and Omaha Pot Limit. Also we can open a game Hold'em or Omaha, Limit, No Limit or Pot Limit.

The regular limits are 2/4, 3/6 & 5/10 in hold'em and 5/10 Omaha. Off course we open higher limits if the people wants. At least in past years we open 10/20, 20/40 and 50/100.

The rake are 2'5% for the 10/20 and higher cap at 25€ and 5% the 5/10 and lowest, cap at 20€***

Rupert - 516 - Can they buy in with credit cards? Yes, they can buy-in with credit cards, but no Amex or Diner Club, not accepted for gaming. The commission on credit card is 0,90%.

King - 519 - See above.

Matt - 521 - The Step G for Barcelona got switched off too early. Bryan put it back up after I spoke with him. There are no steps for London as there is no Step System in the £ client.

Pose - 522 - I agree I really hope we see a return of the webcasts in 2012!

JCL - 524 - Email Reg for them to buy you in with T€. You need to be Platinum or above.

Sheets - 526 - There appears to have been some confusion regarding wires between a number of players and the casino. I'm here now and trying to figure out what has happened. Apologies the info will be too late to help you out.

Hoosier - 531 - I sent an email yesterday requesting the full details of what they have planned cash game wise for EPT SR. I'll post the response.

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

Hi neil

i'm having a problem with my cash from ept san remo main event. i came 12th and cashed for 40k euros, took the max of 5k euros in cash, and 35k in a cheque.

I deposited it in my bank pre wsop and didn't think about it. Since then I've been chasing it up, to finally find that they sent me the cheque back because "it didn't have to place of issue on it"
I did not receive the cheque back and currently asume that it is lost in the post.

I would obviously like to get this 35k somehow. Is there anything you could do?

I was considering calling the san remo casino up but I don't really know how these things work, and assume they won't just wire someone money because the called up to claim it.

At this point i think it's all my bank's fault, and feel bad that i have to contact people from ept/san remo to resolve this but it has started to stress me out.

I greatly appreciate any advice/help I can get on this issue.

thanks
andrew

so i just discovered we can buy into barca events using credit card. this wouldve been useful to know. is this true for san remo as well?? does neone know if this applies to cannes too?

er, +1?

The Cannes casino are very very good for getting out money on card, 0% vig on their side and no hassle and you can get out cash not just buyins. San Remo is 0% vig on debit card and whatever normal % (think maybe 3%) on credit card but yes you can do it (something has a €5k limit can't remember if it's cash or card tho, only applies to the high roller)

Hi All,

Tufat - 533 - The simplest thing is to contact Casino San Remo. They will be able to void the check and reissue, or send a wire, or whatever needs to be done. You will probably have to send documentation back and forth to get it all settled, but there shouldn't be any significant problems.

Jcl - 534 - It's up on the EPT website? http://www.europeanpokertour.com/tou.../how-to-enter/

Via the casino or event venue:
If you are interested in pre-registering and buying in via the event venue, please contact: pokercasinobarcelona@grupperalada.com for further information.

Cash registration will be available on site using Euros at the Casino Barcelona and registration will be open on the day of the event. You may also register using credit card/debit card on site (IF APPLICABLE).

The details for San Remo are being revised as the law is in the process of changing.

Day 1A rolling along in Barcelona with around 346 (insert 'bout tree fiddy joke here)

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

neil, any estimates on field size for the 10k single reload? do you know how long registration is open for?

Hey Muk,

The 10K last year got 36 plus two rebuys. I would expect around the same (although hopefully more). Since we have added the "reload" portion (and after talking with all the players in Tallinn) we have decided the late reg will be four levels for the 10K. So it will be about 4.5 hours (4 levels and two breaks).

As for the reload, it isn't a rebuy since you have to be busted to use it, it isn't a re-entry because we aren't charging you juice on the second 10K, so that is why I went with reload. I know you didn't ask, but a bunch of people have asked me.

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

The dealers were very good today I thought. Fast and efficient! One of them even said to ante while shuffling!

why are there still no step6s wtf

You missed this question in your long string of answers, Neil.

Hi Neil,

EPT Barcelona was my first EPt under "new management" since TK Events stopped being at the helm. I thought I'd share my impressions.

First of all I thought the tournament went very well.

- Local dealers were efficient and professional and a lot of them spoke good enough english to do their job
- Almost everything was handled smoothly
- I didn't come across any weird or unjust ruling
- Love the improved structure with the early antes and extra level on day 1.
- seat draw looked fair and random

I do however have a few concerns:

- This is not a new topic, but since I started playing on the EPT Circuit three years ago, I have always been a militant for reaching the money at the end of day 2.

It has happened only twice in my experienced (EPT Berlin and Vienna in 2010). At most events, players have to come back to the play the bubble during the first couple of hours of play on day 3. I think it would make life a lot easier for many players, especially amateur players, if we played down to the money at the end of day 2. A lot of us have to make travel arrangments in advance and you are aware that prices go up exponentially if you book a last minute flight or hotel room (if you're lucky enough to find a seat or room). I've talked to many players and a lot (especially amateurs) don't like the idea of spending an extra night at the tournament wirthout knowing if they'll cash or not, so they end up having a pretty bad night, which degrades their experience. I think this could be very easily done by playing a little longer on day 2, even if it means we have to start at 1pm on day 3 to allow extra time for rest.

- I have issues with how slow the bubble was and how it was handled exactly. I'm not sure what happened but it seemed to take ages to get through the bubble period, even though it was only three hands if my memory is correct. I think that was handled silghtly smoother under Thomas Kremser. I'm not sure what the problem was exactly.

- A lot of players use their phones to update their chip count on twitter or facebook, but the wifi prices at the tournament site were off the charts (I think it was 50 euros a day?!). It would be nice if more reasonable prices for wifi were negotiated in the future.

Anyway, thanks for reading, see you in London

Manuel Bevand
Team Winamax

don't know if it's been mentioned already but is there any reason there are so few seat-only qualifiers for london, given how many grinders live here? I have no reason to believe I could sell the hotel room at anywhere near what you guys value it at, so it's a huge drain on my EV, and I would be pretty happy to grind any seat-only sats you ran from now until then, but I'm not playing any package sats unless there are added packages.

When will the 2012 ept spring schedule be released?

when will san remo schedule come out and when willl direct buyin facility for london side events go up?

I dont get why it takes so long for full schedules to be released. San Remo is in a month and side events arent listed yet. People need to plan ahead, book flights in advance. Like for example, im debating going to Foxwoods right after san remo, but if that means id have to miss like the 5k turbo and possibly another good side event, then i'll prob just skip it and stay in Europe a lil longer. Plus, having to guess what day ur return flight should be on and end up having to change flights, pay airline fees, etc is really annoying.

lets firm things up for the pca already! i know the tentative schedule has been released but CMON the website still says 2011!

Hi All,

Rupert - 540 - Nice to hear! Thanks! It will be the full EPT Team for EPT London with Toby Stone as the TD.

9's - 541 - EPT San Remo Step G's should be up. As I stated before, there are no EPT London Steps because there is no Step System in the "£" PS Client.

Todd - 542 - I should have typed that I have nothing further to report at this time.

Manu - 543 - Thank you very much for the detailed feedback about Barcelona. Regarding your bubble play comment, that is a highly debated topic. I have had this discussion with a number of players about what is expected. My informal discussions are about 50/50 between when the bubble should pop. Many people have stated that hitting the money late on Day 2 for 5K+ buyin is too fast. Others don't want to lose the chance to play events on Day 3 while still not cashing the Main. I have yet to hear a consensus.

Bubble Procedure - The procedure was the exact same as under TK. Because we won't run an all-in until all other hands are completed, you hit moments where we slow to a crawl as two tables have serious hands playing while we wait to do the all-in. In Madrid, we had a player on an outer table attempt to call the clock on a player on an inner table at the Main Bubble because we were hand for hand and he was burning clock. We didn't allow it, but I understand what you are talking about.

Internet - I agree completely and we always try to get cheaper internet at every location. It was €50 a day through Ibahn conferencing (€25 a day in the hotel rooms). It is very difficult in certain places to alter the internet pricing plans. If a hotel gets their internet through a third party, we have very little luck in asking for changes. It is something we always try and do though.

Wazz - 544 - I'll speak with Bryan.

Whale - 545 - I can't confirm. A couple of destinations are locked, but the entire schedule is still being finalized.

JCL - 546 - San Remo should be out this weekend, Monday latest. DBI for London should launch within the next week.

Dpeters - 547 - You wouldn't believe how many people have to sign off before we can release. National Gaming, Regional Gaming, Local Gaming, Casino, PS, EPT, TD's, etc... It is not as simple as you might think. As an update...

San Remo - this weekend
Loutraki - with Greek Gaming for approval - my fingers crossed for London launch
Prague - waiting for final approval, should be up by London
PCA - will be done by London
Deauville - in draft form

Braden - 548 - It does? I'll check it out. I can confirm dates are 5th to 14th. SHR on 5th, Main starts on 7th. Package dates are 6th to 15th. Arriving on 6th, leaving on 15th. World Cup and Women's Packages are for the end.

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

Neil,
Any updates on the release of San Remo schedule? It doesn't appear it was released this weekend.