My local poker room, Rivers Casino (PA), previously had a series of satellites into the Caribbean Party Poker Punta Cana event taking place the end of this month (November). These satellites were sponsored by Poker Night In America. Flyers and local TV commercials advertised that 15 10k packages would be awarded to the top 3 winners across 5 different satellite tournaments. The tournaments were a 575$ entry. The 10k package consists of the party poker Punta Cana main event seat at 5.6k, 2k for travel, and remaining covers a week at an all inclusive hotel during the tournament.

I had played the last of the 5 satellites on Sunday October 15. A friend and myself had lasted until the final 4, a fourth player gets knocked out and we start to cheer until the dealer and floor come over to tell us that this event will only have one winner for one 10k package. My friend finished third and myself second. We did not receive a 10k package. I find out after that the 4th satellite on Saturday October 14 also only awarded one 10k package. Meanwhile, the first 3 satellites honored the guarantee at 3 10k packages a piece. Therefore only 11 of the 15 guaranteed packages were awarded.

The first 3 satellites had a large overlay with roughly 20 entrants for each satellite. The satellite I played had 15 entrants.

I had my card swiped at the table as a record of myself being at the table as the final 3 players remained. After, I had looked around the room for the flyers to take to the PA Gaming Control Board room in the casino. The floor had removed all the flyers from the room and deleted the information on the website.

Myself and other players who finished second and third on the 14th and 15th went to the gaming control board room in the casino, filed written complaints, as well as producing evidence that the series was advertised as 15 10k packages. They then sent an investigation report to the Harrisburg location. From what I've been told, the game control board investigation can be a slow process with no result in time for the Punta Cana tournament at the end of the month, November 19 - 26.

What should a fair result of this be? Can the casino just do whatever it wants? I feel that it was wrong and unethical for rivers poker room, PNIA, and party poker to not hold valid to their guarantee of 15 seats.

I'm interested in hearing how the community thinks this should be handled, and what a reasonable result should be.

Images of the advertised guarantee, including series flyer:

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...98A4855C64.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...3D863AEF75.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...D6B96D6BC0.png

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG-9804.png

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...15DC64D4B4.png

Small print in these things will often state a minimum number of entrants for the guarantee to be valid. If that isn't the case then you should be given the package or if it is too late then the cash equivalent.
However, it is incredibly surprising that you first realised there was only 1 seat available with 3 players remaining. Assuming everyone has accepted that there was only 1 seat, which itself had a decent overlay, then it is complicated because it would have completely affected play. The person who busted 4th might not have played in the manner he did because he knew it was a winner take all not a top 3 gets the same.
If the adverts and posters say what you said they did then you deserve to be paid but it is a little unfair on the people who didn't know about the 3 seats because they are at a huge strategical disadvantage if they played for 1 seat that later turns out to be 3.

From what I've been told, this poker room requires a minimum of 5 entrants to run all tournaments.

Seeing the images you should be paid. GL

Wow PNIA had that bull**** thing at the Gardens casino in LA where they realized they'd be a few $100k off the guarantee so mid tournament they moved day 2 from Saturday to Monday and added more flights.
And I thought that was insane bull**** but this is way worse. They reserve the right (it's bull****) to change the schedule at anytime but this tournament you are in concluded. Please call the gaming board regardless if they pay you. This is bad

This is actual fraud

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i am a regular at rivers...i heard after either the second or third (cant remember which) of the 5 satellites, that the remaining ones would only be guaranteeing 1 seat, not 3 because of the overlay. word was out, not sure why you didnt hear that well in advance.

I don't know how PA works, but in my experience states' gaming commissions are not on the players' side. Their #1 goal is extracting money from casinos via fees/fines. After that they usually side with casinos because they are the golden goose, not players.

So, I would not place much hope in the commission enforcing the guarantees. I would immediately have everyone you know (especially those who played) write to the state attorney general, the secretary of state and the FTC. After that, the small claims court limit in PA is $12,000--have everyone file then call the news.

It is not unusual for casinos to lower or remove guarantees and normally there is in very fine print on the tourney advertising stating they can change or cancel the event. This keeps them in good with gaming commission.