Re: why even charge rake if you are going to give it back?
A couple of comments on this thread.
1. For all the people who seem to think that a site running bots is cheating, why? Did you check their rules? Do they say they don't use bots? Most sites don't tell you they don't use prop players, either. It's not necessarily against the rules. If the bots and/or props play a legitimate game (no card sharing, etc.), then it's still a fair game of poker.
2. To all those saying they can't be bots because they're bad players. . . who says bots have to be good players? Besides the fact that it's hard to make a bot that plays well, remember, if they're being used by the site as props, they don't necessarily want super-great players. They're trying to fill the tables while they get started.
1. and 2. having been said, I'm not claiming there are bots. . I'm just saying that it isn't necessarily "wrong' and that they might be legitimately and fairly used in place of props when the games are short.
3. To those saying that the site is losing a ton of money by refunding the rake. . . bear in mind that the place was close to dead before. They weren't MAKING a ton of money, therefore they can't lose much by not taking rake. The capital cost of software & servers has been paid already. They run major web sites for sports betting, etc., so the bandwidth is also covered elsewhere. Running the poker room has a VERY low on-going overhead cost. If their existing servers can handle the extra traffic, they have very little to lose by offering total rake-rebates.
4. They don't just earn interest on the rake held back. Every good player who goes there will put 300 or more BB into a bankroll. They don't pay interest on the bankroll, but they sure as heck collect intrest on your bankroll money. Multiply ten thousand users times their bankrolls, and you're talking about a lot of money on deposit collecting interest for them. If this rake-rebate gets people to deposit, they will profit nicely, even before considering some overflow into the sportsbook.
5. If making the poker room totally rake-free allows them to pursue new legal avenues - i.e., get to make it a "legal" site in the US, it could be huge for them, considering the current legal environment for poker rooms. This could be a very smart move based on an uncertain future. As a sports book, they're into making such wagers, so it's no surprise.
Sorry if I'm re-stating; I tried to skim all of this thread, but it's ginormous.
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