NORM: It's spitsville for Negreanu, Wynn

[Jedster]

NORM: It's spitsville for Negreanu, Wynn

The poker world is buzzing about the divorce of whiz-kid Daniel Negreanu and Wynn Las Vegas.

Negreanu, the 2004 Player of the Year, served as the Wynn's "poker ambassador" since it opened in April. He confirmed the recent split in a poker chat room, saying he wanted to play in big games and "it was important to them that I played exclusively at the Wynn."

Negreanu honored the contract, he said, and "we amicably parted ways."

Las Vegas Review-Journal

[TruePoker CEO]

"Motley Crue's Vince Neil and poker ace Johnny Chan are involved in the inaugural "Off the Strip" charity poker tournament today at the Hard Rock Hotel."

Norm really digs deep for his "Separated at Birth" feature.

[Photoc]

[ QUOTE ]
"Motley Crue's Vince Neil and poker ace Johnny Chan are involved in the inaugural "Off the Strip" charity poker tournament today at the Hard Rock Hotel."


[/ QUOTE ]

That's funny. They are having an invitational charity tournament at the Aladdin right now, now the Hard Rock.

[Kevmath]

I recall reading after the final table, a few of the final table participants, (Black, Kondracki, Lazar I think) were racing go-carts somewhere while the dealers were complaining about being stiffed by them.

EDIT: Actually, it was the top 5 were all racing go-karts. From his July 20 column: [ QUOTE ]
The World Series of Poker's top five finishers, Joe Hachem, Steve Dannenmann, Tex Barch, Aaron Kanter and Andrew Black, tipping with C-notes after racing at Fast Lap Indoor Kart Racing. They could afford it. Between them, they won $18 million, topped by Hachem's $7.5 million.

[/ QUOTE ] On July 24 is this mention: [ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ] Dealers who put in marathon shifts at the World Series of Poker are grousing about the lack of respect they received from the top winners. One of the miffed dealers wasn't pleased to read Wednesday's item here about the top five finishers tossing around $100 tips at Fast Lap Indoor Kart Racing. According to the dealer, the top five, who hauled in a total of $18 million, didn't share the wealth with the 450 dealers, who made $5.15 an hour. ...

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi Kevmath:

I bet if these tournaments didn't take 3 percent out of the prize pool for the staff the tips would be better. What do you think?

Best wishes,
Mason

[Kevmath]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi Kevmath:

I bet if these tournaments didn't take 3 percent out of the prize pool for the staff the tips would be better. What do you think?

Best wishes,
Mason

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with what you're saying, although I thought it was 2% towards the staff, 4% to Harrah's. That's the breakdown according to what I see on PokerPages.

My point was really more towards the fact that the top 5 in the WSOP ME were allegedly racing go-karts. I can imagine maybe one, but 5? Seems a bit far-fetched to me.

[zipo]

I think taking out 3% makes sense.

Honestly, if I win 7.5 million in the WSOP (yeah, right) am I gonna 'tip' 3%? 225K?

Absolutely not. And then I'm in a bind, because if I flip the final table dealer a couple hundred bucks, hoi polloi will grumble about what a 'cheapskate' I am (cough...).

Better to take the discretion out of it.

[BabyHuey]

I've heard a lot about dealer griping in regards to lack of tipping at the WSOP this year. What I don't understand is why dealers expect to be tipped twice. Harrah's made a decision to force the players to give 2-3 percent right off the top. I don't agree with that, but if I was forced to tip up front, why would I then give a big chunk of additional money after cashing, especially if I wasn't given a decision to offer the tip in the first place?

The situation with Mike Matusow comes to mind, where the dealer accused him of throwing cards at her. Every player at his table said Matusow did no such thing, then she flagged him for an f-bomb that he whispered to his neighbor. Why would he want to tip the dealers?

I understand the human nature of the dealers, they see people raking in unreal amounts of money and want a piece of it. Fine, but you don't get it both ways, either take your cut off the top or take your chances with winners providing tokes. I value the skills of an excellent dealer, but not enough to double-tip.

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi Jedster:

I think this is long run good for The Wynn Poker Room. I still believe they have a chance to become a major force in Las Vegas poker, especially since they seem to be the place with many no limit games of different sizes.

This decision should allow the management and Staff at Wynn Poker to concentrate more on their day to day operation and on creating consistently good games.

Best wishes,
Mason

[FakeKramer]

Does this mean the challenge matches are over?