Conflict of Interest?

LeftyRuggiero · #1 04-19-2006, 11:15 PM

Tonight's WPT was at Foxwoods where Lyle Berman was at the final table. I'm sure most here know that Berman is part of the WPT management team. I would assume that most here would agree that he is not at an advantage over another player in these tournaments with the exception that he is just plain better than most of the players there. With all of that said do you have a problem with him playing on his own tour? I look at it like the guy who organizes the March Madness brackets then wins the whole thing. You know he won honestly, yet you still look at him as the organizer, not a participant. I am undecided as to how I feel about Berman playing in the tournaments but, I think that some who have played in these tournaments may have an opinion on it. How do you feel?

JackWhite · #2 04-19-2006, 11:19 PM

I doubt anybody is going to object.

KAknight · #3 04-19-2006, 11:35 PM

What about the guy who's house the home game is at? Should he not be allowed to play because he organized the home game?

Lyle bought in just like everyone else. How can there be a problem?

107ofclubs · #4 04-20-2006, 12:05 AM

His company really has little involvement in the tournament besides being the production company that films the final 6 participants. As far as I know there aren't WPT dealers, just the casino's employed dealers, and therefore there is not a lot of opportunity for cheating if thats what you might think was wrong with the situation.

Greg (FossilMan) · #5 04-20-2006, 12:10 AM

I know Lyle, and I have 100% confidence that nothing shady is going on, and that nothing shady will ever go on. Having said that, I think he shouldn't play in WPT events, as it does give the "appearance of impropriety". It doesn't matter that he is trusted and is not cheating, since some people MIGHT view it as a possibility, and such a rumor would hurt his business, he should sit out these events. At least, I think that is the smarter decision for him.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

107ofclubs · #6 04-20-2006, 12:47 AM

Greg,

While I can certainly see your reasoning from your perspective as a pro poker player, I think that to the consumer of WPT it is a non issue. The WPT is an entertainment product (in TV format), which has been dumbed down to the point that it is an all in fest for viewer "excitement". Furthermore, I would guess that some large percentage has no idea who the CEO is.

Again, while I am not questioning your opinion (you know a lot more about the pro poker world than me), I would like to know how his participation would hurt his business. It seems that having the most participants possible is the business goal from a financial standpoint (most fees collected)?? Also, where do we draw the line here, as his son Bradley is a regular participant and has made at least one FT that I know of.

This is an interesting debate, as it seems like valid argument could be made for either side, and also this seems to be a unique situation and thus there is nothing to compare it to (i.e. the CEO of Harrah's playing WSOP events).

LeftyRuggiero · #7 04-20-2006, 01:18 AM

Greg's thought was what my post was hoping to draw out. As I said there is no doubt in my mind that his advantage in the tournaments has nothing to do with his position at the WPT only his skill as a card player. From a management standpoint I believe that it is best that employees are exempt from company promotions so to say. I think we would all be in agreement that even though that McDonald's employee played the Monopoly game on his day's off at a different store he shouldn't be eligible for the prizes. I too think that if Lyle wins at any of these tournaments he did it fairly and because of his skill but, it is a conflict of interest.

chicken10der · #8 04-20-2006, 05:10 AM

What about Lyle's son, "Civil War" Bradley Berman? I didn't even hear anything mentioned when he made it to that final table where Tuan Le won his first WPT championship (beating Brad's KK with AK with a river A). If he would've won that hand and the tournament, would that have generated enough of a similarly negative image that he should not have entered in the first place? Where to draw the line - the perpetual question

Zetack · #9 04-20-2006, 09:11 AM

Unlike Greg, I think that given the structure of a poker tournament and the removed nature of Berman's role in the tournament, that no appearance of impropriety is created.

If somebody has a counter-argument to that, I would expect it to come from the hypothetical, what if Berman gets involved in a situation that calls for a floor ruling?

But I'd still go with no problem with letting him play.

--Zetack

grdred944 · #10 04-21-2006, 11:34 AM

It is a conflict of interest - regardless of how everyone feels about Lyle, the odds of making it into the money, etc... Lyle should not play in WPT events as long as he is a significant stakeholder in the enterprise.