Full Tilt and the PPA...FINALLY A GREAT IDEA

[Al_Money]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If I donate $1000 I get $1000 bonus. That bonus then most likely comes out of my MGR and 27% of $1000 is $270. So for me to do the max bonus it actually would cost me $270. Am I missing something or is that whats going on here?

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe you are correct - you recoup the $1000 donated from the bonus, but you're $270 behind in potential rakeback from donating and bonus clearing just go get back to 'even.'

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty funny.

[damaniac]

[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone actually signed up and received bonus money from FT? If so, please advise. Their e-mail seems quite serious, but the "its too good to be true" radar has gone off.

[/ QUOTE ]

I got an error message so I emailed them. They told me they are aware there has been a problem crediting players and they are looking into it, but assure me I will get my correct bonus amount.

[Mondogarage]

[ QUOTE ]
mondorage,

FT does want a poker carve out.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm pretty sure they do (but not 100% positive, for reasons I'll explain below) - I was responding to the guy who said that's the last thing FT wants. My point being that just because a business provides a service, and you are a customer of that service, that doesn't make your interests aligned.

I know *I* want a poker carve out, so that I can continue to play.

First off, I'm not advocating anyone either join PPA or not, or apply for the current bonus, or not. My whole point is simply that, if you were predisposed to be doubtful of the PPA's operations or intentions, and did not join the PPA because of that, then the existence of the new bonus does not change any of that. So if you join simply because of the bonus, that means your will is completely pliable just for the sake of a C note or two, and that's rather sad.

Anyway, my own pet theory is that the reason the PPA is so opaque is that it's really being steered from behind the curtains by folks at Harrah's, MGM, etc. (the big US casino operators), who do not want to see a poker carve out, but want to see the offshore entities choked off for a while. After a year or so, they can successfully lobby for a new law allowing (and regulating) online poker, where they can now step into a wide open marketplace.

As for how FTP may fit into this, they know that if there is a carve out, they'll do fine, but that even if there is no carve out, and the US is shut down for a year or so before opening back up under new laws, they have a vastly marketable brand name that they can sell to, say, Harrah's, and come out just fine. Branding is king, after all.

So FTP wins either way. And we have no poker for a year or two, when it's made available again as "Harrah's Full Tilt" or something like that.

Again, that's just my own pet theory. I am not trying to persuade anyone else to follow that theory, however, it illustrates the reasons behind my skepticism about the PPA. Skepticism that can only be cleared up by full disclosure of all aspects of their operation. And no, chest-pumping PR announcements that do not contain any actual substance do not substitute for disclosure.

Anyway, folks can and should follow their conscience as to this, but I'm saddened that folks who otherwise questioned the PPA would now fall over themselves to join just because of a reload bonus.

[Slim Pickens]

As far as I know, B&M gaming companies are forbidden from operating wire-based (and this applies to the internet) operations by the Nevada State Gaming Commission and the terms of their gaming license. Someone please correct me if this is wrong.

I took a flier and donated the $100 using my special "fraud" credit card I use for sketchy-looking stuff. The bonus has already not shown up in my account, so I've emailed support. I'll keep you all updated.

[dlk9s]

[ QUOTE ]
Note to mods: We now have 2 n00b posters spamming for the PPA and asking for donations. I'm pretty sure Mason wouldn't approve at this point. And it is *transparent* that this is just an attempt on the part of some supporters or PPA insiders to get around having to deal with legitimate criticisms. This thread should be not just locked but deleted as should it's companion thread in the zoo.

[/ QUOTE ]

Whatever.

Thread stays.

[pdk]

The bonus is instant, but you have to clear it, right?

Or do you have to clear it first?

[MasterChen]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If I donate $1000 I get $1000 bonus. That bonus then most likely comes out of my MGR and 27% of $1000 is $270. So for me to do the max bonus it actually would cost me $270. Am I missing something or is that whats going on here?

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe you are correct - you recoup the $1000 donated from the bonus, but you're $270 behind in potential rakeback from donating and bonus clearing just go get back to 'even.'

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't forget the taxes we will have to pay when we withdraw the money because its going to look like winnings. Bad deal, right Howie Mandal?

[Bobo Fett]

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If I donate $1000 I get $1000 bonus. That bonus then most likely comes out of my MGR and 27% of $1000 is $270. So for me to do the max bonus it actually would cost me $270. Am I missing something or is that whats going on here?

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe you are correct - you recoup the $1000 donated from the bonus, but you're $270 behind in potential rakeback from donating and bonus clearing just go get back to 'even.'

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't forget the taxes we will have to pay when we withdraw the money because its going to look like winnings. Bad deal, right Howie Mandal?

[/ QUOTE ]

You pay taxes on money that LOOKS like winnings? Might be time for a new accountant.

BTW, who is Howie Mandal? I wonder if he knows Howie Mandel?

[LoveDub]

Dear Full Tilt Poker,

This is with respect to your latest 'promotion' of the PPA.

I applaud your effort to up the membership of the PPA. And I applaud your drive to get players to donate to their cause.

I'm not an American, but I feel that US players are being shafted royally by this unfair law. This also does not bode well for the rest of us, since our governments mostly follow like sheep behind the rest of world opinion, which is (unfortunately) set by the USA.

To quote from your e-mail: 'Outrage is good, but outrage without action is useless.'

I find it funny that you're making money off this, you're giving bonuses for donations, but then you're making money off the rake when the player clears the bonus. Seems like you're getting a lot of action too.

Why don't you just give some of your money to the PPA directly, without further indebting your players?

I think your players should be outraged, outraged that you're using this bill as a marketing ploy to make even more money for yourselves. Looks desperate.

Regards,
XXX

[Reef]

lovedub,

donate $100, get $200 in bonus. Assuming you will play there anyway (99% of cases), then why complain?