GGPoker, Elky and Fedor: HS Regs' Perspective

What about negative sum games

**** HS Pros!

You’re all quick to criticize GG, Elky, and others for focusing on their bottom line, but let’s be real: the reason these threads keep popping up is because you HS pros only care about your bottom line too. Now that you can’t milk the whales freely, you're suddenly concerned about the state of the game.

If you really cared about the “poker dream,” you’d have stepped up by now to defend the micro, small, and mid-stakes players; those whose voices are often unheard and ignored. These players look up to you, hoping that one day they’ll be able to reach the same position as you. But for most, that’s impossible; not because they lack the skills but because of the hostile, exploitative environment.

At the end of the day, you’re all complicit in killing the online poker ecosystem and the poker dream.

**** HS pros!

I'm not sure I'd say HS regs are complicit, that seems like a reach, none of us has ever had any say in how the sites handle the ecology or the rake or whatever, they just do whatever the **** they want... and that's that, we just play where we think we can show a profit and that's about it

except for streamers I guess which is another conversation

"How dare the people playing for crazy high stakes care about how much money they make" you sound like a complete r3tard dude. HS regs dont control the rake on a site. On GG theyve been battling super high rake the whole time and now theyre banned from even playing in the games. blaming the HS regs is like blaming a rape victim for being raped.

Can these numbers be right? Had no idea online high stakes had such high rake... seems more like rake from a high stake NYC homegame or something.

Seems a lot of people posting about how Elky and Fedor backstabbed the pro's. Maybe I don't have all the info but that seems a bit much.

The way I understand stand it they are like ambassadors. Isn't it possible that this decision was made by GG alone? Or was there some kind of proof that they were the ones pushing for GG to implement the changes? If GG were the ones who made the decision would you really expect them to quit in protest or something? Would most pro's do that? I personally don't think so.

I get they weren't very responsive lately , which kind of sucks and is shitty. Some suggested they lied because they said they didn't about any changed coming when they did indeed know. Also kind of shitty, but maybe they were told by GG to keep quiet on it until a public announcement is made which would be perfectly normal.

It also looks bad that they are playing more now with the "whale only " games. That could have been part of the plan and they were told by GG to play more to try to keep the games running after the change. Obviously playing in those games should be profitable for them as well. Just seems like it would make sense GG would push them to play more after the change,

Is there anything else I'm missing that would be the reason players feel so betrayed?

I'm not pointing my finger at any one person but at the community itself; community composed of influencers and voices that could reach the public space/media and people in power who could actually push things in the right direction.

The HS community only seems to come together when it’s in its own self-interest, not when it’s about those coming up, the ones who try to follow in your footsteps, with the same dreams you once had and maybe managed to make true; the poker community as a whole. These people don’t realize they’ll be crushed, not by competition, but by the environment itself.

Maybe I’ve exaggerated some of my points, not to offend anyone in particular, but because I actually care—and out of pure frustration. I want to believe the dream is still alive, that someday people will be watching the tables I play on too. But right now, it’s dying in front of my eyes.

If you’d actually read this thread, you’d see that what I’m trying to say here resonates with a lot of others. Honestly, I feel sorry for those in your social circle, that if there is anyone left.

correct but it's the crying about elky being a scumbag and backstabbing them that's comical.elky is doing exactly what every single one of them would do.

online does suck. there's nothing fun about it. If you enjoy it good for you. Keep at it. If you don't enjoy it/don't enjoy studying for it but do it purely for the money I honestly feel bad for you.

I'm long past the point in my life of doing things I don't enjoy for money. Lucky for me live is generally fun and still quite profitable.

If I was some broke 24 year old kid trying to work my way up in poker I'd do things a lot differently than I do right now which would include playing a lot more live than I currently do and probably moving to Texas.

You get MUCH better deals when you start out not needing the backing then after the results prove you do not always win and you need the money.

Well they were playing like 200nl before this, and now theyre open sitting waiting for ppl to join. Doesnt take a genius to conclude theyre being given the money to fire the games as part of their sponsorship deal. Likely they are allowed to keep x% of the remaining chips at the end of the week or something like that

“Online sucks, there’s no fun about it”

This is not a fact, it’s your opinion, which is fine to have off course.

Lots of people prefer online than live. Btw I like both and I think I prefer live a bit more but routine like games starting late and finish in the morning it makes impossible to play live as a pro.

Anyway, this thread is about online games, if you don’t like and think it sucks, what you doing here lol

I mean, there’s what? a dozen regs trying to skin 2 dozen whales at these stakes… we all know that most HS regs are not interested in battling each other and tbh why would you, so I guess if you want to play a guy that will punt off 500k with 3rd pair you need to suck it up and pay more rake.

I feel like angling that this is somehow bad for the poker economy is really condescending.

Strange then that the original post specifically describes HS regs banding together to limit how much a site rakes from them.

Because they thought they were the favored ones that forced a site to lower the rake they paid and are upset to find the site favors those that give them a cut and cares about their profit more than about making it possible for the HS regs to loot the whales the site finds.

Right because playing 20 hands an hour with smelly people is the epitome of fun please shut up forever.

Not true, TylerRM has done tons of work for stakes as low as nl50 i think. Mobius, Berkey and George are litterally always standing up for players in every single question. Lower stakes are in general also fair and doesnt need any change/help lol.

I'm surprised by the fact this is surprising to some of you. We are talking about possibly the least reg-friendly site that has ever existed; they literally stated you were not welcome if you planned to make a living off poker.

Am I missing something or regs tend to overestimate their importance to the site? They don't need you, it's as simple as that.

They don't need you because as long as there's fish there will be regs coming in to take their money, regardless of how much GG reduces their bb/100: if regs go away -because of rake- the fish will play and as games becomes incredibly soft the necessary amount of regs will play. I completely disagree with the idea that regs are essential to the ecosystem, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong. If someone tells me "but they keep the games running" or some other platitude I'll simply answer that apparently GG has already done the math, and come to the conclusion that games will run anyway.

Hahah haven't played with anyone smelly in a while!

Nah I won't shut up. I'll talk at the table,joke around with people,drink and actually enjoy myself. If you enjoy playing online -not just talking about the money - but actually enjoy it then good for you. Keep it up.

Don't get me wrong there are definitely torture tables live that aren't enjoyable and if you're playing NL in 2024 then I get why you find live so boring.

You are running hot on that aspect, sooner o later you will meet the stinkiest ones.

The poker community is not taking enough showers. That's why online is the best form o poker

A few years ago I sat next to someone who smelled like a dumpster and was trying to show people his circuit ring from ten years earlier. The next time I played with him he smelled even worse and the floor had to make him leave.

I've definitely been running well in this aspect lately.

1) I don't believe HS regs will play regs at lower rake structures as well (unless they're sharing action)

2) I can't believe people still play on GG after the MoneyTaker situation anyway.

3) Online is better than live because being nocturnal sucks

How detached from reality can you be, people are battling harder than ever . Big HU matches going constantly, some with blinds in the thousands going on for 6 figure amount of hands. ACR which is 2nd biggest site, on their highest stake (20k nl) there is litterally 95% of the volume being regbattles. Regs are playing each other daily without a fish showing up for weeks/months. I'm not really sure what you mean by sharing action, if the players playing each other and sharing action you just end up paying rake to the site? If you are implying that people have shares of each other I can tell you that its super uncommon. However in private games (like the one gg running now) it is super common that you have to sell the game runner a piece (elky and fedor in this case)

It has probably been like 6-7 years at least since BERRI even saw a fish.

I dont get where this narrative comes from, maybe its jealousy. But the whole idea that HS regs are just looking out for themselves is silly. Regardless of your skill or stake, the vast majority of players incentives allign (99%) . The only ones benefitting from these arrangements are the sites, the sponsored pros and the handful of pros they select that get to play in exchange for giving them a piece.

They didnt play higher prior because they were basically fish for the high stakes regs who would insta join if they saw ****ign Elky sitting. The guy hasnt been a top player for over 15 years. Now that the regs cant sit, him and Fedor have no problem sitting there waiting for whales to appear.

It is just the Xth attempt of GG to take off meritocracy from the game. Those who were barely beating the game or not even playing at all are those who gonna make more money. and the rest just being rake machine slaves. Why this platform hate regs and poker so much? Is not gonna even benefit recs anyway, just benefeting those GG ambassadors who can play those games