MGM Grand Poker employee Tony Burns quits after they lower guarantees mid-event

[Dan Druff]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/ToddWitteles/status/1734102898878116083


This has been an ongoing problem at poker rooms in California and Nevada, especially smaller ones.

They want the marketing benefit of a guarantee, but they don't want to have to actually pay the overlay money if they don't get enough entrants to naturally reach the guarantee amount.

Whenever I question poker room personnel about this, I get excuses like, "We are a small room. We can't take a hit like that, or we'll go under. We can't afford a gigantic overlay."

To that I respond, "Then don't run guarantee tournaments."


Reminds me of the Seinfeld bit about reservations at car rental companies, which are basically meaningless:






"You know how to post the guarantee... but you don't know how to PAY the guarantee.... and to me that's the most important part of a guarantee! Paying it!"



Props to Tony Burns -- for once an ethical Mr. Burns -- who not only wouldn't go along with this, but actually walked out on a company which asked him to be part of it.

Hopefully this will get enough attention on social media to where poker players stop accepting this crap. Unfortunately the Gaming Commissions in both California and Nevada either don't understand or don't care about these guarantee scams.

[ReformDorm]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/ToddWitteles/status/1734102898878116083


This has been an ongoing problem at poker rooms in California and Nevada, especially smaller ones.

They want the marketing benefit of a guarantee, but they don't want to have to actually pay the overlay money if they don't get enough entrants to naturally reach the guarantee amount.

Whenever I question poker room personnel about this, I get excuses like, "We are a small room. We can't take a hit like that, or we'll go under. We can't afford a gigantic overlay."

To that I respond, "Then don't run guarantee tournaments."


Reminds me of the Seinfeld bit about reservations at car rental companies, which are basically meaningless:






"You know how to post the guarantee... but you don't know how to PAY the guarantee.... and to me that's the most important part of a guarantee! Paying it!"



Props to Tony Burns -- for once an ethical Mr. Burns -- who not only wouldn't go along with this, but actually walked out on a company which asked him to be part of it.

Hopefully this will get enough attention on social media to where poker players stop accepting this crap. Unfortunately the Gaming Commissions in both California and Nevada either don't understand or don't care about these guarantee scams.

Spot on Todd. It's very impressive what Tony did. With your influence in the poker community looking out for people is there anything you can do? Cause seriously this shit needs to stop.

[AhoosierA]

Although I have a full-time non poker job, I actually signed up to deal this event on the evenings, and it's been a huge waste of time.

My first shift, was Day 1 of the series and I came in at 6pm to deal the $300 - $20k GTD nightly.

1 hour into the tournament there were only 13 entries. I ended up clocking out and playing the tournament (lol)

Since then I've came in several other times but the dealer strings have been terrible. Typically a good dealer string consists of (4) 30 minute downs, then a 30 minute break. Basically a dealer only makes $$ while they're dealing, while on break they still get there hourly, which in my case is a measly $11.50/hr.

During this MGM series, most of the dealer strings have been 2 downs, then a 30 minute break.

They were extremely hopeful that they'd be able to get a large turn out due to the influx of poker players in town for the Wynn series. However I personally believe the people that are coming to town for the Wynn series was allotting their money for the $600 - $1 milly GTD and the $1.1 - $5 milly GTD at the Wynn. Unlike the summer where tons of players are in town looking for great value tournaments, at this time players were in town for 2 to 3 specific tournaments.

I had made my decision this weekend to resign from my dealing position, prior to even learning of Tony Burns leaving or them lowering the GTDs.

[Dan Druff]

[Dan Druff]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/MMTonyB/status/1734375425349238790



I credit Jerry.

And maybe Tony a little bit too.