2+2 thread is a bit confusing, but I will try to break it down here.
2+2 thread on the subject: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/65...epool-1588244/
Poker player Ben Keeline played the HPT Main Event at Ameristar on January 22, 2016. Here is his crumpled receipt:
Notice that the buyin was $1650, with $1455 going to the prizepool, $45 going to the staff, and $150 going to the casino.
671 people entered, meaning the prizepool should have been $976,305 (671 * $1455).
It was not. According to this page on the HPT's own website, the prize pool was $962,640.
That's a shortfall of $13,665.
Then it came out that they were giving away a $5,000 seat from the prizepool (something not properly disclosed to the players), but that still left the pool $8,665 short.
There is no good explanation for this.
Marketing director Korey Stewart wrote this:
HPT has always been fully transparent with prize pool deductions. A breakdown of the distribution of each $1650 buy-in is outlined in each official gaming submission and those breakdowns are listed on the structure sheet. The deductions for the recent East Chicago event in question were as follows:
- Direct buy entry fee of $150
- Staff and promotional fees of up to 4%
- $3600 deduction for the end-of-year Championship Event
This information has always been readily available to players and we are confident that all funds are accounted for at each tour stop.
Korey Stewart
Marketing Coordinator
HPT - Heartland Poker Tour
... but that explains nothing. Even if you take away ANOTHER $3600 for the championship event, that still leaves a $5065 shortfall.
The HPT will not give further comment on this. According to the below spreadsheet made by Ben Keeline, other HPT events also have similar shortfalls (look for the bolded numbers): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...Wsk/edit#gid=0