VLV update

GELDY

#sigh

FCHD

Would be nice to know what these barriers that have prevented us playing this year have been

The_Don90

In Response to Re: VLV update:

Would be nice to know what these barriers that have prevented us playing this year have been
Posted by FCHD

my guess now is time. We're about to go into June which means by the time they do sats, the winner gets a visa its then past playing time 

REDARROW61

Must be difficult booking a flight and hotel, A very sad day for skypoker.Means you have to play on another site to Sat in.

MRBURNS4

I think to just put a closed post up saying no package without any reasons behind it is not a way to deal with this.

First off they say logistics what paying entry fee and flights????????

So that will then lead to usual rumors from, are the site in trouble to or the site that incompetant that they cant book a package that every other site on the net will be offering.

Alternatively have sky had trouble with regulators so they cant book a package- because if you just say no package without reasons you are letting people think there must be major issues, if not be upfront with your customers so we know our money is safe on sky and why so soon after a reduction in the cash 4 Points payout now no Vegas!

This is not the way to respect your customers by just saying logistics as that excuse sound like my dog ate my homework!

REDARROW61

I am at a total loss as to why there are logistical issues.Its been done in previous years and you've had a whole year to organise this one.Please just be honest with your customers ,you had us hanging on all year then NO were not doing It this year. What message is this sending.

LnarinOO

they'll probally find a way to take 'team sky poker' tho ?!

TINTIN

there could be a whole lot of legal issues thats stopping sky from running the vlv this year and its not just a case of booking flights and hotels.

im pretty sure the WSOP and all its trademark and naming rights are all held by a parent company, maybe the parent company has changed their terms with regard another poker room promoting its brand and vice versa thus stopping SKY from being able to use the name.

maybe there is a lot of new US law around online and live poker since this time last year thats maybe not made the news but is going on behind the scenes.

maybe what ive wrote is utter BS but just a different perspective

CHILLIE

No honesty aloud but this thread will be closed watch this space

MRBURNS4

It is a Valid point Tintin but why would ever other site on the net be running packages if that was the case and even if it was would you as Sky not want to tell your customers that

Tikay10

Good afternoon.

I've just got Online, having been otherwise engaged offline this morning.
 
I'm quite happy to address this issue, such as I'm able, & will do so soonest, hopefully this afternoon.
 
This thread will NOT be closed, as suggested in one Post, unless it becomes non-compliant.

Bear with me please, whilst I clear my overnight e-Mails & messages etc, & I'll then reply properly.

Thanks.  

MRBURNS4

Thanks Tikay thats all we want just a honest answer of what went wrong as the majority of people will be able to accept something if were not fob off with "logistic problems"

The_Don90

Looking forward to a good reply Tikay. 

Also can you explain why the origional thread was snap closed, thus no genuine discussion could be created on that?

TINTIN

In Response to Re: VLV update:

It is a Valid point Tintin but why would ever other site on the net be running packages if that was the case and even if it was would you as Sky not want to tell your customers that
Posted by MRBURNS4

im just trying to put alternatives thoughts out there. it could be a money thing. the license to use the name might have increased,other sites are willing to pay the increase but SKY might not think it fits in with their budget plan for the numbers it is likely to generate. who knows. just alternative thinking

MP33

Think this was expected by most as the satelites and the advertising for them normaly start months ago and peeps who are going can get start making their plans.

I was just wondering why there was such a hold up/delay with this announcement ?

rancid

gotta say, sad news - think it was a bit special going with Tikay and the TV coverage and all that.

Not many others can do the whole package like Sky can, think Sky has missed out on this one.

offshoot

I assume it just doesnt make good business sense as theres external costs sky have to put up outiwth the prizepools and also the chance of tourneys not hitting guarantees.

Donttelmum

Anyone fancy going anyway?  My mates just dropped out but I'm up for it. 

liamboi11

In Response to Re: VLV update:

Anyone fancy going anyway?  My mates just dropped out but I'm up for it. 
Posted by Donttelmum

I will go DTM as soon as I take down spt brimingham 

Tikay10

OK, let's do this.

I'll start by reiterating the reasons, & what the current position is as to Sky Poker & WSOP 2013. Some of these reasons are Business matters, & as such confidential, so I won't be spelling it out precisely, but you should be able to get the gist of it.

When I've done that, I'll reply to the specific questions in the thread.

All that may take me a while, so it would be really appreciated if you could please be patient with me, & let me complete my replies, before posting further questions, otherwise we'll be going round in circles.

Thanks.

Tikay10

Firstly, the Business really wanted to do VLV again this year.

It is a good brand for the Business, raises our profile, generates a lot of traffic & interest via Satellites, & creates enormous Community interest & fun. It is also a bit special to be able to take a little Team to Vegas each year to live the dream.

So they really wanted to do it, & did everything possible to get it sorted.

The complications had nothing whatsoever to do with booking flights or hotels, that is easy.
 
The problem this year arose specifically around the fully-compliant transmission of the cash to the cage at The Rio.

The two parties - SB&G (Sky Betting & Gaming), & CE (Caesars Entertainment, who own The WSOP brand & The Rio), had conflicting arrangements as to payment for services, & it was not possible to resolve these in time. It was most certainly not for want of trying.

These days due to Online Gaming matters in the USA, of which you will be aware, it is really quite complex for European facing businesses to arrange transfers of large sums of cash to Corporations based in Las Vegas in a legally compliant manner.

All this was around the turn of the year, & early 2013. Eventually, as I have reported on this Community twice previously, the problem landed on my desk to sort.

Did I want to sort it? You bet!

For me, VLV is almost the highlight of my year, I absolutely love it to bits. I rail all the VLV Finals on Sky Poker, run the VLV Thread, speak with the VLV winners on the Monday morning, write to them with Updates, meet them all at the Airport, look after them, & generally act as water carrier & bottle washer. Then I do the Blogs & Live Updates, & interacting with everyone at home, from Vegas, is as much fun as it gets.

And so, once the problem dropped on my desk, I tried my best to resolve it, if for no other reason that I really wanted us to do VLV this year. That, I hope, is obvious.

My best efforts failed, we could not resolve the problems, and all of us were very sad about that.

I shall be in Vegas myself (more of which later) & whilst there I've been tasked with meeting the CE Execs face to face & resolving the payment transmission issues, so that Sky Poker can resume VLV in 2014. I am not one who intentionally makes promises I can't keep, but I'm very confident indeed that I can get it sorted, & that VLV will resume, with all the attendant fun, in 2014.

So there it is. We tried, it was then passed to me, & I tried, but it proved impossible eventually, which is a real shame. It was in the interest of the Business, & myself, to sort it, I hope you can see that.