PartyPoker Cancelled a Tournament When Min Required Entries Weren't Met

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IcePoker

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Hello,

This is my first post. I wanted to come here to tell everyone about my experience with partypoker. This is nothing serious, their games have been entertaining and fun. I just fail to understand their misleading marketing methods.

Everyone are familiar with tournaments with "guaranteed prize pools" or qualifiers with "guaranteed amount of seats available". The thing that makes players interested in joining these sort of tournaments is the guarantee.

- First of all, they can be sure that the tournament will not be cancelled due to insufficient amount of participants and if it will, at least he would get paid.

- Secondly, they know that even if not the price pool won't be achieved from the buy-ins, there is still going to be at least the amount they guaranteed.

Now this all makes very much sense, right? The poker room takes a little risk there to offer these sorts of guaranteed tournaments to it's players, hoping to attract players to participate rather in these tournaments than regular freezeouts without guaranteed prize.

My experience with PartyPoker showed that their guarantee is not actually a guarantee at all. It is nothing but an empty promise and misleading marketing trick. It all started when I had been playing many "guaranteed" tournaments already. This very time I thought I got very lucky and signed into tournament which was suppose to start within 5 minutes and there were no one in yet. The guaranteed price was a ticket to a main event of a relatively big tournament. They promised "one seat guaranteed".

However two minutes before the tournament was suppose to start. The table suddenly disappeared and I could not find the tournament any longer from the records. I contacted live chat support and asked an explanation for this and wanted to claim my guaranteed price. They however told me that the tournament was cancelled due insufficient amount of players. I of course questioned this and kept claiming my "guaranteed" prize. Since I would have won this tournament if they did not cancel it. The life chat person explained that the guarantee only applies if there are enough people signing up to cover the total of "guaranteed" prize pool. This did not make any sense to me. I don't know if it makes sense to you?

I got very confused and asked about their $1 000 000 USD guaranteed tournament. "Will this be cancelled too if there are not enough players to cover the prize pool?". She actually tried to convince by GUARANTEEING that there will be. But I asked her to explain, what happens if there would be only 100 people signing up, would they cancel the tournament? Her answer was simply "yes, we would".

This is to everyone who thought before that "guaranteed" means guaranteed on PartyPoker. If you want something guaranteed stick only with freezeouts, they are more guaranteed in a way that there will be at least game, if two or more participants have registered in.
 
Debi

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That same policy applies at every poker site and makes total sense to most of us. Changing your thread title. Can't believe you thought they would pay you anything when the minimum required entries were not met.
 
WVHillbilly

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That same policy applies at every poker site and makes total sense to most of us. Changing your thread title. Can't believe you thought they would pay you anything when the minimum required entries were not met.
What? Not sure about the OPs case specifically but in general if a tournament is advertised as having a guaranteed prize pool it's regardless of the number of entrants. When there aren't enough entrants to cover the guarantee the remaining shortfall is called an overlay and they're pretty common on smaller sites.
 
Tammy

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I don't...I just can't...how can you think....wow. I'm speechless. So you thought you could win a poker tournament without actually playing one? :hmmmm:
 
Tammy

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What? Not sure about the OPs case specifically but in general if a tournament is advertised as having a guaranteed prize pool it's regardless of the number of entrants. When there aren't enough entrants to cover the guarantee the remaining shortfall is called an overlay and they're pretty common on smaller sites.
Yeah, but if I understand OP correctly, he was the only one registered. And typically, these kinds of tournaments with a guaranteed seat say something to the affect of "One seat guaranteed for every [x-amount] of entries." I'm guessing they conveniently left that part out.
 
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In most cases where there are for example, "one GTD seat" or whatever, they usually have a minimum amount of entries in the lobby that has to be reached for the tournament to start. This usually is, the amount covered by the the cost of the seat. So sure, it can be mis leader, but if you actually check the lobby it does say a minimum.

The only time a minimum amount of entries does not apply is in freezeout GTD tournaments, where there is a late registration and sometimes (rare) there is some overlay..
 
z28_RoadRage

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I actually have to agree with the OP... here's a screen shot of one of the guaranteed 1 seat qualifiers. There is nothing about minimum players, only maximum.
 

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That same policy applies at every poker site and makes total sense to most of us. Changing your thread title. Can't believe you thought they would pay you anything when the minimum required entries were not met.

I would like to thank you for censoring my topic (the title). I didn't know this is not a free speech but censored forum.

I can understand that the poker room may have a policy regarding that the prize has to be won in a fair competition. But what I really fail to understand is that 1 000 000 USD guaranteed is not guaranteed if they don't get the amount of 1 000 000 USD into the prize pool from buy-ins! This is straight madness.
 
z28_RoadRage

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And this is what is in the "Read More" regarding all their guarantee seat qualifiers.
 

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Danilo

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Tournament Rules (party poker)

36. We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule tournaments at any time, for any reason, with or without notice. We reserve the right to amend our poker tournament rules and policies at any time without notice. Such amendments will take effect as soon as they are listed in the 'Tournament Rules' section of the website. It is the player's sole responsibility to review the tournament rules and policies before entering a tournament.[/B]

http://www.partypoker.com/tournaments/tournament_rules.html

** If you click "Read More" does not have the minimum number of players?
 
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I would imagine they have something in their terms of agreement protecting them and allowing them to cancel tournaments like they did here

of course hardly anyone ever reads the terms but I would suggest going through there and if nothing comes up well it's your right to protest and complain hopefully they can work things out with you

edit :^ someone beat me to it but yes samething I was thinking minus the research
 
Debi

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What? Not sure about the OPs case specifically but in general if a tournament is advertised as having a guaranteed prize pool it's regardless of the number of entrants. When there aren't enough entrants to cover the guarantee the remaining shortfall is called an overlay and they're pretty common on smaller sites.

That is not what I was talking about - he said he was the only person to register. There is almost always a minimum number of required participants for the tournament to even start - that is standard. The number is usually quite small.

I would like to thank you for censoring my topic (the title). I didn't know this is not a free speech but censored forum.

You are very welcome. We always change misleading thread titles - they do that in most reputable forums.

Free speech??? You think members can post absolutely anything they want and it will not get edited or deleted if not appropriate, etc?? Nope - this is not a free speech forum - it is a private and well run forum. :)
 
tenbob

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I remember a few years ago on FTP myself and another member made sure that there was 2 players in a seat sat that guarenteed $2,500 worth of a package for a $400 buyin, min 2 players. I reg'd and had to beg him to reg with me, he did, and they paid out.

I have never ever, seen a tourney with a guarentee that pays out when only one person regs. I have seen it when 2 have played, even when the overlay has been massive. But its up to the pokersite,you really need to be checking the sites terms before you jump to conclusions, remember you agreed to them when you joined.
 
Debi

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I remember a few years ago on FTP myself and another member made sure that there was 2 players in a seat sat that guarenteed $2,500 worth of a package for a $400 buyin, min 2 players. I reg'd and had to beg him to reg with me, he did, and they paid out.

I have never ever, seen a tourney with a guarentee that pays out when only one person regs. I have seen it when 2 have played, even when the overlay has been massive. But its up to the pokersite,you really need to be checking the sites terms before you jump to conclusions, remember you agreed to them when you joined.

Yep - most tournaments have a 2-5 person min to start - satellites can have even more. It is standard everywhere - any tournament player knows that. :)
 
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I chased overlays for a while, until I discovered they usually had late registration,
and by the end of late reg the overlay was gone.

The worst example of this was to go out in a prize winning position and then be deposed of it by more late regers.

That was the final straw, after that I just ignored all that marketing hype of guarantees.
 
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I would imagine they have something in their terms of agreement protecting them and allowing them to cancel tournaments like they did here

of course hardly anyone ever reads the terms but I would suggest going through there and if nothing comes up well it's your right to protest and complain hopefully they can work things out with you

edit :^ someone beat me to it but yes samething I was thinking minus the research

Yes, I am sure they have hired good lawyers to protect their interests in every matter. However my point was that I felt misled.

That same policy applies at every poker site and makes total sense to most of us. Changing your thread title. Can't believe you thought they would pay you anything when the minimum required entries were not met.

I have played numerous poker rooms, numerous tournaments which had guaranteed pots. And won also some with only a few players in. This is the first time I face something like this. And in case you did not read the rest of my post. It was not only about this one tournament, the live chat person told me that this applies anything that they label guaranteed, including guaranteed pots!

Yeah, but if I understand OP correctly, he was the only one registered. And typically, these kinds of tournaments with a guaranteed seat say something to the affect of "One seat guaranteed for every [x-amount] of entries." I'm guessing they conveniently left that part out.

Yes, that is correct I will post here a screen shot of the tournament rules. You can interpret it as you like. There is no line anywhere what states the minimum amount of players. I was living in a belief that they had one seat guaranteed + 1 additional for each for players that sign up on the top of first four.

They also had late reg. until level 1. If necessary I can post a screenshot of that too?

You are very welcome. We always change misleading thread titles - they do that in most reputable forums.

Free speech??? You think members can post absolutely anything they want and it will not get edited or deleted if not appropriate, etc?? Nope - this is not a free speech forum - it is a private and well run forum. :)

Yes, I actually believe in free speech. And I believe that everyone has the right to tell their opinion in public without being censored. I think that is the only democratic way there is?! However I sure understand that your policy since are a big affiliate of PartyPoker. Correct?

Also, I did not find a section in your rules that I violated by questioning title. Thus I feel that my post was censored arbitrarily.
Censorship is cool! I am sure everyone would be happy to live in the good old Soviet Union! Cheers or should I rather say "nazda rovia"?! :tee:
 

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Debi

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Stop trolling and being an idiot - only warning.
 
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if it says 1 in 4 players will receive couldn't that mean there have to be a minimum of 4 players for 1 to win

I'm not trying to argue or anything just curious if the way they worded it also states the minimum
 
Charade You Are

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Yes, I actually believe in free speech. And I believe that everyone has the right to tell their opinion in public without being censored. I think that is the only democratic way there is?! However I sure understand that your policy since are a big affiliate of PartyPoker. Correct?

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution codifies the freedom of speech as a constitutional right.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.​

CC is NOT Congress. It is a private business therefore they are totally within their rights to run it the way they see fit.

Their affiliation or non-affiliation with Party Poker has nothing to do with it.
 
Debi

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We are also not a US site so the US Constitution has nothing to do with us either. :p:p
 
Charade You Are

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Really? I thought your server was in Texas.
 
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Debi

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Really? I thought your server was in Texas.

Don't think we have any servers in Texas - but know for sure we are not a US based company. :)

end my derail lol.
 
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Tammy

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Yes, I am sure they have hired good lawyers to protect their interests in every matter. However my point was that I felt misled.



I have played numerous poker rooms, numerous tournaments which had guaranteed pots. And won also some with only a few players in. This is the first time I face something like this. And in case you did not read the rest of my post. It was not only about this one tournament, the live chat person told me that this applies anything that they label guaranteed, including guaranteed pots!



Yes, that is correct I will post here a screen shot of the tournament rules. You can interpret it as you like. There is no line anywhere what states the minimum amount of players. I was living in a belief that they had one seat guaranteed + 1 additional for each for players that sign up on the top of first four.

They also had late reg. until level 1. If necessary I can post a screenshot of that too?



Yes, I actually believe in free speech. And I believe that everyone has the right to tell their opinion in public without being censored. I think that is the only democratic way there is?! However I sure understand that your policy since are a big affiliate of PartyPoker. Correct?

Also, I did not find a section in your rules that I violated by questioning title. Thus I feel that my post was censored arbitrarily.
Censorship is cool! I am sure everyone would be happy to live in the good old Soviet Union! Cheers or should I rather say "nazda rovia"?! :tee:
Your screenshot says, "1 in 4 players will gain entry...", which basically proves my point. I would like to see a screenshot of the lobby though, to see if they say anything about minimum players required to start (which most tournaments have).
 
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What? Not sure about the OPs case specifically but in general if a tournament is advertised as having a guaranteed prize pool it's regardless of the number of entrants. When there aren't enough entrants to cover the guarantee the remaining shortfall is called an overlay and they're pretty common on smaller sites.

Carbon actually notifies you of all tournaments with overlays. They'll say something like "Check out the $3.30 PLO tournament going off in 20min. There is currently an overlay of $2,000!"
 
WVHillbilly

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Of course they do. What better way to ensure the tourney goes off without an overlay than to advertise the overlay?
 
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