Should sponsored pros be allowed to play on site?

[zedesq]

If you are sponsored by a site you have an unfair advantage playing their events (because either directly or indirectly you are getting paid for playing that event). At the very least their participation should be limited, perhaps stream only.

 

[zedesq]

And before you ask, yes I believe staking in a tourney the staker also plays is collusion.

 

[shopwert]

Yes. Put pros in the game. The customers eat it up. If you don’t want to play with a pro, change tables.

 

[zedesq]

So you're saying you have no problem playing against players who aren't paying the same amount to enter a tourney as you?

 

[zedesq]

Yes. Put pros in the game. The customers eat it up. If you don’t want to play with a pro, change tables.

I can't change tables in a tourney. Are you suggesting before the tourney starts it should be stated sponsored pros will play?

 

[lcid86]

I think it adds to the event. As long as their entry fee is part of the prize pool, bring 'em on!

 

[zedesq]

So I've got to ask, as it seems like both responders are into the excitement of it, are y'all playing to make money or for entertainment?

 

[shopwert]

I play for fun.
It’s been a long time since I’ve played with a pro but it was below the level the pros would normally play at. Pros don’t play $1 tournaments for profit and they don’t put much effort into their play. If you have a pro in a $100 trny, look out, he’s paying attention.
I play low level tournaments. I’ve never seen a pro on any final table I’ve been on. How about you?
I think you’re worrying about a problem that you’re not going to have.

 

[zedesq]

Ironically just had a sponsored come to my table and suck out 13 to 1 for his stack. Would he have made that bad call if he weren't sponsored? Debatable. Do I want him to continue to make those calls? Absolutely. But by in large I think it's an unfair advantage.

 

[Luvepoker]

I dont see any issue with sponsored pros being at the tables. I actually think its good for the game. I miss the days where you could end up playing some pro on Full tilt. Many players would never have a chance to play against a pro any other way.

I have been lucky enough to play live vs 2 known pro's. I nearly took out one if not for the bad river. I also got to play live with a player who was ranked 14th in the world at that time. Just watching him play was amazing. 3 betting him was terrifying as as bluff but getting it though was thrilling. To have him say to you "you played very well today" was priceless.

 

[Nafor]

As far as I have understood (and these are just my observations, not proven facts) even the promoted players pay their buy-in themselves, at least on some sites.

For example, Matt Staples who is sponsored by partypoker pays all his buy-ins himself. He has close to 300k bankroll. I don't know what perks are included in his contract but I have understood that he gets a monthly payment from Party (again, these are just my observations which I have made by watching his Twitch streams).

Is it wrong that a sponsored player plays? No, I don't think so. A sponsored player is still just a one player in a big field, and some people might get a big kick out of playing against one. If their streams allures more new people to become interested in poker then it is good for the game.

 

[fernandofcp]

If the player is a professional, it is because he has earned the right to be. For me there is no problem playing against a sponsored pro.

 

[antonis32123]

Why not ?? I do not think anyone gets any advantage from the pokerroom or RNG especially lol . If you see how they play , how many lose .... I do not think that because one gets a free ticket he plays recklessly loose game , I think they play the same , at least some pros on Twitch that I have watched ,,,,

 

[fundiver199]

I fail to see the problem. I assume, sponsored pros are getting a better rake-back deal than other players, but this does not affect the game flow. And its no different than the fact, rake-backs deal or other promotions might differ from player to player for many other reasons than someone being a sponsored pro.

 

[marvinsytan]

it's an MTT how many times did you ever seated with the PRO

so don't worry about it, let them play

 

[alien666dj]

It seems to me that you can learn a lot from them, so it doesn't really bother me.

 

[Alex70793]

No, I don't agree with that, the fact that you play at someone else's expense will not add to your skill at the poker table.
Poker is a very fair game, no connections and rich parents will help you achieve success, the one who is really smarter will always earn in poker.

 

[Sergei 9417]

Hello.
Personally, I would love to play with a professional, in order to learn how to play better, I have to play with a stronger player, and I don't care how much he pays or doesn't pay.

 

[ADRI7HO]

It doesn’t bother me at all that if someone is sponsored, it’s just not the dealers sponsoring that player because that’s already suspicious. :listen::icon_joke

 

[frank174]

Doesn't bother me at all,now about staking that,s done from micro's to the nose bleed game's,take staking out of the game both live and online the fields will drop and so will the prize pools,a lot of the player's that we see playing are staked,player's, I know online its not readily available to the average person who is staked, but in the big live tourny's I thought for some reason that was disclosed,but those games are only a dream for me

 

[valetgll]

You are right, such pro players have an advantage on their field as well as the football players playing on their field.

 

[Cooking]

If I thought online poker is rigged than no, but I don't believe it is, so, I don't mind if a sponsored pro is playing the same tournament than me.

 

[77ecos]

I play low levels and normally I do not cross them for obvious reasons, when I play a high buyin tournament and there is a pro at my table I get excited, for several players it is irreverent because they are used to meeting them at the tables but I am not, So I do not have any problem with sponsored players, I do not see why it should generate any problem, I do not see any disadvantage or advantage in the exposed point