Irish Poker Federation

NickyOD

The idea of an Irish poker federation or players union was discussed at length on this forum over a year ago. I can't find the thread but it doesn't really matter as no one wanted to carry the baton at the time anyway.

I then brought up the topic for discussion on the poker show a couple of weeks ago and I recently acquired the domain www.irishpokerfederation.ie. What exactly I have planned for it I don't know yet, but I will need some people to come on board.

First off I want to point out some problems in Irish Poker that I think the a poker federation could addres.

1) Basic Poker rules differ enormously from club to club.
2) Players are being ripped at bad value events by organisers who are not transparrent about their prize-pools.
3) Bad rulings are being made at major events, that even the top TDs in the country don't agree with but are forced to make anyway.
4) There is no players union so if a player is mistreated he/she has no redress.
5) The not too distant future regulation of an industry the government know nothing about and will **** up in the absense of any representation from the poker community.

How would a Federation help with these problems?

1) The establishment of an IPF committee to oversee the running of the federation. I have people in mind and will ask them to be involved but not in this thread as I'd like people to volunteer their services first.
2) One of the roles of the committe would be to produce a detailed IPF Poker Rulebook.
3) Offer incentives to poker rooms and event organisers to follow the IPF rulebook.
4) Offer incentives to players to become members of the IPF in the form of live freerolls and exclusive IPF events, a players union, hotel deals, vouchers and anything else I can think of.
5) Approach the governement about their plans for regulation of the gambling industry and do our best to get the best deal possible for poker players.

If anyone has any further thoughts and ideas on the topic please reply to this thread.

If you would like to be on the committe please email me at nicky@pokernewsheadlines.com

I am also looking for a sponsor for the federation and anyone who can help me design the website.

smurph

Should it not be The Irish Poker Players Federation?

There is not a Gaming & Leisure Association of Ireland or something like that who are in talks with the Goverment etc., at the moment.

thenutpeddler

smurph wrote: »

Should it not be and Irish Poker Players Federation?

should it not be the poker player's front of judea?

NickyOD

smurph wrote: »

Should it not be and Irish Poker Players Federation?

There is not a Gaming & Leisure Association of Ireland or something like that who are in talks with the Goverment etc., at the moment.

A players union would be part of it. I'm thinking there is also need for a union of cardrooms and event organisers.

GALA "say" they are in talks with the governement but there has never been any mention of how poker will be effected by regulation in any statement released either from GALA or the governemnt.

Just a few issues Nicky:

1. Membership: How would this work? Annual subscription?
2. Incorporation: How would this be formed from a legal perspective?
3. Operation: Given this is aspiring to be a national organisation how would the executive committee meet/operate? Would membership confer a right to vote upon the make-up of the committee? Would the committee be permanent or would it rotate?
4. Association: Would it be wise to affiliate with a specific poker company like Bruce Poker or Paddy Power Poker? Would this limit the organisations ability to lobby and negotiate with other companies?


Just a few thoughts off the top of my head. There are plenty more although I think in principle this is a pretty good idea. Good luck with it.

Fatboydim

It was a good idea a year ago and it's a good idea now.

Best of luck with it Nicky.

NickyOD

Deleted User wrote: »

Just a few issues Nicky:

1. Membership: How would this work? Annual subscription?

Definitely annual subscription. This would go towards the incentives mentioned in the OP

Deleted User wrote: »

2. Incorporation: How would this be formed from a legal perspective?

I don't know. This is where I need help.

Deleted User wrote: »

3. Operation: Given this is aspiring to be a national organisation how would the executive committee meet/operate? Would membership confer a right to vote upon the make-up of the committee? Would the committee be permanent or would it rotate?

Membership would absolutely confer a right to vote upon the makeup of the committee. This is how the committee of the World poker Association was formed. No committee would ever be permantent, but I don't know how long a committee member's term should be. This is up for debate.

Deleted User wrote: »

4. Association: Would it be wise to affiliate with a specific poker company like Bruce Poker or Paddy Power Poker? Would this limit the organisations ability to lobby and negotiate with other companies?

I see what you're getting at, and I wouldn't like to see any conflict of interest there. If the federation is to have affiliates then we would have to make sure our hands aren't tied.

Also, Although I think the committee members should be rewarded in some way for their time the Federation would be essentially be a non profit organisation, and it's accounts should be made transparrent to all it's members.

Wombatman

Why not..... our Scandi brothers and sisters seem to be at it:
http://www.svenskapokerforbundet.se/page.cgi?action=view&ID=start

RichieLawlor

We also need belts with leather straps and gold to distinguish our champions and cool nicknames like Stone Cold and The Rock imo

NickyOD

Wombatman wrote: »

Why not..... our Scandi brothers and sisters seem to be at it:
http://www.svenskapokerforbundet.se/page.cgi?action=view&ID=start

Even Slovakia has had a poker federation, for several years.

Macspower

Still a good Idea Nicky... I wondered what happened th last effort...

It would take a lot of organisation but it's badly needed..

Just to nit pick.. would it not be more of an players accossation more than a federation?

NickyOD

GALA director on Last word now.

NickyOD

Macspower wrote: »

Just to nit pick.. would it not be more of an players accossation more than a federation?

I know that a players association is what everyone wants and as I said already, that would be part of it. but I think if standardised rules in ireland will ever happen then cardrooms need to form a union also. This is where the title of "federation" is more applicable.

corkie123

first of all it would be great if we were all playing under the same rules . but also they would need to be the same as the ones the wsop ept wpt use not just our own version .

2. i cant see what u can do about non transparent touries we all know who they are and they really have there own following .

3. u say about players been mistreated what do u mean by that ? and how do u think u can get some club to do what ye want if they were . if i owned club i would not have anyone interfering with my club running

but in saying this i think the idea is good but might not be realistic in happening . u might get a few players but not to many we irish dont like paying fees for joining unions

gl anyway

kakak1

An "association" for players would be worthless & toothless imo.

I think Nicky is correct here & you need to get a wide span of players, promoters, casinos, card rooms etc. on board & tackle the many & varied problems within our "poker industry".

With legislation on the way it will be important to have one voice fighting for the best & most suitable deal.

It is high time the rules issue was tackled & this will need everyone on board as well.

Best of luck with this Nicky.

NickyOD

corkie123 wrote: »

first of all it would be great if we were all playing under the same rules . but also they would need to be the same as the ones the wsop ept wpt use not just our own version

.

The WSOp and Thomas Kremser don't even follow their own rules half the time from some of the rulings I've seen, but obviously any poker rulebook would be pretty close to the TDA/WSOP rules with some slight differences and probably more detail. It would require the input of some top Irish TDs.

corkie123 wrote: »

2. i cant see what u can do about non transparent touries we all know who they are and they really have there own following .

Actually we can do a lot about it, but I'm keeping the details of how out of this forum. The only reason they have a following is because their following is ill informed and has no idea they are being ripped off.

corkie123 wrote: »

3. u say about players been mistreated what do u mean by that ? and how do u think u can get some club to do what ye want if they were . if i owned club i would not have anyone interfering with my club running

tournament organisers have a resposibility to provide an event of a certain standard. If it doesn't meet those standards then players should have a right to a refund the same as any other consumer. There have been plenty of situations where players have been knocked out of a tournament as a result of a TD making a bad ruling, and by that I mean a rule that is contrary to the rules of that particular tournament, not what I think ruling should have been. There have also been issues of non payment and bouncing cheques from tournament organisers.

The IPF is never going to interfere with the running of any club, not would it ever have the authority to, but it would be there to provide guidelines for clubs on how to do things better and offer palyers advice if they feel their members club has let them down.

corkie123 wrote: »

but in saying this i think the idea is good but might not be realistic in happening . u might get a few players but not to many we irish dont like paying fees for joining unions

Why isn't it realistic? We are one of the few european countires without a poker union, yet we are one of the most unionised countries in the world. Of course people will pay the fees when they see the benefits.

bohsman

Good luck getting TDs to agree to different rules. Cant really see any positives for a poker federation at the moment. LOL at comparing the fitzs political wing to any of this.

corkie123

NickyOD wrote: »

.

The WSOp and Thomas Kremser don't even follow their own rules half the time from some of the rulings I've seen, but obviously any poker rulebook would be pretty close to the TDA/WSOP rules with some slight differences and probably more detail. It would require the input of some top Irish TDs.

first of all some of the top td need training themself

Actually we can do a lot about it, but I'm keeping the details of how out of this forum. The only reason they have a following is because their following is ill informed and has no idea they are being ripped off.

dont know were u been nicky but i think they all know what happening but like the set up and dont want to lose there fish in cash games after


tournament organisers have a resposibility to provide an event of a certain standard. If it doesn't meet those standards then players should have a right to a refund the same as any other consumer. There have been plenty of situations where players have been knocked out of a tournament as a result of a TD making a bad ruling, and by that I mean a rule that is contrary to the rules of that particular tournament, not what I think ruling should have been. There have also been issues of non payment and bouncing cheques from tournament organisers.

bouncing cheques should not happen but anyone who takes one from cash event must be mad





The IPF is never going to interfere with the running of any club, not would it ever have the authority to, but it would be there to provide guidelines for clubs on how to do things better and offer palyers advice if they feel their members club has let them down.

been there done it but if club owner say bye bye theres nothing ye can do about it


Why isn't it realistic? We are one of the few european countires without a poker union, yet we are one of the most unionised countries in the world. Of course people will pay the fees when they see the benefits.

we only pay up when we are in trouble im afraid or made to before starting work i use to be a union guy for short time good few years ago in one job .

but as i said i think it is good idea and hope u get it to work

ROLL ON THE POKER TEAMSTERS :D

NickyOD

bohsman wrote: »

Good luck getting TDs to agree to different rules. Cant really see any positives for a poker federation at the moment. LOL at comparing the fitzs political wing to any of this.

They don't have to agree completely. If there are rules that TDs simply cannot agree on then we can come to some sort of middle ground or just make both rulings acceptable, and then it is up to the club to decide. I can think of a few rules there will be big debates over

The whole idea behind standardised rules is not really to make the entire poker rulebook 100% definitive but to help clubs and organsiers raise their standards to a professional level, to encourage TDs to use some common sense, and to eliminate the really stupid house rules that currently exist around the country.

connie147

I was always in favour of a common set of rules once they could be agreed upon. I dont think its impossible, just that its going to take a bit of effort on the sides of the various td's, casinos, card rooms, players reps to get together and thrash them out.

I'm prepared to put in an effort anyway.

Connie

JP Poker

Hey Nicky,

I think this is a great idea. I know a few of us tried metting a the Waterford open 2 years ago to try organise a unified set of rules. At the time there was some rules at everyone couldn't agree to.

I suggested at the time that a vote could be made on these rules for the formation of rule set and anyone that didn't want to use a particular rule could state that they use the irish rule set with the exception of say rule 1 & 8.

If you want any help with this I'd be more than happy to help.

NickyOD

Connie and JP:I'd love to have to you both involved.

I've had some helpful emails and PMs from others. I will get back to everyone who voiced their interest shortly. I'm just going through the process of registering the organistion legally.

This will be a long and drawn out process but one that I think will be worth the effort.

I'm not much of an artist but what do people think of my logo?

DeadParrot

lose the backround blue
correct the shading on the suits
make sure they are all the same size
Change the colours to match a deck of cards
move the heart from the 'P'
Change the font.

Otherwise its grand

Four of a kind

DeadParrot wrote: »

lose the backround blue
correct the shading on the suits
make sure they are all the same size
Change the colours to match a deck of cards
move the heart from the 'P'
Change the font.

Otherwise its grand

lol....in other words change everything