Ladbrokes event - Kilarney - Direct Buy In Please!!

ukpoker

All,

I'm starting this thread in the hope that we, the poker playing community of Ireland, can bring a little justice about by having Ladbrokes reconsider their current 'no direct buy-in' rule as regards a way of entering their main €500 event in Kilarney this October.

I believe that its a fundamental right of poker players interested in playing in this event to be given the opportunity of doing so WITHOUT having to resort to the lottery of satellite events, both online & live, in order to take a seat at this, or any like minded, event.

Whilst it is appreciated that the sponsors, Ladbrokes, may seem to have a duty of care to its poker player fraternity by way of its online card room it is, without doubt, a most unfair way of allowing for participation.

As far as I'm aware the Ladbrokes sponsored event is not a 'closed' event as its advertised all over and so therefore every means of entering should be made available to interested parties.

Its bad enough that Ladbrokes have seen fit to book the entire Gleneagles hotel for its 'package winners' but to prohibit entry for people that simply don't want to participate in lottery style satellite events in the hope of winning one of these packages is most unfair and unwarranted.

I hereby call upon any member of the poker community reading this topic, and agree with this request, to add support for an immediate review of this 'rule' by way of a response to this post.

Hopefully Ladbrokes will see sense sooner rather than later!

Icarus152

No Atari Jaguar?

big_iain

i'm sure direct buyin will be allowed nearer the time.

Here in Ireland there is no rush.

jamser58

Thats absolutely scandallous.They would want to change that fairly lively.

OilBeefHooked2

He who pays the piper calls the tune. Deal with it.

DAMO72

in fairness to ladbrokes they put up the gaurantee and they call the shots , so if they want to look after their online customers 1st then so be it, get over it

vag77

totally disagree wit this

Maddogg

why would you want to pay into an event full of luck boxes and donks qualifying by online sats????

ps i reckon closer to the time you will be able to buyin

Enzo Scifo

last year ladbrokes put a lot on the line for this. It was a massive gamble and while it paid off from a numbers and advertising stand i would say overall they were unhappy about 2 things. Firstly, it looks as if they got a lot of grief from their own customers who could not get a seat. Secondly, how many on here can say they changed over and are now spending all their rake on laddys (not very many i would say and i include myself in that). So, this year they want to make sure they look after their own customers and they also want to try to increase their base by getting more people to actually sign up and play (and hopefully stick around for longer). Looks like good business sense to me. The only ones who will be pissed off are prob not their customers anyway and will result in them losing 0 dosh. So, i have 5 months to get lucky on line, a couple of efforts in a few live sats and if that fails i have a super sat with 15 tickets at least available. I also could win the scramble to get a ticket when the direct buy in is open for about 10 mins knowing the level of interest already shown. And if all these options fail, how the hell did i thing i was going to get through the 800 in the tourney!

5starpool

So you would be happy playing several online sats, Enzo, a couple of live sats, and if all else fails buy in? Do you like spending 1k on a 550 event, never mind accomodation, travel, food etc? I know that is not relevant to the topic at hand, but thought I'd mention it.

corigi

5starpool wrote: »

So you would be happy playing several online sats, Enzo, a couple of live sats, and if all else fails buy in? Do you like spending 1k on a 550 event, never mind accomodation, travel, food etc? I know that is not relevant to the topic at hand, but thought I'd mention it.

Have to agree there wasnt there 800+ players last year? What is cap this year? Surely they could keep 200 places for Buy ins and Ladbrokes have the rest for Sats etc.

dangerousdavid

Maddogg wrote: »

why would you want to pay into an event full of luck boxes and donks qualifying by online sats????

Great post sir, wp.

AdMMM

I'm sure there's nothing stopping the operators who've been given tickets to offer them directly to their players

connie147

corigi wrote: »

Have to agree there wasnt there 800+ players last year? What is cap this year? Surely they could keep 200 places for Buy ins and Ladbrokes have the rest for Sats etc.

The cap this year is 800 and ladbrokes have kept at least 200+ tickets for off-line satts/buy-ins.

Connie

corigi

connie147 wrote: »

The cap this year is 800 and ladbrokes have kept at least 200+ tickets for off-line satts/buy-ins.

Connie

Cheers for the reply.

Hope to get a seat this year couldnt make it last year.

ukpoker

connie147 wrote: »

The cap this year is 800 and ladbrokes have kept at least 200+ tickets for off-line satts/buy-ins.

Connie

Connie,

If this is the case then why not allow those 200+ tickets to be sold immediately? What is the purpose of hanging onto them?

Its been mentioned in this thread that Ladbrokes are looking after their own players FIRST! If that's the case then why can't I, as a Ladbrokes player, buy into the event without winning a satellite?

Why didn't Ladbrokes offer all participants in last years event first refusal on a seat for this year?

This is not the way to organise an event that will be oversubscribed!

vag77

can i just say why try fix something thats not broken by the feed back of last year every body had only good things 2 say about this event why r ye changing it

connie147

ukpoker wrote: »

Connie,

If this is the case then why not allow those 200+ tickets to be sold immediately? What is the purpose of hanging onto them?

Its been mentioned in this thread that Ladbrokes are looking after their own players FIRST! If that's the case then why can't I, as a Ladbrokes player, buy into the event without winning a satellite?

Why didn't Ladbrokes offer all participants in last years event first refusal on a seat for this year?

This is not the way to organise an event that will be oversubscribed!

We will not be "hanging" on to tickets that we get for off/line distribution. They will be given out to operators around the country who ran satts for this tourney last year.

I'm pretty sure that you (and I dont know who you are) as a Ladbrokes player will have no problem whatsoever in securing a ticket for the festival through Ladbrokes. But you really need to liase with them (Jo Sheering).

If that fails, pm me your name and phone number.

Hope that helps,

Connie

connie147

vag77 wrote: »

can i just say why try fix something thats not broken by the feed back of last year every body had only good things 2 say about this event why r ye changing it

There is no major change to it. Last year, because it was in its first year and nobody knew how many entries we would get, we tried extra hard to push as many off-line satts and direct buy-ins as possible.

In the last week or two before last years Festival, the sell-out signs went up. Not only were there local players who couldnt buy a ticket for the event, but there was also Ladbroke customers who wanted to come to Killarney and play in the festival, but Ladbrokes had to refuse them as we had no tickets left.

So this year, Ladbrokes have made a decision to hold back more tickets to ensure they have enough for their customers. There will still be off-line tickets that will be spread out around the country, but not as many as last year.

Connie

GKidd

ukpoker wrote: »

Connie,

If this is the case then why not allow those 200+ tickets to be sold immediately? What is the purpose of hanging onto them?

Its been mentioned in this thread that Ladbrokes are looking after their own players FIRST! If that's the case then why can't I, as a Ladbrokes player, my backers buy me into the event without winning a satellite?

Why didn't Ladbrokes offer all participants in last years event first refusal on a seat for this year?

This is not the way to organise an event that will be oversubscribed!

FYP

ukpoker

connie147 wrote: »

In the last week or two before last years Festival, the sell-out signs went up. Not only were there local players who couldnt buy a ticket for the event, but there was also Ladbroke customers who wanted to come to Killarney and play in the festival, but Ladbrokes had to refuse them as we had no tickets left.

So this year, Ladbrokes have made a decision to hold back more tickets to ensure they have enough for their customers. There will still be off-line tickets that will be spread out around the country, but not as many as last year.

Connie

Connie,

Correct me if I'm wrong here but Ladbrokes advertised this event back in March via Cardplayer Europe! What was the point of that? Once the dates were known I immediately attempted to book hotel accommodation for the festival dates only to be told that Ladbrokes had booked out the entire hotel along with the apartments next door!

At last years tournament Ladbrokes organisers made sure they had the name, email address and, where appropriate, the player name of EVERYONE who took part in the main event. Why were those email addresses not used to invite those players, who had bothered to turn up from all over the country (I was one of them), to have first dibs on a seat for this years event?

Why does Ladbrokes feel it necessary to create this pent up demand for tickets, via the direct buy-in method?

Why does Ladbrokes want to discriminate against me, and people like me, that don't wish to have a 'package' thrust upon them - valued at €950 - when a bog standard ticket costing €540 would do nicely?

In my eyes Ladbrokes are making a right balls up here because from where I stand it seems that they are not helping players to participate for this event but merely 'forcing' them to do one thing only and that, at the moment, is to play a satellite for €110 and win a 'package' or else try again...and again...and again!!

connie147

ukpoker wrote: »

Connie,

Correct me if I'm wrong here but Ladbrokes advertised this event back in March via Cardplayer Europe! What was the point of that? Once the dates were known I immediately attempted to book hotel accommodation for the festival dates only to be told that Ladbrokes had booked out the entire hotel along with the apartments next door!

At last years tournament Ladbrokes organisers made sure they had the name, email address and, where appropriate, the player name of EVERYONE who took part in the main event. Why were those email addresses not used to invite those players, who had bothered to turn up from all over the country (I was one of them), to have first dibs on a seat for this years event?


Why does Ladbrokes feel it necessary to create this pent up demand for tickets, via the direct buy-in method?

Why does Ladbrokes want to discriminate against me, and people like me, that don't wish to have a 'package' thrust upon them - valued at €950 - when a bog standard ticket costing €540 would do nicely?

In my eyes Ladbrokes are making a right balls up here because from where I stand it seems that they are not helping players to participate for this event but merely 'forcing' them to do one thing only and that, at the moment, is to play a satellite for €110 and win a 'package' or else try again...and again...and again!!

Again, there isnt much more I can add here that I havent said already. I dont think they are trying to discriminate against anybody. I think that they are insuring themselves against what happened them last year.
They are keeping enough tickets to facilitate their satts and expected direct buy-ins on line, and they are giving us (us being Cue Club Events and Big slick Events) the remainder to service off-line satts and direct buy-ins here in Ireland. Whether we will have enough or not remains to be seen.

Connie

kincsem

I travelled to Killarney from Dublin three times in the last few years for poker, including the Ladbrokes €500 last October. I intended to go again this year. I bought in directly last year.

If Ladbrokes want to restrict it to Ladbrokes players why do they need a event in Killarney? Why not hold it online? They want two benefits from this event: more Ladbrokes players online; press and television publicity for Ladbrokes.

Are they going to hold an event without Marty Smyth and other non-Ladbrokes professionals? I'm sure they will invite personalities to fill their top (television) table again.

Will they come running to the bricks and mortar players if / when they don't fill the 800 seats?

Goodluck2me

fairly simple business here, look after the guys who play for you online, they are your bread and butter - if you can please some other bricks and mortar players great, if not, don;t worry about it.

they are putting the guarantee up, why shouldn't they call the shots.
People on here need to grow up a bit, if you don't like it - don't play, if you don;t care then just get online and try to qualify.

YULETIRED

goodluck2me wrote: »

fairly simple business here, look after the guys who play for you online, they are your bread and butter - if you can please some other bricks and mortar players great, if not, don;t worry about it.

they are putting the guarantee up, why shouldn't they call the shots.
People on here need to grow up a bit, if you don't like it - don't play, if you don;t care then just get online and try to qualify.

gotta agree with Joe so I do. If they don't make the guarantee, cool for the players.

connie147

kincsem wrote: »

I travelled to Killarney from Dublin three times in the last few years for poker, including the Ladbrokes €500 last October. I intended to go again this year. I bought in directly last year.

If Ladbrokes want to restrict it to Ladbrokes players why do they need a event in Killarney? Why not hold it online? They want two benefits from this event: more Ladbrokes players online; press and television publicity for Ladbrokes.

Are they going to hold an event without Marty Smyth and other non-Ladbrokes professionals? I'm sure they will invite personalities to fill their top (television) table again.

Will they come running to the bricks and mortar players if / when they don't fill the 800 seats?

Hi sean,

I dont think that Ladbrokes want to restrict the tournament to Ladbrokes players only, thats why they are giving us 25%-30% of the tickets for off-line satts/Irish direct buy-ins.

Then its up to us to try and decide who gets the tickets if its over-subscribed. Players like yourself that have travelled here before on many occasions shouldnt have any problems in securing a ticket.

Connie

caoimh36

ukpoker wrote: »

Connie,

Ladbrokes had booked out the entire hotel along with the apartments next door!

This is ridiculous Connie, only the players who sat in online can stay in the venue where the event is on. Even those who sat in live around the country will have to look at alternative accomadation - crazy. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

Caoimh.

corkie123

connie147 wrote: »

Hi sean,

I dont think that Ladbrokes want to restrict the tournament to Ladbrokes players only, thats why they are giving us 25%-30% of the tickets for off-line satts/Irish direct buy-ins.

Then its up to us to try and decide who gets the tickets if its over-subscribed. Players like yourself that have travelled here before on many occasions shouldnt have any problems in securing a ticket.

Connie

back to the old story of not HOW GOOD U ARE BUT WHO U KNOW

US CORK GUYS WILL BE ****ED NOW WE BEAT KERRY YESTERDAY ;);)

connie147

caoimh36 wrote: »

ukpoker wrote: »

Connie,

Ladbrokes had booked out the entire hotel along with the apartments next door!

This is ridiculous Connie, only the players who sat in online can stay in the venue where the event is on. Even those who sat in live around the country will have to look at alternative accomadation - crazy. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

Caoimh.

Hi Caoimh,
Im at a meeting in the morning in Dublin with destination killarney and I'll make enquiries there as regards accomadation, as I genuinely dont know right now. I'll report back tomorrow.

But with 800 players playing the main event, add another 200 who will be there to play side events/cash and then add girlfriends/boyfriends/families, staff, Ladbrokes personnel etc,etc, not everybody will be able to stay in the one complex as it just isnt big enough.

let ye know tomorrow.

Connie

caoimh36

connie147 wrote: »

caoimh36 wrote: »

Hi Caoimh,
Im at a meeting in the morning in Dublin with destination killarney and I'll make enquiries there as regards accomadation, as I genuinely dont know right now. I'll report back tomorrow.

But with 800 players playing the main event, add another 200 who will be there to play side events/cash and then add girlfriends/boyfriends/families, staff, Ladbrokes personnel etc,etc, not everybody will be able to stay in the one complex as it just isnt big enough.

let ye know tomorrow.

Connie

I appreciate that Connie, but they had huge numbers last year and I was able to ring them up and book an apartment several months in advance no problem. Block booking the whole complex is highly unfair imho.

Caoimh.

gocall01

On the issue of on line qualifier numbers filling the main event.
I just checked out the Ladbrokes site.
There are currently 66 package winners with 6 winners from last nights weekly final.
There are 15 more weekly finals left.
As we get closer to the big day I know there will be many more people giving it a go so the weekly packages will go up.
Let's say on average there are 10 packages (maybe more I don't know) per week, therefore, 150 packages.
This breaks the 200 number and let's even round it up to 300 packages.

There will be 500+ tickets left to split between live sats and I presume the whole thing will be open to direct buy-ins at some stage so there is hope.
The whole place being booked by Ladbrokes is mad but there are loads of places to stay within 5 minutes stroll of the Gleneagle.

Looking for ward to this.

bantee

gocall01 wrote: »

On the issue of on line qualifier numbers filling the main event.
I just checked out the Ladbrokes site.
There are currently 66 package winners with 6 winners from last nights weekly final.
There are 15 more weekly finals left.

Do you know details of feeders for these weekly finals and what the buy-ins are? Are they just on every Sunday?

gocall01

bantee wrote: »

Do you know details of feeders for these weekly finals and what the buy-ins are? Are they just on every Sunday?

Daily Sats => Mon-Sat (throughout the day) = €3 + €0.03
Daily Final => Mon-Sat (20:30) = €20 + €2
Weekly Final => Sunday (20:30) = €100 + €10

More info at: http://poker.ladbrokes.com/en/poker-events/irish-poker-festival-faq

ukpoker

Hopefully Ladbrokes will address the situation as regards the direct buy-in route very soon.

I think we've established that there IS a demand for this and, even if they allow an initial tranche of say 250 direct buy-ins via their website I think we'll have succeeded in having our objectives met.

As for the accommodation...well Killarney has hundreds of b&b's so should be no bother finding somewhere to stay

connie147

caoimh36 wrote: »

connie147 wrote: »

I appreciate that Connie, but they had huge numbers last year and I was able to ring them up and book an apartment several months in advance no problem. Block booking the whole complex is highly unfair imho.

Caoimh.

Hi caoimh,
Like I said, I was at a meeting today and was told that there are 39 appartments still available to be booked for the Ladbrokes festival. If your having any trouble get back to me, but you shouldnt have. (I wouldnt leave it go too long before booking it though.)

The reason so many rooms in the Glen Eagle are booked by ladbrokes is because theres a wedding in the Brehon (sister hotel) same weekend and that wedding party booked up 70% of the Brehon rooms for that week-end as far back as 2 years ago, so thats why there seems to be more of a shortage this year.

Hope that helps,

Connie.

PS: I would have rang you but I've lost your number. Gimme a call.

caoimh36

connie147 wrote: »

caoimh36 wrote: »

Hi caoimh,
Like I said, I was at a meeting today and was told that there are 39 appartments still available to be booked for the Ladbrokes festival. If your having any trouble get back to me, but you shouldnt have. (I wouldnt leave it go too long before booking it though.)

The reason so many rooms in the Glen Eagle are booked by ladbrokes is because theres a wedding in the Brehon (sister hotel) same weekend and that wedding party booked up 70% of the Brehon rooms for that week-end as far back as 2 years ago, so thats why there seems to be more of a shortage this year.

Hope that helps,

Connie.

PS: I would have rang you but I've lost your number. Gimme a call.

Ok Connie, I'll give them a call so, thanks for the help.

Caoimh.