888.com taking $8250 out of the satellite prize pool for Aussie Millions seats worth $7637

[Ari]

A couple of notes:
Partypoker has been doing this for years to a smaller extent. I had an email exchange with them in 10/14 about this issue for wpt Montreal satellites.
Pokerstars was amazing and settled to the xe.com mid-market rate the night before the tournament without any prompting from players. I.e.: they pre-planned to not screw players

[Dan Druff]

Colonel Fabersham called 888.com tonight in a humorous segment where we got all kinds of non-answers about the situation.

However, an hour ago, a breakthrough...

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/twt/status/814756403860697093

"Bought a seat" is an odd way of putting it, but if they are going to compensate satellite winners the difference of $600 or so dollars, that would solve it.

[Sanlmar]

888 & the PokerStars Polish players situation are important reminders of the value of "light regulation". How fortunate the ROW is that they are protected in this way.

Public scrutiny and consumer advocacy in the form of sites like PFA get the results and serve the public interest.

Government skims the rake and taxes your winnings. You will never get value for your money. Big Daddy is never the answer.

I continue to enjoy the irony of Druff's lust for light regulation when guys like him do the reporting that is more important.

Humans are a funny lot.

[Ari]

Thanks for helping getting this message out, I'm glad this has been succesfully resolved by 888. Listening to the recent podcast about this I had a couple of thoughts. Firstly- the extra money should not go to the person bubbling the tournament, rather should go to the seat winner (as 888 is doing). This is because at the time of the tournament. lets say prizepool had $10k in it.. 1st was awarded $8250 (awarded as aussie millions seat) and 2nd was $1750- that was the ratio listed based on said prizepool, therefore there is no reason 2nd should get $2350 and first $7250.
Also- you gave 888 some shit for waiting to award the $600 exchange rate difference till the time of the tournament... but that is the same thing Pokerstars did last year- and I have no problem with them waiting and assigning the xe.com mid market rate as of the day before the tournament starts. You mentioned a worried about players getting freerolled by this delay.. but i dont see it- they will be going by the new rate regardless of movement.. Actually the reverse is true- there is a small chance of 888 getting freerolled in this spot. If by some chance the exchange rate changes such that 10600 AUD > 8250 USD, players will get to keep the full value of their seat without paying extra to 888. Of course- such a huge change is unlikely in this short period (but possible).