The controversial new hand reveal function at ClubWPT Gold is so unpopular that even one among its prime poker ambassadors is a critic.
Doug Polk, in a seven-minute YouTube video, spoke out in regards to the function that permits gamers to pay a charge to view folded gap playing cards after the hand concludes. The poker professional has a historical past of criticizing poker websites for actions he deems to be unhealthy for the sport, and that features the location he represents.
Why Polk Criticized ClubWPT Gold
Quite a few poker execs comparable to Brian Rast and Shaun Deeb trashed ClubWPT Gold for the brand new function that Matt Berkey known as an “fool tax.” A participant pays two to a few massive blinds, relying on the stakes, to reveal folded gap playing cards after a money sport hand concludes. The cash goes straight to the poker website, not the gamers.
Most poker execs on social media appear to despise allowing gamers to view folded gap playing cards, however they seem to hate it much more that the charge is paid to the sweepstakes poker website. Polk had some alternative phrases of his personal, however he first defined a profit to gamers being able to reveal folded playing cards.
“This function is excellent for serving to keep away from collusion,” Polk claims. “When gamers are at a desk and one thing seems to be fishy, you now can immediately see the arms and know if it was collusion or not. That is a superb factor. That is one thing we must be embracing and having fun with about this function, the truth that you now have this direct skill to stop it from these individuals having the ability to cheat you, in the event you see one thing occurring.”
The three-time World Sequence of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner started his video teasing the viewers into considering he was about to toe the corporate line, a transfer that undoubtedly would not go over nicely along with his longtime followers. He even jokingly went down the “extra rake is healthier” line, an ode to his former rival, Daniel Negreanu. However then he shifted gears.
“I am undecided if ambassadors are supposed to talk out towards their very own websites right here, however that is what we’ll do right here right this moment as a result of I do not like this in any respect,” Polk mentioned. “I get that there are a few positives, however the cons enormously outweigh them.”
“Code Doug” then claimed the function will function a “tax on weaker gamers as a result of I do not assume execs will use this.” He went as far as to say the professionals would not profit from the hand reveal function, and discouraged them from paying the charge.
“Gamers get to vote with the place they play, so in the event you actually hate this, in all probability do not play on ClubWPT Gold. I believe I could be the worst poker ambassador of all time,” Polk mentioned, though that title would possibly go to Nacho Barbero as a substitute.
Polk then mentioned he’ll do what he can to push the corporate to both do away with the controversial function altogether or at the very least have the “fool tax” go to the gamers as a substitute of the location. However he could not make any guarantees and harassed that “in the end I don’t make the choices for this firm.”
This is not the primary time Polk has executed one thing which may not sit nicely with the sweepstakes poker website he represents. In a latest mainstream information televised look, he wore his ClubWPT Gold patch the wrong way up.
Doug Polk Wins Distinctive On-line Poker Problem (However Nonetheless Loses Cash)
