give country people a chance

[Donk]

Garth,

partner of a regular player, thats what I am, and spend many a night at the Hoppers Club before play starts having dinner with my partner and many friends we have made through poker. Do you think that individuals have a choice in the way they are treated by the specific NPL staff. Maybe that is the reason that many players are becoming disillusioned with NPL and choosing to play at home with friends or at other venues. When people are playing for fun, they do not expect to be treated unfairly by specific members of the NPL staff and would prefer to play at home with friends. I have never played an NPL game in my life, but listen frquently to the people who do and are rapidly becoming more disillusioned by their treatment at times. Queen9's comments are those of many other players of NPL, who constantly reveal their feelings to Queen9, and maybe they should not be taken "WITH A GRAIN OF SALT!!!!!"

[Garth Kay]

Rosemary,

You raise some very valid points. It was not entirely intentional that we did not forewarn players about the double points in December. We came up with an idea that we thought would be successful and have decided to implement it.

In this scenario I do not seriously believe that it will have an impact on current standings, if your form continues the same as it did in the first half of the season then statistically the spread of points remains the same amongst other players. We do not like to spring promotions on players, we do like to prepare all players for all promotions but in this circumstance we decided to move forward on this idea.

Again thank you for your correspondence and I look forward to your next email.

Thanks Rosemary,

I ask for your patience and look forward to what your thoughts are on the structure for 2009 when released.

I understand your grievances with NPL but as previously stated we have not taken anything away from players instead our prize pool has grown steadily over our years of operation. There are many exciting undertakings going ahead in the new year and whilst you may believe we are diving I do not believe we are.

Our competition structure will continually change ideas will be held on to and some discarded or altered it is the nature of the business, we do believe we have a fairly decent competition structure currently and all we need to do is add and “tweak” a few promotions.

Hi Rosemary,

I appreciate the passion you have for the NPL product.

Whilst I appreciate your input and feedback there will be times when we implement new competition structures and protocols that will “upset” a minority of our players. The direction we are heading in 2009 is a fairly positive one as far as I am concerned. As a company we feel the need to change our competition structure so it is continually rejuvenated and does not grow stagnant.

Our prize pool allocation has not decreased, we still have the same amount in cash and prizes available to members every season. We have quite a few changes planned for next season and a news story will be up within the fortnight with all of these details.



We have found that the State Leaderboard does not target more the 2% of our regular players therefore we are looking at other avenues to create hype amongst our regular player base. And whether we change the amount of points allocated or the scaling of points or the competition structure no “records” will ever stand for any amount of time, nor are they monitored closely by head office or other players when discussing the State Leaderboard.

I promise you that NPL will continue to concentrate on it’s player’s need and wants and we will continue to rejuvenate the competition by implementing new ideas and promotions. In the process many of our current promotions will be altered or discarded to maintain the NPL’s position as a market leader and a provider of a truly fair competition.

Whilst I understand that you are a great supporter of NPL and appreciate the constant input/feedback you supply I would also like to add that no player measures above another player when it comes to making these decisions or implementing new procedures or offering feedback. I attend two events per week at a minimum and the majority of feedback I have received on the direction NPL is heading has being extremely positive.

If you wish to discuss this in more detail I am more than happy to have a person to person discussion on these matters at State Finals or the Aussie Millions Satellite. Thank you for the time you have taken to write this email and again I thank you for feedback but I ask for you patience and continued support as we bring NPL into 2009 and concentrate on offering new incentives and greater communication to players.

Hi Rosemary,

There are several reasons why we allow our staff to play in events, as with everything that is implemented in a membership based competition there are pros and cons in this situation.

In this circumstance I believe the pros far outweigh the cons.

Many of our staff are quite popular with players and many players call their local TD a friend, NPL is a competition but it is also a social experience. We like the fact that at some events players can compete against their local TD.

Believe me when I say that the comment; “they have a different attitude to the game than we do as they know it does not matter where they come” is completely inaccurate. Every time I sit at a table with players and staff there is a reputation to uphold and the feeling that you just don’t want to look like an idiot or a fool in front of these players who look up to you as a poker guru. Every staff member is out playing to get their poker fix, to play with the players that they enjoy working for and with and to make a statement that they do know their poker and they are good at it.

Another positive that comes out of our staff playing is that gives a lot of NPL members the opportunity to play against a slightly higher calibre competitor, the majority of our TD’s are good if not decent poker players and enjoy sitting down with players and educating them about the game and competing against those who they direct every week.

In the upcoming months I will be planning a teams event of NPL staff vs. regular NPL players and you will see more staff undergo training in poker skills so they can educate our players to a greater level not only whilst directing tournaments but also while playing in them.

I understand your sentiments but what is to stop any player been knocked off by anybody else, as long as there is no accusation of unethical behaviour then that is fine. I would also go to the lengths to say that the majority of our players start the beginning of any tournament not too concerned about winning but rather having an enjoyable time.

Of course we will monitor staff playing in events and their attitudes but I have spoken to both Chris and Ron and at no time were they playing stupidly or looking to dish bad beats they both really wanted to win an event and have a fun time with NPL players.

In any case, playing against Chris didn’t have it’s advantages to your game? Would you really have played that A6 any differently three handed if he wasn’t there, then if so take that on board, educate yourself, improve your skills and move forward with it.

I recently cashed in two major events in the Vic Champs, the players in SA were railing me on Poker Network and are now begging for a game against me at my local when I head back over. Not just because I am a good guy and very lovable (lol) but because they enjoy playing against harder competition and someone they respect.

Hi Rosemary,

I really appreciate the feedback, my own personal observations was that it was a mixed response but I do have to say that over 75% of the competitors on the day were extremely happy with the tournament structure.

We had over 650 rebuys over the whole weekend; that means on average a person was buying 2.2 rebuys. This is a great way for NPL players to build and create a prize pool above and beyond the one set by NPL. We will be trialling new systems and procedures to arrive at the most conducive tournaments for NPL, our corporate sponsors and the players.

Again I thank you for the feedback and appreciate anymore that you forward to me.

Hi Rosemary,

I thank you for your most recent emails and apologise for the delay in responding to them, I always appreciate the feedback and information players relate to me.

I will answer all of your emails in more detail once I get the time, I am sorry to sound condescending but I do have a lot of work on at the moment and the next two days will prove to be very hectic for me, I hope to speak to you fully on Monday. If there is any problem with this please let me know and I will try to contact you at the earliest convenience.

[Garth Kay]

Garth,

partner of a regular player, thats what I am, and spend many a night at the Hoppers Club before play starts having dinner with my partner and many friends we have made through poker. Do you think that individuals have a choice in the way they are treated by the specific NPL staff. Maybe that is the reason that many players are becoming disillusioned with NPL and choosing to play at home with friends or at other venues. When people are playing for fun, they do not expect to be treated unfairly by specific members of the NPL staff and would prefer to play at home with friends. I have never played an NPL game in my life, but listen frquently to the people who do and are rapidly becoming more disillusioned by their treatment at times. Queen9's comments are those of many other players of NPL, who constantly reveal their feelings to Queen9, and maybe they should not be taken "WITH A GRAIN OF SALT!!!!!"

Hi,

In the post above are the majority of my response to Rosemary's issues where she has raised some serious issues. At hot time have I ever used the phrase

"WITH A GRAIN OF SALT!!!!!"

the fact of the matter is I do take Rosmary's comments and thoughts very seriously. The reason I did not post all responses is that some of my resposnses include Rosmeary's emails and I will not post them without her permission.

My responses to Rosemary are on some serious issues that all players should be aware of

Previously noone has spoken to me about the conduct of staff at Hoppers. Noone has submitted a complaint of any nature. And i have spoken to many people in regards to the downturn in numbers and they are at a loss, I raised the issue of staff and they are all extremely happy with their conduct and behaviour. Obviously I have not spoken to players who are affected by what you describe.

I have the utmost faith in all of our TD's to run a good tournament, and I am sure there is a great deal of concern if only one player feels victimised.

As of last week we commenced our mystery shopper program, all TD's will be appraised at least once every quarter and this will hopefully pinpoint problem areas with the delivery of the product. I do want to add though that I believe the majority of our TD's are the best in the business.

In closing I respect Rosemary's feedback and thoughts, I understand a lot of players speak to her, but I have never disrespected her nor have I completely ignored any of her feedback and I have definitely never taken anything she has relayed to me or commented on with a grain of salt.

If you wish to speak to me privately about these allegations and player concerns please PM me here or email me at garth at npl.com.au.

just for your information, the numbers at hoppers in november, averaged out to more than the numbers in october - for this season ... facts speaks louder than rumours.

The whole national global trend was a decrease in numbers in October whilst November showed a rebound with an increase of 2% across the board from last years same time period. The majority of venues are showing a slight increase in December whilst the Hoppers Club is a statistical anomaly by getting smashed. Which leads me to believe there is something wrong there. I am working with Jay to discover exactly what it is and he is very close to players and has heard several rumors which he is obviously very concerned about. So therefore we do take notice to rumors and follow up on them to appease all.

[Donk]

Garth,
My partner's post was on the money and you kown it::

Garth,
You have shown that players have no say and you will, Do things your way and players as you say (STIFF) as you did with the chip up's, When in you mind will players get to have a say and if we did get a say will you lisen (not at all)as you are the BOSS.SO STIFF is all we get I have played APL and NPL and I love poker but the time you come over from SA.
VIC npl has gone to the dogs and I can not see you getting out of the hole you but US in,' the changes you have mad in the hole are not good one and I think you shod tack a step back and have a good look hard at your time with us and seen if you can fix it lets look at dd is this good for you or good for the player you not the players that one i can go kept going but lets say that one will start it for you and i hope you can look back and see if you have made a mistak or two I care about poker do not kill it for all of us..........................................................

[Nevah play JJ]

You have shown that players have no say and you will, Do things your way.

I fail to understand much of what these posts from "D0nk" are saying because it is obviously something that is happening away from where we play, but I do want to say one thing and they are quite hard to read to be honest.

HOWEVER!
The sign of ANY good boss, leader, OIC or anybody in a position such as Garths MUST AND DOES stand by staff, their product and their company and always show a united front.

How do you know what is going on in the background? What is happening at meetings? What is being said to members of staff?

There is absolutely NO WAY a person in Garths postion should EVER run down a member of his own staff in an open forum such as this and frankly it is insulting to all that you should think he would and should.

I truly believe if you had read through most of the old posts in this forum you would see the kind of issues raised previously, the answers given and to a HUGE degree the changes that have been made through the input of players, TD's and Garth.

[Donk]

However.
you may be right?
But if you think any good boss leader, OIC in a position lets say like Garths can not stand by a staff member how and is makeing poker life hall for so many players and not the staff members frist time did it.
a good boss ect. wold do some thing by know at tale plaers to it like or lump it is that good boss you were thinking of I hope not..............

[krunchie]

However.
you may be right?
But if you think any good boss leader, OIC in a position lets say like Garths can not stand by a staff member how and is makeing poker life hall for so many players and not the staff members frist time did it.
a good boss ect. wold do some thing by know at tale plaers to it like or lump it is that good boss you were thinking of I hope not..............

im sorry but i cant understand a word you are writing my good man

these posts are worse than bruce's.

I think you belive that you have valid points too put across,
to the readers of this forum, but unless your posts can be cleaned up to a point were they make basic sense your never going to get anyone to agree with you.

[David]

I honestly find these posts hard to read as well.

And he hasn't even played a game ...

[queen9]

let me explain guys ... D.O.N.K is a very passionate person and from what I am reading, he appears to be very upset. His wife posted something on here, based on what they have been reading over the last few days and it appears that she was told here in the forum, that she misquoted something.

D.O.N.K is supporting his wife and it appears he has let his emotions get the better of him, cos he doesn't usually say much, yet here he is, going to town... hence the reason his posts are so hard to read .. and while his wife has never played, you can't keep D.O.N.K away, he is a regular.

try reading between the lines ... or changing the letters around ... and D.O.N.K, settle down, preview things before you submit them and take your time ... while I appreciate the support, poker is supposed to be fun, and we WILL have fun, because we always do. Q9

[Brett Kay]

The old adage comes to mind. You can keep some people happy all the time, or you can keep most people happy most of the time.

My new concept for poker is no prizepools. No prizes. Nothing for the players. Play just for the game. We can then do a colour coded system based off finishing positions and points. Be a lot less stressful, lot more sociable.

Now before you scoff at this idea, I saw 20k people playing on a games site online, day in day out, with that idea. The rivalry was there, Oranges wanted to take down reds. Blues wanted to get back into purples. It encouraged people to play more and more. Check your online tabs when you play poker next and see if that doesn't measure up to some of the larger poker sites.