Poker Affiliate Solutions' Tony Guerrero had the pleasure to sit down with poker legend, Doyle Brunson, to chat about many issues on the minds of players and affiliates. In the interview, Doyle spoke at length about a variety of topics including the recent move to Yatahay, player cashout issues and the current online poker legal situation. He also reveals who he had on the Super Bowl and his plans for WSOP Europe.

Linked below is the audio of the interview. Hope you enjoy!



Tony Guerrero from PAS: Doyle, thank you for doing this interview with us. First off, you are known as a pretty decent sports bettor. Who did you have in the Super Bowl last weekend?

Doyle Brunson: I had Green Bay, thank goodness. I had a bet that I made earlier in the year. I had three teams to win the Super Bowl for $100,000. I had New England, Indianapolis, and New Orleans, (laughs) and my opponent had the New York Jets, the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh (Steelers). And so obviously, all my three teams got knocked out and so he had a freeroll at me. If Pittsburgh had beat Green Bay I would have lost $100,000 and I couldn’t win anything. But, fortunately, I survived and I made a smaller bet on Green Bay just to have a little incentive in case they did win that I would get to collect something. (laughs)




"If Pittsburgh had beat Green Bay I would have lost $100,000 and I couldn’t win anything."


PAS: Did you do any prop bets on the Super Bowl?

Doyle Brunson: You know, I didn’t. I started to make some prop bets and I got so confused with them I just canceled all of them.

PAS: (laughs) That’s usually what happens to me too. We’ve noticed that you’re really involved in Twitter right now. You have over 350,000 followers. What do you like least and most about Twitter?

Doyle Brunson: Well, I like that fact that you can do it any time. You can do it any time from anywhere. You can do it on your phone, or from your computer when you are sitting at your desk. And it’s real convenient; it’s entertaining. So, I think that’s what I like the most, plus, you get to interact with a lot people that you don’t know, that know you. And you get a lot of questions...and it’s just interesting. The thing I like least is that you can only use 140 letters when you tweet.

PAS: Yeah, makes it challenging, doesn't it?

Doyle Brunson: Yeah. I usually have to rewrite everything I say because I’ve gone over the limit. (laughs)

PAS: That’s great. Do you play much online poker these days?

Doyle Brunson: I play at Doyles Room every day when I can. I play for an hour or so each day. I do actually kind of get bored with online gaming, online poker playing. I much rather play live. But I do, I try to play an hour or two every day.

PAS: A lot of people are wondering if you could shed any light on the reason why Doyles Room left the Cake Poker Network.

Doyle Brunson: Well, obviously we had some major disagreements with the Cake management and we couldn’t resolve them. And we wanted to have better communication with our players where we could put in our loyalty program and give back to the players. When you are on a network, the network has rules, and they wouldn’t let you violate their rules, you know. Consequently, we had a lot of problems over that, and we wanted to be able to have our own software and be able to do what we wanted to do: to give back to the players. I think that later on you will see that we probably will give back to the players more than any other site. Right now the software is in beta testing, and it’s not real sharp yet, but we just hope that people will put up with us for a few months until we get the software bugs out, and I think then we will really have a site that people will want to play on.

PAS: So it’s safe to say that you guys felt like you needed more control over the VIP programs and basically more control over your database of players and what you can do with the software?

Doyle Brunson: Right. We didn’t want someone telling us what we could and couldn’t do, and while I do understand Cake’s position, it didn’t suit us because we want to be able to control our own destiny. We want to be able to make our players happy…And (there were) a few other issues that we couldn’t come to terms with. So we decided to leave and go with Yatahay, or whatever you call it. (laughs)




"And I’ll just guarantee that anybody that has any problems, that they will be able to get their funds out of Doyles Room"


PAS: We’ve had a few players ourselves and have seen some threads on 2+2 and other poker forums from players complaining about not being able to get their funds off Doyles Room. What can you say to reassure these players who are worried about their deposits?

Doyle Brunson: Well that had to be while we were still with the Cake Network, and Cake controlled the payouts. And that’s another reason that we left. They were very slow with it, and I think that any of the players now will have no trouble cashing out. We’re very secure financially, and I’ll just guarantee that anybody that has any problems, that they will be able to get their funds out of Doyles Room, any time they want to. Of course, sometimes it’s getting harder to get them out, but the funds are safe at Doyles Room.

PAS: Ok, that’s good to hear. Now, Doyle, why do you feel players should continue to play at Doyles Room after the move to the new network instead of going to another room or network?

Doyle Brunson: Well, I think that some players like the smaller rooms because they get to build a rapport with the other players. They get to know a lot of players on the network, whereas at the bigger sites, it’s very impersonal. They usually don’t know who they are playing with and so forth, and a lot of players like that. I think, they should continue to play with us because in the long run we are going to give back to the players more than any other site does. And I think for that reason, they should come play with us. Plus, I think that we probably have a lot of softer players because a lot of them are sportsbook players; they’re not poker players. But they come to that site, and I think that the real poker players will do very well on our site.


"if there is some question about what I think would be best for the site, well, the management they call me and I give them my opinion"


PAS: Sure. Yeah, that’s been my experience at Doyles Room -- the player pool is a lot softer than other rooms because of the sports bettors. Now many players are curious of your specific role at Doyles Room. Do you see yourself as a sponsored pro that’s common at many other sites or move of a “mover and shaker” decision-maker with the room?

Doyle Brunson: Yeah, well, I give my input to the decisions, usually. Not the day-to-day management because I’m not involved in that. But if there is some question about what I think would be best for the site, well, the management they call me and I give them my opinion. So, I don’t know if that answers your question or not, but that’s the position that I am in.

PAS: Sure, so you’re more of a consultant as far as when they have questions about game play or stuff where they come to you and run it by you first?

Doyle Brunson: Right. Yeah. If they think it’s some kind of important change or something they usually ask my opinion.

PAS: Ok, what do you like most about the new Yatahay Network?

Doyle Brunson: I just like the idea that we are in control. We have 3D (software) that I think is pretty unusual that I think maybe that the recreational player will like. It’s animated avatars and I didn’t think I would like it, but since I’ve been playing on it I do kind of like it. And it’s a little bit slow but the software people are working on it to speed it up. I think if they get it sped up and make a few changes, I think most of the public will like it. I think the recreational players will like it more than maybe the pros, that are, you know, the grinders that are trying to make a living playing online poker. I think it might be a little bit too slow for them. But I think just the ordinary recreational player that wants to come on and play for an hour or two: I think they will like it... I was surprised, but I kind of like it myself.


"We’re planning on having a cash game on a national network"


PAS: Doyle, are there any new exciting features or news in the pipeline for the new site on Yatahay?

Doyle Brunson: Well, that is the thing that we are working on. There’s a lot of different flaws with the software right now that we are trying to correct. It wasn’t a major site, you know, like we’re trying to make it where we are having to make a lot of adjustments and a lot of changes, and it’s going to take a little while to get all this done. I’m just hoping that the players will bare with us and stay with us to help us get through this to where we get the site and the software to where we want it. We’ve got some big plans for the future. We’re planning on having a cash game on a national network, and I think that will bring a load of recreational players to our site. And again, I think that our site is going to be more for the recreational player than the pro players. Of

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Where the Federal Government left off in late 2010 is where the State of New Jersey picked up in 2011. Monday night the New Jersey Assembly (NJ's version of the House of Representatives) approved a bill that permits Atlantic City casinos to create online brands that can be promoted to NJ citizens. Since the NJ Senate has already given their approval of the bill, all that remains is a signature from Governor Chris Christie.

The big question on everyone in the industries mind is whether existing sites like Full Tilt Poker and Poker Stars will be allowed to join the party in Atlantic City. PPA Board Member Patrick Fleming commented on the chances of existing poker sites operating in a regulated NJ market:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...&postcount=703

"If NJ casinos open up poker sites and COMPETE with FTP and Stars, it’s possible that everyone wins. Although it seems unlikely a NJ site will take much business from the big 2, it will take some, maybe even enough to be an attractive alternative to NJ players. And even if the NJ poker sites do not generate significant play volume, the NJ sites will also be able to offer casino games like slots and blackjack online. That may be enough for them.

Or maybe not. If the NJ casinos decide they do not want to compete for poker players or the NJ authorities decide this law criminalizes existing sites and decide to aggressively prosecute, or if the existing sites decide to pull out because they fear being charged under this law, then NJ players will be left only with the NJ sites .... Will that provide a decent poker experience for those players, especially professional players? Most of us doubt it, but we could be wrong."

You can read the full text of Bill A2570 here: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/B...llNumber=A2570

Below is the complete legislative history of the bill:

1/12/2010 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee

6/3/2010 Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

6/3/2010 Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

11/15/2010 Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

11/22/2010 Passed by the Senate (29-5)

11/22/2010 Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Regulatory Oversight and
Gaming Committee

12/9/2010 Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Budget Committee

12/13/2010 Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading

1/10/2011 Substituted for A2570 (1R)

1/10/2011 Passed by the Assembly (63-11-3)

1/10/2011 Received in the Senate, 2nd Reading on Concurrence

1/10/2011 Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (35-2)

Update 1:00pm CST: Despite a report by the Las Vegas Sun last night, the Reid Bill is still alive and kicking. The Reid Camp said the Senator's quotes in the Sun article were taken out of context and that the bill is still alive so the Sun was forced to retract their story. Republicans are publicly stating the bill has no shot to get attached to the Bush Tax Cuts while the Reid Camp is working hard to find a middle ground. Mainstream media sources like Forbes and FoxBusiness are now covering the story. Even Bloomberg weighed in on how the possibility of a US Poker Bill is affecting BWIN's stock.

I posted this in the Legislation Forum on 2+2 last night and figured our blog readers might want to read it.

I guess I will throw my two cents into the discussion.

Long time poker player turned internet marketer, I got into the business side of the poker industry about 2.5 years ago. I work for a marketing company who's core business has been online poker for quite some time (we have recently expanded into other industries). I go to the gaming conferences in Europe, talk to the poker rooms on a daily basis, and have poker room owners I chat with who will speak candidly with me at times.

As ZBhorton's source pointed out, the cat (US Govt) and mouse (poker room processors) game is an integral part of this industry. It has become increasingly harder for rooms to partner with processors who 1. have clean track records and 2. can facilitate the volume and nature of their deposits/withdrawals.

The deposit/withdrawal game has changed significantly in the last 12 months. The DOJ understands there is gray area in the UIGEA and I believe is not willing to risk losing a case against a room because of the precedent it would set (and because they are arrogant). So they have invested their time and effort into higher converting cases against processors, where the law is a lot more black and white. We will see more and more processors shut down, and at a much higher frequency than before. Which in turn, will make it much harder for players to deposit.

I do believe FTP and Stars support this bill. Their execs aren't stupid and can see the writing on the wall. Their time in the US market is limited. Their best shot (revenue wise) is to sell or partner with US gaming companies. At the very least, they could get hefty consulting or software contracts.

While Stars, FTP, and PPA have their seat at the bargaining table, it's a high chair compared to the seats owned by Las Vegas. The US Casino industry has had deep ties in DC for a long time. It truly is David (stars/ftp/ppa) vs. Goliath (US Casinos). Because of this, I believe there is little chance that stars or ftp are allowed back into the US market without Las Vegas having a substantial edge: 2 year head start, different regulations, etc.

This is first and foremost a Las Vegas bill. It will be written for their benefit. If the Reid bill doesn't pass we will probably see similar bills with similar verbage: blackout periods, no stars/ftp, state opt -in (imo it's a must for a bill to pass), etc. I do think this bill is our best shot at regulation for quite some time. We desperately need it to preserve the games and to also protect our individual freedoms.

Ok, back to sweating this bill and wearing out my F5 key.

UPDATE: The Las Vegas Sun has retracted their original article. They now claim the Reid Bill is still on the lame duck agenda. The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that the Bill is in fact still a work in progress. Follow PAS on Twitter @PokerAM for the latest news on the Reid Bill.

The Las Vegas Sun published an online article today at 3pm CST stating that the Harry Reid online poker bill is dead. The Sun wrote "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the Las Vegas Sun after a press conference this afternoon that despite a flurry of last-minute lobbying, he would not be adding legalization of online poker to his list of objectives during the lame duck."

The article includes a quote from Harry Reid after his press conference this afternoon:

“We’re still working on that, we’re not able to,” Reid said.

It's hard to read too much into the quote. But one could assume Reid is saying that they are still trying to get a bill to go through but it won't be during the lame duck session.

This is the only source I can find that discusses the news of the bill being taken off of the agenda. I find it very strange that the Las Vegas Sun would break the news of the Reid bill dying. When you consider all of the major media sources who are covering the Bush Tax cuts, it seems odd that the Sun would be the one to break the news. Of course given the money and power behind the bill (Las Vegas), the news does affect the Las Vegas community more than most communities around the US.

There is still a lot of speculation swarming around the web on the death of the Reid Bill. Pokerati's DC reporter Scarlet Robinson recently tweeted "hearing from ppl in DC that the bill is NOT dead". Also keep in mind that hours before the UIGEA went through there were multiple reports out of Washington that the UIGEA was dead in the water. So who really knows at this point.

I will be updating the PAS blog if more sources come out to back up the Las Vegas Sun story. Until then, you can find me hitting F5 on 2+2 and Twitter

PAS was recently nominated by our publishers and peers for 4 2011 iGB Affiliate Awards. iGB is the company who puts on the gaming conferences that PAS attends throughout the year. The awards are for affiliates, affiliate networks, affiliate programs, iGaming communities and iGaming software providers. PAS falls into a few of these categories. We are an affiliate network, an affiliate program and we also host an iGaming community.

Our passion over the last 3+ years has been to provide affiliates with the tools and offers needed to monetize their websites. Having watched several new affiliates turn into full time Internet Marketers making a great living has been an amazing experience for me (and the rest of the PAS Team).

Last Summer we expanded PAS and the result was an All-In-One Poker Affiliate Network: Rakeback, CPA, Revenue Share, and Bankroll offers. We are unique in that no other poker affiliate network offers this kind of full service monetization. In the last year I have seen quite a few affiliates expand their business by diversifying via different means of monetization. As their rakeback business continued to grow, they started targeting different player types with our CPA, Revenue Share and Bankroll offers.

While it's a honor to be nominated for industry awards, I can honestly say my true satisfaction has come from working with affiliates to help them grow their businesses. That being said I would love to see my fellow coworkers recognized for their hardwork. I would also like to see PAS owner Chris Carlson recognized. Chris isn't as much of a public figure as some CEO's in our industry. That's not his style. But trust me, his vision for PAS and helping affiliates is a passion he has emphasized to his employees from day one.

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