I started working for UB around 1 year and a half ago. One of the first issues I received from a customer was from a guy who kept saying that he updated his address information in his player profile, but whenever he went to make a payout request, his old info continue to appear in the Cashier page.
As a new agent I just didn’t feel well prepared to handle this. Since I assumed it was the customer’s error, I just told him to update his address and then wait, the same answer everybody gave.
Big mistake! The horror came later!!! This nice friendly customer who needed my help turned into an irate person who thought our service was crap. Well, once I realized that other customers had the same issue, and that “waiting” never fixed it, I realized that more drastic measures needed to be taken.
It seems that in some cases, the profile never updates the address for some customers, and for others, it works perfectly.
My solution? Fix the error by myself. I just manually changed the address info for him and guess what? A happy customer who was able to cashout his funds to the correct address!
Ive since learned how important it is to do some basic-elemental-OBVIOUS research and that often times, the customer is actually right. One day, in a perfect world, everything will work as expected. Until then, its up to me to figure out solutions for customers when the most obvious answer doesn’t work.
The great thing about working here, is that we’re always constantly learning. And having fun….
You can be excused for thinking that once the November Nine was set and the WSOP went on hiatus till autumn that poker would enjoy a bit of downtime. Bu that wasn’t the case–the Poker Players Alliance declared July 19-25 “National Poker Week” and took the fight to legalize online poker to Washington, D.C. Thirty of the PPA’s state directors and seven poker players (UltimateBet’s Annie Duke, Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Greg Raymer, Dennis Phillips, Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher) went to the seats of power in America and spoke directly to members of Congress to make the case for online poker.
And it would seem that elected officials are a bit more inclined to listen to the case for online poker. As Annie Duke said in an interview:
It’s definitely different than a year and a half ago. Then, it was a lot of education and telling people what the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is. Now, I think people are much more familiar with the legislation’s problems. They realize that it’s a piece of legislation that doesn’t work. It’s fortuitous timing with the health care reform because you get to talk about how it’s going to get paid for. When you point out that internet gambling can bring in a conservative estimate of $3 billion per year, they listen.
The events of the week generated quite a bit of interest in your traditional poker news sources, and as several of my poker-media friends were in Washington it was quite amusing to hear about them putting on power suits and trying to tie a Windsor knot for the first time in a decade before marching on the Capitol. But in addition to poker-centric outlets National Poker Week got a lot of play in the mainstream media as well. To start with, PPA Chairman Alphonse D’Amato went on the Howard Stern show and, after chatting with Stern about why he’s so passionate about poker, Howard announced on the air that he’d become a member of the PPA. After the show D’Amato had this to say about Stern signing on:
“I can’t think of a more fitting way to kick off National Poker Week than having my friend, Howard Stern, become a member of the PPA. I thank him for having me on his show this morning and for supporting the PPA’s efforts to protect the freedom of American citizens to play the great game of poker at the time and place of their choosing – a freedom Congress voted to take away… With Howard Stern as a member of the PPA, it shows Congress and the public that protecting Internet poker is about more than just poker – it’s about protecting Internet freedom and personal responsibility.”
But that wasn’t the only time that National Poker Week earned the attention of a major news outlet. On Wednesday PPA Executive Director John Pappas appeared on CNBC, and here’s how host Mark Haines introduced the segment:
“Washington is cracking down on fun! I guess that’s nothing new…”
Pappas appeared opposite Les Bernal, who fronts for an organization called “Stop Predatory Gambling”. As if someone out there is advocating predatory gambling, sheesh. Pappas did some rhetorical ju-jitsu to start with, saying that we need online gaming legalized so that children aren’t preyed upon by unscrupulous operators and adults can play on sites that are regulated and safe. Which left Bernal in a bit of a predicament because his argument is that online poker should NOT be legalized and regulated because that’s the best way to protect the children. That argument didn’t make sense before and Bernal didn’t make it any better during this interview. Bernal also seemed to think that poker players wager money against the house, not against other players, and then he made the bizarre claim that some USB study showed that the online poker business model is “unsustainable…that short-term they made money but long-term they did not”. Uh, what? I searched the Google for that study but found nothing, but to refute Mr. Bernal’s claim I would like to introduce him to…UltimateBet, which is celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary this year. And every year more and more people around the world play online poker. Bizarre. If you’d like to see the bizarreness first hand here’s the segment, with Pappas scoring a decisive TKO:
Greg Raymer did a chat on with the readers of the Washington Post (he had a great line when asked when we could expect a repeal of the UIGEA–”Predicting this stuff is always tough, as politicians are difficult animals to deal with. Animal trainers have it much easier.”). And there was a piece on Newsweek’s site as well. But while generating a lot of media buzz is a good thing, it doesn’t necessarily translate into legislative success. There’s still no guarantee that Congress is going to repeal the UIGEA and legalize online poker, but as you can see the balance of the discussion has definitely swung in our direction. Now it’s the opponents of online poker who are being grilled about why they think law-abiding Americans shouldn’t be allowed to play, it’s Washington who wants to keep Americans from having fun. Members of Congress who perhaps were content with opposing online poker to placate a small number of vocal social conservatives now have to deal with the 1.2 million-member Poker Players Alliance and fed-up constituants who have had enough with the federal government dictating how they can and cannot spend their time and money. Dan Michalski at Pokerati published some numbers from National Poker Week to show how the PPA was able to mobilize it’s membership:
Poker-related letters sent to members of Congress in July 2009: > 150,000
Poker-related letters sent to Congress in 2008: 77,000
Issues other than health care reform that have generated more letters to Congress in 2009 (including war in Iraq, recession, and gas prices): 0
Meetings scheduled between PPA representatives and Congressional offices in a two-day period: 110
At the end of National Poker Week there was a $100 charity tournament to raise money for the USO and wounded veterans. Around 180 people played, including 31 wounded veterans and seven members of Congress. It was a rebuy tournament and many of the professional poker players there rushed around the room re-buying for the soldiers who’d busted out (Annie apparently out-rebought her brother Howard by a 15-10 score). The tournament raised around $35,000 for the USO, people had a great time, and a veteran named Bret Chevalier won the tournament and a trip to Las Vegas. Many of the soldiers who played in the event won their seats in tournaments held at Walter Reed Hospital. Wounded soldiers playing poker in the hospital…a charity tournament to raise money to help them…folks sitting around a poker table having a great time…and there are people who think this is wrong? That the federal government should BAN it? It beggars belief.
But though the passage of the UIGEA was not a shining example of democracy in action, we at least have the opportunity to fight for a repeal of that bad law. Poker players can band together, lobby Congress, and get poker legalized as it should be. Unlike, say, in Russia, where Vladimir Putin the Russian government shut down casinos across the nation this week. At first it was thought that poker, which was classified as a sport in Russia, would be exempted. Ah, nyet–all the poker rooms in Russia were ordered shuttered as well. The government says that this was done because of the pervasive influence of organized crime in the thousands of casinos scattered throughout the country, though one wonders if the Russian Mafia will have any compunctions about opening (even deeper) underground casinos and cardrooms.
The Russian government decreed that gambling will only be permitted in four zones…one of which is in Siberia, while another is near the North Korean border. Those places sound…lovely. And these areas have none of the infrastructure in place to host casinos, the roads, airports, power stations, whatever you need for a major tourist attraction. It’s estimated that 400,000 people were put out of work by this decree, some of whom probably would’ve worked the first stop on this year’s European Poker Tour, which was to be begin August 18th in Moscow. But no more–yesterday it was announced that the tournament has been moved to Kiev, Ukraine.
So perhaps this is an argument that can be used here in the United States–you want to ban poker? That’s what they do in Russia. Jingoistic to be sure, but to get online poker legalized it’ll probably take every arrow in the quiver. The House bill Representative Barney Frank has introduced won’t come up for discussion again until the Congress returns from vacation in September, and then it faces a very crowded legislative docket. In case you haven’t heard there’s talk about national health insurance, the economy still teeters and totters, there are wars in Iraq and Afghanistan…legalizing online poker is still way down on the list of priorities. But National Poker Week no doubt did a lot to keep it ON that list, and in these difficult times one would hope that Congress will take a more reasonable and pragmatic look at legalizing the game we love.
There is a story in the Detroit News today about Joseph Cada, who is the youngest member of the November Nine. Here’s what it looked like on the front page:
There’s a line from the article I thought was a bit amusing. Here’s Joe’s mother, Anne Cada:
“We had 15 people all huddled around the computer getting updates,” she said Thursday. “There was a delay in what’s going on there and the updates on the computer and all the sudden I got a call from Joe and all he said was ‘I made it.’ The place just erupted with the loudest ovation.”
I found it amusing because some of my friends were writing the updates that Joe’s mom was reading, and as I watched the crowd going nuts after Darvin Moon eliminated Jordan Smith in tenth place I took this shot of Joe, who was probably talking to his mon:
When the bad beat jackpot is hit at the tables, a new window will pop-up on top of all the other windows letting players know that the Jackpot was hit.
It will include details of all those players who won at the main table.
This is how the Jackpot information wills pop-up once the Bad Beat Jack Pot is hit:
This pop-up will not be displayed on top of the table, but in the middle of the screen.
They can be moved and will have an “X” option on the right upper corner to close it.
Please remember to send us any question or suggestion that you may have to support@ultimatebet.com
For some just playing in the World Series of Poker Main Event is the realization of a lifelong dream. For other, cashing in the Main Event is a story to be retold over and over again for decades. But for some, there’s only on reason to play in the Main Event–or any poker tournament, for that matter. And that’s to win it.
Phil Hellmuth has a legacy to think about. He’s won more WSOP bracelets than anyone else, has played at more WSOP final tables than anyone else, has more WSOP cashes than anyone else. He won the Main Event twenty years ago. But still, that’s not enough. With every deep run comes an opportunity to rewrite history, history Phil himself wrote in years past. Coming into play today Phil had a big stack, big enough to work his usual magic and position himself for another deep run in the biggest poker tournament in the world, just as he did last year.
But it wasn’t meant to be. Famous for his line “I can dodge bullets, baby!”, Phil lost a big pot to Jose Manuel Gomez Rebenaque when Rebanaque called an 80,000 bet on the river with pocket Aces, and Phil wasn’t able to rebuild and retrench after that. He had chips, just not as many as those rising to the top of the leaderboard, when he lost a huge pot to Abraham Mourshaki when Mourshaki flopped trip Jacks and Phil called a 120,000 bet on the river. The end came shortly thereafter, when Phil was dealt…pocket Aces, and when the money went in after a Jc-10d-5c flop. Phil found himself in big trouble against Kenny Hsiung’s J-10 and Kevin Jenkins’ 8h-9h, and when the 7d fell on the turn it gave Jenkins a straight that held up to take the pot.
And that’s when WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla took the microphone and announced, “Ladies and Gentleman, just eliminated from the Main Event…Phil Hellmuth”. There was a smattering of applause in the half-empty room, an ESPN film team followed Phil as he walked out the door. “Love you, Phil!” a fan called from the far rail, but Phil walked out the door and was gone.
For Scott Ian, the Main Event WAS his World Series, as he was in Europe touring with Anthrax during the rest of the Series. He returned to the States just in time to take his Main Event seat, and then after surviving to Day 2 he had to hop on a plane and fly to Tulsa, Oklahoma to play a gig at the Rocklahoma music festival. A flight at dawn back to Vegas and Scott resumed his seat on Day 3, battling all day with a shortstack to make it to Day 4. And on Day 4 he gritted it out, folding several times to big re-raises when his entire stack was in peril, and battled his way into the money. If Phil was crushed after his elimination, Scott saw the bright side. As he tweeted, “I cashed in my first main event. Outlasted 5857 players. So stoked. Post main event euphoria.”
But that’s how it is for everyone who cashes in the Main Event but doesn’t win–there’s congratulations, and condolences as well. There’s only one winner, and everyone else walks away from the table bitterly disappointed. But there’s reason to be proud of cashing in the Main Event, and both Scott Ian and Phil Hellmuth have reason to be proud of what they accomplished this week. Even if pride is an emotion that might come harder for some at this particular time.
And with that, we’re done for the night. Tournament Director Jack Effel announced a bit ago that we were ending early tonight, with 407 players still in the hunt for the World Championship. We’ll resume tomorrow at high noon, with 406 players sure to ride that roller coaster of ecstasy and despair, while one will claim the ultimate prize–the title of World Champion.
For the first time since May 27 the Rio was quiet yesterday, with no tournament action scheduled. After the opening six days of the Main Event the World Series of Poker paused to take a breath before the six-day march to the final table. But not everyone pulled their noses from the grindstone as play concluded Wednesday night.
Like Phil Hellmuth, for example. Let’s see, Phil’s won eleven bracelets, millions of dollars, and he hobnobs with celebrities and seems to spend half his time with TV camera pointed at him. Yet as he walked out of the Amazon Room Monday night he passed the press box and said, “Hey, are you guys media?” There’s a sign that says “MEDIA PRESS BOX” right by the stairs but we didn’t snippy and acknowledged the fact. “I’m gonna give you guys some books!” he said, and rushed out the door, returning twenty seconds later with a box filled to the brim with copies of Deal Me In, the book Phil’s new publishing imprint just released. And so we were favored with the sight of one of the most famous and successful poker players in the world hustling down the row and handing out books like a glad-handing salesman. Here’s a shot of Phil giving copies to the PokerStars blogging team (gotta stick it to the competition):
Phil handed out the lot, signed a few autographs, and chatted with we ink-stained scribes for a few minutes before finally making his departure from the Amazon Room:
Scott Ian is also back to play today, this after he flew from Vegas to Tulsa yesterday to play at Rocklahoma yesterday with Anthrax. While others among the 2,044 players remaining the in Main Event field were lounging by the pool or catching up on sleep Scott and Anthrax were headlining one of the biggest music festivals of the year. Then Scott hopped on a flight at 7AM to get back to Vegas in time to take his seat today. Makes your typical day off seem pretty (deleted) weak, yes?
What did I do on my day off? Well, it turns out that the Rio wasn’t totally quiet yesterday, as the World Series of Poker Media Event was held in the Brasilia Room. After attending the press conference Jeffrey Pollack held at Martorano’s restaurant in the Rio (and enjoying the buffet laid out for us) the WSOP media took to the felt in a tournament using the new Dream Team format. We played in teams of three and your overall score is determined by the order you and your mates are knocked out. I’m proud to say that my team finished third (whoo-hoo!), as my buddy Pauly carried me and Kristin to near the top of the leaderboard by finishing third overall. It was fun playing poker as opposed to merely covering it, though I got knocked out about 90 minutes in and spent the rest of the time sweating Pauly. But I represented UB with poise and class, if not skill or cunning.
And now everybody’s back to work, 2,044 players fighting tooth-and-nail for every chip on the table. No more days off, not until we know the names of the players who take a break until the November Nine reconvenes.
There’s a legend that when Julius Caesar was at the pinnacle of his power and popularity someone told him, “Remember, Caesar, thou art mortal”. It was a reminder to guard against hubris, because we all die in the end, no matter how exalted we are during our time on Earth. I know that’s some heavy stuff to lay on you but when you’re at the World Series of Poker you’re constantly reminded of how brief life can be, especially when you flop set under set. And I couldn’t help but think of Imperial times this afternoon as I watched Phil Hellmuth make his majestic entrance to the Main Event.
Perhaps only one poker player could actually pull off dressing as Julius Caesar and striding into the Rio escorted by 11 female gladiators and 100 Muses, and that’s Phil Hellmuth. That’s what he did today, as he eschewed his normal limosuine for human-powered transport to the Rio:
Carried along in a sedan chair Phil alighted onto the blazing-hot asphalt to the delight of his devotees:
And then it was time for Emperor Phil to make his way to the Amazon Room, escorted by 111 young women and a trumpetor to announce his arrival. Rose petals were cast at his feet as he walked, hundreds of admirers strained to catch a glimpse of his noble form. Fairly low-key stuff.
The walk down the hall to the Amazon Room reminded me of something from Roman times, a vast unruly mob shoving and jostling in tight quarters trying to follow Phil. I punched a few people in the face and kicked out someone’s crutches to get a few shots of the procession:
And then Phil reached the Amazon Room and it was time to alight from his exalted perch and take his seat with we mere mortals. Of course only after favoring the masses with a dignified wave:
Quite a few people remarked today that Caesar ended up being assassinated by his colleagues in the Senate. And in a manner of speaking (I hope not literally) that’s exactly what the eight players at Phil table will try to do today–whack Phil and send him out of the Main Event. That may be easier said that done–today isn’t the Ides of March, I didn’t see anyone at the secondary Feature Table brandishing swords, and I haven’t seen a Brutus or Cassius listed in the chip counts. Still, today will be filled with treachery and conspiracy–all that remains to be seen is if Caesar…I mean Phil Hellmuth…is able to outmaneuver his enemies.
The No Limit 10 tables require a minimum balance of 400 in play chips. However, if your balance falls below 400, you will only be able to access the Fixed Limit 10/20 and the new smaller stakes tables 2/4 NL table which only use a minimum of 160 chips to enter.
As soon as your balance drops below 199 chips or less, just open the “Options” menu and select “Buy More Chips.” You will receive 2000 in fun chips to play with and you will be automatically reloaded every time your balance reaches 199 or less, up to three times per hour. If this does not happen automatically, please exit Ultimate Bet completely and then re-enter. You may replenish your chips up to three times in one hour.
Feel free to try these tables just going to the main lobby and review all your favorites’ games.
Please remember to send us any question or suggestion that you may have to support@ultimatebet.com
Every day at 2:20 pm World Series of Poker Commissioner takes to the small stage set up by the Feature Table Arena and presents the previous day’s winners with their gold WSOP bracelets. The ceremony always attracts a fair number of reporters, photographers and camerapeople who aim their instruments of recordation at the dais and the latest poker champion. Today the crowd was just a bit larger than usual, because one of the players who received a bracelet is a bit larger than life–Phil Ivey, who last night won his second bracelet this year (and his seventh overall).
As the appointed hour grew close and the media thronged around the stage a rumor circulated that Ivey wasn’t coming to the ceremony. I wanted to get a picture of the media gaggle surrounding the stage and if Ivey wasn’t gonna show, chances are much of the press would as well. But at 2:20 there was Ivey, standing next to Pete Vilandos, who won a bracelet in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold-Em event last night. Vilandos was the first to take the stage and accept his bracelet, and the players in the room stood to listen to the Greek national anthem:
And then it was Ivey’s turn to shake Jeffrey Pollack’s hand and take possession of his seventh bracelet. And time for a platoon of shutterbugs to press close (or loom overhead) to get shots of Ivey standing at attention for the Star-Spangled Banner:
I’d like to see what the media crush would be like, if, say, Phil Hellmuth won his twelfth bracelet. We still have five weeks to find out.
