Absolute/Ultimate drop pros

[2Tone]

Interesting reason given -- will Stars drop their WSOP winners?




Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet have dropped their sponsorships of poker professionals Michael Mizrachi, Antonio Esfandiari and Mark Seif. The future of two other big names, Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth, also remains in the balance. The players were told the move by Absolute, which owns Ultimate Bet, was down to legal issues and the fear that they might be targeted and arrested by US authorities as the US repression on online gaming firms continues. It is unlikely it presages any exit from the US market by Absolute and is seen as a precautionary step by the company.

[Talking Poker]

I heard about this the other day. In the release that I read, they said that these pros will continue to promote the sites in Europe, but will cease to promote them here in the U.S.

I see they still list everyone on , but their faces aren't splattered all over the main page of the site any more.

It will be interesting to see what these guys wear during future televised tourneys. I can't even picture Hellmuth NOT wearing UB crap.

[Reel Deal]

I thought this might happen. Will be very interested to see what FTP does with as many pros as they have signed.

[stormswa]

thats full tilts claim to fame!!!! play with the pro's.

[Ando05]

if they are releasing their pros, they might not let US players play any more thats what im guessin, dont u guys think that might happen

[Talking Poker]

They have specifically stated that this is not the plan... so.... no. At least not in the immediate future.

[Reel Deal]

I don't see the correlation.

[Ando05]

well most of the players go play at the sites because of the pros that are there. like pokerstars got big because all the world chams from 2003-2005 are there, and full tilt has all those pros, i dont think they would have half the people if it was not for the pros

[Ando05]

thats good news..

[Talking Poker]

So you think Party Poker was the most popular poker site in the world forever because.... Mike Sexton endorsed it?

Yeah, I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one.

[stormswa]

im going to have to agree with the crowd here, I dont think FTP will close just because they release their pro's ( if it comes to that of course).


true I said it is the place to play with the pro's because well that is their slogan, im sure their marketing people can come up with something else if it comes to it.

I dont see any huge decline in play if pro's leave, maybe a little but not huge amounts.

[Spuddy]

Fulltilt can always change their slogan....


Many companies change there slogans.

Look at Burger King, anyone remember "Where's the beef?"

[Reel Deal]

Memo to the resident Rocket Scientist: that was Wendy's.

[stormswa]

yep, because Wendy's had square patty's and overlapped the heel of the bun unlike circle ones that were same size of heel if not smaller.

[Spuddy]

Just doing a test to see how well "catchphrases" worked.

I'm glad you caught that. I guess it just shows the power of marketing

[stormswa]

good coverup


points for effort

[Spuddy]

Well.... what else am I supposed to say?

If I edit the post, I look like even more of an idiot...... so I might as well make up some lame excuse!

[Reel Deal]

Longshot would have bought it...

[Spuddy]

Longshot would have bought anything involving food.....

[Talking Poker]

LOL.

[Spuddy]

Thought someone would enjoy that