[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

BGonline.org Forums

Side Pools

Posted By: Henrik Bukkjaer
Date: Tuesday, 24 April 2012, at 1:02 p.m.

In Response To: Vegas Results, Stolen from Bill Davis' Web Site (Paul Weaver)

Out of curiosity, what are the entry for the Champ event, and how big was the side-pool?

In the US, do you typically follow any guidelines as to the size of the side-pool compared to the entry fee?

Do you sometimes use differentiated or floating side-pools?

------

I'm asking, because I'd like to initiate that DBgF start discussing side-pools with the Danish gambling regulators. If you recall, Backgammon in Denmark came as close to being illegal as it possibly could a couple of years ago, until we got an exemption in the very last hour. One of the requirements as to what constitutes "tournament backgammon" (which is what the exemption allows) is no side-pools and no rebuys. Actually, the legal wording is not that specific, it goes to the tune of having only one buy-in for all players, to be known at the beginning of the tournament. The basic idea, of course, is to prevent people with gambling addictions going crazy, chasing their losses. And then also to make the "market" as transparent as possible, for the players (eg. you know what you sign up for, and you know the cost at the beginning of the tournament).

However, I feel that correct handled side-pools and first round rebuys up to a full bracket, will actually work positively towards the purpose of the law, ie. give a "fair" tournament (full draw, no byes), enable the tournament organizers to keep entry fee lower (through side-pools for the players seeking higher amounts) and bringing visibility of side-bets to the tournament directors (as TD, I would prefer to have knowledge of any side-pools rather than having players organize them their selves).

In the DBgF until the new law was passed, we had a "rule of thumb" that side-pools should not exceed the prize money made up of entry fee, in order to avoid match result speculation. So if someone suggested a tournament with say $50 in entry and $1000 in sidepool, we would turn it down, and ask for the fees to be evened out a bit :-)

Messages In This Thread

 

Post Response
Your Name:
Your E-Mail Address:
Subject:
Message:

If necessary, enter your password below:

Password:
 

 

[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.