Jonas Odman on the Bodog Network Software Update

By the way, we will be happy to let industry members post an opinion.  Players who want to communicate with bodog, need to contact bodog or go to a player forum however.  This is an industry facing site only and we want to keep the discussion at that level. 

Thanks

You could rename the Bodog Poker Open to the Blindfolded Poker Open.  You have taken all of the social aspects out of the game that recreational and professional players both enjoy.  You have instilled fear in many players that there will be rampant botting and collusion now.  Which we have absolutely no way to know of, except for you telling us to trust you.  With all the scandals that have happened in the poker world, trust us, isn’t nearly good enough. 

You state that this is more like playing poker in a casino when you don’t know anyone… sure it is for the first 5 seconds.  After I’ve played with people in a casino, I have a memory and eyesight so I can see how they play and remember that for future use.  When I go to the bathroom in a casino and come back and everyone at the table is the same, I still know what’s going on.  When I go to the bathroom playing in a game on bodog, and I come back, have 5 different players sat down?  I don’t know, they are all still called #1, #2 etc.

People are angry, because this really isn’t poker anymore with everything you have done to it.. it’s some weird type of video game.  Frankly I think the people you are trying to protect should be totally offended by this.  You either think they are such idiots they need you to protect them because they can’t do it themselves.  Or you really just don’t want anyone playing poker anyway, you’d rather have them dumping money on sports with the bad, favorite shaded lines u put out.  I don’t see you trying to protect the net depositors from laying a point more than they have to.  

You say net depositing players make the most revenue for your site.  I’d really love to see the books on that one, unless you think deposits = revenue.  If that’s the case you might as well team up with FTP.  Deposits by themselves do nothing for ur bottom line other than add a number to the liability sheet.  You only turn these deposits into revenue through rake.  Who rakes more, someone playing multiple tables 6+ hours per day, or one of the recreational players that play 200 hands a week?  Not to mention the exorbitant fees on cashouts, but I’m pretty sure I generate more revenue for your site than someone playing 200 hands a week.  

You will have less games going at all times by pushing winning players away.  These players are the ones that start games and keep them going when they are short handed.  The winning players that don’t leave, will probably make just as much or more than before.  Believe it or not, even most bad players know when they are overmatched and could quit playing with someone, or simply avoid them all together. They want to play because it’s fun, or challenging.  Now they are playing simply a seat called #1 where is the challenge in that.  

I think the anonymous feature is a really great idea.  After playing for a couple of days, I think it really does work well.  It brings back the feeling of playing in a casino for the first time.  Poker Tracking software does not help the game and is an unfair advantage to those using it.  The only thing I cannot stand is that you cannot select your seat and the cards are a little hard to read, too much is covered.  Will you be adding the option to change your seat.  It makes it really confusing when switching tables.  Also, please add an option to not show the Switching Tables option when tournament tables are consolidated.  Otherwise, liking the update.