Former WSOP.com boss Bill Rini this week launched a Twitter tirade at some of the poker world’s leading players. He described them as ‘American scum’ and claiming they were attempting to extort WSOP.com.
https://twitter.com/billrini/status/1234577680785264641?s=20
Players are trying to improve online poker
Rini specifically targets Chance Kornuth, Ryan Leng and Ryan ‘Protential’ Laplante in his rather bizarre claims that ‘a small group of people were trying to extort a company to modifying a tournament structure to benefit pros.’
The Twitter spat seems to revolve around an effort by a number of pros and coaches to centralise efforts to improve online poker, described as ‘a very informal players Union’ by Laplante.
About a year ago a players org was semi attempted to be formed to try to have 1 voice with regards to changes players wanted sites to use.
A very informal players Union.
Nothing came of it though as everyone was too busy with other projects.
— Ryan Laplante🏳️🌈 (@Protentialmn) March 2, 2020
Though many were quick to dismiss Rini’s often rambling attack – which included several unreadable screenshots of player discussions such as this one below…
https://twitter.com/billrini/status/1234548947328176128?s=20
…Ryan Leng attempted to explain what was behind the players’ attempts.
‘WSOP.com set the payout structures and most players, rec and reg alike, hate them. I’m one of the few who like them, but I certainly didn’t go trying to get platforms to use them just because I feel like they benefit my game.
Lengadded: ‘But that doesn’t mean that I’ve done anything to try to get payout structures changed to fit my benefit. You are really reaching here Bill. It’s baffling how allergic to criticism you are.”
It would appear that Rini took exception to a ‘plan of attack’ by the mooted players union, the MTTc, that advocated a possible boycott against PokerStars if they failed to engage.
Everybody against Rini?
That, it appears, is the ‘extortion’ Rini claims was being discussed and planned, perhaps fearful that it might extend to WSOP.com as well.
Laplante took the option of linking readers to a PokerFraud Alert article on Rini. That was the possible reasons he was eventually ousted from his 6-year tenure at the top of WSOP.com.
Todd Witteles, aka Dan Druff, wrote: ‘Rini was mostly despised by WSOP.com players, for his passive-aggressive, customer-unfriendly attitude, and his tendency to avoid customers and hide from problems.
Rini seems like a smart guy, but the job wasn’t right for him. He was horrible at customer service, horrible at dealing with the public, horrible at managing crises and issues. He is extremely out of touch with the wants and needs of online poker players, both grinders and recs alike.’
Rini’s own blog posting of his retirement from ‘Head of Online Poker at Caesars and the World Series of Poker’ reads rather differently.
He thanks, among others, ‘…all of the great people at every level of the industry. There are far, far too many to name individually but to the players that met with me, emailed me, or tweeted at me, to share their views, shoot the shit, or yell in my face, thank you.
The storm on Twitter seems to have quietened down now. However, online poker rooms should consider the Michael Josem and John Mehaffey double hit carefully…
The way that poker sites mistakenly saw some customers as their opponent, rather than their partners, is probably a big part of the downfall of leading operators in several markets around the world.
— Michael Josem (@MichaelJosem) March 3, 2020
Earn up to 60% partypoker rakeback when signing up through us!
When signing up through VIP-Grinders.com on partypoker, you can now earn up to 60% cashback on partypoker plus take part in the following exclusive VIP-Grinders Promotions with massive extra value:
- $30 Welcome Bonus in SPINS Tickets
- Up to 60% Cashback via the Diamond Elite Club
- 4 x $250 Private Poker Freeroll per month
- Exclusive Party & Bwin Chase
Terms and conditions apply. New customer offer and 18+ only. Should you require help regarding your betting pattern, please visit www.begambleaware.org.
