Temptation is the Downside of Opportunity
When you are in a position like I am, you’re often presented with opportunities - a lot of different opportunities. I am in an odd position. Not only am I a known player, but I am involved in many things on the business side of poker, which means I probably listen to as many proposals as anyone.
A few months ago, I was approached by a new company called T6 poker. They said all the right things and were terrific people to deal with. I consider myself a bit of a salesman, and as the old saying goes, the easiest person to sell is a salesman.
I really felt T6 could make an impact, and I am always a fan of healthy competition in any business. As the time went on, it grew more clear to me that maybe the impact wasn’t coming, and maybe I had made a mistake.
I love online poker. I think it gives everyone a chance to play the game that has meant so much to me. I want to do everything I can to promote the game, and promote legal regulation of the game all over the world. What I felt was an opportunity to help improve online poker turned out to be something I can’t be involved in.
With this T6 thing, I feel that I saw the cheese, but I didn’t see the trap. By the time I realized the bar may have been set a bit unrealistically, it was too late. I want to believe the best of people and their dealings in business and in life, I fell short here.
I’ve been playing a lot on Full Tilt and PokerStars lately, and it has made me remember how much I love playing against the best in the world. I recently made the final table of the FTOPS main event, and it was the most fun I had in a long time. I’ve also played $10k events at Stars, and the $25k Heads Up PLO event at Full Tilt, where I did well to win my first two matches, only to lose a tough match to David Benefield in the round of 16. I wasn’t happy with my play in the match with David and I felt sick when I got knocked out.
Playing so much at Full Tilt and PokerStars has made me realize how much I like playing at those sites. It’s very different at those sites now – not like when I started playing on them, and in my early days on Party Poker. Now, there is a culture around online poker, and in these big events I have been playing in recently, you know most of the people playing in these events. If I haven’t met them personally, I’ve at least heard of them. To me, this is just like playing the pro tournament circuit – I know many of the faces, and that helps keep it fun for me. I am a social person by nature, and I like that I know many of the names I have been playing with recently.
So, I am going to part ways with T6, and play more at the big boys, and get back to working on TonyGPoker, something my affiliation with T6 had led me away from. I’ll miss the CyberArts software on T6, which is as good as any in the world of online poker, smooth and stable, great to play on. As hard as anyone might try, I think the best bigger games are going to stay at the big sites. But, I’ll continue to work on TonyGPoker, and make it a fun place for people to play, which was always my goal. I love playing poker and even though the game gets me down at times, I can’t imagine playing online poker not being a big part of my life.
As all of you that follow my blog know, I like to keep you all very aware of my feelings and dealings with my poker play. It’s the comments, the e-mails, and the chats I have with you at live tournaments that keep me going. Its fun, and I want to keep the fun going. Come find me in a big game at one of the big boys, or having fun at TonyGPoker, and I’ll see you there.
Thanks for your support and understanding of my position.
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September 11th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
As always, its interesting reading your blog tony. Good luck getting TonyG poker firing. Better to be focusing on your own brand name and not T6 anyway. All the best at the tables and look forward to seeing you at a final table soon.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Tony, good luck at the tables!!
)
September 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
We swedes realized that scam a long time ago,what took u so long?
September 12th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
And finally the penny drops and the fish realizes he’s the sucker at the table. What’s shocking to me is how long it took for you to get what everyone else in the poker circuit realized literally months ago. Congratulations.
September 13th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Good news.
A note to everyone: Don’t get involved with known pyramid scheme scammers. They may talk sweet and may even be good at raising funds, but they don’t know how to run a serious business. Neither are they interested in serious business.
September 14th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Good decision Tony. I had you in Siberia because of your affiliation with T6. Now when you have discarded these guys I am happy to meet up. Also, T6 is now folding. The founders are starting a new MLM-company that is going to do currency transactions…watch out!
September 15th, 2008 at 8:17 am
So it took you 9 months to realize that Torben and his crew where lying to you ?
I don’t belive you Tony, you can’t make a comment like this and think you can get away from any responsabilty. You KNEW that T6 wasnt gonna be a huge site. You just wanted someone to pay for you tourneys for a year. And now you name is discredited and will be for a long time.
GG
September 15th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
It was a scam. You were told it was. You had all the facts. You didn’t care.
Of course you have to leave the ship now. The investors have already gotten robbed. There’s no money in it now.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Much respect Tony.
If you can put all of the passion you described into TonyGPoker, i don’t think you can ever lose.
Good Luck at the Felt,
Brett
September 15th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
so why is T6 still promoted on PokerNews and your other siteS?
September 16th, 2008 at 5:48 am
You are a champion of the game Tony. My next deposit will be at tonyGpoker as Brett says concentrate on that and you can’t lose.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:18 am
from what you can actually glean from watching tv, i’ve actually got respect for you tony - more for your off table behaviour obv.
but i followed this T6 thing, and it seemed REALLY obvious it was a scam, and many people here told you that - and provided evidence.
now you release a vague ‘you win some, you lose some’ statement, offer no apology to those who - encouraged by yourself - gave the scam site ‘a chance’.
now you’re going back to your own website, which you deserted for the $ in the first place.
you’re in a better position than most to be a positive impact on poker, which is why this was all the more bizarre and disappointing.
i really think a fuller, franker, more honest and apologetic account of is in order.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:20 am
ESPECIALLY after all the Tiffany business. ‘The Integrity Of Poker’ lol
September 21st, 2008 at 8:24 am
Ya very nice, I joined t6 partly because I thought its Tony-G^s site.
Thought It should be a nice place, or at least will grow to something big and good.
Now, Tony you are leaving.
And we are in this situation:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/51/affiliates-rakeback/t6-poker-162328/index4.html#post6238563
September 21st, 2008 at 8:28 am
Tony, tell them to give me my 6.3k eur
September 24th, 2008 at 5:35 am
T6 Poker - the joke of the year!
Good that you left the sinking ship tony!
September 24th, 2008 at 9:09 am
tony, are you playing in any of the appt’s?
September 26th, 2008 at 7:42 am
i have about 1K eu on my T6 acc, i have make a cashout request , but they sayed that they are making some updates and when they finished i gett the money on my MB acc. But they dont know how long this takes ?
Is my money lost now, or i will gett it, when i waite? damn, i just wann
gett the money and go away from this poker site !!
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I think it is a shame that a reputable Pro like Tony G got suckered into and obvious scam, and in turn, due to your high profile, and relatively good reputation,. allowed many of your fellow poker players to get scammed. Shame on You tony for putting yourself in that situatiuon where you could put many many other people(fellow poker players) in a shitty situation.
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 am
if anyone has money in t6 make your requests now and do not deposit any money. they are only paying out a few players a day at a 2500 limit. money being deposited is not put in a safe secure place it is put in new scheme they are trying to sell WCM invest. they just fired about half of their crew and still ‘’downsizing for cost’ as they say. also not sure about quin poker, new skin they were supposed to be managing Octobre 1st, pushed back now.
one last thing, do not blame customer service, they do the bestwith what they have and say what they are told to say. Theywould dearly lobe to give your your mooney back but they are not allowed. A PLayers money s not safe in t6. if you do get money consider yuorsef lucky because many others are not. think they do not have they money it is spent