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Betfair Signs Online Poker Cheat To Endorsement Deal - 02-22-08
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Author: Marc
 February 22 - Sorel "Imper1um" Mizzi is a prodigious online poker talent. Don't get me wrong, no one is questioning the guy's ability at the table. He's one of the best young players in the world, and very similar to Annette "Annette_15" Obrestad in that regard. No doubt that's why both are now endorsing Betfair Poker in new lucrative sponsorship deals. But here's one regard in which they're pretty different: Annette isn't banned from a major online poker room (Full Tilt Poker) for cheating and Imper1um is banned because he was involved in a tournament scandal there last year.
Online poker has credibility issues as it is, whereby poker pros indulge in unethical behaviour pretty much as they please. Multi-accounting, selling your account to a pro when you reach a critical juncture in a MTT so that he can play it out for you for a %, soft playing your buddies, and outright collusion are all rampant right now.
As an operator you could try hard to stop it (Stars and Full Tilt), you could turn a blind eye, or you could literally endorse it and reward that behaviour with a fat pile of cash.
When Chris Vaughn won a $1 Million Guaranteed online tournament at Full Tilt the rumour mill quickly started up suggesting the win wasn't kosher. In fact, it stank to high heaven because Mizzi took over the account in the latter stages and played for Vaughn. Vaughn was disqualified after an investigation and Mizzi was banned. This was huge news because he was one of the biggest players on FTP at the time.
It was a gutsy move by that online poker room and they earned respect for protecting the integrity of the game. So what does Betfair Poker's decision to hand this same guy an endorsement deal say? They feel he has apologized, will never do this thing again, and has learned his lesson. The usual boilerplate nonsense.
The bottom line is that someone is going to sponsor Mizzi when (not if) he wins a major TV tournament like a WPT or WSOP event, so Betfair Poker made a pragmatic decision to get there first, and ride out any negative publicity. But that's not the point. This sends out a message to all young poker pros saying that ethical concerns are pointless. The financial rewards are still out there regardless of whether you bend, break, or totally ignore the rules. So collude away, and multi-account all your like. One used to say the only crime was in getting caught. Now as long as you're contrite after the fact there is no crime at all.
If only Michael Vick could read he could learn from this story, hug a couple of puppies upon his early release and be throwing that football in the NFL before he turns 30. Actually, you and I both know that will happen as well.
Related Poker Articles And News Items:
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> Zeejustin Calls Men The Master A Cheat - 03-11-08
> Anti Online Poker Legislation Looks Doomed
> The Insider Online Poker Awards - 02-12-08
> European Poker Tour Crowns Youngest Champion - 02-08-08
> iPoker Moves Past Party Poker - 01-29-08
> Mugger Walks Off With Aussie Millions Cash - 01-22-08
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