Patrick Leonard Warns Against Unlimited Re-entries

Patrick Leonard has taken to social media to communicate his ideas for saving online poker tournaments from rampant unlimited re-entry formats.

The partypoker ambassador and bitB Staking administrator believes a “huge financial crash” related to the ongoing pandemic will “decimate” online poker players if sites are forced to expand unlimited re-entries due to increasing online MTT overlays.

On May 11th, bitB Staking poker backing service provider and partypoker ambassador Patrick Leonard posted an in-depth Twitter thread outlining his thoughts on how the COVID-19 pandemic could force poker sites to offer more “unlimited re-entry” tournament formats — a theoretical move the high stakes online poker player believes his colleagues should oppose.

Have been watching online poker very closely over the last 2 months with having a stable that's invested 10s of millions in this time, a role at one of the biggest sites + I've basically played HS every day. I'm 95% sure a huge financial crash is coming which will decimate us.

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 11, 2020

It used to get 200+ runners in February (I won it with 210 in its first week 🌞 and it rightfully grew) during covid you'd think it would get bigger? Well yesterday, 100k gte overlayed by 40+ players even with a last minute 30 player surge. Money is running out and quickly..

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 11, 2020

Leonard opines that partypoker along with its competitors may soon adopt unlimited re-entry formats in online MTTs similar to what is currently the norm at GGPoker, with late registrants provided approximately 10 “Big Blinds” in chips upon re-entering or registering during the final hours of eligibility.

That they want more tournaments during this time. But it is not sustainable.Sites that are currently having overlays have two options. 1) cut back and focus on quality, 2) follow the new gg system and have unlimited reentires to 10bbs. Imo they will go for #2 which will kill us.

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 11, 2020

They simply have to react and I don't see this going in a pretty way. I think sites will see that ok gg are doing amazing with reentries, board members and shareholders will press for unlimited reentry and then boys and girls, online poker is over.

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 11, 2020

According to the longtime poker backer, players who frequent popular online poker sites should unionize while adapting to the possibility that online poker will soon be “dying” rather than “thriving” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic…

Once it's (if) agreed and understood that online poker is DYING not thriving during this time then it is the ambassadors job to make sure the site sees sense. Remember we are ambassadors for the players, not for the sites. Our role is to make sure the players are represented

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 11, 2020

… and that he would “not remain ambassador” at partypoker if the site decided to forego the “quality” freezeout or single re-entry events that have been consistently promoted and implemented by partypoker’s key decision maker Rob Yong.

I don't think sites will react like @partypoker have and focus on quality and restrict reentries (@rob_yong_ even wants freezeouts but I continue to push for single reentry) taking out tournaments like $1k masters (weekly v popular tournament) because it started same time as WPT

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 11, 2020

Please please please think about what is happening and don't allow online poker to be destroyed like this. Players, ambassadors from other sites, let's unite and protect the game. It's our duty. Can podcast about this if anybody wants to hear more.

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 11, 2020

Rob Yong Agrees with Patrick Leonard on Unlimited Re-entries

Dusk Till Dawn Nottingham cardroom proprietor Rob Yong subsequently responded to Leonard’s thread on social media, implying that partypoker would be more than happy to sign-off on:

restricting partypoker MTTs to a single re-entry,
implementing a late registration starting stack of no less than 20 Big Blinds,
and eliminating rake fees for all MTT re-entries.

Just read @padsPokerSquad concern about re-entries & late reg to 5-10BBs..

Come on @PokerStars @GGPokerOfficial @888poker @ACR_POKER – let’s do right thing

1. Maximum 1 RE to any MTT (inc flighted)
2. LR not lower than 20BBs
3. No Rake on re-entries

Where do @partypoker sign? pic.twitter.com/ygXoFt1bqb

— Rob Yong (@rob_yong_) May 12, 2020

Players and Fans React to Patrick Leonard Thread

Multiple players and fans have responded to the Twitter thread in the past 48 hours.

2017 WSOP Main Event champion Scott Blumstein:

Let me get this straight… there is a zero sum game that has turned into a reentry driven money grab that you built a network of people to purposely try and obliterate and now you’re upset cuz there’s no more money for you to take because we’re in a global financial crisis?

— Scott Blumstein (@SBlum2711) May 11, 2020

Veteran online poker tournament player and popular Twitch streamer Bryan Paris:

Thanks bro. Congrats on the huge score 🚀🚀🚀

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 11, 2020

2016 WSOP Main Event final table participant Kenny Hallaert:

Hey thanks for the posts. I think schedule atm on pp is not really packed at all, we've removed a lot of tournaments and tried to focus on quality/pushing WPT, running big sats instead of tournaments. @rob_yong_ really supports that too

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) May 12, 2020

Upswing Poker co-owner Ryan Fee: