Hey, poker playas!
Imagine a year ago, there was still no live legal poker tournament in Asia, Ph came out first with a hybrid tournament which coincidentally is the RVS CUP which will be happening soon.
Then slowly, tournaments were coming back, and nowadays it is almost every week that there is at least a million PHP tournament.
But now the world is moving forward and has become more competitive than ever. Countries, where live poker couldn’t be held before, are now having big tournaments as well.
Can the Philippines catch up?
THe Philippines – where it all began even after the pandemic
The Philippines was one of the first few countries in Asia where poker became legal. It had that advantage making the country that has a good base pool of players.
Even after the pandemic, PH was the first to have a legal live poker event that was opened to the public.
Even now, dealers and floors are sent to other countries to work in their poker rooms.
PH had that much advantage.
THe competition now
Having the distinct advantage of being able to operate legally. PH did have an edge. but slowly that edge disappeared.
As other countries started opening their border and allowing poker events to be operated legally. it became apparent that the once big advantage is no longer there.
WPT Cambodia drew in big numbers. Events in Vietnam and Taiwan can rival the local numbers here.
Local Poker rooms used to only have to deal with the local problem. However, with Pagcor protection where only 1 tournament with a guarantee of PHP 1M GTD can be held in a week. It is an old rule that was implemented probably 10 years ago but it became an archaic rule that has become detrimental to PH growth.
For a while, it is okay since PH is the only place where events could be held. but not anymore, with other countries now open to holding their own poker events. An international organizer can simply hold events in other Asian countries.
APPT Cambodia is now set to clash with RVS Cup. APPT Cambodia is set for November 3-13, 2022 while the RVS cup of Metro is set for November 9-14, 2022.
The truth is a lot of the local pros and even Metro’s own pros will jump into Cambodia.
Stopping them from leaving is also a big mistake. Metro must become better.
There is hope
Some poker rooms will continue to do things their way. That is because there find no mistakes in what they do. But are not deep enough to understand.
One of the branded poker rooms will never have RFID table because they do not have to. They are cheap. Regardless that they have earned more than what the championed earned. With their brand. people will continue to come.
Meanwhile, the other room would proudly use a cell phone to do a live broadcast but because it is cheap. And they absolutely do not see what’s wrong with it.
They are a mom-and-pop store. a sari-sari store that is not really looking at the long term but more on quick gains.
But poker rooms like Voyager club in Cebu. Metro Card Club in Davao and Masters poker in Manila are more
Those rooms will grow more than others.
You just have to wait and see.
