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It’s been some time since poker’s favorite ‘controversy child’ was in the headlines, but Dan Bilzerian is back! This time around the Armenian-American internet personality was heard making outlandish claims on ‘True Geordie Podcast’ about being the pioneer of the LAG playing style in poker.
While we are pondering on whether or not Bilzerian’s claims are valid, another deeply thought-provoking topic was brought up by poker icon Daniel Negreanu regarding the morality of using VPN to play online poker.
Even as Negreanu’s views do require a lot of analysis, another matter that needs careful consideration is whether you should buy a piece of Fedor Holz’s action for the upcoming Triton High Roller Poker Series in London. The German pro recently tweeted that he is selling 20% for the £1,050,000 buy-in charity event. So, if you’re interested in even purchasing 5% of his action, be ready to cough up $52,500!
Did Dan Bilzerian Pioneer the LAG Playing Style?
Poker’s king of controversy, Dan Bilzerian, appeared on the ‘True Geordie Podcast’ recently and made a few eyebrow-raising claims.
While talking about recently watching the film “Rounders” with a woman who hadn’t seen the movie before, Bilzerian said, “It resonates so strongly with me because that was kind of like my poker career. Going broke, putting it on the line…going into underground games, the whole thing.” That statement evidently led to a discussion about Bilzerian’s poker career, and the fact that his exploits have come outside the spotlight of the World Series of Poker or other televised events.
According to Bilzerian, that was an intentional decision on his part. “I never wanted to be the guy on TV showing everybody how good I was,” he said. “I wanted to be the guy that people thought sucked, that I could play with the rich guys. It was the one thing in my life that wasn’t about ego – it was about bank account.”
That was not all! The self-proclaimed ‘King of Instagram’ further went on to state that he was one of the pioneers of the loose-aggressive (LAG) style of playing poker. “I was one of the first guys who played loose-aggressive. I was one of the first people that kinda pioneered that.”
While that may have been an outlandish statement to make, Bilzerian’s most unbelieve comment was when he claimed to have won about $54 Million from a man while playing poker. “2014, 2015, I beat this one dude for like $54 million, and that was like my Scarface moment where we were taking in more money than we could spend. We had bags of cash, I was making money from gambling and sports betting, I had money coming in from every f—ing direction.”
The podcast was a controversial one and hosts True Geordie, and Laurence McKenna had to do a follow-up video in which they responded to some of the criticism they received, with many viewers apparently wishing they had pushed Bilzerian harder on some of his claims.
Daniel Negreanu Starts a Debate on the Morality of Playing Online Poker via VPN
Though the United States may be the birthing ground for poker, the game’s online version is not yet legal in all the 50 States. This becomes quite a big problem for poker players who reside in states where online poker has not been legalized and have no option but to use a VPN to access these sites from inside the USA.
There are plenty of VPNs that can unblock online poker sites in the USA. But doing so is technically against local laws and users risk possible repercussions.
On July 21, former PokerStars Team Pro and six-time WSOP bracelet winner, Daniel Negreanu, posed a question to the poker community on Twitter. He asked whether people who use VPN to play online poker are unethical or cheaters.
It’s illegal to play poker in Texas, are those that do unethical or cheaters?
I grew up in Toronto playing in illegal underground games, was that unethical or cheating?
Using a VPN from the US is similar to both of these activities. Convince me its different
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) July 20, 2019
He backed up his post with a Twitter poll asking his followers if they considered online players using a VPN to play from within the US as cheating.
Do you consider players using a VPN to play online poker from the US to play on sites that forbid play from the US to be cheating?
Assuming they are playing on their own account, just from the US rather than driving to Mexico, etc.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) July 20, 2019
A total of 15,919 people voted with 76% of them concluding that it wasn’t cheating. While the poll gave a conclusive result, many of Negreanu’s fellow poker pros sided with his stance on the matter.
As someone lucky enough to live somewhere where I’ve never had to face this issue; I couldn’t give a shit if my opponents are vpning from the States. As long as it’s on their own original account and not some foreign “burner” account.
— Niall Farrell (@Firaldo87poker) July 21, 2019
The most compelling argument I’ve heard that it’s cheating is this: Two players both from Vegas, A and B. A leaves the country to play scoop in vancouver from a rented unit. He’s unfamiliar w/ this unit, the internet may be unreliable. He’s playing on a worse setup than at home.
— Chris Kruk (@KrukPoker) July 20, 2019
Despite arguments from both sides, Negreanu remained firm on his stance. He argued that using a VPN to play with your own account is a victimless crime. He further explained his point of view in a detailed blog posted on Full Contact Poker titled, “Should We Care if People in the US use a VPN?”
Whether using a VPN is cheating or unethical, this debate is sure to rage on for quite some time.
Fedor Holz Selling Action For Triton Poker London Series
German poker pro Fedor Holz tweeted on July 24 that he will be selling 20% of his action for the upcoming Triton High Roller Poker Series in London.
Im selling 20% action for the 1M£ Triton London at 1.08, let me know if you’re interested. 5% min.
— Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) July 24, 2019
The event that Holz is selling action for is the biggest single buy-in in the history of the game and requires an astronomical £1,050,000 to enter, with that last £50K going to charity. While there is no doubt that Holz is one of the best players in the business, with $32.55 Million in lifetime earnings, many people were of the opinion that buying any portion of the 20% of Holz’s action on offer was quite a lot to pay for.
Sorry Fedor, don’t have £54k laying around. ?
— Kevin Theel (@krt88nc) July 24, 2019
I’ll take 0.005% as well! Let’s find 998 others and we can buy a piece lol
— Riek (@tryhardpoker) July 24, 2019
Is 500 bucks cool?
— AZhooper (@CryptoAZ4) July 25, 2019
Holz decided to sell his action for the event after he received and invite from Antanas Guoga, better known as Tony G.
? Boom!! @TonyGuoga , better known as Tony G, has just invited 2016 High Roller for One Drop winner, @CrownUpGuy to the ? Triton Million for Charity in #London. We’re in for a treat poker fam!
? Full participants list: https://t.co/wDkKofXV2s pic.twitter.com/YN1zOdmkSn
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) July 24, 2019
At present, the total number of entries for the ‘Triton Poker Million – A Helping Hand for Charity’ tournament stands at 37. A few weeks ago. Triton co-founder Paul Phua had announced that he will be accompanied by Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan at the event.
☝ Confirmed Businessman and invited Pro Player for the Triton Million event are Paul Phua and @TomDwan !!
? Stay tuned. More confirmations to come #Poker Fans#TritonLondon2019 pic.twitter.com/0pB0O3CDNj
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) June 14, 2019
Since then many other businessmen and poker pros have teamed up in an effort to give their best shot at the event.
? Dusk Till Dawn’s @rob_yong_?? has nominated Big One for the One Drop 2012 runner up ? @Samtrickett1 ?? to join the Triton Million for Charity!
? Check our ever-growing participants list: https://t.co/wDkKofXV2s pic.twitter.com/CJnwQn6GqL
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) July 2, 2019
With Holz entering the event, a lot of business-poker pro teams will have to watch out. Before his semi-retirement, Holz was placed fourth on the All-Time Money List and is still the ‘numero uno’ on Germany’s All-Time Money List. So, for those who are still interested in purchasing Holz’s action, it is crucial to note that 5% of that £1,050,000 buy-in comes in at a whopping $52,500!