Snapdraft Trip Report

Now that the All-Star break is over, I decided to take a serious stab at the hockey contests on Snapdraft.

First off, Snapdraft offers a 10% bonus on deposits of $100. This certainly helps offset the steeper rake they charge.

The deposit went through, no problem. I didn't get my bonus right away - but I filled out the "contact us" form, and it was added to my account within an hour.

Snapdraft has higher rake than FSL, but they also have higher traffic. This means I can play many more contests in a given night.

I have to admit I'm starting on the $1 contests over there just to get my feet wet. They offer heads-up, 3-4-5 player, 10 player and 25 player. All of the contests are winner-take-all.

My initial reaction is that the 3, 4 and 5 player offer the best value. One way to look at it - The 3 player is no different than a 9 player poker SNG: The top 33% get paid and make a decent profit.

On Tuesday I signed up for 16 contests. I accidentally signed up for a $5 contest. D'oh. The lobby does not navigate as smoothly as I would like.

One feature I did like was being able to fill out one roster and apply it to several contests. Of course, the downside of this is having to make roster changes. You still have to change each roster individually.

I fared decently in my first try, winning 4 contests. I lost several contests by one point. Dan Boyle didn't play, which was costly for me.

The next day the contest winnings were paid into my account around 5pm. Although there were 4 games on the NHL schedule Wednesday night, Snapdraft didn't offer any hockey contests. So it was FSL exclusively that night.

All in all, I played a lot of contests and encountered a lot of bad opponents. I also encountered some good ones too. But spreading out my action definitely helps the cause.

I think there is profit to be made there.

One more thing - If you plan on cashing out (like I do) you'll have to provide Snapdraft with your SSN and fill out a W-9. They issue checks every Friday, but it doesn't appear that there are any fees associated with cash outs.

Buh Bye, Full Tilt. Cya.

Dear Full Tilt,

Way back when, you came to me with a proposition. We started a relationship. We had some good times.

You haven't honored your commitment for almost three months. So I assume it's over. You're just not that into me.

I can take a hint. I've removed your poker client from my PC. I won't return your emails, so please don't bother.

I haven't been playing much online poker these days. But rest assured, if I get back into the game, it won't be with you.

That is all.

Fantasy Sites That Sleep With The Fishes

Now that I've given up online poker, I'm looking for new places to play fantasy contests.

(BTW, I was invited to a 40k freeroll on Stars last Saturday. I did play. Cashed for a measly 60 clams.)

Every reader knows I play almost exclusively on Fantasy Sports Live (bonus code "BUFFALO" FTW!). But I'm looking to spread my wings to other sites as baseball season approaches.

As I've been checking out the other sites, all I can say is, "W. T. F. happened"?

I started playing fantasy on GameDayDraft, before FSL even launched. They had a nice simple interface. Even though their games were not as good as FSL, they never had technical problems and paid very promptly.

Then GDD "re-launched" about 6 months ago. Their site is difficult to maneuver, and the traffic is non-existent. I just checked the lobby and the only hockey contests going tonight are play money.

I'm not sure I would trust a deposit there at this point.

I also checked out Draftmix, as a fellow FSL player was very excited about their contests. However, after two years they still do not offer hockey contests. (Nice hockey stick in the logo, BTW.)

With my last visit to the site there are no contests running, only results from freerolls played during the NFL regular season. Hmmm. I thought this site was funded with seven figures of venture capital? Again, I wouldn't trust a deposit there.

Most of us know InstantFantasySports was shut down several months ago, claiming it had been bought. Its URL now points to Snapdraft, so I guess that answers the "Who bought it?" question.

There's a new player in the market, DraftHero/DraftBug. Apparently this is a fantasy platform with multiple skins. However, you cannot look at the lobby without signing up. So I'm in the dark on this one. I do know that there's no hockey at the moment.

Snapdraft has been getting tons of traffic. I'm going to take a shot at it after the NHL All-Star break. I would like to wait for a better option, but that is where the action takes place. It's kinda like Party Poker back in the day: Deposit bonus, no rakeback, steep rake and plenty of fish.

[ETA: A quick internet search unearthed two more sites, 365FantasySports and DailyFantasyAction. No idea if these are legit or live at the moment.]

A Question For The Poker Players -

What do you feel is the appropriate bankroll for playing MTT's? For example, 180 player tourneys?

50 buy-ins? 100? Some other amount?

I'm trying to estimate what is needed to attack some multi-player fantasy games. These are usually 25-50 player, but winner take all. Mile high variance.

Football pick: NFL, Eagles @ Cardinals (+4). Going with the home dog. [2009 YTD 2-2.]

Am I A "Contest Hog"?

Surprisingly, January has been a loser so far. I endured a seven day losing streak, until this past weekend gave me some winnings.

Anyhoo, I was reading the new FSL message boards when I came across this thread. Here's the part I found a bit ridiculous:

"I have been playing on different fantasy sites for years...and it always seems to become a issue unless the admin gets the proper setting in place...there always has to be "that guy"...he has to play every contest...he is a contest hog...

there seems to be one on this site...I think we all know who it is...this definitely will kill your site...it has killed many others...players play in daily fantasy leagues cuz they like variety...not playing against the same guy every nite...the guys chases off players quicker than he does girls...something needs to be in place to not allow a player to take over the site...

[snip]

Most sites have messageboards so players can chat about what to do...such as not taking his contests if he signs up first...sending in complaints to the admin...whatever...

I would think the Admin could just tell the player to stay out of the smaller contests, both head to head and multiplayer...does he really need to play them if he is in multiple 50, 100, 200 dollar contests..."

Now, I feel for this poster. I'm pretty sure she's talking about Kaiseroll13, because the thread talks about hoops contests (which I don't play). However, I'm sure other players feel the same way about me.

Up to now, I've been extremely faithful to FSL. I've given them 99% of my fantasy patronage. They have the best fantasy hockey game on the market. IMO, they have the best customer support as well.

As one of the highest volume players on FSL, do you think they are going to tell me to stop playing? Hell, no! They want me to generate as much rake as possible. If anything, they should be trying to find me new opponents. The bigger the player pool, the smaller the percentage of contests I'm playing.

Hockey contests range from $1 to $107. I prefer to play $11 and $22, but there is not too much activity at those levels. There is actually decent amounts of play at $33 and $54, but I don't carry enough online to play volume at those levels. Bankroll management FTW, folks.

So I spread my play out amongst all dollar amounts. I know there are some players who would prefer not to play me. I try to let someone else take them. If no one signs up after awhile, I usually fill the contest. But I am considerate.

I also don't play many contests when there are only 2-3 games on the schedule. Usually just the multis.

One other thing:

I have no sympathy for anyone bitching about my volume play when I'm on a f*cking SEVEN DAY LOSING STREAK! I'm donating to the masses, they should be thankful and coming back for more, not complaining I'm playing too much.

Thoughts?

State Of "Teh Pokers" Address

Greetings to readers and bloggers. I'm here to tell you that the state of online poker in 2009 is not very good.

I'm sure a bunch of you already knew that.

The last two years of online poker have been mildly profitable for me. I have gradually migrated away from tournaments and into cash games.

I find the games to be very challenging and tough to beat. Anyone with poor game selection will get eaten up like chum.

My favorite game is Stud 8, but I play LO8 because the structure is better for rakeback. It was not uncommon to face 4-5 supernovas every table, every session at .50/1 or 1/2, which are the lowest levels to earn VPP's.

If Supernovas are playing for happy meals, that should tell you that the games have gone to shit.

I also find the reliability of the US facing sites troubling. Cash out issues have affected every site. I have cashed out regularly (when I played regularly). IMO, waiting more than 5 business days for your money is unacceptable. Only one site regularly provides adequate service, the others are hit or miss at best.

Not only are the games and the sites in decline, so are poker blogs.

It's common knowledge that there are a lot of dead blogs out there and the scene has slowed down quite a bit. Everyone is in love with twitter right now, it will be interesting to see how long that lasts.

The biggest change in the blogging scene is the community. Bloggers playing together online used to be a social event - a chance to play (mostly for fun) and discuss hands and strategies afterwards.

Now it's just an opportunity to slam other bloggers - to ridicule them and their play. The "boom headshot" crap is just... old. I'm so over it.

I didn't play in any blogger series in 2008 and I won't in 2009. I don't think anything positive will come of it. Again.

In fact, I've decided to give up online poker altogether for 2009. The rewards have just not been worth the time and effort. Until something changes in the marketplace, I'll stick to the occasional live game.

I make a much better return on my money playing daily fantasy contests. With new fantasy sites coming online, there are just more opportunities in that arena with fewer hassles.

Good luck at the virtual felt. You won't see me there for awhile.


Football picks: NCAA, Florida (-5) vs. Oklahoma. Tebow is motivated. NFL, Ravens @ Titans (-3). Still not a believer in Baltimore. [2009 YTD 1-1.]

OT: A Taxing Proposition

There's some crazy ideas being floated here in NY by our own Gov. Patterson.

There are currently proposed taxes on music and movie downloads. Also proposed are taxes on movie tickets.

There are additional proposals for increased fees in NY state. Soon my (rarely used) drivers license could cost as much as $30/year.

However, the one idea making the most news is a proposed 18 cent/container tax on "sugary" soft drinks. Every can of coke, red bull, snapple, and any "fruit drink" not at least 70% real fruit juice all get a tax. Patterson is calling for the tax to combat obesity.

What a slippery slope this is. How long before we start taxing bacon? Peanut butter? (This could spell the end of peanut butter and bacon sandwiches!)

Patterson claims in recent interviews that we have to make up for budget shortfalls due to declining population in NYS and declining tax revenues from Wall Street. This is all true.

However, he's going about it all wrong. There are several easy ways to increase revenue:

Continue tax increases on "sin tax" items. In 2008 NY raised its taxes on cigarettes and that should keep increasing, IMO. I'm all for smokers rights, but that doesn't guarantee cheap cigarettes.

Also, increase taxes on alcohol purchases. NYS wine makers lobby to keep these taxes down, but alcohol should be taxed as aggressively as tobacco.

My strongest feelings are to increase the state sales tax. Increasing the tax by 1% would do wonders for the budget shortfall. People would bitch about it for awhile, but then would become accustomed to paying the additional tax and budget it into their daily lives.

I also would recommend raising the state tax on gasoline SUBSTANTIALLY. Raise it by 25 cents. People were paying $4.40+ just a few months ago. Now they are paying $1.65. Adding that 25 cents is almost negligible compared to the premium NYers paid in the past. If gas prices go up again, you can reduce the state tax to "help out the consumer" and look good doing it.

These fixes would generate almost all the financial needs for any reasonable state budget.

And if you want to talk gambling, consider these options:

Charge an extra 25 cents rake on lottery tickets. Would this hurt lottery sales? Nah.

Even better, legalize online poker in NYS (have a state run poker client), and watch the tax revenue roll in.

If Gov. Patterson is so outraged about child obesity, he should try to outlaw those unsavory soft drinks in schools, or just outlaw them to all minors.

I will not give up my bacon and peanut butter sandwiches!

Resolve? I Got Your Resolve Right Here, Buddy!

Happy New Year.

December was a winning month all around. I finished fantasy with an ROI of +14.36%. (I did have a little 0 for 21 skid that hurt the final tally.)

In poker I cleared two bonuses and after subtracting that amount out, I finished up +6BB. Six bets.

So what's on tap for 2009? More of the same? Not exactly.

I'll continue to play fantasy contests, perhaps even expand to other sites. I'm considering dabbling in basketball again, but mostly getting ready for NASCAR and baseball.

I could spend an entire post just talking about poker, so I'll save that for an upcoming post in a few days.

Any resolutions? Just two:

First, I'm going to finally build a CD ladder. Yields can only go up from here, so I probably cannot pick a safer (or worse) time to start one.

And finally, less shoveling, ldo.

Football plays: NCAA, Sugar Bowl, Utah (+9) vs. Alabama. Strictly a cover play. NFL, Ravens @ Dolphins (+3.5). Give Miami an edge on experience and kicking, plus home field. [2009 YTD 0-0.]