The Internet poker message boards have been hot with exchanges on
Empire Poker over the past week or more following what seems to be
a large number of arbitrary and inadequately explained account closures.
InfoPowa attempts to obtain an official comment from Empire Poker
management appear to have fallen on deaf or unwilling ears, for there
has been no response.
The consensus in player-land seems to be that the closures are either
related to taking advantage of too many bonuses, or to having multiple
accounts at both Empire Poker and Party Poker, but it is difficult
to be sure, since some of those locked do not appear on the face of
their claims to fall in either category.
Speculation that this issue may have something to do with moves at
the Party network to curtail rakeback deals is similarly difficult
to understand in the absence of corporate reaction.
If this is a case of lowering the boom on greedy players, it is being
handled in a singularly clumsy manner and with little apparent transparency.
Complaining players allege that they have not been specifically told
why their accounts are being closed. Some report emails with vague
references to "fraudulent and wrongful practices" followed
by a determined silence from the network.
It seems that a poster claiming to be an Empire representative made
a brief appearance at the 2+2 forums to explain without detail that
the unspecified *fraud* that people were accused of committing was
in fact "bonus abusing."
However, it appears that no monies are going to be seized, leaving
the debate as one of poor notification but the legitimate exercise
of right of admission.
Many players believe that locking accounts is an unintelligent solution
to a problem that could be better resolved by increasing the bonus
requirements such that the bonus is covered by the rake. Better yet,
by offering targeted bonuses for which Empire apparently already has
a system.
Several experienced players have pointed out that by taking this less
confrontational route, the regular players would not be alarmed over
a seemingly heavy handed and arbitrary approach by poker room management.
If this is a purge, Empire needs to be careful it does not throw the
baby out with the bath water, or damage its reputation and future
custom. And it could certainly learn the value of honest corporate
communicating.