Re: Urgent: Seeking Executive Intervention for Unresolved Concerns at Playground Poker

Dear WPT Executives,

I hope this email finds you well. I have included you in this thread to raise concerns regarding possible accessibility issues related to your upcoming events.

As outlined in the attached email thread, I have recently been banned from the establishment where WPT events are scheduled to be held near my residence. I believe this situation reflects a broader issue of accessibility and fairness. While we have seen notable instances in poker, such as the outbursts or "rude" behavior of players like Phil Hellmuth, it seems that in my case, I have been unjustly excluded from participating in the upcoming WPT events. The partner establishment that WPT has chosen to endorse, in my opinion, is operating with a lack of transparency and in a manner that feels discriminatory and potentially unlawful.

While I understand that private establishments are not obligated to provide service, I believe that characterizing or defaming someone's reputation without valid evidence or cause can cross the line into discriminatory or even totalitarian practices. This raises serious concerns about fairness, especially when such actions limit a player’s access to events they are eager to attend.

In light of this, I urge the WPT to investigate this situation independently and make your own determination as to whether any evidence provided by the partner establishment truly meets the standards of transparency, fairness, and integrity that WPT upholds. I trust that WPT, as a leader in the poker world, strives to ensure its events remain accessible and free from any undue exclusion.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and would be grateful for any steps you could take to ensure that the WPT remains inclusive and upholds the values of fairness for all its participants.

From: [the patron] <[patron email]> Sent: Saturday, October 5, 2024 9:07:07 AM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>; Andrew Johnson <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Fw: Urgent: Seeking Executive Intervention for Unresolved Concerns at Playground Poker

Greetings,

I will save everyone in this email communication my typical eloquent formality and focus on my points.

I have been a Poker Playground for a long time, pretty much shortly after it opened. I spent thousands of hours in the establishment. I believe the record for the longest single session where I spent something like 3.5 continuous days in a single session.

I am generally a quiet individual and I am an introvert. Although my vast experiences with interfacing with various fortune 100 companies' executives and my personality is not shy to address concerns or provide feedback when I deem necessary.

I had an interaction that took place sometime back in March or around the time that I sent the email below, which was or I thought at the time was the incident that warranted a serious conversation with someone that is part of the executive team at Playground.

This is when I was told by my VIP Host to send an email to [email protected] and that this was the best avenue to reach either the VP of Playground Poker or other executives as apparently, they monitored the mailbox.

I was adamant that I wanted to share my concerns/feedback with someone that was part of the executive office.

I received a call from a Poker Manager, it was a lady after sending my email to [email protected] and recall certain key elements:

- She advised me that there was no one above her and I voiced clearly that I disagreed

- She had mentioned something along the lines that she was the highest person of authority that I could ever speak to and that she had been there for years

That's around the time that I sent my emails. I made it very clear that my interest was to have a discussion with someone in an official capacity from the executive office.

I have profanity towards any staff or employees of your establishment.

I ignored the problem since it was focused on EDG, and had not much intention to go out of my way 2 hours from Ottawa to play EDG.

I went to play a Poker Session this morning, arrived around 6am to find my card locked. A manager advised me that I was banned from the establishment, I have dealt with this manager in the past he was courteous. He admitted that he did not have much information simply a note that a "Poker Manager Placed the Note".

At this point the situation in my opinion has escalated instead of de-escalating.

- If an incident took place that was so serious that a ban would be justified, surely at the time of the incident it would be documented and the individual would be advised

If there are two principals that I am willing to go in extreme length for, they are justice and equality.

I am not even going to plead for or attempt to argue the illogical actions which were taken here.

I am more interested now to obtain an official statement as to what evidence is presented to justify denying a player access to the establishment.

Was the action singular (a manager just decided to) or was it collective (where it came from the executive) department.

The logic is there from my perspective, I have seen near physical altercation between players, players losing their tempers towards staff, etc.. to see the same players still playing in subsequent sessions.

I will not tolerate discrimination and defamation of character.

If it is the position of Playground Poker that they truly believe that they have a reasonable case, please articulate it.

My expectations are for this oppressive and unjust action to be reverted as quickly as possible with an apology.

Above I mentioned escalation instead of de-escalation; I reached out to voice concerns and this is action that was taken (in what, an attempt to retaliate or prove a point)?

Every action has a reaction, and if Playground Poker which hosts major events such as the WPT that I intended to participate in is able to takes a position that they can discriminately or lightly ban a player for a generalize blanket statement such as "rude behavior" - I reply, then make it official so that I have what I asked for from the beginning, some form of official acknowledgement and then I can bring your official position in an objective manner to the court of public opinion, Commissions, Professional Poker Peers, and many other avenues so that we can all be clear on the terms.

Or was this an attempt to oppress free speech. More shockingly free speech in an affirmative, yet frank without ever trespassing the boundaries of using profanity or other mannerism.

Bottom line, are we saying that the subjective opinion of a person with authority such as a manager has is representing the Corporate views that if they find someone being "rude" that they can ban them.

Isn't the whole objective of selecting managers; to select individuals with excellent communication skills, a thick skin, and other interpersonal skills?

I await your response.

From: [the patron] Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 1:53:12 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Urgent: Seeking Executive Intervention for Unresolved Concerns at Playground Poker

Dear Playground Poker Team,

I hope this message finds you well. As a foundational member of Playground Poker since its inception, my journey with your establishment has been deeply interwoven with experiences that have, for the most part, been incredibly positive and rewarding. It is with a heavy heart, however, that I reach out through this channel, propelled by a series of unresolved concerns that have significantly impacted my perception and experience.

Over the years, I have encountered several instances within the establishment that have raised serious concerns for me, pertaining to what I perceive as unprofessional behaviors and practices. These incidents starkly contrast with the values and standards I have come to associate with Playground Poker. Despite my efforts to address these issues through the usual feedback channels, it appears that my concerns have not been adequately acknowledged or resolved, leading me to this direct appeal for executive intervention.

Given the gravity of the issues at hand and their potential implications on the wider member community, I respectfully request that this message be escalated to the appropriate executive level, ideally including the CEO or a suitable senior leadership representative. My goal is not to undermine or cast doubt on the establishment’s operations but to engage in a constructive dialogue that can lead to meaningful improvements, enhancing the experience for all members.

I am earnestly seeking an opportunity to discuss these matters in detail with someone at the executive level, to ensure that my concerns are heard and addressed in a manner that reflects the establishment's commitment to excellence and community values. I believe that through open and constructive conversation, we can work together to uphold and enhance the reputation and environment of Playground Poker.

I appreciate your attention to this urgent matter and your assistance in facilitating a dialogue with the appropriate leadership figures. I am available for a meeting at your earliest convenience and am hopeful for a collaborative and positive resolution.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.