Live At The Bike

[MaxKare 0]

I have recently began watching Live at the Bike and noticed something I thought was unusual. Some of the players at the table were using a Blackberry during play. The game is streamed to the internet with a five minute delay, but what would keep friends from sending information to the players like who has been bluffing, who bets with weak starting hands,etc. In addition, I was told some of the players are employees of the Bike. Now it seems if this game is being recorded someone could be sending instant info. I have never played at a casino that allows cell phones, Blackberrys, etc to be used at the table, and I dont think I would be willing to play the stakes played at these games with this type actvity but I have never heard anyone at the table complain, so maybe I am off base.Any thoughts?

[chrozzo 19]

I have recently began watching Live at the Bike and noticed something I thought was unusual. Some of the players at the table were using a Blackberry during play. The game is streamed to the internet with a five minute delay, but what would keep friends from sending information to the players like who has been bluffing, who bets with weak starting hands,etc. In addition, I was told some of the players are employees of the Bike. Now it seems if this game is being recorded someone could be sending instant info. I have never played at a casino that allows cell phones, Blackberrys, etc to be used at the table, and I dont think I would be willing to play the stakes played at these games with this type actvity but I have never heard anyone at the table complain, so maybe I am off base.Any thoughts?

That IS interesting. I shoudl watch more closely when I see that. I enjoy watching liveatthebike a lot. I would think there are some sort ofrestrictions, like mayeb they have to erify it is not wireless enabled or something. Maybe they are using it for notetaking on the other players then. Id certainly like to find out more on this though as well.

[Vatche 0]

u make a good point...

[Hotmark777 0]

I can assure you they DO NOT allow cell phones or Blackberry's to be used at the Live at the Bike table. Mike or Corporation Mike as they call him has in the past had his Blackberry on the table, they have asked him to remove it. If you use or answer your phone you HAVE to step away from the table.There is NO WAY, ANY player EVER used a blackberry during play! they have to leave the table. I have seen them force a player to fold his hand, just for looking at there phone when it was ringing. On not on the stream, but in person.The Bike and Commerce and all the casinos here in LA, allow you to use your phone at the Cash Tables, even while you are in a hand, they are never allowed in Tournament play. OR Live at the Bike.

[AgroPoker 0]

I have recently began watching Live at the Bike and noticed something I thought was unusual. Some of the players at the table were using a Blackberry during play. The game is streamed to the internet with a five minute delay, but what would keep friends from sending information to the players like who has been bluffing, who bets with weak starting hands,etc. In addition, I was told some of the players are employees of the Bike. Now it seems if this game is being recorded someone could be sending instant info. I have never played at a casino that allows cell phones, Blackberrys, etc to be used at the table, and I dont think I would be willing to play the stakes played at these games with this type actvity but I have never heard anyone at the table complain, so maybe I am off base.Any thoughts?

I have never played in a card room in Ca. but most casinos in vegas allow u to use your cell phone at the table

[FourFlusher 0]

Where I play, in Northern California, you can't play out of a rack, either. Maybe it's just the clubs I've played at, I dunno. Somewhere in my past I was taught that playing out of a rack is rude, it slows the game down...doesn't seem to be a factor there, though.

[chrozzo 19]

Where I play, in Northern California, you can't play out of a rack, either. Maybe it's just the clubs I've played at, I dunno. Somewhere in my past I was taught that playing out of a rack is rude, it slows the game down...doesn't seem to be a factor there, though.

Most places dont outside of vegas i think. I cant here in NY, but I could in vegas at the mirage. I personally would rather have it on the table though.

[Abbaddabba 0]

Even if they cant use cell phones, it's easy to set up a line of communication to send basic signals to a player at the table. There is a 5 minute delay in it being broadcasted to the internet, but im pretty sure someone with access to the room where it's being recorded could get the information on the fly and transmit it to people on the table. All you would need is access to the commentators while they're recording (i assume that they do this live, and they just dont show the taping until 5 minutes after).ie: a little vibrating device that goes in different intervals to denote different hand strength of people when you're heads up with them. a solid, lengthy buzz could be a bluff, one buzz could be a made hand that he will have to fold to a big raise. two buzzes could be a draw. three buzzes could be a huge hand. or something.Clearly wireless signals arent blocked, since he was at least receiving messages in his blackberry at some point before he was asked to turn it off. Even if the signal was intercepted, the meaning of it would never be interpretable.

[MaxKare 0]

I can assure you they DO NOT allow cell phones or Blackberry's to be used at the Live at the Bike table. Mike or Corporation Mike as they call him has in the past had his Blackberry on the table, they have asked him to remove it. If you use or answer your phone you HAVE to step away from the table.There is NO WAY, ANY player EVER used a blackberry during play! they have to leave the table. I have seen them force a player to fold his hand, just for looking at there phone when it was ringing. On not on the stream, but in person.The Bike and Commerce and all the casinos here in LA, allow you to use your phone at the Cash Tables, even while you are in a hand, they are never allowed in Tournament play. OR Live at the Bike.

I didnt want to call out anyone by name, but after watching Live at theBike for the last two weeks I have seen Mike looking at his Blackberry at the table at least 10-15 times. So when you say NO Way Ever you are just wrong. He does sometimes back up from the table (in his chair) about a foot. When I have seen this he has not been in the pot but there was play.

[mosley 0]

i too, have seen corp. mike look at his blackberry regularly during the game. they say that they tell him not to use it or overuse it but they do allow it to some extent because it is integral to his job at the casino. though he doesn't work for the casino, he manages the money-backers at the casino. the casino is not allowed to provide this service, so they shop it out to him. it is an important part of their business.

[MaxKare 0]

i too, have seen corp. mike look at his blackberry regularly during the game. they say that they tell him not to use it or overuse it but they do allow it to some extent because it is integral to his job at the casino. though he doesn't work for the casino, he manages the money-backers at the casino. the casino is not allowed to provide this service, so they shop it out to him. it is an important part of their business.

So in essence you have someone with strong ties to the casino, who I'm am sure has close ties to many of the insiders (ie,overhead security,video people,etc) using a Blackberry during a high stakes poker game. BTW: does anyone know why the "Corporation" Mike name at the table. Is it just to let everyome know he owns a business?

[dreed 0]

I know this is a little off topic, and excuse my ignorance (I don't play online poker) but can't two players playing on the same site with two different accounts just sit at the same table and call or instant message their friend in order to cheat? Does this type of cheating happen in online poker?

[MaxKare 0]

I know this is a little off topic, and excuse my ignorance (I don't play online poker) but can't two players playing on the same site with two different accounts just sit at the same table and call or instant message their friend in order to cheat? Does this type of cheating happen in online poker?

Not only can what you are saying happen, as we have found out lately one person can have multiple accounts and have several entries into one tournament. That could allow for chip dumping,etc. I would rather play live as I think the variable like this are reduced. However if someone is allowed to use an electronic device like a cell phone or Blackberry during a cash game that is being taped and streamed like Live at the Bike, I would not be at all comfortable. When big $'s are at stake, some people will look for an edge either honest or dishonest.

[bcook823 0]

I can assure you they DO NOT allow cell phones or Blackberry's to be used at the Live at the Bike table. Mike or Corporation Mike as they call him has in the past had his Blackberry on the table, they have asked him to remove it. If you use or answer your phone you HAVE to step away from the table.There is NO WAY, ANY player EVER used a blackberry during play! they have to leave the table. I have seen them force a player to fold his hand, just for looking at there phone when it was ringing. On not on the stream, but in person.The Bike and Commerce and all the casinos here in LA, allow you to use your phone at the Cash Tables, even while you are in a hand, they are never allowed in Tournament play. OR Live at the Bike.

You couldn't me more wrong. For starters someone emails Bart and Dave once a week regarding this issue. They have said many times, that it is not supposed to happen, but it still does. Corp Mike runs a business from the casino (he is the house in the blackjack game, you have to be playing against "other" players, so he is the "other" player) and you will see him on his blackberry all the time. You will see barry wood for example have his phone out while at the table. If there was ever an indication that Mike or anyone else was attempting to gather information that was put on the air, then they probably would completely ban him from using his phone. He isn't cheating, and if they gave him the choice of playing poker or running his business, who knows what he would do. Mike brings a ton of action to those games, Mo (host) loves to have Mike in that game i'd imagine. If the game is 10-20, it plays like a 20-40 when Mike is in the game. "There is NO WAY anyone ever used blackberry or phone during play!!!! "I wonder if you have ever watched the show?

[chrozzo 19]

This is probably mentioned in another thread waaaay back. But which one is Corp Mike? Im gonna watch tonight and see what I can see, if he happens to be playing that is.

[bcook823 0]

Mike is the young white guy with a bald (shaven) head. he is usually sitting in the 4 seat. He will be in every other pot, and he will straddle quite a bit.

[chrozzo 19]

Mike is the young white guy with a bald (shaven) head. he is usually sitting in the 4 seat. He will be in every other pot, and he will straddle quite a bit.

thanks

[lostless 0]

Bart and Dave have said they can't use it at the table but they don't stop them away from the table. ie going ot the washroom etc. But you must remember that the players know that they are being webcast and that there is that potential. If you don't like either go to hell or don't play or a third more attractive option is to send me your buy-in,. I promise I will double it in 24 hours.