As a few people have noticed, the water in the Amazon room has changed. No longer is it All In … Johnny Chan\’s \”energy water\” … it\’s just the generic Rio bottled stuff. Clearly something has gone awry between All In and the WSOP. Back in November, the excited word was that All In would be the official energy drink for at least two years. But then, much to our surprise, we saw Red Bull being served this summer, and no All In banners … just All In water.
Hmm, now call it a coincidence, but that All In water disappeared from the Amazon room the day after this article ran on the front page of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, in which the least championed 10-bracelet winner says:
Not everyone is as happy about the World Series as Harrah\’s Entertainment, which bought the series in 2004. One of poker\’s legendary players and a two-time main event winner lashed out at how the gaming company has run the event and treats the players.
\”In the old days, when Jack Binion owned it, he never took a penny out, but we always tipped the dealers good anyway,\” Johnny Chan said, complaining about how the gaming company has increased its cut of the players\’ pool. \”Now Harrah\’s takes out 4 to 10 percent.\”
The company also has cut back on its comps to players, Chan said. Harrah\’s gave him only a $100 food coupon when he entered the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event last week, he said.
Chan has not been much of a presence this year at the WSOP. He has shown up for a few big events (4?), but hardly sticks around once he busts. In fact, he sneaks out a back door, whereas last year he was constantly in the hallways at his company booth, or in the VIP lounge, which was also heavily labeled with All In signage. And that was before he became a supposedly official sponsor. Might someone have made a deal and forgotten to pay the water bill?
