Cake Network struggling whilst Prima (amazingly) continues to grow

[JHV]

Cake Poker's problems run far deeper than just trying to make their games playable by banning tracking software. They have the right idea and I think with Lee Jones at their helm they can do good things. They know their software and processing could use a major overhaul and I expect it to happen sooner rather than later.

I'm actually fascinated by this issue and hope you don't me picking your brain for answers to the mystery.

I realise Cake is having major SNG and other software programs now, but these problems didn't exist until recently, correct?

I was a very high volume Cake player in 2008 and I thought their software was >>>> FTP / Stars / CEREUS / MG / iPoker - I never experienced software problems either as a player or an affiliate. I still think their affiliate frontend is industry-beating, with FTP a close 2nd.

Was there problems I wasn't aware of?

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As for Lee Jones, I have nothing against him and everyone seems to rave about him. But from my own observations, someone who jumps from company to company usually seems to be...how do I word this...I've never understood why a great manager would jump from company to company to company (maybe it's old-fashioned loyalty bias in my thinking or something...) - just seems strange to me.

I couldn't understand why Lee Jones would leave Stars - perhaps the 'public' explanation has already been stated but I give 'public' statements of this kind about as much credit as a timeshare cold-caller telling me I should buy timeshare in Bermuda.

At CR, whether he was responsible for the changes or not, changes were made directly after he took over operations which tilted me to the point where I canceled my subscription.

And now at Cake, all these problems are arising and changes are being made which I can't understand. One such change is the signup process for new players - it used to be done inside the client beautiful and slick - now it opens up a webpage or API or whatever.

Any thoughts on this? I'm not a sensitive type so feel free to say "You're a moron - Lee Jones is god" etc.

But I'm mostly interested in your thoughts on what Cake could / should be doing to compete more effectively, for three reasons:

1. I believe they're the most ethical network currently in operation.

2. As a player, they are my preferred network - but boy, is it hard to get a game at 10/20nl - 50/1nl.

3. A consortium buying a Cake skin want me to join in and I'm nervous as game liquidity just seems to be dropping whilst Prima (who should logically already be effectively dead) appears to be INCREASING their game liquidity. And I can't figure out why.

 

[wangpoker]

software is slow. multi-tables is hard. block player across the network. don't treat chinese player very well. Cake poker is:gunmen:

 

[vinylweatherman]

I'm actually fascinated by this issue and hope you don't me picking your brain for answers to the mystery.

I realise Cake is having major SNG and other software programs now, but these problems didn't exist until recently, correct?

I was a very high volume Cake player in 2008 and I thought their software was >>>> FTP / Stars / CEREUS / MG / iPoker - I never experienced software problems either as a player or an affiliate. I still think their affiliate frontend is industry-beating, with FTP a close 2nd.

Was there problems I wasn't aware of?

------

As for Lee Jones, I have nothing against him and everyone seems to rave about him. But from my own observations, someone who jumps from company to company usually seems to be...how do I word this...I've never understood why a great manager would jump from company to company to company (maybe it's old-fashioned loyalty bias in my thinking or something...) - just seems strange to me.

I couldn't understand why Lee Jones would leave Stars - perhaps the 'public' explanation has already been stated but I give 'public' statements of this kind about as much credit as a timeshare cold-caller telling me I should buy timeshare in Bermuda.

At CR, whether he was responsible for the changes or not, changes were made directly after he took over operations which tilted me to the point where I canceled my subscription.

And now at Cake, all these problems are arising and changes are being made which I can't understand. One such change is the signup process for new players - it used to be done inside the client beautiful and slick - now it opens up a webpage or API or whatever.

Any thoughts on this? I'm not a sensitive type so feel free to say "You're a moron - Lee Jones is god" etc.

But I'm mostly interested in your thoughts on what Cake could / should be doing to compete more effectively, for three reasons:

1. I believe they're the most ethical network currently in operation.

2. As a player, they are my preferred network - but boy, is it hard to get a game at 10/20nl - 50/1nl.

3. A consortium buying a Cake skin want me to join in and I'm nervous as game liquidity just seems to be dropping whilst Prima (who should logically already be effectively dead) appears to be INCREASING their game liquidity. And I can't figure out why.

Lee Jones might be what the business world calls a "troubleshooter". They are recruited specifically to turn around problem companies, and when things are running smoothly again, they move on to "troubleshoot" the next ailing business. To be effective, they are given a high rank, so it would appear as though a high ranking company executive was showing a lack of commitment to the companies they are in, jumping ship not long after joining, and just when things are looking good.

They are likely to earn MORE than a "loyal" manager (a motive to use their skills in this way, rather than stick with one company), but this would be highly geared to their performance, and if they fail to turn a company round, they could find they have worked for free.

 

[pokeraddict]

I agree with OP in the other thread that Cake is among the most reputable online poker rooms. I deal often with their affiliate department who are very fast and helpful in replies and their support gets an A in most forums but there are some things that really angered players over the past couple of years.

1. Recently Jazette bailed from the platform holding back the high and middle limits from the network. Then when that did not get resolved they took many of the low limit games away. This dispute seems to have been settled but the game quality and volume was nowhere near as good as before without them. On Sept 1 everything merged back so this is a moot point, at least for now.

3. In April 2008 Cake Poker stopped letting you have multiple rakeback accounts on the network and retroactively went back 2 months and closed anything that was a duplicate. This didn't make players happy that it went retroactive.

4. The software has had major problems. I have not played there in a while but when I did the blinds would randomly skip me for no reason, especially the small blind. Sometimes the button would miss me. If I was waiting for the big blind and the small blind bailed it would make me post the big blind twice. Sometimes my cards would be dealt face down, sometimes the last hand's cards and board would be the same as the next due to a display issue. Currently they can't even run tournaments due to whatever problems.

5. This is what finally got me out the door. I requested a check and after 3 months it never came. They finally admitted they never cut it and reversed it. I then requested another check for which they took $45 out of without telling me and the check came short 4.5-5 months after requesting it. I was one of what seemed like hundreds that had this happen. I had raked $25,000 or so lifetime there and they were petty enough to charge me $45 and on top of that try to sneak it by. I made a swap at another room with my remaing bankroll and moved on.

6. Promotions seem to favor micro players. In fact the gold card weekly promo seems impossible to win if you don't play micros and hit the magic card.

7. Without echecks it is hard for them to bring in casual players hurting game quality and fresh blood. uckily the sportsbooks are good at that.

I feel certain current management is well aware of issues like the ones I describe. With that said if a player can't get rakeback at Full Tilt I suggest Cake Poker, but why?

1. They now give you one free cashout a month by check and all ewallets are free. While Stars is free they don't do rakeback and the other major rakeback friendly U.S. rooms charge you for a cashout or deduct it from rakeback.

2. No deductions from rakeback. 33% is 33%. In the spring all deductions were dropped although affiliates still eat them. The old deductions were bonuses, deposit fees and all cash promos. There were players that would win a major promo and it would wipe out their rakeback for the month.

3. Their support is great.

4. Their affiliate department is great.

5. Due to the lack of tracking software the game quality is better than average.

6. Their cashout speeds are great, only comparable to Poker Stars for U.S. players.

7. They have better and more unique promos.

8. They are very reputable.

I'm sure I'm missing something. I don't mean to be critical of them at the start but I doubt you will find them deny the past problems and the need to improve their software. I can make a bitch about all rooms but my personal experience with that $45 check was the last straw. I've learned to like Stars and FTP, especially because I usually play stud which isn't available at Cake although the lobby has showed it for 3 years. I play tournaments at Stars and cash games at FTP.

I wish Cake all the luck in the world and think they are on the right track and still happily send players there as they are one of the best U.S. options.