Is the forum dying?

As one of our now banned members used to say, "This is a business". He was right so let me repeat that. This....is....a....business. It was purchased by businessmen and is run by businessmen, businessmen who are smart enough not to get involved in everyday nonsense. Businessmen who have a site with 75,000 members. Sounds like they're doing something right. If the day comes when this site doesn't fit in with their vision, I would expect it to be shut down.

It's their site to do with as they please. It is not a clubhouse, and we the members don't own stock in it. The new owners have undergone a lot of criticism and have responded fairly, patiently and respectfully to it all. Not once did anyone say don't let the door hit you on the way out. Not once did they show bias or threaten anyone for having a different opinion. Not once did they exhibit an inflated ego or use the off-putting term dictatorship. Not once did they ban some poor member just because they could.

Some just can't deal with the fact that this site was sold and appear to take it out on the new owners. Why? Why has no one taken it out on the guy who sold it? That makes more sense than the former. Both premises are, of course, preposterous.

I'm not as computer savvy as the experts here but I am perfectly fine with the new site. I was fine with the old one as well. More importantly, I'm willing to be patient as the site undergoes it's changes, just as the new owners have been patient with the membership here.

Quote: terapined

When I walk into a casino, my bankroll is mine no matter what promotion the casino is offering.
No gaming regulator in a brick and mortar casino would ever approve this bonus system.
This bonus system would be totally illegal in a regular brick and mortar casino.

I must disagree with you on both of these statements. First off especially with promotions you're never 100% safe. I have had quite a few problems being no paid while playing promotions.
Also many card counters have had their chips and money taken.

I'm certain theres been special machines and promotions where they had a buy-in bonus scheme like this. I believe it was at Palace station. X amount of money got you more in credits, but you had to cash out above a certain amount or lose it all. I don't remember the exact details it's been a very long time, it was a bad deal and I didn't participate.

A few casinos (Tropicana was one) had $20 buy-in tournament machines you paid to play VS the machine(not others) You had x credits and time. You played them until broke or you hit some special amounts like a $50 JP, $250 JP and $1000 JP(again the exact details are sketchy). You did get to pick a special prize for entering, things like teddy bears, wine glasses, watches, anniversary junk, etc. I actually believe it was +EV if you could sell the stuff on Ebay or something for $12 each.

It's my belief that many online casinos CHEAT therefore they can offer such outrageous bonus offers. If B&M Casinos were run like online casinos they would probably lose money.

You can't logically give players 400% bonuses, AND pay affiliates up to 50% commissions per month with no negative carry over. IMPOSSIBLE. The bigger the bonuses, the more likely they cheat or will not pay you.

This doesn't mean you can't beat online casinos. It's just problematic.

Someone said BV finally drastically changed their bonus program. That's probably because it was very exploitable. My guess is the number of people exploiting it was growing as more information got out exactly the best way how.

Quote: Mission146

Most message boards slow down in the Summer simply because people tend to be more active outside, busy with kids, take vacations... Etc.

I know some forums have it, but this one doesn't seem to have it...although I haven't really looked for it...and I came across it easily on other forums:

Does this forum have a (bar) graph showing activity (# of posts in each month) over time?

Quote: Mission146

I sometimes say I'll come back to the political ones and just don't do it...lol

Hmmm...Circle back & close'em down. Unless they're about betting odds on the races, they shouldn't be here...:-)

Quote: RS

I know some forums have it, but this one doesn't seem to have it...although I haven't really looked for it...and I came across it easily on other forums:

Does this forum have a (bar) graph showing activity (# of posts in each month) over time?

There's no such feature that I'm aware of, but it may be hidden to Members and some Admins.

Quote: MrV

It seems many if not most posters do not gamble online, so there is little profit expectation for the new owners from this board.

Yeah, and meanwhile you have Mission146 writing articles about how online casino promotions can be "utterly destroyed." Yeah, they are going to make a lot of money from the squares on this board! :)

Quote: MrV

Why should the new owners of this board care whether the board lives or dies?

The thing I don't get is who visits the Odds site. I went there for ten minutes maybe three or four times ever. And back again to see the new format. Surely, the traffic there must correlate in some way with here. Lot's better and more up-to-date gambling information on the tailored sites.

For the Odds site, "Monthly visitor traffic is down 16.8% year over year." http://www.trafficestimate.com/wizardofodds.com

Quote: MrV

They spent a couple mil for WoO: WoV just came along for the ride.

I didn't believe that, from the start. Continue to see only strong evidence against.

Quote: MrV

It seems many if not most posters do not gamble online, so there is little profit expectation for the new owners from this board.

Addicted gamblers will try everything. Like choosing different out-of-the-way places to get the lottery tickets each week. The Wizard had it right when he said that people will keep playing anyway. However, his continued notion of "show 'em how to lose less" was wrong for the same reason. They just keep playing until everything is lost, including the time to see what's happening and get proper help. (Although, one in four hundred gamblers seeks help and avails him/herself of it.)

What people here don't realized is that the old forums like the Glen had it all. Even more math on the specific games like baccarat for more statistical aspects of the game, like the number of hands of runs of two in a shoe. Far more, in fact, then my simple example suggests.

But, the Wizard never posted anywhere else. In my opinion, he wanted the general gamblers to post here as little as the other experts who weren't selling something because they realized the silliness to a lot of the Wizard's work.

Quote: MrV

This board is now little more than a weakened appendix: the question is: "When will it burst?"

It was never more than that: A group of people who felt rich by isolating themselves from the general gambling population. And hence from also all the warm feelings of holiday, camaraderie, and ups and downs at the tables.

This place seemed so dysfunctional to me from the start; and that is what has become its legacy in the black and white of it. Ties in with the NIMBY syndrome. Remove yourself from the poor, and then complain about them at every instance.

Quote: MrV

The Wiz is pretty much just calling it in, to meet his contractual requirements arising from the sale: he got his money, so who can blame him?

What are you talking about? Is he here, or not. Strange absence for someone who's still here.

At least, a public thanks to the (free) contributors over the years. Loose ends tied up on the selling the "dream vs. reality" thing down the river. Another one of those. "I'm leaving now, and won't be back," posts. Nobody even asked.

Dysfunctional or what?

Quote: MrV

It's tough to keep loving and parenting your child when someone else adopts it.

Yeah, but it's a lot dumber to create, in my opinion, an ethically and morally vacuous "child" only to sell it; for the likes of Mr V. to come along to smooth it all over again and again.

Wizardofvegas.com Traffic Estimate:

Monthly visitor traffic is down 31.6% year over year

http://www.trafficestimate.com/wizardofvegas.com

Quote: RonC

Wizardofvegas.com Traffic Estimate:

Monthly visitor traffic is down 31.6% year over year

http://www.trafficestimate.com/wizardofvegas.com

Bring back B9!

More serious, not the biggest surprise. The site redesign, like all redesigns, causes traffic loss at first. We have not had much new blood the last year. After a certain amount of time, not as much to discuss. Forums are very event-driven. We have been quiet. And honestly, after six years I have little to add gambling related. What I do have I cannot write about for the foreseeable future due to nondisclosure.

Quote: AZDuffman

Bring back B9!

More serious, not the biggest surprise. The site redesign, like all redesigns, causes traffic loss at first. We have not had much new blood the last year. After a certain amount of time, not as much to discuss. Forums are very event-driven. We have been quiet. And honestly, after six years I have little to add gambling related. What I do have I cannot write about for the foreseeable future due to nondisclosure.

You're a tease.
Foreseeable future?
Wait a minute, you may be the only regular poster here that I have not attacked like a vicious dog ( OK there are a couple) . Pls disregard this post, if you think you saw it, well probably you shouldn't have, try to forget that it ever even happened ;-)
Cheers!

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

You're a tease.
Foreseeable future?

Yes, they are a current client so I cannot write about them. They may keep me a few months or a few years so sorry for the teasing. It would be casino-related, but not losing a client over a forum.

Attack? Hardly.

Quote: Deck007

You and Mission. Don't kid yourself.

DOES THIS WEBSITE LOOK ANYTHING LIKE A FORUM NOW?

I see topics, in which there are members discussing it, and an option for me to add to the discussion. Looks like a forum to me.

It doesn't look like "my forum", the WoV I was used to, no. And I like the old better, yes. I guess I just don't see how or why my opinion would matter. I don't like Wendy's, either. Once Dave Thomas died and Wendy took over, it became completely inedible to me. As a result, I no longer go. But I'm sure there are many who found Dave's way terrible and prefer the taste of Wendy. I left, and they filled the hole. They may have even acquired two for the loss of my one.

This is no different. We may have lost some. We may lose more. But I assume the new direction WoV has gone may appeal to members yet to come. Maybe another treasure will find his/her way here. And if not, most of the people you lament losing can still be found elsewhere.

Quote: AZDuffman

Yes, they are a current client so I cannot write about them. They may keep me a few months or a few years so sorry for the teasing. It would be casino-related, but not losing a client over a forum.

Attack? Hardly.

Salute to you.
I would say I like your Avatar, but I, I'm hesitant to, Don't want to, just forget I mentioned it Pls..

Seems like there is way less volume on here

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Salute to you.
I would say I like your Avatar, but I, I'm hesitant to, Don't want to, just forget I mentioned it Pls..

Some folks like it, some don't mention it. some cannot handle it.

Forget what? :-)

Some big changes here. I took some time off mainly due to burnout. But I always like the amount of information found here. It can be rebuilt.

Quote: HD71

Some big changes here. I took some time off mainly due to burnout. But I always like the amount of information found here. It can be rebuilt.

Nice to hear something positive.

Quote: Greasyjohn

Nice to hear something positive.

How bout this for positive,
10 years, just 10 years.
You write something good and I make fun of it.
We got a deal?
You want money on the table?
I got a little money, not sure how to make sure the winner get's the money.
Not even sure how to define "the winner".
I'm up for a wager, how 'bout you, you old fart (joke, I added) ?

So this doesn't answer if the forum is dying (which I don't think it is, but time will tell), but it will dispel the rumors that traffic to WOV is way down.

Here are the traffic stats for the last 2 years for WOV. Sorry, I can't figure out how to make it bigger.





ZCore13

Could you please cite to source?

Quote: MrV

Could you please cite to source?

Go here... SEMRUSH One of the best website data sites on the internet.


ZCore13

Quote: Zcore13

Sorry, I can't figure out how to make it bigger.

There are pills that claim they do that. :/

Quote: Zcore13

Go here... SEMRUSH One of the best website data sites on the internet.


ZCore13

Thanks for the link.

see: the numbers are up,not down

Quote: MrV

Quote: Zcore13

Go here... SEMRUSH One of the best website data sites on the internet.


ZCore13

Thanks for the link.

see: the numbers are up,not down

Yes, up.
But what the hell was that spike around Jan 2013?
Who pissed off who (whom) then? ;-)
Somebody got a new computer?
The price of IPads dropped?
Smartphones were invented?
Some classic TV show had it's final episode?
??????.?