BetZip - Cool Poker Concept
The online gambling (as opposed to gaming) market is obviously a very attractive one, as seen by the huge success of PartyPoker and similar companies, but it's always been difficult for American entrepreneurs & investors to directly participate in that sector due to the aggressive anti-gambling stance of the US government. And yes, we have seen skill-based gaming (betting to a certain extent, but outcome based on skill, not luck) sites such as WorldWinner and Skill Jam appear in the market, but they didn't really move the needle since the games were not classic "gambling" style games - e.g. World Winner was just sold for $23M - nothing to sneeze at, but certainly not a billion dollar market outcome like Party Poker.
So I recently stumbled across Betzip, a gaming/gambling company started by former Looksmart (where my wife used to work) CEO Jason Kellerman. What is really clever about this approach is that it brings you the classic poker-style gameplay and lure of cash prize tournaments, but with what appears to be a clear end-around the US gambling regulations since there is no actual money wagering - you have to pay $20 to be a member of the club, but you can't lose any money in it.
I have only played a bit, but the concept seems strong. You have the opportunity to win good-sized prizes ($5,000 first prize) in the weekly or monthly tournaments, so it probably keeps you from really doing dumb wagering like you would if no money was at stake, but the lack of actual money pots keeps the event from being a gambling enterprise, so it's probably legal in the US. At $20 a month, it's a decent amount of money, but it's not so large that you're going to gamble away your house and your first born child - however, it's a step above the $.50 wagers one often sees in true skill-based gaming sites, which is good since those low wagers don't keep stupid bets from happening since the price is too low to limit moronic behavior.
The downside? It feels like a traditional online gambling site without having the upside to the company of taking large amounts of money from each user - I have received 3 emails since registering 12 hours ago, which feels a little aggressive. And the the $20/month fee may not keep the really stupid gamblers (AIWCC - All In with Crap Cards) from still screwing up games since it's a free play site, but I'm not sure that's as big an issue as it is with free sites.
I'm not an online gambling expert, but BetZip feels like a really clever mix of poker-style gaming with a subscription style economic method which appears legal in the US - give it a shot
i joined betzip a month agao, i have tried other sites (tigergaming, pokerstars...)and i have to say they (the other sites, were just eating my money away, even for nickles and dimes, just wasnt worth it)
Betzip i have to say i enjoy, no hole burning in this pocket, i can play and not spend a dime and win some cash, not bad for a poker site)
wtg betzip.
Posted by: brenda haley | October 09, 2006 at 02:25 PM
I tried betzip but their software caused my computer to constantly lock up, requiring a hard reboot to set things straight. I love the concept but with this software myself (and others I know) are unable to play. Their customer service in response to my problems was also lacking. I'm confident that with an Athlon 64 3200 with 768 ram my system has enough to handle their program.
Posted by: Michael Diatalevi | October 22, 2006 at 08:52 AM
BET ZIP GREAT CONCEPT!! UNFORTUNATELY THE SOFTWARE NEEDS WORK! BUT I REALLY ENJOY THE SITE AND RECOMMEND IT TO ALL THAT DONT WANT TO RISK LOSING ALOT OF MONEY.ENJOY AND GOOD LUCK!
Posted by: clay woods alias "TOWINSURFER'" | November 29, 2006 at 03:31 PM
i signed up for the 15 day free trial and have been playing there for 1 month. so far my poker skill have improved at an inpressive rate, i have won in the following tourns... or placed very high in the standings....i won 3000 poker points in a 1500 player qualifier, have placed 2nd ,3rd,7th,15th,etc..... i won 2 of the 150 player tourns. the first week of playing. last weekend in played in my frist $5000 sattilite and placed 72nd which gained me access to the $5000 final that day where i finished 56th ahd won 410 cash and 250 p. points. i also played the $600 members tourn and took 5th which payed 2 months free membership worth $40 so todate i have spent 0 dollars for the service and am paid up tru the end of jan 07 ... i.v also placed very well in over %60 of all the tourns. i'v entered winning thousands of poker points . needed to get into the big money games...i'v only been playing poker for the last 2 months and am amazed at the progress i'v made in developing my skills..i give most of the credit to the real gaming platform offered by betzip with out the risk of large amounts of potential cash losses the one would expect at a regular gambling site....i also play alot of freerolls at the other sites.and have done very well there to..have to gut this short i'm up in the $5000 qualifyer right now.....
Posted by: aaron mcdaniel | December 02, 2006 at 09:38 AM
I beleive the free poker at prizewagon.com is much better in that it is Flash. Seems to work great and they are growing by leaps and bounds. Everyday I get on the site traffic is up and many new names showing up. Due to the process to get into the money, players seem to play much better then normal free sites.
Posted by: mysticking | December 07, 2006 at 01:11 PM
i`ve been a member of betzip since the beginning..i`m a foundiong member and only pay 10 bucks a month ..i have won a lil bit of money..enough to play for free for a few years but i`m still convinced it`s fixed..just a lot of dumb players playing dumb hands and winning..almost like betzip helps them out..there`s just something not right with it.
Posted by: bricklayher | March 04, 2007 at 10:21 AM
I have been a player at Betzip since they started. I can't become a member because I live in Oklahoma. I was getting to play for free in their non paying games until the past week. Now all I get when I try to log on is a message that All Rooms Are Full, try again later. I have tried for a week several times with no luck. I emailed them and all they have to say is that they can only allow so many to play.
Posted by: Rodney Mastin | March 29, 2007 at 08:13 AM
I played at BETZIP for quite some time. $20 a month is too high. On other Web sites it may be lower or free. Only few are winning and it takes several hours (sometime days) to win $10. Software crashes almost every evening. People who are honoring this mess are just BETZIP puppets
Posted by: Zorba | April 19, 2007 at 07:34 AM
i joined betzip about 6 months ago. in january i could no longer log on to the site. they keep telling me the rooms are all busy, but not night & day for the past 3 or 4 months. I live in missouri so cant join the players club, it appears you have kicked out all of the basic players. if so i would appreciate you telling me so i can delete your program & go to poker stars. I dont appreciate the story that the rooms are all full. bud graves
Posted by: BUD GRAVES | April 26, 2007 at 11:33 AM
The site sucks... you can play for free anywhere!!!
After playing a while you WILL notice ...hands that wouldn't normally win...2,4 offsuit...go all in , chances are you'll win with a full house on the river...happens soo much. Not in the beginning, when your free or first sign up....after about the first year, then you'll start to loos to the "new members" VERY often and usually to horrible hands...i've seen more flushes, 4 of a kinds and full houses on the river...WAYYY more than any normal oddsa would allow. i still play, but just choose to not pay the 20 a month until something is done. oh also, thay use to have "hot seats" if you got the opportunioty to sit in one of these...you would win almost every hand if not 80% or better...and those that have played betzip "pure play" long enough have seen this for themselves....they have so called tried to change this by allowing you to choose your own seat...but it still hasn't changed, ...just sit in the seat they give you..don't change and watch which guy starts to win a ton of hands, and seems to get the best cards....just pay attention, thats all i ask...and let me know if i'm wrong?
as for the person above that won soooo much...well not that it's not possible, but he may also be...
Working for betzip/pureplay...(owner, friend....etc)
Just starting out and and has been give the "special seats/hands" for being the newguy like i was...but i wasn't a very good player then...lol I do pay attention however and notice patterns...like these.
just my thoughts...thanks.
cybertiger
Posted by: cybertiger on bz "pure play" | August 12, 2007 at 08:10 PM
Final Thoughts: After ending my free trial 2 days early to make sure my CC was not charged, there is only one way to summarize the playing experience I had at PurePlay; BAD BEAT FACTORY! There are so many idiots playing at this site that you will see some of the sickest beats ever. People routinely call huge bets for most or all of their chips with no pair no draw on the flop, just to hit runner runner str8 or flush against what WAS a huge hand. If you have ever played funny money, then you know what to prepare yourself for. Somebody is almost always all in preflop on the first hand of every tournament. You can never protect your cards, even when the blinds are low, because everyone has to see every flop. Even if you go all in preflop with AA you will probably get 2 callers and somebody will suck out on you. I have played at FTP and Stars for 3-4 years and do not subscribed to the conspiracy theory that online poker is "rigged." But, something is just NOT right at PurePlay. I agree with all but a few of the previous people who have posted, that, PurePlay is a great concept that unfortunately just doesn't work. Save your time and continue to play at regular sites.
Posted by: Piscator | October 25, 2007 at 09:27 AM
I agree with piscator and cybertiger...there is something that is just NOT right with Pure Play...i've been sucked out soooo many times and i fold hands after the flop only to see runner runner and i woulda won had i stayed in....it happens too often...its rediculous. Its not a skill game at this site...in fact its better if you have no skill...probably will do better in the end.
Posted by: Kerry | November 24, 2007 at 01:53 PM