Robbie Williams Launches His Own Poker Room
February 16, 2012
The beta version of “Robbie Williams Funpoker“, a play-for-fun online poker room that allows Robbie Williams fans to put their poker skills to the test and win prizes in the process was recently launched by the world renowned pop icon.
While the site does not currently accept real money game play, the singer has come under some serious criticism from some fans and even a member of British parliament, Tessa Munt.
According to UK newspaper The Daily Mirror, Munt said “I’m outraged by this. It directly targets his fans, including children. The money he makes should go to addiction charities.”
Munt’s reference to addiction is a barbed comment which refers to Williams’ personal battle with addictions to alcohol, cocaine, and more recently prescription drugs which have plagued him for close to two decades. Munt is of the opinion that Williams is out to take advantage of gambling addicts with whom he should sympathize given his past.
Some fans agree with Munt’s sentiments and feel alienated and disappointed by the fact that the Robbie Williams prizes, including one to meet Robbie Williams himself, are being played out at an online poker room rather than on his official website. Others though are exceptionally excited at the prospect of being able to join in on some fun and be part of a special Robbie Williams related community. And the site bills itself as just that, a place for “…having fun with your friends and keeping up with the Robbie Williams community.”
While no real money is required for fans to play at the poker room, it is possible for them to spend money. Each player receives free play poker chips daily which are used to play in poker games. As players advance in winning, solving special “missions” and unlocking various achievements they are rewarded with experience points (XP’s) which are in turn spent to advance “levels” and unlock further content. Any winnings earned at the poker tables can be used in continued poker play or spent to customise avatars or purchase “Power-ups” that temporarily increase XP and chip earnings. This virtual money cannot be exchanged for cash or withdrawn from the site.
There is however another form of currency at the site known as “gold” which can be purchased for real money and used to enter exclusive poker tournaments or purchase restricted items in the site’s avatar shop. Buying “gold” is only an option and not a requirement to play the majority of poker games and the majority of tournaments on offer at the Robbie Williams Funpoker room are freerolls with prizes including poker chips, avatars and occasionally gold as well as many real prizes.
This type of site does not differ from the plethora of games sites available on the internet, other than the fact that it falls into the “gambling” genre. Due to the fact that no real money is accepted to play in the games, the status of the site remains “non-gambling” but it still mimics the same rules as many “for money” poker rooms including no chip dumping, bots or collusion.
It really does look like a great deal of fun, but does pose a few questions, like why would someone as famous as Robbie Williams want to do something like this and also, will it be a success…only time will tell!
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