[Sidepot]

There was obvious ballot stuffing in the voting contest by one or more persons behind the NY Underground video. As such, that video has been disqualified for this competition.

The Le Paulson Noir Poker Chip Jam video advances.

Stephan Aarstol
Sidepot Gaming

[BigKyle]

This is without a doubt the right decision. It is a shame because the NYU video was good, too, and it has been spoiled by what happened. Clearly, though, the Jam video was the better choice. Thank you for upholding the integrity of the contest Stephan.

[Felix]

Yes...i also think that it was the correct decision.
It would have been a shame if somebody gets rewarded for such a behavior.

[cdnmoose]

Good decision.

[YoYo]

Originally Posted by Sidepot

There was obvious ballot stuffing in the voting contest by one or more persons behind the NY Underground video. As such, that video has been disqualified for this competition.

The Le Paulson Noir Poker Chip Jam video advances.

Stephan Aarstol
Sidepot Gaming

______________________________________________________________

To begin I would just like to say CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who was involved in the creation of these videos.
You are a rare breed if you can gather the resources, creative mind and determination to enter a video for a contest. In this case there were only seven including myself from the entire World-Wide-Web, which gathered the resources, creative mind and determination.

I learned of Clay Poker Chips - High-end Specialty Retailer BuyPokerChips.com before the Protégé chips were ever available. When the chips were still in “back-order” status as they were brand new arrivals, which hadn’t yet arrived. These were the chips for me. From time to time I would visit the website, and daydream about the 500 chip set that I wanted.
On a most recent trip back to the website, I found a video contest that could allow me the opportunity to win the set that I dreamed about.
Oh my god. This is right up my alley. I love poker. I actually turned my one bedroom apartment into a Cigar Bar Poker Lounge, with a custom built table. I’m always begging my friends to help me shoot a quick movie or video idea. And this one is for a dream set of chips.

As far as who I am not. I am not a liar, I am not a cheat, and I am not a ballot stuffer.

I sent an evite to more than 70 poker-players so that I can track who has opened the e-mail, but not yet voted. I then followed up with two separate emails. One email I sent to those that had read the evite, but had not yet voted, and another email to those who had not even read the evite. The latter email was entitled PLEASE READ BEFORE SAT. 12 NOON.
I had friends from work begin the rally. If a few short hours, I was up and running.
I hosted a last minute poker game on Friday, in a last big push to get votes before the next-days close. I watched my friends vote, and I watched me take the lead. Other friends promised to vote at the last minute in case of a competitor who may be trying to do the same thing. “Get the most votes” is how the contest was being run as far as I could see. (American Idol Style)
Everyone who left my poker game either voted or had a print out with the web address of buypokerchips.com and chiptalk.net.
Saturday morning I was up and calling people at 10:00 AM.
Those that didn’t answer got a text message. And one even responded while out of town visiting Delaware. (You may want to check to see if there were any IP addresses from Delaware on Sat. morning.) My buddy Neil went to the public library with his friends on Saturday morning, Can you believe, he’s out of town and has the wherewithal to go to a gosh darn Public Library, after he got my text message. You know what. Not only does Neil know about my video. Neil and more than 70 other friends of mine know about buypokerchips.com and chiptalk.net. I got the word out. As far as I saw the selection of a winner was a result from gathering most votes.
This was about making a video that promoted buypokerchips.com. From my understanding, or at least from the rules posted on buypokerchips.com “SELECTION OF A WINNER” will be voted on by visitors to BuyPokerChips.com
It does not say anything about a “best video” as Stephen mentions in his comments posted under my video,
If you are looking for the Best Video, call Randy, Paula and Simon. I’m sure they can pick the “best” for whichever criteria you may wish to introduce, now or in the future.
Or you be that judge. Hand the prize to whom you feel is best for whatever criteria you see fit.
But to accuse me of vote manipulation and disqualify me for it is just wrong.
Stephan to say that I am responsible for vote manipulation is in poor judgment and disrespectful 39 other voter’s that may soon be returning to chiptalk.net and buypokerchips.com.
How do I know these people will be visiting these sites? Because they are the ones who say, “I saw you had the most votes” when I walk into work Monday morning. They are the ones who call me to tell me that I’ve been disqualified, and I should visit chiptalknet and view the comments from Stephan and others.
They are the captive audience that I believed you were after.
I went so far as to name my YouTube Video, BuyPokerChips.com not New York Underground. My video was all about your website. It currently has 254 YouTube votes, and counting.
I hoped that with a “WINNING EFFORT” (not “best” video) I could win with votes as described by the rules on your website.
Furthermore, you have taken the liberty to publish my First and Last name and publicly disqualify me for cheating and mention so publicly.

[JM]

Just for an example, there were 11 people with an identical unique IP address and another 6 with a different but identical unique address which matched yours. And those don't include the 2 who posted in the thread within 20 minutes of each other who had an identical unique address as well. There are more examples just like this, but you get the idea. If it were really a bunch of different people, there should be more diversity in their addresses. This looks more like a few people registering multiple accounts.

[Sidepot]

Yoyo,

I've removed your name from my posts on this site, and I've removed your video from BuyPokerChips.com. This disqualification was not intended to disrespect you personally, but rather to uphold the integrity of this competition and create a level playing field. Some of the contributors spent a ton of time on these videos, so you can understand that their efforts deserve respect as well, and I personally felt your actions were "disrespecting" their efforts and the tone of this competition.

I hear your explanation, and while I may have my reservations, I'll take you at your word. Still, this contest is obviously a "best video" contest, not a voting contest to see who can get the chips. Otherwise, why even go to the trouble of doing a video, we could just vote.

Stephan Aarstol
Sidepot Gaming

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by JM

Just for an example, there were 11 people with an identical unique IP address and another 6 with a different but identical unique address which matched yours. And those don't include the 2 who posted in the thread within 20 minutes of each other who had an identical unique address as well. There are more examples just like this, but you get the idea. If it were really a bunch of different people, there should be more diversity in their addresses. This looks more like a few people registering multiple accounts.

But...but they just used my computer to sign up... seriously!

[Irish Se7en]

Originally Posted by Deuce

But...but they just used my computer to sign up... seriously!

Not for nothing but who's to say they didn't?

I'm not naive but I have no interest at this time to defame a person who is new to the board. Who has explained how and why he received said votes and took the time out to make a video for a contest with the possibility to win some nice chips.

I trust everything that JM has posted because he is a person of integrity but Yoyo could also be telling the truth.

Either way, welcome to the site and I hope you stay even though I didn't vote for your video.

[gunitgreg]

Originally Posted by Sidepot

There was obvious ballot stuffing in the voting contest by one or more persons behind the NY Underground video. As such, that video has been disqualified for this competition.

The Le Paulson Noir Poker Chip Jam video advances.

Stephan Aarstol
Sidepot Gaming

SO MY VOTE FOR NEW YORK UNDERGROUND DOES NOT COUNT?
YOUR MOTHER IS A BALLOT STUFFER !@#$%^&*() PIG