Canadian newspaper The Record published a feature today in their online edition on Ryan Fisler, online poker pro and co-founder of poker coaching site Real Poker Training.com. Some interesting excerpts:
The site has proven nearly as lucrative as Fisler’s gambling. Since it launched in early 2005, it has brought in more than $400,000 US in revenues and now has 480 subscribers paying $24.95 per month, in addition to the $99.95 starting fee.
Real Poker Training filled a big niche in the poker world, a world that has spread from smoky rooms in Las Vegas, and dank basements elsewhere, to become an multi-billion-dollar international industry.
“If you look at the dynamics of online poker, 10 per cent of the players are winning money from the other 90 per cent,” Fisler says. “That 90 per cent are the (majority of) people who subscribe to our site.”
Another bit where Fisler talks about signing Batista:
In September, Arnold convinced Chad Batista, the world’s top-ranked online poker player, to make videos for the site.
Unlike Fisler, Batista goes all-out for the hip-hop image, with a diamond-studded teeth grill, black, baggy clothing, and a lengthy police record.
“We had to get new hype,” Fisler says. “To be perfectly honest, it’s the hype that sells.”
Real Poker Training’s revenues have rebounded to more than $16,000 a month as of September. The only real hurdle holding it back is a lack of free time to work on the site, Fisler and Hache say.
The two each work 15 to 20 hours a week on the site in addition to their main jobs, which in Fisler’s case is playing poker. Fisler’s brother, Kirk, helps out by answering e-mail messages and enquiries.
Fisler keeps a list of dozens of ideas for the business — DVDs, a book, a 900 telephone number — but says it doesn’t make financial sense for him to dedicate more time to Real Poker Training and less time to actually playing poker.
“We’re going to need more employees, or him (Hache) to quit his job or something to really step up to the next level,” Fisler says.