Vlad Hogea is General Manager of MEDIA BLOC- advertising Integrator OUTDOOR – INDOOR- media Group (”NASTRATIN”, „BUSINESS ADVISER”, ”BUSINESS POINT”, ”ANUNȚ EXCLUSIV”) –publishing house. Ph.D. in history, Communication and Public Relations Expert, Lecturer, politically involved, writer, history, juridical and political science studies, articles, essays, interviews, photo columns. Starting with February 2010, he is the tv host of “Filmul sau Viata?” broadcasted by Antena 2. He was a deputy within The Romanian Parliament (2000-2008), observer within the European Parliament (2005-1006), attorney within The Bar of Iasi (1999-2009)

Until now, have you ever had any contact with the gambling industry? If you have, how did it happen?

I have a long list of hobbies, but they are long lasting, no doubt about it.. among others, I really love movies… and until becoming the implementer of “Filmul sau viata” – Life or fiction? (Antena 2), I had watched many movies… as a child, I used to go to the cinema with my grandma; I was extremely impressed by the magic screen, where a lot of great things were happening… many of the movies in Romania  at the time were the old westerns: : ”Rio Bravo”, ”Winnetou”, “For a bunch of onion”- a parody to “For a bunch of dollars”, and so on… in westerns we could see the “saloon” where they play life and death poker… at the time I didn’t know the rules of poker, but I was fascinated by the passion of the players , either the good guys or the bad guys… later, as an autodidact, I learned to play poker- don’t laugh- reading a specialized book…

Poker… player or observer?

I am Capricorn… and I play poker as a Capricorn… first I study all the elements and when I am sure I have them all I take the first step… for years I have watched on Tv and internet different poker shows, with the great stars of the international tournaments:  Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Chris Ferguson, Daniel Negreanu, Howard Lederer etc. After learning one or two steps from the poker professionals, I have started, with small steps, to play poker on the computer… but not online, with other players… only with the computer: simulations of the tournaments where I have to face 30, 48, 80 and 160 players (these are the four options of the game I have)… and sometimes when I have time and concentrate on the game, I let few players behind…

in my everyday life, I have played poker a few times… and I don’t play with money… only chips… but I am proud to have won, three month ago, the Poker Section of the Company Sports and Parlor Game Championship of the company I belong to…

So, I am a player and observer… but I admit that when I play I am totally involved, mentally and emotionally

How much chance, how much science on the poker game?

On Texas Hold”em I think think there is 80% science and 20% chance. In classic poker (with five cards in your hand) the chance is very very important… that is probably the reason why they used to play and them take the gun out very quickly when the opponent was winning (by being helped or cheating)

Gambling is addiction or passion?

When you play with reasonable amounts, for spending your time in a pleasant manner, I think we are talking about passion… me and my girl friend go to casinos or gaming rooms and this is normality for us… gambling can be considered addiction (or even disease) only in extreme situations- when you sell your house, car, wife or to pay your debts… when you become the slave of the destiny, as described in Dostoievsky’s The Player…

What is your opinion regarding the Romanian gambling?

I think there have been some important steps taken for balancing the things regarding the gambling industry and I personally respect and salute those involved in this domain… if the Romanian state would understand and would stop overtaxing gambling (as it is a luxury game and bad for health), it would be better…

Which is the reason why the gambling environment in Romania is looked at as a negative issue by the media?

Because people are having a wrong image on gambling (due to movies, books, newspapaers…or just from saying…). They make an opinion and then stick to it… probably some of our co-nationals have watched to many movies with gangsters that say bad things and do a lot of inappropriate things in casinos in Las Vegas (see Scorsese’’s Casino and other movies, have perpetuated the cliché). It is almost useless when reality contradicts those considering gambling a tripou, or craps… unfortunately, there is so much shallowness in today’s media… that is that!

The Media Group you are leading recently launched a publication that “cracked” the market of the comic press…”NASTRATIN”- the only (inner) urban and brand caricature magazine

I am very happy that the magazine “HASTRATIN” (released from May on the market) has a great success… we have tested the market with 3 free magazines and when we saw people laughing and looking for “NASTRATIN”, we have decided to make it national, thus the Romanian people from all over the country to get it, on a modicum price and enjoy it together with the entire family. We don’t recommend “NASTRATIN” to teenagers, since our magazine has many caricatures and comics with a “licentious” content, as well as violent scenes (which of course, provoke laughing, not crying)… so the pupils would better pass their final exams and then get “NASTRATIN”

Does the name of the magazine come from Nastratin Hogea? Is there any blood relation between you and him?

Yes, my roots come from Nastratin Hogea… some forefathers came from Anatolia and settled on Romanian land, during Stefan The Great… And I do consider myself, as I have previously declared, kind of a “will executor„ of Nastratin Hogea. That is because I have brought to live the funny spirit of this great sage who lived during the XIII ^th century

Returning to gambling- did it influence your live?

More- my life is kind of a cyclic gambling, an explosive mixture of poker and Russian roulette… with spectacular heights and unexpected falls down, with many efforts and assumed risks, with surprising chances and blind misfortune…  I wouldn’t chance the “gaming style” that consecrated me…