Like I said, if you suspect them, it would be so very easy to verify if this is true or not, instead of spreading your false suspicions in the internet. 500 dollar accounts are fine, if there are enough of them. Again, so easy to verify how much clients' money is in AMP accounts, instead of speculating in completly wrong directions.
Not true at all. All futures orders are routed through the exchange as the term DIRECT TO EXCHANGE connection implies. I have used Ninja with CQG for years, both SIM and Live and can tell you that the reason front ends fill differently, is based on the strength of its built in simulator engine. There have been times that I have gotten better fills on Ninja executing live than SIM. Bucket shop? Not even close.
Confirmed. All "Live" Futures Trades are routed and executed on the Regulated Exchanges, which are processed on our customers daily trade statements. All live trades and customer funds are reconciled on a daily basis and reported to the regulators by Noon CST. Simulated/SIM trades are NOT executed on the exchanges. Depending on the trading platform, data-feed you are using, they are either executed on a "smart" simulation environment or locally on the traders computer.
Again, I only said I suspect. I didn't say I think it's true, it's just a sneaking suspicion I have. I would reckon it cost AMP around 350 dollars for every new account that is set up. They may turn a profit after around 200 round trips. I just don't see many 500 dollar accounts generating 200 round trips. Again, only a suspicion. Years ago I looked in to it. I don't remember how some of the futures brokers were doing it, but it was very similar to what was a bucket shop in the past. I have nothing against them for doing it. I mean if you know all the accounts will end up at zero, why not just take the other side of them?
Exactly. And there is something else the OP should know... Ninja7 (and maybe 8?) has a feature in it's SIM settings to "Enforce immediate fills". I believe that is off by default. I reckon' most trading packages have the same or similar settings. Of course, by having that option turned on, yer bypassing the SIM engine's ability to simulate what may happen live.