Category: Poker Rooms

Full Tilt Poker – Dead Man Walking

Posted on by elizabeth

Full Tilt Poker ClosedThe online poker world grew a little smaller today, as Full Tilt Poker was officially shut down. Players are now even more concerned, and for good reason– while the site (along with PokerStars and Absolute Poker) and its executives faced charges of bank fraud, illegal gambling, and money laundering, the initial response to this news was an assumption that this would mean the end of the sites in the United States. Two months after the infamous “Black Friday” in April, Full Tilt Poker had its eGambling license revoked by the government of Alderney, one of the Channel Islands that lies between England and France and the location of Full Tilt Poker. A follow-up meeting will be held at 10 in the morning on Tuesday, the 26th of July, 2011 in London; this regulatory hearing will address any rebuttals or presentation of additional materials that could potentially reverse the decision to revoke Full Tilt’s license.

So what, exactly, does it mean that Full Tilt has lost their license? Essentially, it means that the site can’t operate anymore as an online poker site (for real money, at any rate). While the site was having problems before with frozen accounts and the lawsuits and bad publicity that followed from previously-loyal players who now had up to millions of dollars on ice and their careers severely impacted, this new determination essentially outlines what Full Tilt is no longer allowed to do:

Full Tilt Poker cannot register new members.

  • This alone wouldn’t be a huge problem for Full Tilt, as they have plenty of customers already (although they’ve been jumping ship in larger and larger numbers since the troubles started two months ago). The revocation of the license doesn’t limit Full Tilt to only keeping the members that they have– it goes much further.

Full Tilt Poker cannot accept deposits from existing customers.

  • Basically, Full Tilt has no way to secure long-term financial gains. Without new money coming into the site, the amount that can be taken in rakes and tournament entry fees will eventually run out, and since the money can’t leave the site, it becomes worth more than its paper value to players, who will eventually think twice about paying fees.

Full Tilt Poker cannot allow existing players to withdraw money from their accounts.

  • Wow, here’s the root of the problem that Full Tilt’s been having. If players can’t remove their money (their money– money that they either deposited or earned through game play with other poker players, all of whom were adults who willingly entered into poker games with them), then they have no incentive to stay with the site and every reason to leave (or to sue, like Phil Ivey did, in an attempt to get back their funds). American players have been having this problem since April 11th, but this now applies to all players worldwide, making this ruling one that will have a lasting impact on the poker community.

Finally, Full Tilt Poker cannot allow their customers to play any kind of poker game or take part in a gambling transaction.

  • That pretty much sums it up. Full Tilt Poker is no longer allowed to let their players play any kind of poker game, even those that are not played for real money. This ultimate no-poker, no-gambling caveat seals the deal: while the Full Tilt Poker website currently says that they’re down for site maintenance, this is an inaccurate representation of the issue: Full Tilt Poker has been served a death sentence.

PKR Shop Adds Great Reasons To Play

Posted on by andy

PKR ShopA lot of online poker sites offer points to players every time they play a money game on their site but more often that not, these points do not accumulate anything. They are meant to be seen as loyalty points and to provide some benefit in using the site on a regular basis but more often than not; they build up and build up without actually achieving anything for the player. This is not the case on the PKR site where these points can be used to buy a gift from a huge range of items.

As you would expect, there are plenty of poker products to choose from with cards and chips being amongst the most popular of items. If you play poker a lot at home, these are essential items and if you can get them for free through playing poker online, it provides a good benefit to a regular poker player. As you go up the scale, the site offers poker tables and other larger products which are redeemable for a greater number of PKR points.

Read about poker

A nice touch is found in the large selection of poker books that are available. Whether you want to brush up on your skills and strategies, learn more about the origins of the game or read about some of the characters from the world of poker, PKR provides a great selection. Many of the books are also available in the e-book format if you are technologically advanced.

Aside from playing and reading about poker, you may choose to tell the world you are a big poker fan with the clothes you are wearing. PKR has a clothes shop section online and it is possible to buy t-shirts, shirts, hoodies and all manner of clothing accessories emblazoned with some form of poker element. There are a number of humorous poker t-shirts to choose from which should satisfy anyone who enjoys the lighter side of poker.

Great sporting memorabilia available

Of course, not everyone has poker at the centre of everything they do in life and these people will be glad to know that there are non poker products too. There are some amazing sporting memorabilia products up for grabs, including signed pictures and football jerseys. The PKR site also offers a number of luxury items including watches, sunglasses and men and women’s fragrances.

If you feel that playing poker and having the chance to win things is enough of a reward, you can use the PKR points to donate to charity. PKR Poker provides players with the opportunity to donate to their own African charity, so playing poker can help others less fortunate to gain benefits. Many people find it easy to criticise poker websites but with elements like this, they are certainly not as bad as anyone could make them out to be.

These shopping options may not enhance the poker experience but they can add a further reason to enjoy playing on the PKR site.

bwin Make The New Players Feel Like Winners

Posted on by andy

So much in the world of poker is aimed at the big players, the big hands and the big money prizes. This can come about for a variety of reasons but usually the more money you have at your disposal, the more chances you have of winning. This is the way of the world but sometimes there is the opportunity for the smaller player or novice to get the benefits that can make them feel on top of the world. bwin may have a massive reputation in European betting and gaming as well as being associated with some of the biggest names in football but the site is also able to look out for the smaller player too.

bwin Poker Rookie Challenge

An interesting opening bonus

The Rookie Challenge, as you would expect, is based around new players to the bwin website and goes further than the usual opening bonuses. The introductory bonuses for poker sites have become quite staid, usually offering a 100% bonus of your deposit amount and occasionally some freeroll incentive as well. This is not enough to differentiate a site from the many other sites offering similar incentives so there is a need for something else. Providing a tournament that pits newcomers up against each other is one way to make people feel as though they can become a winner early on in their time on a site.

5 stages to get through

The concept of the Rookie Challenge on bwin Poker consists of 5 separate stages with the players battling their way up from the bottom. Taking on opposition players in head to head matches gives you a chance to win money for nothing that can be used at a later date. A victory in a head to head match gives the victor 3 freeroll tickets and a further 3 tickets with a value of $1.20, which are able to be used at a later date in a real money poker tournament of the victors choosing. Building confidence and bankrolls on a site is crucial to becoming a regular winner and this is what the Rookie tournament helps players to do.

Each newcomer is rewarded with 10 free tournament tickets for the Rookie Challenge, which should give everyone a chance of victory in the Sit & Go tournament and then try to progress through the stages as quickly as possible.

bwin may be one of the biggest names in online poker but by looking out for the newcomer with their Rookie Challenge, they have shown they are able to look out for everyone in the world of poker.

bet365 Poker Helping Out New Players Getting Started

Posted on by andy

If you have just started playing online poker or are new to a website, it can be frustrating trying to get your first win. You may be a good player at home with your friends but the world of online poker is a major step-up and it can be very difficult to make your mark against so many good players. If you are only playing online poker to make some money, this can be very frustrating and it may actually turn some people off from playing poker online altogether. bet365 Poker understands that it can be hard to be the new kid in town and so they offer a way to give new players a great chance to win some money.

If you open an account with bet365 Poker and opt in to the new player tournaments, you have 5 chances of winning a share of $2,500. The website has set up a number of Beginners’ Races which have been especially created with the new player in mind. After joining, the new entrant is eligible to play in the race that is ongoing and then the following four races. This should provide ample opportunity to get up to speed with the site and to hone your poker playing skills.

Play against new players

bet365 Poker Beginners' Race

One of the major plus points of the Beginners’ Race is that you will only be competing against other players that are new to the site as well. This should mean that everyone is on the same learning curve, which will hopefully provide an opportunity for everyone to feel as though they have a chance to win a big prize. It should also lower the frustration factor that some players inevitably feel when they are pitched in against veterans that know their hands like … well, like the back of their actual hand!

Another great reason for getting involved in the Beginners’ Race is that there is no need for a huge bankroll for playing. The only stakes that are counting for the race are £0.25 and £0.50, so there is no need to go overboard in your attempt to pick up experience on the site. In a way, Bet 365 Poker is encouraging sensible poker play here and that should always be applauded from a poker site. It can be too easy for them to chase after the profits and big time players so something that gives a benefit to the small players is a positive step.

Everyone can be a winner at the Beginners’ Race

The final plus point about the way the tournament is set up is that it is the number of raked hands you are able to play that decide where you are located on the leader board rankings. This should level out the playing field a bit and ensure that every new player has the same opportunity to be a winner.

It is no surprise to see a poker website offering something for new players; after all, this is what sites revolve around. It is nonetheless good to see bet365 Poker offer new players the chance to build some confidence and winnings by pitting them against other new players and level the playing field.

888 Poker Gets Social

Posted on by giorgio

888 Poker is making big waves, and the perfect kind for surfing – first with a new 3D online poker room and now with full social media integration.

Social media integration means that 888 Poker can now be joined with and enhance the experience of all your social networks. Connect your 888 Poker account (at my.888Poker.com) to your various accounts with social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, and maybe best of all YouTube.

Compare 888 Poker performance with your Facebook friends, Tweet about your progress in a game on Twitter, and record your poker games and capture those incredible hands to share with your connections on YouTube.

Plus, the social networking experience at my.888Poker.com includes Blue Carpet Events, behind the scenes looks at various big money live poker tournaments in exotic locations, an insider look at the World Series of Poker, and an bustling community of players like you posting blogs, commenting on discussion forums, join themed groups with like-minded people on subjects that interest you, ask and answer questions, study up on the successes (and hard-won lessons) of the elite group of 888 Poker Ambassadors, post photos and videos, take poker polls, and win prizes by participating in exclusive 888 Poker social media promotions. An example of one such promotion is a huge refer-a-friend bonus of $50 for you and $25 for each of your friends you refer who sign up for my.888Poker.com.

At the time of this writing there were 15,117 members in 35 groups writing, reading, and commenting on 276 blog posts, 2,678 photos, and 210 videos on my 888 Poker.

Members of my 888 Poker also get the opportunity to set up private tables and private tournaments at 888 Poker. So you can invite your Facebook friends to an exclusive 888 Poker tournament or cash game with a select invitation only group of players.

New 3d Poker Room At 888 Poker

Posted on by giorgio

888 Poker 3D888 Poker’s slogan is “We play different” and they’re not kidding. Case in point: the new 3D poker room that 888 Poker has just released.

888 Poker’s new 3D poker room is nothing if not stunning. It gives players an incredibly choice in the look and feel of their game, with graphical choices in the deck that you use (with different front and back designs on the cards), and table layouts and themes, including the option of placing 3D featured images behind your table. You also get to choose from a broad selection of 3D player avatars. Additional game settings (such as auto muck hand, and post blinds) and color indicators (such as to indicate whether each player Folded, Called, or Raised) make game play not only more visually appealing but smooth, intuitive, and much easier to follow the action.

The 888 Poker lobby has also been improved with its 3D renovations, with a bevy of customisable options for players comfortable using the 888 Poker lobby, and a quick-click beginner’s lobby offered as an alternative to players who aren’t quite accustomed to the full breadth of options offered in the regular 888 lobby.

In honour of their new 3D poker room, 888 Poker is holding a special promotion called 3Directions to Win, in which players can win prizes like iPads and cash up to $15,000. The 888 Poker 3Directions to Win promotion includes crazy give away tournaments offered at buy-ins of just 8 cents, as well as prizes awarded to players who participate in at least 10 Sit & Go tournaments in the new 3D 888 Poker room at stakes over $1.

Already 888 Poker boasts an overall 5 million player pool. With news of this innovative 3D poker experience the site is now offering, players can only expect this action to continue to build.

PKR Poker Version 2.0 Software & $10k Premium Freeroll

Posted on by giorgio

PKR Version 2Happy 4th Anniversary PKR Poker! Or would that be Happy 4th Birthday?

Either way it’s a cause to celebrate, and celebrate PKR Poker is doing indeed, with, among other player bonuses in honour of the occasion, $10,000 in Premium Freeroll tournaments and a huge poker software overhaul.

Version 2.0 of the PKR Poker software includes enhancements and additional implementations of the site’s unique 3-dimensional interface, now offering body language with player avatars that includes facial expressions, chip tricks, and oddly enough, poker tells.

PKR has now also upped its ante (figuratively speaking) on multi-tabling by offering players the chances (or chances rather) to compete in up to nine games, sitting in at nine different poker tables at the same time. Players don’t even have to switch between screens to view the action on all nine tables, though they can switch between tables interchangeably at will. And six of those tables will be shown in 3D.

PKR players can now also add extra accoutrements to their poker display with the addition of national flags, adjustable button sizes and chat window size, and more new customization features.

For its 4th birthday/anniversary special, PKR Poker is also hosting new Premium Freerolls. Ten-thousand dollars worth, to be exact. Since its start, launching on August 17, 2006, the UK based, Alderney licensed site has given away nearly $3 million in freeroll cash winnings.

In 2009 PKR Poker won the eGaming Review Award for Poker Operator of the Year and the International Gaming Award for Online Poker Operator of the Year. Every year since its inception, PKR Poker has increased its overall player pool by an average of 1 million players per year, already at nearly 3 and 3/4 million players now, and well on its way to breaking the 4 million mark. At any given time at PKR Poker, approximately 15,850 players will be found there.

partypoker Introduces New Features

Posted on by kurt

Playing online poker at partypoker has never been as rewarding, now that the site has introduced a bevy of new features to its poker software. The newest round of upgrades to the partypoker software includes improvements to the partypoker lobby, the poker tables, and multi-tabling functionality.

The lobby improvements make it easier than ever before to find exactly the table you’re looking for, adding a convenient Favorites Area for storing your most preferred tables and an easy-to-use Quick Search tool to find new ones to enjoy. You can now preview what the action is like at a table you’re considering sitting in at before you actually do sit in. Then, once you’ve found the game you want to join, you can use the Quick Seat feature of the partypoker client to get in on the action at any partypoker table within a matter of seconds. The Quick Seat search feature even works in Multi-tabling mode.

The poker table improvements include personalisable player avatars, even allowing players to upload their own images to partypoker, a better action area that makes placing bets a lot more simple and straightforward, and all your features bundled together in the same area of the display instead of all spread out and hard to use.

The multi-tabling improvements now include the ability to open and join other tables directly from within the table at which you’re still seated. There’s also a new lobby preference specifically for multi-tablers, and a convenient Open Table button. Viewing options for your multiple tables on partypoker just expanded, with the new cascading view and tiling view options. You can now easily resize your tables manually for easiest viewability, and you can set a default table size to make it all automatic. You can also sort your tables directly onscreen by game type or average pot size or any custom order you wish to set.

Essence, The New bwin Poker Rake Scheme

Posted on by giorgio

bwin Poker has recently introduced a new rake scheme, along with its parent network, the OnGame Network, that went into effect as of July 15, 2010. It’s called Essence, and this is the … well, essence of it:

The official bwin Poker word on Essence, as revealed in a memo issued to its Affiliate Partners, is that it is an improved algorithm designed in such a way that “the player’s overall contribution to the poker ecology becomes a major component to its healthy balance.”

Ordinarily a poker site (or land-based poker room) will have a set rake that the house takes out of any pot (often limiting it only to pots where a flop is dealt). That rake is typically determined by the size of the pot, the number of players dealt cards in the hand, and the table stakes. It’s how the house pays itself.

But with bwin Poker’s new rake scheme, certain new, additional factors will be taken into account in an effort to more fairly personalise the rake requirement on each player.

The Essence rake scheme will take into account each given player’s playing style, their contribution to the pot, their skill level, the effects each player has on all the others over the long term. In this way, bwin Poker hopes to define each player’s value to the site. That value, determined over the past 90-days performance, will be converted into a numerical coefficient that will allow bwin Poker to distribute the rake obligation of players more equitably. At the end of each pot, the rake contributed by each player will no longer necessarily be divided equally. It may be, but if factors are diverse enough among players at the same table, different layers will pay a different rake.

The existing rake scheme for tournaments (which is really just the fee tacked on after the plus sign “+” in a tournament buy-in), will remain unaffected and unchanged by the new Essence guidelines. As will the existing bwin Poker Points system. The new bwin Poker Essence rake scheme only affects cash games at the site (and those of other OnGame Network Poker sites).

Read our detailed info about the bwin Poker Bonus on how this will affect clearing the poker bonus.

bet365 Poker New VIP Scheme

Posted on by giorgio

bet365 Poker is making small changes, creating new promotions, adding bonuses and their most recent change was to their VIP scheme. The plan is to reward players more often with better rewards.

There are four VIP levels, they are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum and the more you play the more your VIP level will increase, plus you can earn rewards on the way.

There are three parts to bet365 Poker’s the new VIP plan and we’re describing them in the following part of this blog post.

Play and Earn

Players earn Merit Points (MP’s) at real money cash games and tournaments. You will earn MP’s automatically and they will start to accrue as soon as you start playing games for real money at bet365 Poker.

You can see how many Merit Points you have earned under ‘My Account’ in the bet365 lobby. You can also view your points in real time when you’re playing at cash tables, the amount you’ve earned is displayed right above your nickname.

Merit Points Distribution
Rake per Hand Merit Points Earned Rake per Hand Merit Points Earned
0.04 – 0.09 0.32 1.51 – 1.75 6.8
0.10 – 0.24 0.64 1.76 – 2.00 7.6
0.25 – 0.50 1.6 2.01 – 2.25 9.6
0.51 – 0.75 2.4 2.26 – 2.50 12
0.76 – 1.00 3.2 2.51 – 2.75 14.4
1.01 – 1.25 4.8 2.76 – 3.00 16
1.26 – 1.50 5.6 3.01 – 5.00 17.6

You will earn 15 Merit Points for every $1 paid in tournament fees.

Improve Your VIP Status

When you go up in VIP status, not only will you be able to enjoy the new perks at your new status, but you will also be rewarded on your achievement. VIP levels are updated once a month and are based on how many Merit Points you have earned in the previous month.

Bronze VIP Status – 1MP

  • You need only 1 Merit Point to become a Bronze VIP
  • Monthly $500 dollar Freeroll
  • Bronze Cash Rewards

Silver VIP Status – Need 1,000 MPs

  • Monthly $500 dollar Freeroll
  • Monthly $1,500 dollar Freeroll
  • Bronze and Silver Cash Rewards

Gold VIP Status – Need 10,000 MPs

  • Monthly $500 dollar Freeroll
  • Monthly $1,500 dollar Freeroll
  • Bronze, Silver and Gold Cash Rewards

Platinum VIP Status – Need 25,000 MPs

  • Monthly $500 dollar Freeroll
  • Monthly $1,500 dollar Freeroll
  • Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Cash Rewards

Get Your Rewards

After you’ve done the work and earned the points it’s time to reap your reward. There are cash poker bonuses, tournament buy-ins and other reward options. As mentioned above the more MP’s you earn the better the rewards become.

To claim your reward visit the ‘Get Your Rewards’ page and find the reward you’ve earned and click ‘Claim Now’. Make sure you have the amount of points necessary for the reward or it won’t be awarded.

Cash Reward Options
Merit Points Reward Required VIP
2,000 $10 Bronze
7,500 $50 Bronze
20,000 $150 Silver
50,000 $600 Silver
100,000 $1,350 Gold
200,000 $3,000 Gold
375,000 $7,000 Platinum
700,000 $15,000 Platinum
1,500,000 $37,500 Platinum
2,500,000 $70,000 Platinum
5,000,000 $150,000 Platinum
Tournament Token Options
Merit Points Reward Required VIP
7,500 $59 Bronze
10,000 $109 Silver
22,500 $320 Silver
35,000 $530 Gold
100,000 $1,580 Gold