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Poker.com Unveils New Bitcoin-Powered Online Poker Platform

Posted on May 4, 2020May 3, 2020 by Kelley N.

Poker.com which is arguably one of the leading online poker platforms on the planet has been trying to outdo its competitors for a very long time. This it has done by offering some of the most enticing poker features and at the end of it all, the players are the true winners. Its most recent move in this regard was the recent unveiling of a brand-new Bitcoin-powered online poker platform. That is great timing for the site since there has been a significant rise in online poker traffic.

The poker site which has been in operation for two decades has always been committed to providing its customers with the very best in terms of features. That said, the move to go all-in with crypto is set to create an even deeper sense of trust and commitment among its very loyal fanbase.

What Does the New Platform Have to Offer?

Known as Bitcoin Poker, the new online poker platform is expected to gain massive popularity among both online poker enthusiasts and members of the Bitcoin and digital currency community at large. It will bring forth all of the amazing features that many online gamblers have already seen with other crypto-based gaming platforms.

To begin with, the players will get to enjoy instant play and they will be able to do this while remaining totally anonymous. All that they will need to do is verify their email addresses and dive into the poker action.

As if that is not enough, the players will also have access to superfast deposits and payouts thanks to the Bitcoin network. The poker operator is already very popular for offering some of the most reliable and seamless payment processing in the industry but, still that the addition of Bitcoin will be a much-needed step up.

Aside from the speed of transactions, players can also look forward to other amazing perks including:

Low transaction fees for the room and you
Private, anonymous poker, no personal details needed, no bank or cc statements
Highly secure deposits in minutes
Rapid cashouts
Freedoms from banks and governments.

The Platform’s New Affiliate Program

Bitcoin Poker is not the only thing that Poker.com customers have to look forward to. The company has also recently announced a 50 percent revenue share for all of the new members of its mind-blowing affiliate program. This revenue share deal will remain in place for a whopping three months for each of the new partners who join.

It goes without saying that in the very dynamic world of online gambling, such developments are always monumental to the growth of individual companies and the industry as a whole. Poker.com customers will certainly have a lot to enjoy but it won’t be long before other players in the industry also respond by introducing equally competitive products and features.

Lockdown Turns More People Towards Online Poker and Casinos

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Kelley N.

The coronavirus pandemic is a very serious issue not just because of the impacts it has had on the world thus far but also because of the long-term effect it will have on the economy and individuals. Now, there are a number of steps that have been taken in order to help fight the virus and perhaps the most important one is social-distancing. Staying at home and avoid social gathering is a key component in the fight to contain the spread of the virus.

Naturally, staying at home and having no access to social places such as casinos is very tough for some people. However, since you have to stay home as part of your social responsibility to protect yourself and others, you might as well find something to keep you busy during these difficult times.

That said, online gambling has been a great pass time for people as the world deals with the pandemic. With the cancellation of several poker events and the closure of casinos, gamblers have had to switch to online casinos and poker sites.

Is It Enough?

People who were already familiar with online poker are certainly not facing the same learning curves as other gamblers who preferred land-based gaming. Perhaps the most important factor that made land-based poker a delight for them is the social aspect of the games. Having to stay at home has been tough on many people since they are deprived of connection.

Fortunately, there are online poker platforms that have been working hard to ensure that their users feel connected despite being in isolation. Social online poker was always quite a big deal but with more players now having to stay at home, it has become even more important.

Moreover, live casino games have also seen an uptick in the number of uses looking to enjoy their services. Although when it comes to something as serious as a global pandemic that requires people to isolates themselves we need to be careful how we frame things, it is safe to say that online gaming is making the time quite bearable for very many people.

Will It Last?

Well, while online poker and casino sites may be enjoying a lot more traffic, it is important to note that the rest of the industry is taking a big hit. Many of the companies that are suffering in other sectors of gambling are likely to be the ones trying to hold the fort in the online gambling sector. This is certainly very tough since they have to deal with salvaging these other aspects of their business while at the same time keeping up with the increased demand for online gaming.

Besides, once the virus contained and things go back to normal people will return to their routines. When that happens, we might once again see a decline in online gambling activity.

PokerStars Begins Testing Poker Side Bets

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Kelley N.

Over the years, PokerStars has been known for being one of the most innovative online poker operators on the planet. All of the poker operator’s efforts are motivated by the need to give its customers the best possible experience at the poker tables. With its next project, PokerStars intends to give its customers the opportunity to bet against the house on what cards are coming. This new side bets feature is definitely going to resonate well with gamblers who are looking for more ways of spreading their wagers around.

Side bets are not an entirely new concept for PokerStars. The operator has been mixing casino-style gambling with partially skill-based games in a number of their tournaments. Its Spin & Go tournaments are a great example of this.

How Side Bets Work

As mentioned earlier, side bets are a special kind of bet since unlike the skill-based gaming that poker players indulge in, they involve the players betting against the house instead of betting against each other. To avoid the impact of the actual play at the poker tables, the money used for making these side bets do not come from the player’s stacks at the table. The money will come from the players’ account balances.

Since they are totally based on luck, side bets doe not require any form of skill to play. This will make them an interesting addition to the PokerStars poker tables. It is speculated that there will be Return-To-Player (RTP) of 97.12 percent and 97.29 percent for side bets flops and side bets on hole cards respectively. The house advantages on these are pretty low which means that the interested players will stand better chances of making a killing from the side bets.

When Will It Arrive?

As of the time this piece was written, the side bets feature is only available on clients in the United Kingdom and the European Union. It is also only available at hold’em tables. The beta test of the feature has been shrouded in mystery but since it has stayed around for this long, it is safe to presume that the company is making some progress in that regard.

No details have emerged from PokerStars regarding any timeframes for the unveiling of the feature to more markets across the globe. However, given the online poker operators’ massive presence in several states in the US and other countries, there is some certainty that players in those areas will be able to enjoy using the new feature when it is rolled out. Get ready for even more action at the poker tables.

The World of Crypto and Poker in 2020 And Beyond

Posted on January 4, 2020January 3, 2020 by Kelley N.

Poker remains to be one of the most popular games on the planet and this is set to be the case for a very long time. No other games come even close to offering the thrill and excitement that poker offers its customers. Now, things are about to get even better thanks to the entry and subsequent integration of crypto technology.

While digital currencies and the associated technologies are still seen as novelties by many people, they have evolved tremendously over the years to become among the most popular topics on the planet. A revolution in the way that we perform transactions is imminent and one of the industries that will benefit will be the gambling industry. This is because the sector was among the very first ones to adopt crypto technologies in a bid to improve service delivery. The gaming industry has capitalized on the benefits that can be derived from the use of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as well as supporting technologies such as the blockchain and smart contracts.

How Will It Impact Online Poker?

Already, there are a decent number of online poker operators that are utilizing digital currencies. These companies are now essentially proof of concept for the benefits of using crypto for banking. Some of the most marketed benefits include security, safety, speed, flexibility, and even anonymity. Decentralization plays a huge part in this and it ties in very well with the accessibility that online poker operators are working hard to keep offering.

The shift towards online poker operations that support crypto payments has already begun albeit on a rather small scale – it is picking up the pace though. Digital currencies may have grown tremendously popular but there has been a bit of a slowdown in terms of mainstream rollout. The gaming industry does not seem to be suffering from the same problem since it is known for being very experimental as an early adopter of technologies.

Giving Users Full Control

At the end of the day, this seems to be the most important factor for many online poker players. By eliminating the middleman, online poker operators will allow the users to have more control over how they spend their money. Speed, safety and security are the core consideration in this case. A number of projects were already in the pipeline by the time 2019 was coming to an end with more set to come into play this year. There are lots of crypto-powered online poker sites available right now. You might want to get acquainted with them as soon as possible. Why? They are the future.

Unibet Launches Dedicated Jackpot Sit and Go Client

Posted on December 4, 2019 by Kelley N.

It has been a long time coming but Unibet has finally decided to launch a standalone client for its massively popular sit & go tournaments. HexaPro, the online poker operator’s, unique and innovative take on sit & go has been available as a dedicated client since December 2 on a vast number of the Kindred Casino brands. Being the very first of its kind to go live, it is definitely set to be a gamechanger for both the online poker industry and the company itself.

HexaPro’s History

Unibet’s HexaPro sit & go tournaments have been in operation for over a year now and in all that time they have become immensely popular among the platform’s users. In fact, the platform has even seen an uptick, though slight, in the number of new customers. It is that good and thus the new client is a bonus for regular players who were hoping for more. The tournaments have further been accompanied by some lucrative perks and promotions such as Daily Races and Jackpot Mania Promotions.

What to Expect

Kindred was apparently waiting for the most opportune time to launch its new HexaPro client. For months, the company has been making tremendous improvements and adding a ton of features to the new product. It was certainly worth the wait.

The HexaPro client is a web-based platform that is optimized to work on both landscape and portrait mode. As such, you are assured of the very best gaming experience regardless of whether you are using a mobile device, a laptop or even a desktop. It will also be independent from Unibet Poker and Pokerihuone, Kindred’s two online poker platforms.

“The new client is scaled down to be as easy to use as possible and will make playing HexaPro as simple as playing a slot game. It will also give casino enthusiasts the chance to experience all the excitement and challenges of poker, where you’re up against other players and skills and strategy can play a vital role,” Kristoffer Bergvall, Head of Poker at the Kindred Group, said commented.

While using the new web-based client, poker players will have the chance to continue enjoying unique and thrilling single table tournaments that utilize a lottery-type prize pool generator. They will be playing to win a share of the humongous €100,000 prize.

HexaPro currently offers stakes from as low as €1 all the way to €100. Also, the tournament’s randomly-drawn prize pool will start from 1.5x to 1,000x. If you have not signed up you probably should do that right now – there is a generous welcome bonus worth up to €200.

PokerStars Goes Live in Pennsylvania

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Kelley N.

Online poker has been one of the most anticipated pieces of the Keystone State’s expanded gambling plans. After months of waiting and several setbacks, the online poker industry is finally set to kick off with the launch of PokerStars’ online poker room. The poker operator which is best known as one of the world’s leading online poker operators will be starting off its Pennsylvanian operations with the launch of a toned-down version of its poker site. This is because the launch which is scheduled for November 4 will be a soft-launch and will, therefore, involve a few tests that will be overseen by the PGCB.

Licensed Under Mount Airy

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has already stated that its staff members are ready to oversee the test launch of an online gaming site. While the boar’s spokesperson did not reveal any specific details about the yet-to-be-launched online gambling operation, he did mention that the operation is licensed under Mount Airy Casino.

If you have been keeping an eye on the Keystone State gambling expansion, then you already know that Mount Airy is the official land-based casino partner of PokerStars.

Public Tests

The state’s gambling laws require all regulated operations to undergo a public test period before the official launch. During the test period, the regulator will be tasked with determining whether PokerStars is a good fit for the market and if it is it will be given the green light for a full launch. Some of the aspects that will be evaluated include the geolocation tools that are used by the operator as well as the fairness fo the games offered.

This test phase will last for two to three days after which the regulator will deliver a verdict regarding whether the operator can launch full operations or not. There is quite a bit of optimism that PokerStars will pass the tests. After all, it already has experience in the business and therefore it will certainly utilize this in the state. If all goes well, by next week Pennsylvanian poker enthusiasts will have full access to a robust and fully-featured online poker offering.

Is Mobile Gaming on the Way?

Unfortunately, there is no information suggesting that PokerStars is even thinking of a mobile poker app for the Pennsylvanian market. While the online poker site is definitely going to be responsive enough to work across a wide range of devices, mobile gaming has been gaining a lot of popularity in the state. More and more people are switching to available gambling apps and hopefully, there will be a mobile poker option. While there is no mention of the app and considering PokerStars’ history of starting things off with online gambling, it should not be long before something comes up. Keep your fingers crossed.

MPN’s Closure and Its Impact on The Industry

Posted on October 4, 2019October 3, 2019 by Kelley N.

Mid last month, Microgaming announced that the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) would be closing permanently in either the second or third quarter of 2020. The MPN has been running for 16 years now and it has been serving a number of top poker rooms from all around the world. Despite this, Microgaming made the tough decision to pull the plug citing a number of issues that had cropped up.

On Friday, September 20, the Isle of Man-based gaming solutions provider issued a press release that confirmed the rumors pertaining to the closure of the network which had been floating around for weeks. The press released confirmed that the company had indeed made the decision to ax the Microgaming Poker Network. As it turns out, the decision was made after the intensive internal review. This review, in one way or the other, contributed to the conclusion that the MPN was no longer a fully viable venture in the current era.

According to Microgaming’s CEO John Coleman, the poker network model no longer fits into the company’s strategic vision for poker. There was no better time of the company to announce the closure of the network as it shifts its focus to “redistributing key resources and personnel across the business.”

Fortunately, the closure of the MPN does not mean that Microgaming is ending its relation to the game. Instead, the move is intended to assist the company to follow a new strategic direction for the poker vertical. Details of their next move in this regard will be released in due course.

Lessons Learnt

Needless to say, the Microgaming Poker Network was arguably one of the healthiest and most profitable networks during its heyday. While its traffic did not match other big poker sites such as partypoker or PokerStars, it was able to hold its own. This was very impressive. Unfortunately, in recent years, the poker network has been having a bit of trouble especially with regards to traffic.

Times have changed and it seems Microgaming is only trying to adjust to this fact. As mentioned earlier, the company still has some very big plans for poker but it will be pursuing the venture using a totally different strategy. These are very hard times for veteran poker networks and therefore it is important for companies to be very innovative about the products they offer.

It is likely that the Microgaming Poker Network will not be the only poker network that has faced some of the difficulties highlighted here. That said, it is going to be very interesting to see how they will adjust to the new reality.

SwC Poker: The World’s First True Bitcoin-Only Poker Game

Posted on March 4, 2019March 3, 2019 by Kelley N.

As much as the crypto buzz may have dwindled a little over the last few months, there are still tons of innovative ideas being floated around and implemented in a bid to get both blockchain and digital currencies to be massively adopted. The use-cases have grown immensely but there is still a lot to be done in order to propel further growth which means that the industry needs all the help it can get. Fortunately, one of the industries that have been taking the concept of bitcoin and blockchain very seriously has been the gambling industry.

However, despite all the innovations in the crypto-gambling scene, most operators have been forced to keep one foot out of the fold – even though several online gambling websites have integrated crypto onto their platforms, very few of them have completely tokenized their services. Now, SwC Poker is changing the narrative by becoming the very first gambling service provider to go all in on bitcoin gambling with the tag line “No Banking, Only Bitcoin”.

Bitcoin 3.0

Launched in March 2015 following the shutdown of SealsWithClubs over some ethical issues, SwC Poker builds upon its predecessor’s ethos as well as data which included usernames and krill amounts. This basically means that some of the things that the site focuses on are anonymity, fast cashouts, and, of course, significantly low rakes. The concept of decentralization is also very important to the internet-based organization which has its server geographically distributed across the US hence its popularity among crypto enthusiasts and online poker players.

Moreover, in November last year, the company relaunched the amazing “Bitcoin Poker 3.0” and since then its customers have been treated to one of the most stable online poker experiences. Regardless of whichever device or operating system you may be using, the poker experience will be nothing short of exceptional.

Not only is the site now accessible from virtually anywhere in the world, but is also much easier to register on it and begin playing. As expected, in addition to a robust web-based client, the online poker platform also offers the users the luxury of downloading platform-specific software and apps – the experience is, fortunately, streamlined across all of the devices.

To register, all that is required is an email address but even though the site puts a lot of emphasis on anonymity, it also offers two-factor authentication for some important actions like making withdrawal or logging in.

Some of the other features that players should look forward to including 24/7 freerolls, a number of lucrative tournaments as well as the recently introduced Bad Beat Jackpot – the latter is a no-limit hold’em cash game that builds a jackpot fund using the normal rake amounts.

Is BTC Gambling Still a Lucrative Investment Opportunity?

Posted on February 4, 2019February 2, 2019 by Kelley N.

Bitcoin and digital currencies, in general, have become quite appealing as business prospects which was not the case just a couple of months back. Despite recent declines in the overall value of most digital currencies, the crypto industry is on a rather consistent upward trend. In many ways, the industry has seemingly gotten to the point where it can be said to be ripe for investment and exploration – a number of these are already underway. This is especially true for the gambling industry which is among the very first industries to adopt various crypto-related innovations. If history is anything is to go by, then this is a sign that crypto will be vital in the quest to boost returns for the gaming industry.

What 2019 Has in Store

Well, according to a number of experts, 2019 is going to be the year of next level application of bitcoin, and other digital currencies, in the gambling market. These projections mainly rely on the trends and forecasts for both markets that indicate several extensive changes that will come into effect by the second quarter of the year. This steady growth trend is expected to go on for the next two years with the areas expected to see the most changes being mobile gaming, sports betting and live online gaming.

Online casinos and online poker operators stand to reap the most from the integration of crypto technology and mainstream consumer technology. The trends indicated by these projections and forecasts are going to peak in 2019 which means that we might actually get to see fully-fledged applications taking advantage of the untapped potential of the crypto market. That said, it is safe to conclude that despite the ups and downs of the cryptocurrency space, it was always bound to rise above all that.

Blockchain Poker Tournaments

Last year we got to see the very first blockchain poker tournament that highlighted the three-day World Crypto Conference and was hosted by Las Vegas-based Aria casino. The tournament brought together live poker action that was powered by blockchain technology, making it the first to show off the full potential of blockchain and crypto technology in the gambling space. Poker players should expect more of these in 2019.

Prior to the inaugural blockchain poker tournament, there were already a number of established online poker brands including Virtue Poker that were already using decentralized smart contracts to manage their data. Even though the technology is still far from being perfected, players have grown to love the idea of their data and gaming application being managed by decentralized platforms primarily because the technology helps in reducing the possibility of site fixing and the use of poker bots.

Bitcoin Cardroom Launches “Green” High Five Tourneys

Posted on October 18, 2018October 18, 2018 by Kelley N.

America’s Cardroom is taking advantage of the expanding legalization of marijuana with a new set of tournaments themed around the drug. With the news that Canada has joined states like California, Nevada and Colorado in allowing the recreational use of marijuana, now seems to be a good time to appeal to poker players who enjoy the occasional toke.

High Fives All Around

It’s called the High Five Tournament, and it will take place from October 31^st to November 4^th. Every day that week, players will be able to take part in events with a total prize pool of $1.5 million. During the main event, the guaranteed prize pool is – you guessed it – $420 000.

It’s an interesting way to promote an online poker tournament, and we’ve never seen it done before. However, it is known that poker players do enjoy some recreational marijuana use while grinding it out online, so this event is sure to appeal to a niche market. In fact, the taglines are pretty catchy:

‘Stock up on munchies, Smoke the tables’
‘Trick or Treat – It’s munchies time’
‘Instead of candy, we are handing out the green’.

How could you resist? There is even going to be a “courtesy break” at 4:20 each day.

A Popular Cryptocurrency Poker Site

In addition to being popular with marijuana smokers, America’s Cardroom and other sites within the Winning Poker Network are also the first choice for cryptocurrency users – enhancing their appeal with two niche markets. In fact, over 60% of users at WPN sites use cryptocurrency to make their deposits.

In 2015, WPN sites were some of the first to embrace cryptocurrency technology. They have always promoted the use of it in the online poker world, and are now beginning to reap their rewards. With more and more poker players preferring the use of bitcoin when playing poker online, sites like America’s Cardroom are well-positioned to become leaders in the gaming market.

Cryptocurrency has continued to gain popularity among online poker players thanks to its ease of use, anonymity and speed. Players don’t have to worry about any of their personal details being shared when their make deposits, and the standard processing times for credit cards and e-wallets don’t apply so players can have their withdrawals processed instantly.

We’re only going to see bitcoin gain an even larger presence in the online poker market in coming months. As sites like America’s Cardroom continue to promote the use of cryptocurrencies in the online gaming world, we’re sure that bitcoin will soon become a staple at poker rooms across the web.

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