In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.
Partypoker taking the extra mile this June
A pioneer in the online poker scene, partypoker’s loyal user base is in for a treat this month as the site has prepared a lineup of exciting new updates as a way to encourage higher traffic and more action-packed games. With aggressive competitors equally accessible to that of the platform, partypoker appears to be focused on stepping up its game and grabbing a hold of the market share.
Beginning June 7 through July 6, 2021, the reputable site is giving its cash game grinders an additional 10% added rakeback on top of its existing loyalty program. While the bonus may be inviting, only players who have accumulated at least $600 in rake for the week will qualify, with Diamond Club members excluded from the promotion.
Another interesting development is the site’s new ability to process crypto payments which have gained immense popularity in the past couple of years. Digital currencies BTC, ETH, LTC are now supported in the cashier via intermediary e-wallet, Muchbetter. Transactions, however, will be charged a minimal fee of 2% with limits on transfers dependent also on user verification.
Joining the surge of online tournament series in light of the pandemic, partypoker is running its own World Cup of Cards festival this month featuring a $1 million GTD Main Event. Buy-in for the highlighted tournament is at $1,100 with players welcome to participate across four starting flights starting on June 27.
Promotions in full swing as WSOP Online Super Circuit draws near
The World Series of Poker’s schedule for the year is no doubt teeming with action as multiple circuits in both the online and live field are lined up for the second half of 2021. With the WSOP Summer Online Super Circuit having just begun, this month’s promotions on its main client are already in full swing.
Aside from running the first exclusive satellites to the WSOP 2021 live Main Event, June’s added promotions include:
• June Reload – a 100% deposit match up to $400 for funds loaded between June 10-18, 2021. The offer stands to award $10 increments for every 100 APPs earned within a 60-day window. Offer is limited to one per user by using the code JUNE21 upon depositing.
• Fish Hook Fridays – For every Friday throughout the month, cash game players who lose with pocket jacks will automatically be entered into a $5,000 freeroll tournament on the 27th.
• $5K a Day Giveaway – Ran from June 2 through 6 where cash game players who have earned 10 APPs automatically qualified for a draw awarding $5,000 worth in prizes.
For the festival, a total of 18 WSOP gold rings will be awarded through the 27th, along with over $1 million in combined prizes waiting to be won. Players geo-located in the states of Nevada and New Jersey are already gearing up as the festival begins to kick off with the thrilling $250,000 GTD NLH Main Event about to run two weeks from now.
Borgata Poker NJ runs another online series after last month’s $55k overlay
While it has been a good year for online platform Borgata Poker NJ, its May events were slightly met with disappointment as a $55,000 overlay was recorded across its 10-event schedule. Back this time with a few adjustments, the site in conjunction with brands BetMGM and partypoker, is running an 8-day series up until the 13th with a lower guarantee of $280,000 in comparison with last month’s $325,000.
Apart from the lowered total prize guarantee, players of the growing site can still expect great value events especially given that entry fees to the opening and final games have been reduced by over 50%. Last May, its series kicked off with a $535 buy-in for a $50,000 guaranteed event and closed with a bigger tournament posting a $75,000 guarantee. For this June however, both events will be keeping the same guarantees but for only $215 for its first event and $535 for its concluding one.
Consistently ranking third since its launch, Borgata Poker NJ have overtaken PokerStars’ spot for second place last December 2020 following a strong year and heightened overall cash game traffic across the site. While no operator wishes to have overlays, last month’s short may just invite more players to jump in on its most recent June series.
PokerStars USA hosts coordinated $2.5m Summer Stacks series in three states
Despite the US market’s inability to compete in international games, growing developments show that action in these locations are not falling short of excitement. Major brand PokerStars has lined up a casual series spanning 17 days from June 12, 2021 for a whopping 100-event schedule. Entitled Summer Stacks series, the coordinated festival will be available in three states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan running alongside each other whilst separately.
Buy-ins for the events are geared towards lower bankroll players with the highest entry fee to be at a modest $100. Players in the states of Pennsylvania and Michigan will find a combined prize pool of about $1m each while that of New Jersey’s will battle for about half of that. A Main Event on the 27th will be on everyone’s calendar as the biggest tournament of the festival sets a $100,000 guarantee for PokerStars PA and PokerStars MI, and $50,000 for PokerStars NJ.
“Summer Stacks will provide the PokerStars community with a more casual series format featuring a number of turbo formats, shorter events, and lower buy-ins,” noted PokerStars in a news release.
A first of its kind, the simultaneous series follows the smashing success of the previous US-trio SCOOP events back in April and May. The popular tournament saw a $6m addition to the overall prize pool and recorded over 117,000 participants across its three sites. With a glowing record already in its books, the Summer Stacks series encouragingly appears to be an upcoming hit in the regulated market as well.
