In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.
PokerStars lands title as Best Poker Operator
Online poker giant PokerStars once again dominates the virtual playing field having recently landed EGR Operator Awards’ Best Poker Operator title for the year. Announced just this November 25th at London’s Grosvenor House, parent company Flutter Entertainment snagged four awards along with PokerStars’ back-to-back title as the top poker room for 2021. The industry leading client beat shortlisted poker operators 888poker, Kindred Group, Murka Games, Quadrific Media (Spartan Poker), and Vbet.
“PokerStars win on strength of brand and scale. Good at innovation, it comes up with new ways of playing the games.”, wrote EGR Operator Awards on its list of winners.
With the award now bestowed for the 11th time, competitors PKR, 888poker and partypoker have likewise claimed the title in previous years aside from the 2021 winner. While many would think GGPoker would be PokerStars‘ main competition given its fast-increasing recorded traffic, it is highly unlikely that the aggressive network will ever see its name on this list of egaming giants, considering only publicly listed companies qualify for the competition.
Additionally, partypoker’s Entain yet again clutched the title of ‘Operator of the Year’ for the fourth year in a row.
“Rebranded, market leading growth over a sustained period (22 quarters) US growth. Run rate 2021 now larger than bet365”
“Entain… is absolutely smashing it in the US”
“Entain is edging it for all sorts of performance reasons.”, posted EGR Operator Awards.
Natural8 – GGNet’s $10,000,000 December Giveaway
The fierce GGNetwork is wrapping up 2021 with $10 million in giveaways spread out across a number of promotions including its multitude of daily leaderboards. Cash prizes awarded each day of the month allow thousands of players to claim additional bonuses on top of their playing profits throughout December.
Just in time for the upcoming holidays, the giveaway-filled site is quickly becoming a celebration not to be missed. Below are some of the promotions you can catch on the site this buzzing month.
GGCare & GGCheers – Daily $100,000 Flipout
Hold’em Daily $20,000 Leaderboard – $650,000 in prizes, 1,252 winners everyday
PLO Daily $20,000 Leaderboard – $650,000 in prizes, 882 winners everyday
Short Deck 6+ Daily $5,000 Leaderboard – $160,000 in prizes
Spin & Gold Daily $20,000 Leaderboard
All-in or Fold Daily $25,000 Leaderboard
Rush & Cash Daily $30,000 Leaderboard– $950,000 in prizes
Honeymoon for Newcomers – $350 value in total rewards, 30-day challenge
Flip & Go Daily $5,000 Leaderboard – $160,000 in prizes
GGDaily Freebie
Battle Royale Daily $1,000 Leaderboard
iPoker Festival Winter 2021 boasts €2,500,000 in guarantees
Following a successful spring series last May, iPoker Network is back this time around for its biggest tournament series in history set to kick off this December 3rd. The IPF Winter 2021 edition boasts a whopping €2,500,000 in guaranteed prizes across a total of 111 events. The 10-day schedule features buy-ins ranging from €20 to as high as €1,000 for the last listed €100,000 guaranteed tournament.
With several major events posting six-figure prize pool guarantees, the Main Event remains to be the highlight of the series with €500,000 in prizes to be distributed among its fortunate winners. Starting flights run multiple times a day beginning on December 6th through the 12th, with each Day 1 allowing three re-entries per player. Bearing a €200 price tag, Main Event runners can try their luck across several flights for a chance of capturing the largest top prize of the season.
IPF Winter 2021 Key Events
| Date | Event | Buy-in |
| December 3-5, 2021 | IPF #26 – €100,000 GTD | €50 |
| December 3-5, 2021 | IPF #29 – €100,000 GTD | €100 |
| December 5, 2021 | IPF #28 – €100,000 GTD | €100 |
| December 6-12, 2021 | IPF #102 – €150,000 GTD | €50 |
| December 12, 2021 | IPF #104 – €100,000 GTD | €100 |
| December 6-12, 2021 | IPF #105 – €500,000 GTD | €200 |
| December 12, 2021 | IPF #107 – €100,000 GTD | €1,000 |
€600,000 to be won in Unibet Online Series XIV
Running its second two-week series this year, the fourteenth edition of the Unibet Online Series officially kicked off its festivities last November 29th and will be continuing through its busy schedule up until December 12. The 105-event line up posts a combined guaranteed prize pool of €600,000 with the concluding €1,100 Unibet Open Online event boasting the biggest guarantee at €125,000. With buy-ins covering a wide range of levels (nano – high), entry fees for the tournaments are priced as low as €0.25 to as high as €1,100, giving all players of varying budgets and bankrolls something to look forward to throughout the entire 14-day schedule.
Aside from the jam packed lineup of events, Unibet is adding even more value for its tournament players with €21,000 in leaderboard prizes to be won. Four leaderboards split across the different buy-in levels are geared for the festival as well as an Overall Leaderboard paying out €10,000 across the top 50 finishers.
888poker presents $3M Guaranteed WPTDeepStacks London Online
Currently in full swing is 888poker’s second WPTDeepStacks Online Series with a much bigger guaranteed prize pool than its previous edition last April. Running until December 20th, 28 events complete the three-week schedule with over $3,000,000 in total guarantees and a seven-figure prize pool Main Event to wrap up the festival.
Featured buy-ins range from a modest $33 to its new and most expensive event, WPTDS #27: $5,200 Super High Roller, $200,000 GTD. Apart from the additional tournaments, a day break between events has been added giving players ample time to return for another round of exciting gameplay.
WPTDeepStacks London Online Full Schedule
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-in | GTD | |
| Sun 28.11 | 18:00 | WPTDS #1 – $200,000 Opening Event | $525 | $200,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #2 – $50,000 Mini Opening Event | $55 | $50,000 | ||
| Tue 30.11 | 18:00 | WPTDS #3 – $75,000 PKO | $215 | $75,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #4 – $30,000 Mini PKO | $55 | $30,000 | ||
| Thu 2.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #5 – $75,000 Marathon | $440 | $75,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #6 – $40,000 Half Marathon | $109 | $40,000 | ||
| Sat 4.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #7 – $75,000 6-Max | $320 | $75,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #8 – $20,000 Mini 6-Max | $33 | $20,000 | ||
| Sun 5.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #9 – $200,000 PKO | $525 | $200,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #10 – $50,000 Mini PKO | $55 | $50,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| Tue 7.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #11 – $100,000 High Roller | $2,100 | $100,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #12 – $50,000 Mini High Roller | $215 | $50,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| Thu 9.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #13 – $80,000 PKO 8-Max | $440 | $80,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #14 – $30,000 Mini PKO 8-Max | $88 | $30,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| Sat 11.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #15 – $80,000 PKO | $215 | $80,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #16 – $30,000 PKO | $55 | $30,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| Sun 12.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #17 – $200,000 Crazy 8 | $888 | $200,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #18 – $50,000 Mini Crazy 8 | $55 | $50,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| Tue 14.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #19 – $100,000 9-Max | $320 | $100,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #20 – $30,000 Mini 9-Max | $55 | $30,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| Thu 16.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #21 – $100,000 PKO 8-Max | $525 | $100,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #22 – $50,000 Mini PKO 8-Max | $160 | $50,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| Sat 18.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #23 – $100,000 PKO 6-Max | $440 | $100,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #24 – $20,000 Mini PKO 6-Max | $33 | $20,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| Sun 19.12 | 18:00 | WPTDS #25 – $200,000 Big Shot 109 Main Event | $109 | $200,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #26 – $75,000 Mini Main Event | $55 | $75,000 | ||
| 19:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | ||
| 20:00 | WPTDS #27 – $200,000 Super High Roller | $5,200 | $200,000 | ||
| Mon 20.12 | 15:30 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 1 | $1,050 | $1,000,000 | |
| 19:00 | WPTDS #28 – $1,000,000 Main Event – Day 2 | N/A | $1,000,000 |
