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MISDEAL: Pennsylvania Poker Rooms Staying Closed When Casinos Reopen

When Pennsylvania casinos reopen, dice will be rolling and slot reels spinning. But poker room operations will not be in the cards.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) released a memo with minimum protocols for casinos to reopen. Unfortunately, poker players will be out of luck.

“Poker rooms are not authorized to operate due to players handling cards and chips,” the document notes. “Poker room operations will be re-examined based upon changing CDC and PA DOH [Department of Health] guidance.” 

Decision receives mixed reaction among poker players

Some states have begun allowing poker in some form. The decision in Pennsylvania received mixed opinions from players.

“Players in close proximity constantly touching the same chips and the same cards just doesn’t seem practical right now,” longtime poker pro and Philadelphia native Matt Glantz says. “I feel strongly the poker rooms around the country reopening right now are making a potentially big mistake.”

Not all are happy with the decision however. Some speculated it might be a while until live poker returns to the Keystone State.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” Philadelphia grinder Joe Palma says. “I was told no poker at Parx until at least January 2021. Meanwhile casinos are opening in Florida with six-handed poker.” 

The PGCB memo doesn’t note a date when casinos can actually reopen in PA. It lays out a series of recommendations for casinos to offer a safe environment. That includes wearing a mask continuously while in the casino.

Casinos will be allowed to open up other table games such as roulette, blackjack, and craps. Standards ban congregating around tables and call for chips to be cleaned on a daily basis and dealers wearing masks. Some players believe poker should be treated like these other games.

“If they are opening up the other table games, poker should open up as well,” says Mario Cerrito of Mantua, New Jersey. “The roulette table and craps tables are just as bad as a poker table if you’re talking close proximity and chips.”

Some states ready to deal in poker

States that have already opened poker rooms have strict measures put in place. Precautions include:

  • use of masks
  • plexiglass dividers
  • limited number of players per table

Some properties have even used hand sanitizer bottles substituted for dealer buttons. The measures make for a unique poker atmosphere.

“Masked play and partitioned play potentially further reduces a lot of the social aspect of the game,” PA resident Ben Coren says. “It also cuts down many visual cues that some players see as the only advantage to live play over online.”

Online poker booms with PA rooms shut down

It’s not all bad news for PA card players however. With the closing of live poker rooms, online poker in PA is booming.

Revenue records having been smashed over the last few months for online regulated casinos. That includes online poker and PokerStars remains the only operator in the state.

Some players have transitioned to playing online more while poker rooms remain closed. 

“I’ve been playing more online then usual,” 2017 WSOP Main Event champion Scott Blumstein says. “I consider myself more of a live player so I’ve had to make the adjustment.”

Since PA casinos have closed their doors, live gaming revenue is down 84% year over year in PA . Estimates put lost revenue to the state at $238 million since the pandemic began. 

No timeline for live poker’s return

Currently there is no exact timeline set for reopening of Pennsylvania casinos. The state is using a red, yellow, green system for counties to reopen. Gov. Tom Wolf has said casinos can open once a county reaches green. 

But with many of the state’s casinos in more populated areas, reopening soon may be unlikely.

“A casino can reopen at 50% occupancy when its respective county reaches the green phase,” the Allentown Morning Call notes. “None of the 17 counties moving to green May 29 has a casino.”

Some players are trying to stay positive and focus on staying safe even if it means no poker. Rivers Philadelphia casino regular Christopher Larrrea agrees with the governor in regards to casinos and poker rooms.

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” he says. “Yes it hurts the grinders like myself but the bigger picture is keeping everyone safe.”

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LONG GAME: Casinos Open Slowly, But Many Challenges Remain for Live Poker

Casinos may be reopening after the Coronavirus pandemic, but questions remain about the future of live poker. Challenges lie ahead and how long it will take to return to some semblance of normalcy is unknown.

What’s the immediate future of a game that usually involves close quarters and players mutually handling casino chips? Many fans, players, and industry insiders are wondering where poker goes from here.

Players may be heading online, but many hope to be back betting, conversing, and playing with friends at an actual table soon.

 

Casinos begin soft reopenings

According to OnlinePokerReport, roughly 10% of the country’s casinos have reopened for business in some form. As sovereign nations, tribal casinos were some of the first to do so.

As of this Wednesday, 16 states have casinos now back open including: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington.

Most of those are tribal operations, but Arkansas, Louisiana, and South Dakota are allowing commercial casinos to open as well. That doesn’t mean all casinos in all these states are opening. Some have chosen to remain closed longer or face individual city shutdown orders.

In California, Towers Casino in Grass Valley became one of the first card rooms in the country to reopen. Play was nine-handed with players and dealers wearing masks.

That didn’t last long however. State law enforcement officers shut it down after only 36 hours for defying state orders.

In New Jersey, casinos remain closed with no timetable yet on reopening. The same goes for Nevada.

Many challenges ahead for live poker

Getting cards back in the air is a thorny issue. Players have to sit next to each other and all handle the chips on the table.

These aren’t actions that can be avoided. The use of masks seems likely, but other ideas that have been floated include:

  • Use of gloves
  • Four- or six-handed play
  • Testing employees
  • Avoiding congregations of players
  • Taking player temperatures

The Nevada Gaming Control Board recently released a document detailing best practices for casinos reopening. One recommendation included four-hand play at poker tables and frequent card and chip cleaning.

How conducive these recommendations are to poker remains to be seen. In a time when poker rooms have been closing in recent years, will casinos be amenable to only four-handed play?

That move may reduce house rake, but also may not be of interest to players. Four-handed play wouldn’t be conducive for tournaments as well. Properties might be forced to double staff with far fewer players at the tables.

Six-handed play might at least be a better option with social distancing at tables still possible. Perhaps additional starting flights could help. But finding a perfect solution remains difficult.

Wynn Resorts has already announced its properties in Las Vegas and Boston will initially return without poker.

“We don’t in any way want to do anything we can’t execute as safely as possible,” Wynn’s Encore Boston Harbor President Brian Gullbrants told Bloomberg. “This is an evolving situation.”

A look at one poker room’s reopening plans

The Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, Florida, announced its poker room would be open again beginning Thursday. That will include tables with the felt area completely enclosed by a plexiglass divider.

 

Plans call for the poker room to run at 50% capacity with 23 of 46 tables in operation. Staff and guests will be required to wear masks with gloves optional. Other regulations include:

  • Cards and chips cleaned on a regular basis
  • Six-handed games
  • Players encouraged to call ahead to play
  • Notification via text of an available seat

“We look forward to having you back knowing that your and our team member safety is the number one priority,” the property’s website notes.

Players and others in the industry will be watching to see the results of efforts like the Hard Rock’s.

 

Tournament series still unsure of future

Beyond simply opening live poker rooms, tournament organizers face even more daunting challenges. The very nature of a tournament many people gathered at tables.

Large fields produce large prize pools, which tend to bring in even more players. The World Series of Poker announced in April that the annual Las Vegas series was postponed to the fall.

That move’s effect on the number of events and entries remains to be seen. With international travel limited and millions of Americans out of work, a big dip in attendance is likely.

The World Poker Tour has also postponed several events and is in a similar waiting pattern. Three events (Gardens Poker Championship, Borgata Winter Poker Open, and LA Poker Classic) also still have final tables yet to be played and filmed for TV in Las Vegas.

WPT executive tour director Matt Savage spoke with USPoker about the future of live poker after the pandemic. He believes tournament poker will return, but the industry can learn a lot from the current climate.

“First of all I know that poker will return someday to as it was before,” he says, “only this time with a better understanding of hygiene, sanitation, and the newfound knowledge of how to cough and sneeze correctly with strong reminders from other players and employees if you forget.”

Months of waiting still ahead for tournament players

As for the WPT, Savage says the tour simply awaits casino partners to open the doors. However, that will only happen when they feel it’s safe for customers and players to travel to tournament venues.

“I don’t see four-handed being a feasible option, and if that’s the case I know that some rooms will not open when casinos do and sadly may never reopen,” he says. “But honestly, I’ve felt some consolidation has been needed for some time to make the strong rooms more solid and create more action and better dealing jobs.”

As for a time frame for returning, Savage believes the long game looks like the only option.

“Live poker will return months before poker tournaments,” he says, “and local tournaments will happen before tournaments that require traveling players.”

Online poker continues to roll in big ways

Players looking for tournaments will continue to look online. April produced record numbers for legal, regulated online poker in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

That comes after the previous records were set in March. New Jersey topped $5 million in online poker revenue for the first time in April.

Pennsylvania topped that with $5.2 million. PokerStars, partypoker, and WSOP.com have run numerous series capitalizing on players at home. Gamblers shut out of sports betting and other casino betting have taken to the virtual poker tables.

Revenue numbers aren’t available in Nevada, but there’s a good chance that state is seeing record numbers as well. WSOP.com remains the only operator in the state.

Sweepstakes poker sites like Global Poker and ClubWPT have also seen huge fields.

These trends look to continue in May and WSOP.com, GlobalPoker, and partypoker all have series currently underway. In Pennsylvania, PokerStars held the major one-off “Pennsylmania” event on Sunday.

The $200 buy-in tournament came with a record $250,000 guarantee, which was smashed with a $515,964 prize pool. Pennsylmania ultimately produced 2,774 entries with 1,760 players and 1,014 re-entries.

This online success extends to international online poker operators. With most live poker still on lockdown, more players will continue to look online for their action.

For a complete look at this week’s US online poker action, click here.

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RECORD BREAKING: Online Poker Pops to New Industry Heights in May

The US online poker and casino industry continued to crush previous records in April. With players at home for the last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online numbers have ballooned.

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Delaware all saw the closing of brick and mortar casinos. That has led to massive numbers in March and even bigger numbers in April.

The upward trends offer some hope for the industry and huge growth potential for the regulated US online poker market.

New Jersey sees major growth, PokerStars moves to top

The $5 million mark has been achieved. In April, New Jersey saw online poker hit another record of $5.1 million. This toppled March’s record of $3.6 million. Year over year, online poker revenue in the state has now tripled. 

Online poker companies are staying busy during the Coronavirus pandemic. Operators continue to pump out tournament series to keep eager players.

WSOP.com, Pokerstars, and partypoker all ran major tournament series in April – to much success. That continues with several events underway in May.

PokerStars captured the monthly lead in April thanks to a huge NJSCOOP. WSOP.com has usually been on top on a monthly basis. Here’s a look at individual operator revenue:

In total, online casino gaming combined with poker also set another record of $79.9 million for April. That’s more than double the revenue from April 2019.

Total online casino gaming revenue has seen a 23% increase month over month. With Atlantic City casinos still closed in the state, it’s a good bet these trends should continue.

Pennsylvania takes lead over NJ in online poker

Pennsylvania also showed a record month with $5.2 million in revenue during April. This slightly edged out the state’s neighbor New Jersey.

PA has only been operating online poker since November 2019 and continues to see online poker growth. PokerStars remains the only active poker operator and continues to run major series in the Keystone State.

Between NJ and PA, PokerStars saw its biggest month in the US since pre-Black Friday. In total, PA recorded $43 million in combined online casino and poker revenue – setting another state record.

Rivers Philadelphia accounted for $13.7 million in revenue and held the top spot in the state. Mount Airy/PokerStars brought home the monthly silver medal for $10.4 million for the month. 

Delaware delivers biggest online gaming numbers ever

While it may be small and overlooked, Delaware online gaming has also seen a major uptick in recent months. One the early US regulators, the state offers table games and slots. Online poker is also available via a partnership between 888poker and the state’s racetrack casinos.

Since launching with online gaming in 2014, Delaware had never seen a month with over $400,000 in revenue. That all changed with a $500,000 March. In April that number grew to a record $856,000.

All three Delaware operators saw record-setting months. Dover Downs casino won the online battle for the month of April with $341,000. Delaware Park was second with $309,000 and Harrington with $205,000. 

Big online growth should continue into May

Can this online market sustain and for how long? In March 2020, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware ordered the shutdown of all casinos and poker rooms until further notice.

Casinos in Nevada also remain closed. Online casinos and poker still operate in these states during the pandemic however. This gives players at least some kind of gaming option.

All land-based casinos in the NJ-PA-DE area are to stay closed through May with speculation of soft openings this summer. Whether that includes live poker remains to be seen.

And even if poker rooms do open, the demand may be soft. Expect to see similar numbers in May’s reports with declines coming only once a full live poker scene re-emerges.

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US ONLINE POKER PLANS: Weekly previews and schedules for the week of May 18-24

The massive events continue this week for US online poker players.  Major events from Global Poker and WSOP.com roll on this week and PartyPoker launches its second straight series for players in New Jersey.

Here’s your complete online poker guide and schedules for this week.

  • WSOP –  Money May reaches final week, Main Event Sunday
  • Global Poker – Rattlesnake Open III produced big numbers, huge Memorial Day event added
  • Partypoker/BorgataPoker.com/BetMGM – Online Mini-Series begins Tuesday with events for low rollers

Where can you play online poker?

American online players have a few options to get in the action. The markets are still small in comparison to large international poker markets. However, here are four states currently offering legal online poker for real money.

New Jersey

  • PokerStars NJ – The largest online poker operator in world offers plenty of cash game and tournament action in New Jersey. New players depositing $20 receive $30 in free cash and $10 worth of Spin & Go tickets.
  • partypoker/BorgataPoker – partypoker is one of the best-known online brands around the world. New partypoker players get a free $25 via $10 in poker money, $10 in casino chips, and $5 in poker tournament tickets. Those using the BorgataPoker skin can earn $10 in cash with a $10 bonus.
  • WSOP.com/888poker – Players on the World Series of Poker-affiliated site have the option of a shared liquidity pool with Nevada and Delaware. Players can qualify for WSOP events in Las Vegas and circuit tournaments. The site is run on software by 888poker, which also operates in the state. WSOP offers new players a free $10. 888poker offers $20 in free play and up to a $1,500 deposit bonus.

Nevada

  • WSOP.com – WSOP.com offers players plenty of cash game and tournament action with a shared liquidity market with WSOP online poker and 888poker in New Jersey and Delaware.

Pennsylvania

  • PokerStars PA – New players at PokerStars PA can claim a $30 free play bonus and up to $600 match bonus. PokerStars also partners with FOX Bet in the state for sports betting. Players utilizing the FOX Bet’s new player offer will earn a free $20 for signing up that can be used for poker or sports betting.

Delaware

  • Doverdowns.com, Delawarepark.com, Harringtonraceway.com – These offer online poker in Delaware, however, it’s run through 888poker. The platform has a shared liquidity market with New Jersey and Nevada.

Other states

Those in other states have more limited options when it comes to online poker. Sweepstakes poker sites offer players a chance to play for cash and prizes. 

Global Poker may be an option for players in other states (and much of Canada as well). The company’s model is based on social gaming. Players can purchase Gold Coins for ring games and tournaments.

As a bonus, players receive Sweeps Coins – which can be used in tournaments and ring games. Unlike Gold Coins, Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes. New players can earn a free $20 Sweeps Coin package with a verified account.

Check out this week’s US online poker events

Here’s a look at some upcoming poker festivals, events, and additions available to American players.

WSOP.com

One more week for big Money May

The Money May tournament action continues at WSOP.com players in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Events contionue through May 24 with more than $4 million guaranteed.

Buy-ins start at only $5 with the $525 Main Event is set for May 24 with a $300,000 guarantee. May Money offers players 93 events to choose from. WSOP.com also planned to announce even more for Money May players. Look for announcements soon on additional cash bonuses, freerolls, WSOP seats, and more.

The series also includes a $20,000 leaderboard. To climb the leaderboard, players simply have to take part in any Money May tournaments.

Check out the full schedule below:

2020 WSOP.com Money May

Date Event Buy-in Guarantee
05/18/2020 Money May Series #59 – $40,000 NLH [R&A] $30 $40,000
05/18/2020 Money May Series #60 – $5,000 NLH Deepstack [R&A] $5 $5,000
05/18/2020 Money May Series #61 – $20,000 NLH Deepstack [Re-entry] $75 $20,000
05/18/2020 Money May Series #62 – $15,000 NLH Monster Stack [R&A, Super Turbo] CAPPED $50 $15,000
05/19/2020 Money May Series #63 – $25,000 NLH [R&A] $50 $25,000
05/19/2020 Money May Series #64 – $15,000 NLH Deepstack [R&A] $10 $15,000
05/19/2020 Money May Series #65 – $125,000 NLH High Roller [Re- entry, 6-Max] $1,000 $125,000
05/19/2020 Money May Series #66 – $100,000 Special Tuesday Showdown [Re- entry] $500 $100,000
05/19/2020 Money May Series #67 – $15,000 NLH [Knockout] $300 $15,000
05/20/2020 Money May Series #68 – $40,000 NLH Deepstack Super Addon [R&A] $30 $40,000
05/20/2020 Money May Series #69 – $5,000 NLH Deepstack [R&A, Turbo] $5 $5,000
05/20/2020 Money May Series #70 – $40,000 NLH [Re-entry] $100 $40,000
05/20/2020 Money May Series #71 – $15,000 NLH 8-Max [Turbo, R] $50 $15,000
05/21/2020 Money May Series #72 – $40,000 NLH 8-Max [R&A] $30 $40,000
05/21/2020 Money May Series #73 – $5,000 NLH Deepstack [R&A] $5 $5,000
05/21/2020 Money May Series #74 – $40,000 NLH 6-Max [Re-entry] $250 $40,000
05/21/2020 Money May Series #75 – $10,000 PLO 6-Max [R&A] $50 $10,000
05/22/2020 Money May Series #76 – $40,000 NLH [R&A] $30 $40,000
05/22/2020 Money May Series #77 – $5,000 NLH Deepstack [R&A] $5 $5,000
05/22/2020 Money May Series #78 – $30,000 NLH Monster Stack [1x Re-entry] $215 $30,000
05/22/2020 Money May Series #79 – $40,000 NLH [Re-entry] $100 $40,000
05/23/2020 Money May Series #80 – $10,000 NLH Deepstack [R&A] $10 $10,000
05/23/2020 Money May Series #81 – $40,000 NLH [Re-entry] $100 $40,000
05/23/2020 Money May Series #82 – $20,000 NLH [Re-entry, Super Turbo] $75 $20,000
05/23/2020 Money May Series #83 – $30,000 NLH Saturday Special [Re-entry, 8-Max] $250 $30,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #84 – $20,000 NLH Special Sunday Deepstack [R&A] $50 $20,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #85 – $10,000 NLH Deepstack [R&A] $5 $10,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #86 – $100,000 Player Appreciation with with Added Prizes [Re-entry] $100 $100,000
05/24/2020 Money MaySeries #87 – $300,000 NLH
Main Event [Re-entry]		 $525 $300,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #88 – $20,000 NLH Deepstack [R&A] $10 $20,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #89 – $30,000 NLH [Freezeout] $215 $30,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #90 – $75,000 NLH Sunday 55 [R&A] $55 $75,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #91 – $100,000 NLH
High Roller [Re-entry]		 $1,000 $100,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #92 – $40,000 PLO
High Roller [Re-entry, 6-Max]		 $500 $40,000
05/24/2020 Money May Series #93 – $40,000 NLH Deepstack [Turbo, Re-entry] $100 $40,000

Player of the Week competition offers $1,000 in weekly prizes

WSOP.com recently launched the Online Player of the Week social media promotion. Players simply have to Tweet their best hand of the week from WSOP.com and tag #WSOPPOTW to be entered.

The site will choose a weekly winner for $1,000 in prizes. Weekly prizes include:

  • $500 cash
  • Two $215 Sunday $100,000 tournament tickets
  • $70 in BLAST tickets – two $30 tickets and two $5 tickets

For a complete WSOP.com review including an exclusive $10 in free play and a new player bonus up to $1,000, click here for Nevada players. Click here for New Jersey players.

Global Poker

Rattlesnake reaches halfway point with plenty of venom left

There seems to be no slowing down for Global Poker’s Rattlesnake Open III. As of Friday, the series had already paid out more than SC700,000. That includes 65 trophies awarded in Sweeps Coin and Gold Coin events.

There are numerous events still in store and the series runs through May 31 with a SC1.5 million guarantee. This is the biggest guarantee for a Rattlesnake series to date. 

Players will find buy-ins for every bankroll with nightly High, Medium and Low events from SC3 to SC218. That includes three main events on May 24.

The action brought two big winners on Sunday. The SC110 buy-in Rattlesnake 17-M NLHE Deepstack featured SC40,000 guaranteed. The event smashed the guarantee with 553 players and a SC55,300 prize pool. New Jersey’s “Flow_so_cold” took the title for SC10,341.

The SC218 High version of the tournament featured a SC80,000 guarantee. That was also smashed with 572 players and SC114,400 paid out. Another New Jersey resident came out on top. “AAorBUST” took home SC21,392 and a trophy.

Here’s a look at the remainder of the schedule:

Global Poker Rattlesnake Open III 2020

Date BUY-IN TOURNEY NAME
Monday, May 18 SC 3.30 GPC Rattlesnake 19-L: NLHE SC 5,000 Guaranteed [Rebuy]
Monday, May 18 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 19-M: NLHE SC 12,500 Guaranteed [Rebuy]
Monday, May 18 SC 33.00 GPC Rattlesnake 19-H: NLHE SC 20,000 Guaranteed [Rebuy]
Monday, May 18 SC 3.30 GPC Rattlesnake 19-L: NLHE SC 3,500 Guaranteed [Rebuy]
Tuesday, May 19 SC 5.50 GPC Rattlesnake 20-L: NLHE SC 5,000 Guaranteed [1R1A]
Tuesday, May 19 SC 22.00 GPC Rattlesnake 20-M: NLHE SC 15,000 Guaranteed [1R1A]
Tuesday, May 19 SC 55.00 GPC Rattlesnake 20-H: NLHE SC 25,000 Guaranteed [1R1A]
Tuesday, May 19 SC 5.50 GPC Rattlesnake 20-L: NLHE SC 4,500 Guaranteed [1R1A]
Wednesday, May 20 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 21-L: NLHE SC 5,000 Guaranteed [6-Max]
Wednesday, May 20 SC 33.00 GPC Rattlesnake 21-M: NLHE SC 10,000 Guaranteed [6-Max]
Wednesday, May 20 SC 110.00 GPC Rattlesnake 21-H: NLHE SC 15,000 Guaranteed [6-Max]
Wednesday, May 20 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 21-L: NLHE SC 4,000 Guaranteed [6-Max]
Thursday, May 21 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 22-L: NLHE SC 4,500 Guaranteed [Big Ante]
Thursday, May 21 SC 33.00 GPC Rattlesnake 22-M: NLHE SC 7,500 Guaranteed [Big Ante]
Thursday, May 21 SC 55.00 GPC Rattlesnake 22-H: NLHE SC 15,000 Guaranteed [Big Ante]
Thursday, May 21 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 22-L: NLHE SC 4,000 Guaranteed [Big Ante]
Friday, May 22 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 23-L: PLO SC 3,500 Guaranteed [2R1A, 6-Max]
Friday, May 22 SC 33.00 GPC Rattlesnake 23-M: PLO SC 6,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, 6-Max]
Friday, May 22 SC 55.00 GPC Rattlesnake 23-H: PLO SC 10,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, 6-Max]
Friday, May 22 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 23-L: PLO SC 3,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, 6-Max]
Saturday, May 23 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 24-L: NLHE SC 8,000 Guaranteed [Deep]
Saturday, May 23 SC 22.00 GPC Rattlesnake 24-M: NLHE SC 12,000 Guaranteed [Deep]
Saturday, May 23 SC 55.00 GPC Rattlesnake 24-H: NLHE SC 20,000 Guaranteed [Deep]
Saturday, May 23 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 25-L: NLHE SC 5,500 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 6-Max]
Saturday, May 23 SC 33.00 GPC Rattlesnake 25-M: NLHE SC 10,000 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 6-Max]
Saturday, May 23 SC 110.00 GPC Rattlesnake 25-H: NLHE SC 17,500 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 6-Max]
Saturday, May 23 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 25-L: NLHE SC 5,000 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 6-Max]
Sunday, May 24 SC 110.00 GPC Rattlesnake 26-M: Main Event NLHE SC 60,000 Guaranteed [Deep]
Sunday, May 24 SC 22.00 GPC Rattlesnake 26-L: Main Event NLHE SC 30,000 Guaranteed [Deep]
Sunday, May 24 SC 218.00 GPC Rattlesnake 26-H: Main Event NLHE SC 120,000 Guaranteed [Deep]
Sunday, May 24 SC 5.50 GPC Rattlesnake 27-L: NLHE SC 6,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, 8-Max, Turbo]
Sunday, May 24 SC 22.00 GPC Rattlesnake 27-M: NLHE SC 15,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, 8-Max, Turbo]
Sunday, May 24 SC 55.00 GPC Rattlesnake 27-H: NLHE SC 25,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, 8-Max, Turbo]
Sunday, May 24 SC 5.50 GPC Rattlesnake 27-L: NLHE SC 5,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, 8-Max, Turbo]
Monday, May 25 SC 11.00 GPC Rattlesnake 28-L: NLHE SC 8,000 Guaranteed [8-Max, Deep]
Monday, May 25 SC 22.00 GPC Rattlesnake 28-M: NLHE SC 12,000 Guaranteed [8-Max, Deep]
Monday, May 25 SC 55.00 GPC Rattlesnake 28-H: NLHE SC 20,000 Guaranteed [8-Max, Deep]
Monday, May 25 SC 5.50 GPC Rattlesnake 29-L: NLHE SC 6,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, Turbo]
Monday, May 25 SC 22.00 GPC Rattlesnake 29-M: NLHE SC 15,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, Turbo]
Monday, May 25 SC 55.00 GPC Rattlesnake 29-H: NLHE SC 25,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, Turbo]
Monday, May 25 SC 5.50 GPC Rattlesnake 29-L: NLHE SC 5,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, Turbo]
Monday, May 25 SC540 Memorial Day Deepstack: NLHE SC100,000 Guaranteed
Sunday, May 31 SC 0.00 GPC Rattlesnake: SC Tournament of Champions

Six-figure Rattlesnake event added for Memorial Day

With so many big payouts already in the Rattlesnake, Global has added a massive Memorial Day tournament to the schedule. Set for May 25, the Memorial Day Deepstack comes with a SC540 buy-in and SC100,000 guaranteed prize pool.

That is quite an event for the holiday weekend and players get in via satellite for as little as SC5.50. Also available are: SC110 mega satellites as well as SC33 daily direct satellites.

If recent history continues, that guaranteed prize pool will also be elevated.

For a complete Global Poker review including an exclusive new player bonus up to $1,000, click here.

Partypoker/BorgataPoker/BetMGM

Partypoker shifts gears into Mini-Series this week

Fresh off the Online Series last week, partypoker US launches yet another nice poker festival this week in New Jersey. The Online Mini-Series runs May 19-24 and is geared toward those looking for some bargain buy-ins and a nice payday.

The series is also available to players using the BorgataPoker.com and BetMGM skins as well. Entries start at just $0.25 and run as high as $20. The $10 Main Event is set for May 24 and features a guaranteed prize pool of $2,500.

The series kicks off Tuesday with a $5 NLHE event and $1,000 guaranteed. A $10 Six-Max event promises a $1,500 guaranteed. There should be plenty of action for players on a budget but looking for some fun. Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

2020 partypoker US Mini-Series

Date Event Buy-in Guarantee
5/19/2020 MINI-SERIES #1 – NLHE $0.25 $50
5/19/2020 MINI-SERIES #2 – NLHE $5.00 $1,000
5/19/2020 MINI-SERIES #3 – 6-Max R+A $10.00 $1,500
5/19/2020 MINI-SERIES PHASED MAIN DAY 1A $20.00 $10,000
5/20/2020 MINI-SERIES #4 – NLHE $5.00 $1,500
5/20/2020 MINI-SERIES #5 – NLHE Super Bounty 6-Max Turbo $5.00 $500
5/20/2020 MINI-SERIES PHASED MAIN DAY 1B $20.00 $10,000
5/21/2020 MINI-SERIES #6 – NLHE $0.25 $50
5/21/2020 MINI-SERIES #7 – PLO8 $10.00 $750
5/21/2020 MINI-SERIES #8 – NLHE R+A $10.00 $1,000
5/21/2020 MINI-SERIES PHASED MAIN DAY 1C $20.00 $10,000
5/22/2020 MINI-SERIES #9 – NLHE $5.00 $1,000
5/22/2020 MINI-SERIES #10 – 6-Max R+A $10.00 $1,500
5/22/2020 MINI-SERIES PHASED MAIN DAY 1D $20.00 $10,000
5/23/2020 MINI-SERIES #11 – NLHE $0.25 $50
5/23/2020 MINI-SERIES #12 – R+A $10.00 $1,000
5/23/2020 MINI-SERIES #13 – PLO Deepstack Turbo 6Max Rebuy $2.00 $100
5/23/2020 MINI-SERIES PHASED MAIN DAY 1E $20.00 $10,000
5/24/2020 MINI-SERIES #14 – NLHE $0.25 $50
5/24/2020 MINI-SERIES PHASED MAIN DAY 1F Turbo Last Chance $20.00 $10,000
5/24/2020 MINI-SERIES #15 – NLHE Main Event Big Stack $10.00 $2,500
5/24/2020 MINI-SERIES #16 – NLHE Super Bounty 6-Max Turbo $5.00 $500
5/24/2020 MINI-SERIES PHASED MAIN DAY 2 (final day) $20.00 $10,000

Partypoker NJ adds $100K Phased Tournament and other events

Partypoker NJ has added a new $109 Phased Tournament running each week. The event features a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Day 1 starting flights take place each day throughout the week, culminating with Day 2 on Sunday. Players can play one or all the starting flights and play their best stack.

Partypoker also recently added a few other regular events with nice guarantees including:

  • $10K Daily – Jump in this $109 event for a $10,000 guarantee.
  • Mega Tuesday – $12,000 guaranteed in this $535 six-max tournament.
  • Old School Tuesday – $35 buy-in with a $750 guarantee with no late entries.
  • Mega Thursday – $7,500 guaranteed for a $320 buy-in.
  • Sunday $35K – A $215 buy-in with $35,000 guaranteed.

For a complete BorgataPoker review including an exclusive $20 new player signup bonus and up to a $600 deposit bonus, click here. Also check out reviews and bonuses from partypoker NJ and BetMGM.

*** Those playing online poker can find a complete list of international online poker sites and events for the week of May 18-24 by clicking here. ***

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STREAMING SHOWS STRENGTH: Twitch Poker Sees Big Growth During Pandemic

With players indoors during the Coronavirus pandemic, online poker sites continue to see huge numbers. But beyond that, Twitch has reported growing viewer numbers in recent weeks as well.

For those who may not know, Twitch is the world’s leading live streaming platform for gamers and owned by Amazon. In recent years that has included a growing number of online poker streamers.

Sites like PokerStars and Global Poker even cater to this segment of player and poker fan. With growing numbers checking out streaming action, the platform offers yet another medium to grow the game.

Twitch Poker numbers continue to grow

While recent numbers released by the platform indicate significant gains since March, poker-related streams aren’t specifically singled out. However, with so many more viewers it’s a good bet some of those are checking out online poker.

According to a recent BBC article, Twitch reported “week-on-week engagement is growing with average concurrent viewers now more than 1.5 million.”

Twitch viewers also increased 31% in early March during the beginning of the Coronavirus quarantines, notes StreamElements. That includes 43 million hours watched during this time frame.

The site saw growth of 45% between March and April. The industry as a whole has seen viewership increase by 99 percent year over year.

Twitch Poker regularly ranks among the top 20 for most-watched categories. Poker is certainly seeing some benefit from that surge in growth.

Online poker streamers offer insight

While Twitch initially focused on video games, other categories have been added in recent years. Poker has become a popular channel. Some simply enjoy sharing their play with others and fans like seeing how others compete on the felt.

Vincent Del Guercio (aka VinnyGoombatz) streams weekly from Hoboken, New Jersey, as part of the PlayUSA stream team. He made the transition from video game streamer to eventually finding the casino and poker world.

“I couldn’t really figure out which game I wanted to play,” he says. “My first recommendation on someone trying to start up a stream is finding what they’re passionate about and really being genuine about what their content is going to be. Streaming is a grind and you gotta love what you do.”

One of the most difficult parts about streaming is getting started. Adding some personality and entertainment helps beyond just bets and raises.

“Be yourself, be energetic and just keep talking!” says Jarred Gabin (aka GodsBigToe),  a Twitch poker streamer from Las Vegas. “That’s the toughest part starting out. You spend hours and hours a day talking to no one.

“But if people jump into your stream and you are on a delay like most poker players, the audience isn’t going to hang around if you are silent.”

Connecting via Twitch Poker stream during the pandemic

Some streamers have found Twitch allows them to connect with family and friends during the pandemic. Sharing a game allows them to communicate and have some fun.

Streamer Jeff Crawford (aka 35Marlin from Las Vegas) has enjoyed some time co-streaming with his son Dalton.

“He is an accomplished streamer,” Crawford says, “and had to help me with everything and I mean everything.”

Considering its roots and popularity with gamers, Twitch is also allowing the game to be seen by a young demographic.

With tours and online operators also streaming, many hope that leads to more players getting in on live poker as well. In the meantime, many in the poker world hope poker at casinos returns soon.

10 reasons for starting a Twitch stream

If you’ve ever thought about dipping your toes in the streaming pool, now is the time to test the water. Here are 10 reasons to get in the Twitch Poker game.

1. Accountability and review

When no one is looking, it’s easy to gamble in spots that may not be the correct play. Though when people are watching it makes for smarter play. Streams can also be saved and recorded so you can easily go back and review your mistakes.

2. Talking out your problems

While streaming most grinders cut back on the number of tables they generally play. This may seem like a negative, but when streaming Twitch allows a player to focus more on fewer tables. When streamers talk to viewers, they can figure out problems – focusing on a hand and highlighting it to viewers.

3. Network creation

Having a Twitch stream has given players more exposure and has helped attract new backers to the game. Having a stream allows potential backers to see how a streamer plays and can put a face to a name. Backers are more comfortable investing with someone they feel a connection to and can trust.

4. Learning poker

Instant feedback and chatting allows a player to educate himself in situations they normally wouldn’t think twice about. Having open lines of communication with viewers will allow streamers and fans to grow in the game. Not everyone will be a streamer but a lot of players just want to watch and study the pros online. Some streamers even host weekly strategy and review sessions.

5. Financial and sponsorship opportunities

Twitch offers additional ways of online income through affiliate and partner programs. Once a Twitch streamer grows a large enough following and average viewership they can receive donations. Streamers can also earn monthly subscriptions for their work. Most online poker sites now have dedicated sponsored streamers on their team. Partypoker’s Jeff Gross is an example of building a platform using Twitch and landing a sponsorship deal.

6. Community focused

One of the best things in the Twitch universe is the interaction and online friends streamers encounter. Amy Marx (aka The Poker Mami) is from Texas and started streaming earlier this year. She loves the communication she receives on the platform.

“Most people involved in the community are there to support and root for you and offer advice,” she says. “I’ve rarely come across anything negative.”

7. Charity and giving something back

The Twitch poker community has shown it has an enormous heart, often raising amazing amounts of money for good causes. Brian Frenzel (aka The Golden Blazer) recently streamed to raise money for COVID-19 relief. He raised thousands of dollars for the charity and continues to do more!

8. Tech education

Twitch setup can be confusing at first, but there’s quite a bit of information on Youtube to help. Social media groups created to help assist with setup can also be useful. Plenty of new information can be attained quickly such as lighting, sound quality, and video editing.

9. Creativity

Streamers hoping to create a fanbase need to be creative and open to new ideas to earn new viewers. Jeremy Sissman (aka Poker Jermz) makes use of “dad jokes” and even dresses up like Hulk Hogan or a banana to capture the audience.

10. Streaming is fun

At the end of the day, it all comes down to entertainment. Poker can be dull or quiet at times, but finding the right streamer and audience can make it very enjoyable. Online poker can turn a player into a zombie from days of grinding, so showing some personality is nice. Experiencing some real interaction is what makes poker a great game. 

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HOPE IN THE CARDS: Poker Community Chips in on Several Charity Fronts During Pandemic

The Coronavirus pandemic may have shut down live poker, but the giving spirit among poker players is alive and well. The closure of casinos around the world has left dealers and gaming personnel out of work.

Many dealers are freelancers who travel from event to event. Simply put: no dealing means no money. That goes for poker tournament personnel as well.

Many have been furloughed or laid off – from major series like the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour to smaller series and even tournament staff and media.

But poker can be about much more than hoodies, sunglasses, and whether to raise or fold. A sense of community, charity, and caring for others has been exemplified in recent weeks.

That has shown not only in online fundraising endeavors but also individual efforts as well. USPoker takes a look at some poker initiatives making a difference.

New Jersey poker player offers dollars for dealers

Making mortgage payments, paying utilities, and raising children – not working can be a struggle for anyone out of work. The Coronavirus has been even more daunting than a normal unemployment situation. 

For Brady Osterman, the shutdown of Atlantic City casinos was personal. The 29-year-old poker pro from Brigantine, NJ, plays online but also plays live poker as well.

Osterman shifted his efforts even more online but also to some poker philanthropy. For the last two months he’s been dishing out $500 payments to freelance poker employees in need. Borgata Poker ambassador Katie Stone started a Discord channel to help find dealers in need. Others have also contributed to the cause.

 

“It’s quite gratifying to feel that I’ve had some positive impact on the lives of others in the industry and their families,” Osterman says. “I hope to do my part to keep the poker industry strong even despite this trying time. I would encourage others to do the same.

“Anything helps really, no matter how big or small there is always a chance to impact others positively in our own way.”

The fundraising even included using a staking arrangement. Osterman recently had a small piece Stone in a WSOP.com event where she took fourth for about $15,000.

After Stone produced a nice score, half of his winnings went toward the charity effort. That meant another $500 to two more dealers.

“I’ve been blessed with an occupation [online poker] that was unaffected, possibly even made more lucrative, by the pandemic and I know it’s been anything but that for others,” Osterman says.

“I get a feeling of satisfaction from giving to those in my community that haven’t been as fortunate as I have during this time.”

Partypoker Grand Prix scores even more for dealers

Others in the poker community also realize the struggle that many dealers face. Partypoker jumped in to help by running the Grand Prix 4 Dealers online tournament comfortably on May 3.

The fundraising event benefited freelance poker dealers who lost work when partypoker LIVE events were canceled. The $55 event featured a $250,000 guarantee, but poker players stepped up to bring that to $285,142.

The registration fees from the event will go directly to dealers in need – a total of $34,400. England’s Vinnie Mohan came out on top for $38,571, but plenty of dealers also won some much-needed funds.

 

Doubling up with online poker fundraising efforts

GGPoker has added its online poker muscle to help the cause. The site has actually hosted two fundraising initiatives over the last few weeks for a total of $277,000.

During the site’s High Roller Week series, 0.5% of the entire series’ prize pools went to Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation’s UHN Emergency COVID-19 Fund. 

This amount was matched by GGPoker’s marketing arm, NSUS Group, for a total of $100,000.

GG also kicked off the WSOP Super Circuit Online Series  with a COVID charity tournament on May 3. The first ring event saw 1,595 entries with $111 from each entry going to the charity.

The total prize pool was $1.8 million smashing the $1 million guarantee. More importantly, $177,000 was raised for the Nevada Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

A company spokesman said: “GGPoker was delighted by the community’s response to this event and humbled by the amount raised.”

Celebrities, online poker, and a million bucks

One of the most noted poker charity events was held on May 12 via PokerStars. The Stars Call for Action featured celebrities like Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Hank Azaria, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, and numerous others.

The effort helped raise global pandemic relief funds. Twenty-four players succeeded in taking down a portion of PokerStars’ $1 million donation for their charity of choice.

Half the total donation goes directly to Care International, with the remaining $500,000 to the winners’ charities of choice. Billions star David Costabile won the tournament and is sending a $100,000 donation to World Central Kitchen.

“What an amazing day it was,” Azaria said after the event. “I was genuinely moved to connect with so many people that I like and admire for such a wonderful cause and I remain blown away by how much PokerStars stepped up.

“They put up $10K towards COVID relief for every celebrity that participated and then, even though we didn’t quite reach 100 celebrities, they went ahead and gave a full million dollars anyway – which was really incredible. And I got to play some poker!”

Grants to charities will be administered by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF). Donations can still be made via PokerStars YouTube channel and EIF website.

Keep the Lights On crushes initial expectations

Dealers are certainly out of work at the moment, but the same goes for many in the poker media. That includes tournament reporters, photographers, and others who document the game’s major events. No tournaments mean no work.

To help those out of work, Poker Central, Global Poker, and the RunGood Poker Series launched the “Keep The Lights On” initiative.

As part of the campaign, poker personalities Jamie Kerstetter, Jeff Platt, and Brian “TheGoldenBlazer” Frenzel played a series of online events to raise funds. Donations were collected through the Keep the Lines On support site.

As of Friday, almost $34,000 had been raised. That’s well above the original goal of $4,500 and organizers have already helped about 25 people.

“Initially, my expectation was just to put this out there as a beacon of positivity in the poker industry,” RunGood CEO Tana Karn says. “To see the overwhelming support for folks behind the scenes was incredible. The same concept stemmed from our work with Operation Gratitude, giving care kits to US service members.

“Receiving appreciation and care in tough times is priceless. Especially with the unknown always looming. If we could take a weight off someone’s shoulders, even as small as a utility bill, that small gesture could be the difference between hope and despair.”

These are just a few of the events offering a bit of relief during a tough time in the poker industry. Karn’s words echo for for so many – as players remain hopeful live poker returns soon.

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