The Chico Poker Network is a group of three online poker sites which offers poker play to customers from both the United States and internationally. The group consists of three renowned and trustworthy online poker rooms: TigerGaming, BetOnline and SportsBetting.
Two of the sites, BetOnline and SportsBetting, provide poker primarily to US-based poker players. TigerGaming, meanwhile, focuses primarily on poker games, casino games and sports betting to players based worldwide. Only TigerGaming currently has a current gaming license.
The Chico Poker Network began life as Action Poker back in 1998, and, following several changes of hands, started in its current form from 2012. Headquartered in the Seychelles, the company is now under the title of Julian International Holdings Ltd.
Is Chico Poker Still Running Today?
The network has recently grown into one of the largest worldwide, most notably in terms of cash game traffic. For example, the number of cash game players is higher than at partypoker, bwin, or Unibet.
This is largely because the Chico Network is one of the few that caters to US players, which accounts for well over half of all of its traffic. Due to the legal grey area that surrounded online US gambling, many sites did not allow US customers. The Chico network took the risk and has reaped the rewards. This has also led to soft poker sites, as many unskilled casino gamblers will jump into the poker games.
With its high traffic comes a large amount of available games and tournaments. Alongside the classic Texas Hold’em and Omaha, Chico Poker Network offers a more diverse selection of games such as Fast-Fold and No-limit Texas 6+, also known as Short Deck Poker.
Generous bonuses for new and existing players, juicy guarantees, and a large number of other promotions makes the Chico Network an attractive place for the casual player to play.
A comprehensive gaming variety across all skins means that players don’t just focus on Chico’s poker rooms. As a result, the players on site are known to be less-skilled in general. Any serious players looking to pit their wits against an experienced field might be disappointed, though it could be a very profitable experience.
Chico Poker Network Alternatives
Poker rooms on the Chico network such as BetOnline and SportsBetting are among some of the top options when you’re looking for the best poker sites in the US, but there are alternatives out there.
As the Chico Network focuses on casual and less-skilled players, they do not offer flat or rakeback deals at all, unlike many of their competitors. The network does not offer much in the way of high-stakes action, and, as a result, opponents of a higher skill level.
Further protections to the recreational player is that the use of third-party software is banned – such as Poker Tracker and Hold’em Manager. Chico is intent on safeguarding these players over experienced players and pros.
Another drawback is that due to the complications around licensing and gambling laws in the US, deposits and withdrawals are not as straightforward as could be.
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