{"id":34664,"date":"2020-04-09T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T08:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=34664"},"modified":"2020-04-09T13:12:47","modified_gmt":"2020-04-09T13:12:47","slug":"house-of-cards-american-poker-players-move-their-home-games-online-during-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/house-of-cards-american-poker-players-move-their-home-games-online-during-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"House of Cards: American Poker Players Move Their Home Games Online During Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

With many recreational<\/strong> and professional players<\/strong> now in self-quarantine, many are now playing even more online poker<\/strong>. For many, that means missing out on their regular home games<\/strong> with friends.<\/p>\n

Not yet able to ditch social distancing, players have taken their games with friends online. That includes using traditional online poker sites, play money social games<\/strong>, and apps catering to players looking to play with friends.<\/p>\n

Many are still finding a way to play cash games<\/strong>, sit and go\u2019s<\/strong>, and sometimes even multi-table tournaments<\/strong>. Some players may settle up for a few bucks later and others play simply for bragging rights. Either way, poker among pals remains alive and well \u2013 despite Americans\u2019 extended staycation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

An appetite for online poker with friends<\/span><\/h2>\n

With live poker stalled and casinos locked up tight, online operators<\/strong> have reported record fields and prize pools in the US. Friends playing their \u201chome games<\/strong>\u201d online may be a segment of the poker market not widely considered part of this.<\/p>\n

\"\"Free money poker apps like Pokerrrr2<\/strong> seem to be popular options. Several of these cater to players looking for their own club or game. Venmo<\/strong> or PayPal<\/strong> are often used to settle up if a bit of cash is involved.<\/p>\n

Andrew Langston<\/strong>, 27, is from York, Penn<\/strong>., and works as a production planner at a paper mill. He and some friends previously held a monthly live tournament with points and a year-end champion.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that had to be put on hold because of the Coronavirus pandemic<\/strong>. Instead, he now hosts games a few nights a week using a free-money app<\/strong> to get the job done.<\/p>\n

\u201cI lived in Charles Town, West Virginia, for a few years,\u201d he says. \u201cSo my two home game groups [in WV and PA] combined into this app. It\u2019s been cool to have other people play against each other.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Langston\u2019s group doesn\u2019t play for major stakes. However, they find a little cash on the line is more fun and plays more like the real thing. Players buy in using Venmo beforehand and play No Limit Hold\u2019em<\/strong>, Pot Limit Omaha<\/strong>, or PLO Hi\/Lo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually we just run two $10 tournaments,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s more for fun than anything, but a little money in the pot makes it so people aren\u2019t shoving every hand like the free-play money apps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reuniting through online poker<\/span><\/h2>\n

Certainly playing online isn\u2019t quite the same as mixing it up in person. But it at least offers some opportunities to battle it out and communicate. The sudden interest in playing online has even allowed some to reconnect with friends they haven\u2019t seen in a while.<\/p>\n

Josh Wolff<\/strong>, 36, works as a salesman for a food company in northwestern Pennsylvania<\/strong>. Since the COVID-19 pandemic he and a few other players have been playing small tournaments on Friday<\/strong> and Saturday nights<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re averaging around 12 players<\/strong> per tournament, but it\u2019s growing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Unlike most Americans<\/strong>, Wolff and his friends can play legal real-money online poker. They use the PokerStars PA<\/strong> Home Game<\/strong> feature. This allows players to set up their own club and run a game or tournament with friends.<\/p>\n

The feature has been around since 2011 and is now available to PA players. The house takes a 10% rake<\/strong> as in a traditional online tournament. Those outside a legal jurisdiction can play for free using the .NET<\/strong> version of PokerStars. Other operators offer similar options.<\/p>\n

Wolff and his friends play tournaments from $10 <\/strong>to $30<\/strong>. Many in the group haven\u2019t played together in quite a while, but the game has brought the group back together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a blast,\u201d he says. \u201cThe bulk of the group is a bunch of us that used to play in a home game every Wednesday about 15 years ago. Now that most of us are married and have kids, we haven\u2019t been able to assemble the same group since. So this makes it a lot easier.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Twenty bucks and plenty of fun<\/span><\/h2>\n

Poker may be a strategic game<\/strong> played for money, but the social aspect also sets it apart. And at a time where millions of Americans are cut off from others, playing online can bridge the divide between friends and loved ones.<\/p>\n

Some players even up their game with video or Twitch streams<\/strong>. Enjoying a couple beers with some bragging and needling a buddy can all still be part of the fun.<\/p>\n

Dan Yaniro<\/strong>, 49, had run a Tuesday night poker league<\/strong> with about 20 friends<\/strong> for several years. The league hit the pause button, however, and Yaniro was looking for another place to play.<\/p>\n

Like others, a free-play poker app has been a salvation \u2013 providing an opportunity to stay in the action.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe play $20 buy-in<\/strong> tournaments,\u201d says Yaniro, who lives in Delran, New Jersey<\/strong>, and works as a vending machine route driver and bartends on the side. \u201cEveryone pays me through Venmo and then I pay the winners when the game ends.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone seems to like it. We\u2019re playing more now online than ever.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For a complete guide to setting up your PokerStars Home Game, click here.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The post House of Cards: American Poker Players Move Their Home Games Online During Pandemic appeared first on .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With many recreational and professional players now in self-quarantine, many are now playing even more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34667,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","vebbtech_seo_disable_yoast":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_author":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_date":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_factchecker":false,"vebbtech_seo_fact_check_enabled":false,"vebbtech_seo_post_reviewer":0,"vebbtech_seo_post_review_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-34664","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-link","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news-category","8":"post_format-post-format-link"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHouse of Cards: American Poker Players Move Their Home Games Online During Pandemic -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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