Attracting new players is absolutely crucial for the expansion of gambling, however, the process is never effortless.
A brief look at the development challenges faced by both the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the rising market of skill-based casino games underscores the complexity of achieving growth.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is already a significant event, but its efforts to expand are hitting a roadblock. Participation in live tournaments is decreasing and, as usual, players are attributing this to issues such as the quality of cards as a reason for the reduced participation. On another note, skill-based games are expected to attract young gamblers in theory, but they are struggling to attract attention amidst traditional casino slot machines.
Both entities are not in completely negative situations though. The online site of WSOP, WSOP.com, is consistently progressing in terms of player growth. When it comes to skill-based games, the growth has not yet been realized, however, fresh developments could turn the tide. New locations for the machines and a new competitor featuring a well-known old game might be the catalysts for growth.
WSOP has online success and offline problems
Online traffic holding strong
The WSOP has not been experiencing impressive attendance so far, with almost all live events seeing a decline from the previous year. However, this is not the case for the company’s online poker ventures.
This summer, the first of three online bracelet events broke the record for the largest regulated online poker prize pool in US history. The event, which had a buy-in of $333 and a guarantee of $333,333, exceeded expectations by more than doubling its guarantee and generating over $750,000.
On WSOP.com, the traffic remains steady compared to the previous year. Notably, the first week exhibited an upgrade from 2016 due to the additional bracelet event. The website’s online poker series is also continuously surpassing promises. Moreover, online satellites leading to live events have regained popularity.
Despite this, the site has yet to exceed 200 simultaneous players. However, this is likely to occur at the start of July when the 25 seat Main Event satellite and additional online bracelet events could potentially drive traffic to unprecedented levels.
WSOP cards not strong enough
A WSOP event wouldn’t be complete without a controversy. This year, the contention surrounds the Copag cards. Despite receiving positive feedback in 2016, the official card provider is now facing a deluge of complaints. The card decks this year are remarkably prone to marking. Consequently, new decks are being continuously swapped in by the floor staff, causing players to lose valuable time and jeopardizing the game’s integrity.
Players such as Matt Glantz are avoiding events until the WSOP changes the cards. On-the-ground reports suggest that events with high buy-ins are receiving improved cards. PokerNews has reported that the WSOP has received a new set of decks and is meticulously examining them.
Skill-based games getting time in the Nevada spotlight
Station Casinos trying out Gamblit tables
Usually, New Jersey is the center of attention for skill-based gambling games. However, recently, as these games are departing from Atlantic City casinos, more companies in Nevada are deciding to take a chance on the idea.
Station Casinos is undeterred by Caesars’ lack of success with its Gamblit gaming tables and has recently added these tables to Red Rock Casino and Boulder Station. The casino company also has plans to later introduce these machines at Green Valley Casino.
Stations is hoping to attract a younger audience by placing the machines in bars and restaurants, unlike Caesars who integrated them with regular slots.
Scientific Games invading the skill-game space
Scientific Games, a company known for its standard slot games, has recently ventured into the skill-based market. Their first offering is a skill-based slot game inspired by the classic video game, Space Invaders, appealing to a sense of nostalgia.
The slot operates similarly to a standard game, but the bonus game requires skill. The bonus game resembles the traditional arcade game with a cannon that can shoot at incoming alien invaders.
The slot machine can already be found in some casinos in New Jersey, however, those in Nevada wanting to test their Atari skills will have to wait a bit longer.
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