Backed by one of the most powerful brands in all of poker, the World Series of Poker, big things are expected from Caesars Entertainment’s online poker room in Nevada, WSOP.com.
WSOP.com is currently one of only two online poker rooms that have launched in Nevada, the other being Ultimate Poker, and the site has already made its presence felt in the Nevada Internet poker market. In this review we will provide you with a comprehensive look at all of the aspects of the WSOP.com Nevada online poker room.
History of the WSOP.com in Nevada
The WSOP.com became only the second licensed Internet poker room in the United States when it officially launched in Nevada on September 19, 2013, and WSOP.com quickly challenged their lone predecessor Ultimate Poker for the #1 traffic spot right out of the gate.
Unlike the stripped-down version Ultimate Poker launched with to be the first online poker site in Nevada, WSOP.com launched with a near-complete software platform, including multiple poker formats available, and their VIP rewards program already in place.
Within weeks of launch the WSOP.com had already surpassed traffic milestones, with an average of over 100 players on the site, with peak traffic as high as 300 players –similar milestones took Ultimate Poker months, not weeks to achieve. The two sites are now running virtually neck-and-neck in terms of traffic.
The Companies behind WSOP.com in Nevada
WSOP.com is a collaborative effort between Caesars Entertainment and Gibraltar-based 888 Holdings. Caesars Entertainment purchased the World Series of Poker brand in 2004 when it was included in the deal that saw Binion’s Horseshoe sold to Caesars (which was known as Harrah’s at the time); originally considered an inconsequential “add-on” with the Binion’s deal, it was the WSOP brand that made the deal a successful one for Caesars.
The relationship between Caesars and 888 dates back to 2009 when they first launched a WSOP.com online poker room for non-US players, which remains a part of the 888 Poker Network to this day. Further solidifying their relationship, 888 was also the official sponsor of the 2013 WSOP APAC, the 2013 WSOP, and the 2013 WSOP Europe tournament series.
Along with Caesars Entertainment, 888 has partnered with several casinos in Nevada, as well as in New Jersey. The company was also selected by the Delaware State Lottery (along with their partner Scientific Games) to provide the state with their online gaming platform. Because of these factors many people consider 888 and their partners the best positioned online gaming companies in the US.
WSOP.com Rewards
Action Club VIP Program at WSOP.com
The WSOP.com’s online poker rewards program is known as the Action Club. Action Club is a tiered rewards program with four monthly levels and two yearly levels Nevada online poker players can aspire to reach. Each level offers progressively better rewards, including WSOP Point multipliers.
Action Points are awarded based on the following formula:
* For each $1 in tournament fees paid you receive 2 Action Points
* For each $1 in rake you contribute to the pot you will receive 2 Action Points (WSOP.com uses the weighted contributed rake method)
Monthly Tiers:
* Silver = 200 Action Points
* Gold = 400 Action Points
* Platinum = 1,200 Action Points
* Diamond = 3,500 Action Points
Yearly Tiers:
* Elite = 50,000 Action Points
* Seven Star = 400,000 Action Points
WSOP.com Deposit Bonus in Nevada
WSOP.com does not promote an initial deposit bonus on their website; instead the site will e-mail specially-tailored offers and deposit bonuses to their registered players.
While WSOP.com doesn’t offer a deposit bonus, it does offer new players the chance to play in seven restricted freerolls over the course of seven days, with $100 in prize-money up for grabs in each tournament. The promotion is known as “Welcome Week” and is available to any new player making a deposit of $10 or more.
WSOP.com Nevada Software
Games Offered at WSOP.com Nevada
WSOP.com has a good selection of games to choose from, with Holdem, PLO, and seven Card Stud games offered at the site. Players at WSOP.com will find these variants at cash-game tables, scheduled multi-table tournaments, and sit & go tournaments.
Most of the action at the site revolves around the No Limit Holdem games at the site, with only sparse traffic at the PLO tables, and nearly non-existent traffic at the site’s stud poker games.
Graphics, GUI, and Functionality
The WSOP.com’s GUI (Graphical User Interface) is the same offered at 888’s other online poker sites, including 888 Poker, and is considered one of the best in the online poker industry.
At WSOP.com in Nevada you’ll find sleek graphics, smooth animations and sounds, and all of the features online poker players have come to expect over the years such as a hand replayer, note-taking capabilities, and customizable options like preferred seating.
