The poker scene in Nevada has been fairly calm in recent weeks. There have been no major poker tournaments taking place in Las Vegas, and no significant promotions have impacted the online poker traffic.
Discussion within the industry is focusing on the forthcoming G2E (Global Gaming Expo) conference. The event is booked for the end of September at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, which happens to be owned by Sheldon Adelson – a prominent adversary of online gaming.
WSOP.com NV and Ultimate Poker are experiencing a decrease in cash game traffic, while Real Gaming is beginning to attract some players due to its huge $100K promotion. After the WSOP, a decrease in numbers was anticipated, but it appears that the downtrend persists for the two main sites.
G2E Sponsored by Adelson Will be Interesting
Numerous professionals in the gaming industry are enthusiastic about G2E, given its panel discussions, networking possibilities, and product exhibitions. The 2014 conference will place an unprecedented emphasis on the current state of the Internet gaming industry and its potential future direction.
Highlights of G2E will feature Internet gaming conferences led by a diverse group including attorneys, consultants, and CEOs of companies such as CAMS, iGaming Capital, Foxwoods Interactive, and the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
All attendees will be eagerly awaiting the keynote speeches. Steve Wynn will kick off the event with an opening address on September 30, followed by Adelson delivering the closing speech on October 2. While Adelson’s stance is well-known, attendees are curious about what insights he might share. On the other hand, Wynn’s inconsistent position on online gaming has piqued interest, with conference attendees keen to see if he will address this issue.
WSOP.com Nevada Suffers Lowest Numbers in Three Months
The latest figures from PokerScout reveal that the seven-day average for cash game traffic on WSOP.com in Nevada has once again declined over the past week, dropping from 102 to 96. While this decline is not significant on its own, when combined with the decrease from the previous week, it amounts to a nearly 13 percent downturn within a two-week span.
While the global online poker market starts rebounding from the seasonal summer slump, WSOP.com NV has seen a decline. Ultimate Poker also experienced a minor drop.
WSOP.com is optimistic about increased future numbers. The company is currently awaiting approval from the gaming commission for recent upgrades and site improvements, including a mobile app. Once approval is given, the implementation process will start. WSOP.com is also anticipating increased liquidity when its compact with Delaware materializes, and when the 888 site with Treasure Island is launched in Nevada.
Real Gaming Up, as Some is Better than Nothing
The online poker site, Real Gaming by South Point, has experienced virtually no traffic for months. PokerScout’s records typically showed zero players on the site, with the occasional single player dropping by for a freeroll.
Nonetheless, the recent campaign with a $100K giveaway scheduled for the next year, featuring monthly cash rewards for the leaderboards’ top players, has stimulated more curiosity. Admittedly, the peak game traffic exhibits a mere five players and the average over seven days barely hits one, yet the site’s leaderboard indicates that players have been visiting.
Only a week or two after the new promotion was introduced, 15 players were on the medium-stakes leaderboard and 30 on the small-stakes leaderboard. These numbers have since grown to 18 for medium stakes and 41 for small stakes. The majority of these players have not qualified for the prizes as they have not yet played for the required minimum duration on the site. However, the very fact that players are noticing and trying out the promotion can be seen as a positive development.
Real Gaming is gradually demonstrating its potential to compete in the small market.
