WSOP.com and 888 Granted Recommendation to Forge Intrastate Network

Written By Robert DellaFave on July 11, 2014
Nevada agreed to plan that allows 888 and WSOP to form an intrastate poker network

The Nevada Gaming Control Board approved a plan on Wednesday, which allows gaming operator 888 Holdings to build an intrastate iPoker network in Nevada.

According to representatives from 888, the plan is to unite players from Nevada’s most popular online poker room, Caesars Interactive Entertainment’s WSOP.com, with an upcoming 888 skin and a third skin managed by 888’s brick-and-mortar partner, the Las Vegas-based casino resort Treasure Island.

Nevada’s poker network could potentially act as the base for a shared network between players in both the Silver State and Delaware.

The creation of a shared liquidity network could also trigger similar actions in New Jersey, potentially having a significant impact on the state’s emerging industry.

How will 888’s Nevada-based iPoker network function?

Mark Clayton and Yehoshua Gurtler, representatives from 888, say that once the network is established, players can log in through the WSOP.com or Treasure Island skin. They will then be competing against players from their chosen skin and other sites in the network, very much like how US-facing networks like Merge and WPN function.

In New Jersey, a comparable network already exists where BorgataPoker.com and NJ.PartyPoker.com employ the same client software and share player liquidity. The only variations are in their promotional schedules and minor aesthetic differences.

Clayton also hinted that other operators would be permitted to join the network. This is particularly beneficial for smaller operators who may struggle to survive in Nevada’s small and oversaturated iPoker market.

So far, only WSOP.com, Ultimate Poker, and South Point’s Real Gaming are active in Nevada, although the latter is barely generating any monthly revenue. Treasure Island, despite having a license, is still awaiting authorization from state regulators for its online poker service.

Nevada network a step towards shared liquidity with Delaware

In February last year, the Delaware and Nevada Governors signed the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. Once enacted, this will mark the first interstate iGaming compact in the United States.

Delaware’s three iPoker skins, which share player liquidity, are currently using 888’s client software. If the Nevada Gaming Commission gives a green light to the state’s iPoker network during the hearing on July 24, it could pave the way for the realization of the Delaware-Nevada interstate compact agreement.

Given that the Commission anticipated the formation of online poker networks in Nevada as early as 2012, the hearing should essentially be a simple formality.

Could something similar happen in New Jersey?

Indeed, it ought to. Since its inception in late November, 888 and WSOP have been competing directly against each other. The reason for this is anybody’s guess.

Specifically, 888 has struggled to establish its place in the market, often resorting to promotional “fire sales” to attract customers. WSOP, on the other hand, has performed better, but questions arise regarding the potential decrease in traffic once the live WSOP event concludes.

No matter what, it’s a fact that if any of the rooms want to surpass the consistently leading PartyPoker NJ, they’ll need to collaborate. Given that both rooms already utilize 888’s Dragonfish software and that current New Jersey iGaming law allows iPoker “skins,” merging the two rooms’ liquidity should be a fairly straightforward process.

Also, it’s probable that by functioning as a single network, 888 / WSOP will attract more total traffic than the combined traffic they individually draw.

Ultimately, uniting will be particularly beneficial when PokerStars becomes involved, as numerous disconnected poker sites will scarcely be able to compete against the online poker giant.

A whole network…now that could be a different matter.

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Robert DellaFave

Robert, who is based in New Jersey, serves as the managing editor for OnlinePokerReport.com. Besides this, he also contributes to several online publications that focus on legal U.S. online poker and casino markets. Aside from his editorial work, Robert is a game designer. You can find more of his work by following @DivergentGames on Twitter.

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