John Mehaffey first reported on Saturday that WSOP NV has forayed into the mobile world for the first time by launching an Android version of its software in Nevada. This marks the first instance of a poker operator from the Silver State venturing into the mobile platform.
Following the announcement made by Bill Rini, the WSOP Head of Online Poker, in August, both the Android and iOS mobile clients have been submitted for regulatory approval. The roll-out follows this development closely.
Assuming everything else is constant, this suggests that the WSOP client’s iOS version should be available on the App Store soon.
The WSOP iOS app was launched in New Jersey last December, with the Android version following in early-April.
All about WSOP NV’s Android application
The Android app of WSOP NV closely mirrors its New Jersey version.
When players log in, they encounter a straightforward interface where they can choose from Cash Games, Sit & Go Tournaments, or Scheduled Tournaments.
The Cash Game and SNG options both lead players to a page where they can choose their preferred stake and format, among other choices, through a range of sliders. Currently, the app only offers Texas Hold’em games.
The absence of Omaha and Stud games on the six-month-old NJ Android application suggests that there are no plans to add these games.
Regrettably, the absence of a cash game lobby makes table selection impossible. Instead, after players set their preferences, they are directed to either an existing or new game.
MTTs are arranged in chronological order. The app allows players to register and take part in scheduled tournaments, but it’s important to mention that multi-tabling is not currently available.
The application can only be accessed from the mobile version of WSOP’s website because Google’s complete ban on real-money gambling apps stops it from being hosted on the Play Store.
Effects on liquidity
Data collected by PokerFuse Pro through PokerScout suggests that the WSOP Android app is significantly impacting cash game liquidity.
However, it is still too early to determine whether the application’s launch directly caused the upswing or if other various factors, like the network’s robust promotional schedule, played a role.
The WSOP app, which went live over the weekend, has seen a 7-day average increase of 8.5%. Meanwhile, during the same period, its competitor, Ultimate Poker, has only registered a growth margin of 3.3%.
By the end of this week, the nature of 7-day rolling averages will provide us with a clearer understanding of the impact that WSOP’s app is having on liquidity.
Remember in early April, the release of WSOP’s NJ Android app made a noticeable but brief impact on volume.
Despite the tumultuous downswing in New Jersey’s iPoker market at the time, the release of the application has largely stabilized traffic on WSOP.com.
Players react
So far, the responses from players on the 2+2 forums have varied from positive to despondent, with most posters expressing frustration about their failure to operate the app.
This underscores the necessity for improved education about new software releases through patch notes and troubleshooting instructions.
Launch hints at regulatory approval times
It has been almost 2.5 months since WSOP.com initially submitted its mobile clients for regulatory approval. Simply put, this is unfortunate.
The lengthy delay strongly suggests that regulatory committees, rather than the state’s operators, are hindering essential technological advancements.
This is particularly bad news for Ultimate Poker, which, after closing down its New Jersey branch, promised to enhance its Nevada poker product. While this is commendable, if the Nevada regulatory committee takes three months to approve each software update, players might direct their frustration towards Ultimate Poker. In the worst case scenario, they might even leave the site completely.
Something has to give.
