The collaboration between the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas and WSOP.com throughout the entire summer series proved to be highly beneficial. This was their first time working together and the outcome was very positive.
WSOP.com in Nevada not only surpassed the New Jersey traffic leader, PartyPoker, to top the US regulated online poker traffic charts, but it also contributed to the success of the WSOP live tournament series.
Nevertheless, following the conclusion of the WSOP on July 14, the subsequent days saw the remaining traveling poker players leave Nevada, resulting in a drop in online traffic. The traffic eventually returned to its levels before the WSOP. Despite this, the site remains determined to recover.
WSOP was Good for WSOP
As previously stated, the WSOP.com numbers for Nevada surged to the maximum extent possible for the emerging US market. The online poker site worked in conjunction with the live tournament series to motivate players to partake in both poker forms. The online platform offered seats to live events at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. In addition, the WSOP presence at the venue not only promoted the website, but also encouraged players to register and test the newly introduced online poker in America.
It worked.
A significant number of players registered for new online accounts and secured their spots in the WSOP events from Nevada and even New Jersey. Through a 25-seat scramble in Nevada and a five-seat scramble in New Jersey, numerous WSOP Main Event seats valued at $10K were also awarded.
Bill Rini, WSOP.com’s Head of Online Poker, stated that 99 players from Nevada and New Jersey were qualified and registered for the Main Event. He added that Nevada provided more players than New Jersey.
However, he could not further dissect the numbers. “Some participants won more than one seat and took part in other $10K events, while some divided the $10K into smaller buy-in events seats. Unfortunately, we did not keep a detailed record of their original winnings,” he said.
In the nearly-one year since its launch, WSOP.com in Nevada experienced its highest site traffic ever.
Easy Come, Easy Go
After the conclusion of WSOP events at Rio in Las Vegas, the majority of players returned to their home states and countries. As the Main Event progressed, the average cash game traffic saw a decline, eventually reverting to pre-WSOP levels by mid-July.
The website is trying to retain extra traffic through a promotion called “Watch the Show, Play for Dough” starting next week. This gives players an opportunity to participate in tournaments while viewing the first three weeks of the WSOP on ESPN. These special events promise a weekly guarantee of $2,500.
The events are scheduled from July 29 to August 12, occurring every Tuesday night at 8pm in Nevada’s local time. Each event requires an $11 buy-in and allows rebuys and add-ons.
The WSOP is likely to leverage the influx of players and their friends who will be returning to Las Vegas for the November Nine final table in a few months. Although it’s unlikely to draw as many people as during the summer, there is expected to be a slight increase in traffic during this period. However, this is contingent on the kind of promotion that will be available.
Hello, 888
Boosting traffic following the WSOP is likely to be shaped in the next few months. The Nevada Gaming Control Board gave their approval to a recommendation allowing 888 and WSOP to share online poker liquidity immediately after the WSOP. This week, the state’s gaming commission is expected to provide final approval.
As 888 is gearing up to introduce an online poker site in collaboration with Treasure Island and Golden Gaming, the joint marketing initiative with WSOP could enhance gameplay and draw in new players. Considering that 888 also operates the three online poker sites in Delaware and is anticipating a compact for liquidity, the potential for increased player pool sharing could provide the boost that WSOP needs to recover from the post-summer downturn.
