PokerKing (WPN): 2019 highlights
We can divide 2019 for PokerKing into four big groups:
Software update:
In early April, WPN announced that new software was being implemented. Externally, the client had few changes, but a new HTML-5 based engine was deployed to make the platform more friendly and flexible with different platforms. After a few tests, on May 20, all skins of WPN switched to the new platform. The product was clearly not ready to go live, and several problems led to a massive drop in traffic.
In addition to that, problems arose with the loyalty program and rake races, for which the new software couldn't able to collect the correct data. An update released in September fixed almost all issues, and the players slowly returned to the network.
But even now, when more than half a year has passed since the introduction of the new client, minor bugs and technical problems (like tournament cancellations) which requires server downtime to fix it appeared at lea st once a week. In 2020 the network should finish all updates and get back to regular operation with its new platform.
Fight against bots
Usually, poker rooms and networks are not willing to disclose information about their fight against dishonest players (bots in particular). But, Phil Nagy, WPN's CEO, decided to share public information about banned accounts and compensation to affected players for over $400,000.
A complex journey was just beginning, as PokerKing began an extensive anti-bot player check. The poker site asked to record videos of gaming sessions to verify any suspicious behavior and confirm the use of prohibited software. Such inspections are still ongoing on a smaller scale.
The software update also brings some anti-bot features that included a change in fonts and images that made the cheaters' job harder. The players also noticed that the volume of some super-grinders slowed down.
The Venom tournaments
Following partypoker, WPN decided to adopt a powerful marketing tool to attract new players: hold tournaments with massive guaranteed prize pools. partypoker started with The Big Game with $1M GTD and MILLIONS Online with $20M guaranteed.
WPN held two major tournaments during the year. The Venom $5M, which was a massive success even in a complicated time for the network due to the failed software update. This first event drew an incredible field of 2,553 players that boosted the prize pool to $6,382,500.
Just a few weeks ago, the second edition of The Venom, this time with $6M GTD was played, and again, the network set a new record as the biggest online poker tournament played in the US after Black Friday. Brazilian players won both events.
New loyalty program
This change only affected PokerKing, as the site adopted the standard loyalty program of the Winning Poker Network. PokerKing Royal Club ended in September, and after studying the new program, we noticed that grinders with $136,46 to $273,73 in rake receive 12-14% more rakeback, but all other players (up to $9k in rake) receive 20-22% that sadly is less compared to the previous program.
The good news is that our players get a VIP rakeback deal when registering in PokerKing with us. And true grinders can compete for additional payments in the weekly rake race.
PokerKing (WPN): cash games traffic
All the previous changes surely affected the traffic on the network, and as we pointed before, with a fight against bots on the table, having less traffic is not necessarily a bad sign. Interestingly, PokerScout has not been able to update the traffic data of WPN, and it shows 700 average players since May.
The main novelty of cash games at WPN this year was the launch of fast-fold poker — Blitz Poker, which started to get steady traffic only in late autumn.
We monitored the daily dynamics of the number of tables and connections in PokerKing:
NLH
| 10:00 | 12:00 | 14:00 | 18:00 | 20:00 | 22:00 | 24:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 | |
| NL10$ | 2(1) | (1) | 1(1) | (1) | 1(1) | 1(1) | (2) | 2(2) | 3(2) | 5(3) | 4(3) | 1(2) |
| NL25$ | 8(1) | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4(2) | 6(3) | 6(1) | 8(2) | 11(2) | 8(2) | 9(2) | 7 |
| NL50$ | 5(1) | 3(1) | 3 | 2(1) | 4 (1) | 3(2) | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2(2) | 6(2) | 2(2) |
| NL100$ | 3 | 6(1) | 1(1) | 3 | 4 | 3(1) | 4(1) | 3(1) | 2(2) | 5(2) | 2(1) | 1(1) |
| NL200$ | 5(1) | 4(1) | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6(3) | 7(3) | 2(1) | 2 | 4(1) | 4(1) | 2 |
|
NL600$ |
12(1) | 4(2) | 6 | 4 | 1(2) | 3(1) | 2(1) | 5(1) | 2(3) | 1 | 8(2) | |
| NL1K | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
- 9-max tables in brackets
PLO
| 10:00 | 12:00 | 14:00 | 18:00 | 20:00 | 22:00 | 24:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 | |
| PLO10$ | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| PLO25$ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| PLO50$ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| PLO100$ | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| PLO200$ | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | |
| PLO600$ | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | |||
| PLO1K | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
- The table contains data of all Omaha formats available in PokerKing (9-max, Hi/Lo, NL).
Blitz Poker
| 10:00 | 12:00 | 14:00 | 18:00 | 20:00 | 22:00 | 24:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 | |
| NL10$ | 108 | 80 | 54 | 60 | 88 | 82 | 91 | 70 | 89 | 130 | 128 | 93 |
| NL50$ | 91 | 69 | 47 | 69 | 61 | 78 | 71 | 88 | 85 | 77 | 68 | 80 |
| NL200$ | 94 | 47 | 39 | 8 | 16 | 13 | 42 | 79 | 87 | 83 | 59 |
Omaha players need to mix sites (like Chico) as the WPN traffic isn't enough for a good session.
We highlight the number of high stakes games (above NL1k) at PokerKing, where we spotted a minimum from 3 to 6 tables during American peak time, including one in 7-Day No Rathole format.
PokerKing (WPN): Spins and other SnG tournaments
About the classic SnG tournaments, we spotted up to ten HU SnG games, mainly at stakes from $10 to $50 (the highest available is $520). Up to 15-20 SnG 9-max are also played from $1,5 to $15.
Jackpot SnG (the WPN version of Spin & Go) is available only at four stakes with a favorable rake structure, especially when you combine the rakeback deal.
| Buy-in | Probability | x2 | x4 | x6 | x8 | x20 | x100 | x200 | x2,500 |
| $2 | 6% | 70,518 ($4) | 21,366 ($8) | 7,500 ($12) | 500 ($16) | 100 ($40) | 10 ($200) | 5 ($400) | 1 ($3,750) |
| $10 | 6% | 70,518 ($20) | 21,366 ($40) | 7,500 ($60) | 500 ($80) | 100 ($200) | 10 ($1,000) | 5 ($2,000) | 1 ($18,750) |
| $25 | 6% | 70,518 ($50) | 21,366 ($100) | 7,500 ($150) | 500 ($200) | 100 ($500) | 10 ($2,500) | 5 ($5,000) | 1 ($46,875) |
| $40 | 6% | 70,518 ($80) | 21,366 ($160) | 7,500 ($240) | 500 ($320) | 100 ($800) | 10 ($5,000) | 5 ($8,000) | 1 ($75,000) |
Conclusions
In early 2020, WPN remains the American market leader with lots of tables, mainly from NL10 to NL200, including fast-fold poker and spins. And also, the network is one of the best sites to play high stakes with up to 15 tables from NL400 to NL5k.
To get a private rakeback deal at PokerKing, please contact our team:
- Telegram: @Timofey_wpd
- Skype: live:timofey_asianpokerdeals_russia
- Email: [email protected]
| Deposit bonus | $2,000 |
| Rakeback | up to 90% |
| Deposit bonus | $2,000 |
| Rakeback | 10-65% |
| Deposit bonus | $2,000 |
| Rakeback | 27% or VIP |
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