OlyBet Poker Review

Olybet Poker is GGPoker Network Baltic skin available only to users from Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. It belongs to GGNetwork, which ensures high traffic of 50,000 daily connections and a variety of cash games. Olybet appeals to casuals with its prohibition of third-party tools and their unique features that try to make the online poker  fun, such as SnapCam, dancing pictures of Elky and Negreanu.

Its $2,000 welcome bonus and promotions (for millions of dollars monthly) make it a favorable place for newcomers. Their loyalty program will motivate users to play more hands and grind their way up the ranks. Regulars are also going to be pleased with a variety of high stake games and MTTs that guarantee prize pools of up to several millions of dollars.

In this review, we will discuss the most exciting features of the Olybet Poker room.

Bonuses and promotions

Olybet announces new promotions every month with hefty prize pools (almost ten million dollars) and more rakeback. Their welcome package is a nice way to give newcomers a head start. It also motivates them to try out different cash games and tournaments, which is a really good thing.

Welcome bonus

Right after logging in to the poker client, all new users get a $2000 welcome bonus. The wagering time is 90 days, and the bonus is paid in $5 increments for every $25 paid in rake (400 payments in total), representing a 20% rakeback. After releasing the bonus, there are no requirements to withdraw it.

30-day Honeymoon for newcomers

A 30-day journey for new players with up to $300 in prizes for completing different missions every day. The tasks include playing hands in various formats, winning small tournaments, or hitting a jackpot.

Grinders must apply for the Honeymoon promotion three days after their first login. During the first month, grinders get a rakeback boost thanks to this promotion.

Olybet Poker rakeback

Olybet Poker has a player reward system called Fish Buffet. By playing games and paying rake, users will be credited with Fish Buffet points (FP), where 1 FP = $0.01. By accumulating these points, a player will increase their VIP status. These levels range from Plankton (15% average cashback) to GGPlatinum (60% average rakeback).

In total there are 25 different statuses, with each requiring a different number of FP points.

Each level has a platinum sub-rank. They have a 365-time limit each (platinum fish has no time limit). Platinum sub-ranks also require a certain amount of FP points for renewal (ex. Platinum Octopus requires 750,000 to keep). Platinum ranks will receive cashback at a fixed rate instead of non-platinum ranks where rakeback depends on spins.

In general, this kind of rakeback system may look complicated to a new user. There are many levels and sub-ranks with different requirements and corresponding cashback. It does reward grinding, so regular players are more likely to benefit from it rather than casuals. However, PVI affects the overall result, so it may reward grinding but is not guaranteed (more on that below).

Rake

Olybet Poker uses a PVI (Player Valued Index) rake distribution feature, which affects rakeback. It is a method developed by GGPoker that adjusts rake calculations according to player behaviour. It includes: Losses and wins, Deposits, Withdrawals, etc.

Specifics of this formula are unknown, but regulars have a lower PVI, and casuals have a higher PVI. If your index is less than one, it will reduce the total amount of rake with which it is calculated. From July 2020 the minimal PVI multiplier was set to 0.1, meaning that winning users can have their rake counted as 10%.

The overall structure of the Olybet Poker rake is 5% in Hold’em and Omaha. The cap varies depending on the number of players and the stakes played. The rake is taken even if a hand does not see a flop (from every pot more than 2.5 BB).

In tournaments (MTT) and Sit & Go’s (SnG), a 5% buy-in fee is taken.

As mentioned previously, Olybet Poker has a preflop rake, which can be a downside for many players. Even though you do know how much rake you pay, you don’t know how much of that rake will be assigned to you to calculate promotion. It is also important to mention that Omaha tables used to be uncapped (caps introduced in August 2020).

Caps made Omaha much more profitable, so it is likely to benefit users that prefer Omaha over Hold’em.

Games and traffic

Olybet Poker is a part of the world’s largest online poker network, GGPoker. This room has an impressive average of 50,000 daily connections. Most of the players are located in Asia and Europe therefore the juiciest cash games are available during peak hours in those regions.

Hold'em, Omaha, Fast-fold

Olybet offers classic poker cash formats such as Hold’em and Omaha. No-Limit Hold’em is the most popular choice among the players. There are only 6-max tables. The stakes range from $2 to $5,000.

Olybet Poker is a great choice for Pot-Limit Omaha grinders. It features PLO4 and a new booming PLO5. This room offers stakes from $10 to as high as $10,000. All stakes have relatively high traffic. On average, there are 750 active Pot-Limit Omaha players, so it won’t be hard to find a session.

Rush&Cash

It is a cash game format offered by Olybet Poker, which is a version of Zoom by Pokerstars. It is a unique variation of fast-fold Hold’em and Omaha. Every time you fold, you are moved to a new table with new players. There is a chance of a Cash Drop at the beginning of a hand. These range from 10BB to 600BB.

6+ Holdem

Olybet also offers a Short Deck Hold’em, a variation of Hold’em but with 36 cards (the lowest being a six).

AOF

Another cash game on offer is All-in or Fold. Even though this model is not exclusive to GGPoker anymore, it does have the highest traffic among other poker sites. As the name implies, you can only go all-in or fold during a hand. There is constant action in this format. It is also available for both Hold’em and Omaha.

There is a nice variety of cash games at the Olybet Poker. Such diversity of modes and stakes ensures that both recreational and casual players will find a game to their preference. For example, Rush&Cash or All-in or Fold are likely to attract amateurs looking for a quick and exciting session. While high stakes NLH and PLO are likely to draw in regulars. You can find around 370 active tables for NLH (60 for Short Deck) and 150 tables for PLO. For Rush&Cash and All-in or Fold, you will be able to find around 280 and 250 tables respectively.

Olybet Poker tournaments (MTT)

Olybet hosts several  MTTs. The MTT grid is composed of the following tournament groups:

• Special events: temporary exclusive tournaments like WSOP
• High Roller: high stakes (buy-ins up to $5,000) with prizes up to $100,00
• Daily GTD: daily events with buy-ins from $22 to $250 with prizes up to $30,000
• Bounty Hunters: knockout tournaments with prizes up to $400
• Omaholic: daily low stake Omaha tournaments
• Phoenix Rebuy: tournaments with rebuy
• T$ Builder: rake-free tournaments played every half hour

There is a large diversity of tournaments to choose from. Entree fees start at as low as $25, which makes this tournament relatively accessible to everyone.

In general, most players will find a tournament that matches their bank and skill level. WSOP series is a great opportunity for everyone to participate in a large-scale, win huge prizes and a WSOP ring or a bracelet.

Spin&Gold

Spin & Gold is a different take on a classical Spin&Go. The main difference is the insurance which prevents you from losing x2 multiplier tournaments. The blind structure also depends on a random multiplier.

Game softness

Despite the field's rapid expansion, it remains incredibly "soft" due to the network's strategy of maintaining a healthy "ecology" and prohibiting third-party apps and HUD.

GGPoker network was able to achieve enormous prominence in the world in a brief amount of time, due to the intervention of ambassadors such as Daniel Negreanu and Bertrand Grospellier, the WSOP, and the resurgence of high stakes poker.

Attitude towards professional players

• Tracking software – no.
• Seating scripts – no.
• Pre-flop charts – no.
• Bumhunt – no. 
• Mining – no.

The current relationship between GGPoker network and professional players can be called “strained”. On one hand, the GG (and Olybet accordingly) is positioned as a place for professionals. Both does recognize that poker is a game of skill.

On the other hand, there are many topics in the community regarding account bans for violating the rules of networks, which include:

• Using poker software.
• Bumhunting or predatory behavior (playing at the table only vs a weak opponent)
• VPN: Hiding your real location

Therefore, according to their statements, bad/toxic regulars who take part in predatory behavior are not welcome.

Olybet Poker software

Olybet Poker uses a standard GGPoker client as a base. It is a nice and simple UI that is easy to navigate. You can see your balance and tournament tickets. All games can be easily found at the top of the client. Olybet Poker client is very easy to install on your PC and Mac.

The in-game client always shows current promotions on the title screen, so you won’t miss them. It also allows you to check various stats through PokerCraft like game histories, which you can analyze after a session. The software is also modifiable. You can customize the general look of tables, create betting shortcuts, or set up auto rebuys.

Hand History and HUD

Olybet Poker does not allow any third-party software. There is no HUD available. Players can download hand-histories and review their session. There is a SmartHUD available, which is “GGPoker’s exclusive answers to HUDs”. It is available for all network users and can display the following statistics.

• Your record against a particular player.
• All-in tendencies of your opponents (All-in or Flop)
• Player’s total tournament winnings and their leaderboard rank (MTTs)

Mobile app

There is a fully working Olybet Mobile app available for Android and IOS. But to download it, you need to allow your phone to download data from unknown sources.

Mobile version has all of the unique features of a desktop client. All games are available as well as SmartHUD. You can also deposit and withdraw your funds using a mobile app.

Reliability and trustworthiness

• Launched – 2016.
• License – Latvia. 
• KYC verification – necessary.
• Identity verification  – necessary.
• WPD guaranteed – no.

Olybet is 100% safe and legal. It is a part of Olympic Casino Latvia, which holds an active Latvian Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection license. Not to mention that it is a part of the well-respected and popular GGPoker Network.

In case of any questions, Olybet Poker has a developed customer support service. You can contact them through a live chat on their website during working hours. You can also reach them via email: [email protected]

Deposits and withdrawals

You can transfer funds by using either Olybet Mobile App or using their website. This room supports the following payment methods:

• Visa.
• Mastercard.
• Skrill .
• Trustly .
• Paysera.
• Neteller.

Olybet is a well-known casino network in the Baltics. It has adopted several local payment methods. For example, in Latvia transfers are only processed through local banks:

• Swedbank
• SEB
• Citadele 
• Visa, Maestro, Mastercard
• Luminor Nordea

In Estonia and Finland, Skrill, Trustly, Neteller, and Paysera can be used. Deposits are instant and withdrawals are processed within one business day.

Pros and cons to play Olybet Poker

From everything discussed, it is fair to sum up pros and cons:

• Large MTT grid.
• Large daily traffic.
• Action-packed games like All-in or Fold.
• High rakeback and a $2,000 welcome bonus.
• The only legal skin in the Baltics.

The dark side of the room:

• Non-transparent rake structure (PVI).
• No HUD support.

In general, Olybet Poker provides an entertaining playing environment for its players. It offers great rewards and a diversity of cash games to choose from, mainly aimed at newcomers who just want to have fun. Prohibition of HUD and other third-party software guarantees the field softness.

Even though this room will benefit low-mid-stake NLH and PLO players the most, a large amount of traffic ensures that there is always an opportunity for regulars to grind high stakes and earn some cashback. Or possibly enter one of many MTTs with a chance to win a prize. Olybet Poker remains the most popular site among players living in the Baltics.

Advantages of playing with us

Worldpokerdeals has over eight years of experience in the global affiliate market providing high-quality services and top rakeback deals to poker players around the world. Our award-winning team is always ready to assist our customers with any particular need they have.

Our OlyBet Poker players get:

• Professional customer service seven days a week;
• Private promotions and raffles on our social networks:

Contact us to get more information and start playing now:

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