Although there is a sense that the established online poker rooms rule the roost, new poker rooms are cropping up all the time to try and compete with the so-called big boys. But how exactly do these newcomers go about creating an environment for their online poker tournaments that entices players away from sites they’ve used for years, even decades?
It’s not quite as easy as opening a few tables and expecting players to jump in. The online poker community is savvier than ever. They know what they’re looking for from competitive tournament setups.
There are heaps that go on behind the scenes. From licensing and platform development to structuring prize pools and defining the ideal tournament format, we’ll explore how new poker rooms make online tournaments thrive from the ground up.
Rock-solid licensing
Before a new poker room can even consider staging its own tournaments online, securing the right license from a recognised regulatory body is vital. This sets a firm foundation for legal and fair gaming. For those entirely new to the online poker market, it can be worthwhile seeking guidance on the right online gaming license for their target demographic. For instance, a new UK-facing online poker room would benefit most from securing a license with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), protecting all parties.
Without a gaming license, fledgling online poker rooms risk being told to cease trading. In addition, players would be less likely to commit to opening accounts with sites that don’t offer them security reassurances of competing in fair and legitimate poker games.
Intuitive user interface
Alongside a watertight gaming license comes a simple user interface that’s quick and easy to navigate. The platform must also be capable of handling sufficient levels of traffic. The biggest online poker rooms are designed and built to cope with tens of thousands of players simultaneously without lagging or crashing.
Aside from a premium interface, new online poker rooms should also offer secure payment protocols, with encrypted connections ensuring sensitive data is shielded from the prying eyes of cyber-criminals. With such a demanding list, many new online poker rooms often look to B2B providers to secure ready-made, tried and trusted poker platforms. These are usually native apps or mobile-friendly web applications powered by responsive HTML5 technology.
Competitive prize pools
Of course, the number-one attraction to online poker tournaments is the prize money up for grabs. New poker rooms attempt to lure players in by offering generous prize pools. That’s either guaranteed prize pools – no matter how many players enter – or progressive jackpots. Some new poker rooms may also run lucrative freerolls for first-time players, inviting newbies to try their sites risk-free.
The right tournament structures
It’s not just the prize pools that capture the imagination of new and experienced poker players alike. It’s also the format of the tournaments, too. Experienced players will enjoy tournaments with long blind levels, allowing them to take a considered approach, potentially with a deep starting chip stack too.
Meanwhile, others will enjoy the more creative tournaments, such as bounty tournaments, where the more players you eliminate, the more cash you earn.
In short, creating and running a new online poker room may sound easy, but it’s not just about the brand. It’s about reputable licensing, strong underlying technology, competitive promotions and enjoyable tournament structures which help newcomers to stand a chance of cultivating a loyal player base in an already crowded market.
