Online poker sites that are available to players in the U.S. continue targeting recreational players, as opposed to the multi-tabling grinders.
Much has been written about poker room ecosystems and how it was believed desirable to achieve a proper balance between casual players and the online pros. However, a recent shift in the industry points to the fact that poker sites would much rather attract a player base that is dominated by recreational players.
That trend began taking shape when Bodog/Bovada announced its Recreational Poker Model that did away with rakeback and a handsome VIP reward program. The move also included “Anonymous Tables,” removing screen names of players and thereby prohibiting the more-skilled players to prey on those who were playing rather casually.
Only five months after launching in November 2013, the U.S.-friendly Equity Poker Network reportedly closed the accounts of a number of “aggressive players” who did not fall in line with the network’s slant toward recreational play. While only a few grinders were targeted in the ban, the message came through loud and clear that flagship skin Full Flush Poker was a poker room where casual players could feel comfortable.
The U.S.-facing Merge Gaming Network joined the push toward favoring the recreational crowd about six months ago when Bad Beat Jackpot (BBJ) tables on the network no longer raked every pot. BBJ is a favorite among the casual set and offering rake-free BBJ action was aimed at those casual players, many of whom settled once again at main skin Carbon Poker.
How These Moves Affect You
If you happen to be an online pro who spends a significant portion of each day grinding out a living at online poker, odds are that you have avoided the aforementioned poker rooms and networks. It’s a good bet as well that such pros are disheartened by the new trend toward casual players, lamenting days gone by that were much more welcoming and profitable for earning a decent buck playing poker online all day long.
On the other hand, if you are a player who has a day job outside of poker and logs onto online poker sites in the U.S. for fun and in hopes of earning a few dollars, then you are undoubtedly pleased with the direction in which online poker is headed. It certainly appears that the days of catering to online grinders who withdraw often without depositing while generating huge amounts of rake are over.
The latest player traffic statistics show that a number of recreational players who had become disillusioned with online poker due to being preyed upon by sharp and highly-skilled players are finding their way back to the virtual tables. This is good for the industry as a whole.
For casual players who have not yet returned, this appears to be a good time to do so, as conditions are now much more favorable than they had been previously. Those recreational players may want to [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com”]take a look at our poker site reviews[/geolink] in order to find the best bonus deals available before perhaps making a triumphant and winning return to online poker!
