Online poker revenue in Nevada has declined in each of the last three months, pulling in an estimated $574,000 in February.
Although official revenue numbers as provided by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (GCB) haven’t been reported since November, player traffic numbers tallied by PokerScout have allowed the independent traffic-tracking website to release revenue estimates for each of the last three months. The GCB follows a policy of non-reporting of revenue when less than three poker sites are operational in the Silver State, and Ultimate Poker’s exit from the marketplace in November caused that guideline to kick in.
The GCB posted $641,000 as the official revenue total in November 2014. PokerScout estimates December revenue at $594,000 – a 7.3% decline from the previous month – followed by a 2% dip in January 2015 to $582,000 and another fall of 1.3% in February to $574,000.
The last three months were the winter season, typically a time when online poker revenue tends to rise instead of fall. But Nevada’s winter was comparatively mild, which may be a factor in the decline as warmer weather creates a tendency in people to spend more time outdoors.
Since UP made its unceremonious exit [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/ultimate-pokers-exit-nevada-market-lessons-learned/”]in November[/geolink], cash game player averages have dropped about 16%. The figures suggest that a good portion of loyal UP players may have chosen to quit playing rather than transition to WSOP.com. The reason for that is unknown. Of course, Real Gaming remains the other current option in Nevada, but player numbers have not risen at that site either.
Summer Revenue Boom Coming
With the 46th annual WSOP just around the corner in May, player traffic and revenue is expected to peak substantially as it did last year. Poker players descend on Nevada like moths to a flame from May through July for poker’s most celebrated live festival.
July 2014 saw [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/ipoker-revenue-nevada-almost-1-million-july/”]revenue in Nevada eclipse the $1 million mark[/geolink] ($1,037,000), the only time that number has been reached in two years of operation. With a couple tournaments on the WSOP schedule in 2015 featuring buy-ins less than $1,000, it is anticipated that more recreational players will make it to Nevada this year than ever before. It may translate into record revenue totals.
Another new feature this year is the first-ever online bracelet event. That $1000 buy-in tournament will make history, as will the winner whose name will be etched in the record books forever as the first WSOP online bracelet champ. Yet another reason to expect huge revenue numbers during the 2015 WSOP.
Also a factor will be the shared liquidity of [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/delaware-nevada-interstate-launch-nearing/”]interstate online poker between Nevada and Delaware[/geolink]. That should happen sometime in April, according to Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval.
Delaware’s online poker traffic remains low due to its population of less than one million. Only $27,695 in revenue was realized in January 2015. But more Delaware players may turn out after the Multi State Internet Gaming Agreement with Nevada kicks in next month.
