According to the online poker traffic monitoring site – PokerScout – the Winning Poker Network is now the fifth most popular poker destination in the world.
In the early twentieth century, Mark Twain popularized the saying There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
However, no matter how you interpret the latest online poker traffic report from PokerScout, there is no denying that the Winning Poker Network is growing substantially at a time when its competitors are struggling to attract and retain players.
According to the data from PokerScout, the Winning Poker Network recorded a seven day average of 1,000 cash game players over the past week. This figure elevated the network – comprising of [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/americas-cardroom/”]Americas Cardroom[/geolink], [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/black-chip-poker/”]Black Chip Poker[/geolink], [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/true-poker/”]True Poker[/geolink] and [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/ya-poker/”]Ya Poker[/geolink] – above the likes of Party Poker and the iPoker Network into fifth position on the traffic monitoring site´s “leaderboard”.
The Winning Poker Network´s Incredible Rise
Back in 2014, the Winning Poker Network struggled to appear among the top fifty most popular networks and online poker sites. Even with the demise of Lock Poker and Merge Gaming, the network could only muster a seven day average of around 400 players. Subsequent improvements to its software and promotions saw the network reach tenth position on PokerScout´s leaderboard in March this year.
Undoubtedly the network has benefitted from the lack of online gambling regulation in the US, and the introduction of regulation elsewhere in the world. Many players from European ring-fenced jurisdictions can be found on the network due to its better liquidity, lower rake and higher level of rewards. Players from Russia and South Africa choose the network because of easy and fast Bitcoin transactions.
What Has Happened Since March?
It is hard to put a finger on what has happened since March. Many of the network´s promotions have been targeted at online tournament players rather than cash players, and although the volume of players in the network´s tournaments has increased as result, so has the number of cash players. However, as the chart bellows illustrates, the Winning Poker Network is definitely doing something right:
| PokerScout Data | Cash Players 7 Day Average | ||
| Site/Network | March | November | % +/- |
| PokerStars | 16,000 | 13,000 | -18.75% |
| 888Poker | 2,400 | 1,900 | -20.83% |
| Ignition | 1,500 | 1,200 | -20.00% |
| Winamax.fr | 1,350 | 1,100 | -15.40% |
| Winning | 800 | 1,000 | 25.00% |
| iPoker | 1,450 | 950 | -34.50% |
| PartyPoker | 1,250 | 950 | -24.00% |
| PokerStars.it | 1,150 | 900 | -21.68% |
| MPN | 800 | 900 | 12.50% |
| Pokerdom | 475 | 750 | 66.00% |
Comparisons with March Do Not Tell the Whole Story
Although the comparisons with March data look impressive for the Winning Poker Network, they do not tell the whole story. In March, PokerScout counted the traffic at PokerStars (16,000) and Full Tilt (750) separately. Since the two sites now share the same platform, players from both sites are counted as one – equivalent to a combined decrease in traffic of 22.40%.
MPN´s positive showing can be attributed to PKR Poker and many former Ongame Network sites joining the network. Taking into account the March levels of traffic for PKR Poker and the Ongame Network, MPN has lost around 20% of its player database. The rise of Pokerdom into the top ten is due to the Russian site now providing an English language service.
A Temporary Anomaly or More to Come
It is possible to put forward several arguments why the Winning Poker Network has risen to fifth position on PokerScout´s cash player leaderboard, and why that position may be temporary. Many of the network´s competitors have focused heavily on promoting lottery style hyper-turbo games, possibly diverting players away from their cash tables. The rise to fifth on the leaderboard also coincides with the network´s recent “[geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/acr-offering-players-thanksgiving-can-eat-bonus/”]All You Can Eat[/geolink]” no deposit bonus promotion.
However, there are reasons to believe that the Wining Poker Network will maintain its position – or climb even higher. In addition to the network´s forthcoming Online Super Series VIII and [geolink href=”https://www.usafriendlypokersites.com/acr-announces-date-next-million-dollar-sunday/”]Million Dollar Sunday[/geolink], legislation has been proposed in Australia that would result in the withdrawal of many companies that hold a UK online gambling license. This would leave a void in Australia that the Winning Poker Network could possibly benefit from.
A spokesman for the Winning Poker Network has also promised that the network is going to do more to attract players next year. In a statement expressing how thrilled the Winning Poker Network was to reach fifth position on PokerScout´s leaderboard, Michael Harris said:
As we head into 2017, we’re going to put some serious effort into making our network the absolute best in the world and the most attractive place to play on the planet.
