WSOP.com Cash Games Underperforming During WSOP 2015

The 2015 World Series of Poker is beginning its march to the $10,000 Main Event. This year's WSOP has been record setting in terms of overall attendance and in many instances this is spilling over to the online arena.

Robert DellaFave of Online Poker Report recently took a look at how the WSOP is impacting traffic numbers at WSOP.com in Nevada. While the site is definitely benefiting from the increase in traffic normal with WSOP season, some areas are not performing as well as expected.

Cash Games Performing Well But Not as Well as 2014

According to the report, WSOP.com cash games experienced a jump of 19% during the first ten days of the Series. Afterwards, numbers dropped off and the site is only up around 9 to 10% from their standard traffic.

Despite the drop, the average number of players for the site is still hovering right around the 200 mark. At the time of the writing of this article, PokerScout showed WSOP.com as averaging 180 players daily with a peak of 368.

Some of you may notice these numbers are up dramatically from the cash game totals in 2014. That is indeed the case. At is peak in 2014 during the Main Event, the site was just hitting 150 average daily players. The increase year-over-year is due in part to the closing of Ultimate Poker.

Why Are Cash Games Underperforming?

There are several reasons given in the OPR article behind the reduction in traffic. They pointed to longer days in live events, lower buy-in tournaments and a lack of novelty year-over-year.

However, one complaint that has been largely overlooked has been Nevada's policy of only allowing one account per IP address play at the site. While Caesars properties are white listed, many of the other casino properties and residential homes are still under the same restrictions.

We've seen multiple complaints about players trying to play on the site but unable to do so due to the IP restriction. In one case, a player's roommate jumped into a cash game before him and prevented him from playing in a tournament.

Tournaments and Satellites Tell a Different Story

While cash games aren't performing as expected, tournaments and satellites are posting strong numbers. According to the OPR report, most of the satellites at WSOP.com are exceeding their guarantees and are event awarding multiple seats. This is a definite improvement over 2014.

Also, some the WSOP Online Championship tournaments have also been exceeding their guarantees by 200% and sometimes more. Keep in mind that players can satellite into live WSOP events online and while they are playing at the Rio. This allows players to grind around the clock if they desire.

Main Event should Receive Another Bump in Traffic

As players come into town for the WSOP Main Event, they are going to ask what are the best Nevada poker sites? Since the closing of Ultimate Poker, the only viable option left is WSOP.com.

While satellites will be shut down, there will be plenty of cash game action available for players and according to reports, there has been plenty of higher limit action this summer. This means that WSOP.com should be hopping during the series and the site should experience a strong bump in traffic. With any luck we will see the average daily mark move above 250 and peak numbers crack the 500 mark.