WPN Targets Social Gamers with Freebuy Super Series

Online poker sites have long desired to convert free-play social poker players into real-money depositors. There are an overwhelming number of Internet poker players at the likes of Zynga Poker and PokerStars who play for fun and are not inclined to transition to real-money tables.

The Winning Poker Network (WPN) is hoping to change all that with its Freebuy Super Series that will run from May 8-17. A grand total of 57 events - at least five each day for the duration of the series - are on the schedule and require no buy-in whatsoever to enter.

Prize money totaling $150,000 guaranteed is up for grabs during the 10-day festival. The headlining Main Event is a $20,000 GTD tourney on May 17 at 5:30 p.m.

Re-buys and Add-ons Optional

Although there is no entry fee - players need only to register an account at skins such as Black Chip Poker or Americas Cardroom to play - each event does permit re-buys and add-ons. Both require an outlay of cash, as low as 1 cent ($0.01) for some events and as high as $20 for the Main Event.

However, the entire Freebuy Super Series could be considered a micro-stakes affair, as the re-buys and add-ons for 23 of the tournaments are less than a buck ($1.00). Another 21 events are between $1 and $3 to either re-buy or add-on.

The idea is to attract the social players with free entries and keep them coming back for more with re-buys and add-ons that are affordable for every budget. In other words, convert the normally free-play players into the real-money variety.

It's All About Conversion

Will it work? Only time will tell, but WPN estimates that the series may attract as many as 40,000 new players to sign up. And converting about only 5% of those players into real-money depositors is all that's needed to be successful.

WPN is keeping it simple by offering only three game types for the series - No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha and PLO 8 or Better. The vast majority (41) of the events will be played under a NLHE format.

Register Early

Click here to take a look at the schedule of the Freebuy Super Series, including the prize pool guarantees and re-buy/add-on costs of each. Keep in mind that registration for each event begins two hours prior to the starting time and that the amount of players allowed to enter will be capped. It's best to register early in order to avoid being shut out.

Late registration will be permitted for two hours, provided that the number of players allowed under the cap is not reached. Also be aware that the add-on period begins three hours after the start of the event, a twist from what players are normally accustomed to, which is add-ons immediately following the close of late registration.

Add-ons, of course, are not required. Players are free to do battle at the tables with just the starting stack given to all at no cost. However, as most players are aware, it's quite a disadvantage when other players add-on chips and you do not.

Punta Cana Anyone?

WPN has also upped the ante by offering a Freebuy Super Series Leaderboard race where the player with the most points at the conclusion of the festival will win a 2015 Punta Cana Poker Classic vacation package. That's an all-expense paid prize that includes round-trip airfare, six nights comped at the Hard Rock Hotel with meals, resort credits totaling $1,500, and an entry worth $1,650 into the $500,000 GTD Main Event.

Remember that WPN is U.S.-friendly, one of only a handful of poker rooms and networks open to American players. On top of that, the network has gained 75% in cash game player traffic since 2015 began. A big reason are the $1 million guaranteed tournaments offered and other innovative concepts such as The Beast leaderboard race, The Cage tourney/cash hybrid contests, and now the Freebuy Super Series.

Should this series turn out to be a success, other poker sites will likely follow suit. We will know more come May 8-17!