Full Tilt Falls to 10th Place in Player Traffic

Full Tilt has experienced a decrease in player traffic that is likely a result of its ongoing transition to a poker room that caters to recreational players.

PokerStars' sister site has fallen to 10th place globally, currently averaging 700 cash game players, according to PokerScout. Just two weeks ago, Full Tilt had a seven-day ring game player average of 1,000 and sat among the middle of the top ten poker rooms and networks.

On July 28, changes to ring games were announced at FTP that were less than popular among everyday, skilled, online players. Free will regarding table selection was removed, as players now simply choose their game type and stake level and will be taken to a seat. The procedure replicates that of a live poker room, doing away with bum-hunting and targeting players known to be virtual online ATMs.

Also jettisoned from Full Tilt's ring game offerings in the shake up were heads up and nosebleed level tables, as well as stud, draw and mixed games. Heads up tables caused a clogged lobby where grinders sat and waited for a fish rather than play someone of equivalent skill, nosebleeds don't attract casual players, and the other games are low on the totem pole of popularity.

The changes were made all in the name of "reshaping online poker" and leveling the playing field for those players who do a lot more depositing than cashing out. Naturally, online pros were forced to take their account balances elsewhere, causing cash game player traffic to plummet.

That decrease in player traffic is expected to be only temporary, as word continues to spread among casual players that the Full Tilt waters may be safe to enter and that the bulls-eyes on their backs previously have been replaced with a "Home Sweet Home" sign.

The trend in online poker has been shifting toward attracting recreational players and we can expect it to continue for the foreseeable future. Another recent example is the elimination of the two-tier segregated player pool at the iPoker Network that was abolished for good yesterday.