Online Poker Traffic Update: August 2015

Since PokerTube's last player traffic update posted in the first week of August, seven of the top 10 poker rooms and networks experienced an increase in cash game players. The three sites that did not enjoy an uptick in action remained stable, neither gaining nor losing.

PokerStars saw the largest increase in the number of players, as the industry leader now averages 15,500 on its ring game tables. That total is up 1,000 from when August began.

The biggest gainer among the top ten in terms of percentage increase was 7th ranked partypoker, shooting up 66% from 600 to 1,000 players in a seven-day average. But it should be noted that partypoker experienced a DDoS attack the weekend prior to the update in early August that likely caused a drop to 600 players at that time. In other words, partypoker is back to where it was a month ago.

Both the 2nd and 3rd ranked poker rooms experienced no change in the last four weeks, as 888poker (2,100) and Bodog/Bovada (1,700) maintained their previous levels. As did Winamax.fr (1,000), in 6th place in PokerScout's global rankings.

Other gainers

Apparently, the iPoker Network is already seeing positive results after abolishing its two-tier network format in mid-August. In 4th place worldwide, iPoker picked up 100 cash game players and now finds an average of 1,300 on its tables who all belong to the same player pool.

Fifth ranked PokerStars.it gained the same number as the iPoker Network and sits just 50 players behind at 1,250. The two other ring fenced PokerStars sites within the top ten, PokerStars.es (950) and PokerStars.fr (850), each gained 50 players over the last month. They hold down 8th and 9th place, respectively.

Rounding out the top ten is Full Tilt Poker, who picked up 50 players as well and is actually tied for 9th with PokerStars.fr at 850 ring game players. I'm betting on Full Tilt attracting more players in the future due to their recent changes geared toward casual players. It may take a while, but look for FTP to move up a few notches as time goes by.

Unregulated U.S. sites

Poker rooms that accept American players but are not U.S. regulated did not fare as well as those within the top ten over the last month. The Chico Poker Network added 25 players to pull into a tie with the Winning Poker Network, both now averaging 500. WPN recorded that same number of cash game players a month ago.

Two poker networks in the unregulated category saw player traffic fall over the last 30 days. Merge and the Equity Poker Network both lost 20 players on average, the former dropping from 280 to 260 while the latter dipped from 140 to 120.

The Revolution Network enjoyed an increase of 15 players to 85, yet continues to trail the regulated markets that are restricted in the number of available players.

Regulated U.S. sites

WSOP.com in Nevada and its partnership with Delaware currently draw 20 players less than a month ago. The seven-day average now stands at 160. That's two months in a row of decreases following a large boost in action during the summer when the 46th annual WSOP was in town.

In New Jersey, WSOP.com also experienced a cash game player decline in its shared player pool with 888poker. The decrease was a modest 10 players, from 190 to 180. The partypoker and BorgataPoker tandem stayed consistent at 120 players.