Online Poker Traffic Update

Player traffic in the online poker industry fell for the seventh consecutive week, registering a drop of 2.4% that identically matched last week's downward tilt.

The biggest news during the week, of course, was the merging of player pools in the regulated states of Nevada and Delaware. A delay that lasted over one year since the pair of states entered into an agreement to share liquidity has apparently been worth the wait, particularly for Delaware.

Traffic numbers have reached a seven-day average of 140 players in Delaware's ipoker regime, leaving the old average of less than double digits in a cloud of dust. The massive increase bodes well for regulated online poker in the U.S., as states that contemplate ipoker legislation of their own see dollar signs ahead.

Delaware Poker jumped to 40th in the worldwide rankings provided by PokerScout after being in 63rd place just one week ago. WSOP.com in Nevada also has reason to celebrate due to the merger, gaining roughly 13% of action to arrive at a cash game player average of 170.

It's Bodog, Baby

Also moving up recently was Bodog/Bovada, as the U.S.-friendly site that relies on player anonymity reached third place for the first time ever. Bodog pulled into a tie with the iPoker Network at 1,800 ring game players after looking in at the top ten just two years ago.

PokerScout attributes the site's success to its prompt and reliable cashouts. As a U.S. citizen and Bovada player, I can vouch for the speed at which checks arrive via FedEx and DHL. It's about a week or so, and one free cashout per month is also a nice feature. Now if only my play would allow me to take advantage of those once a month freebies all the time.

Strike Gold at Full Tilt

Full Tilt managed to take over fifth place globally despite averaging 100 less players than when March began. About 1,500 players are typically found at Full Tilt's ring game tables that include Rush Poker. The industry's overall decline has allowed Amaya's no. 2 site to progress in rank despite a decrease in traffic from March 1.

Full Tilt may likely retain fifth place for at least three weeks or so as its popular Gold Rush promotion has returned. Cash totaling $25,000 as well as tournament tickets are up for grabs at Rush Poker ring games from March 27-April 19.

Where's the Party?

Many expected PartyPoker to make some headway this month considering that a new loyalty program that allows players to move up levels more rapidly began March 1. The VIPs appear to be MIA as PartyPoker was relegated to seventh place and now averages 1,300 cash players - 200 less than a month ago.

Perhaps the party moved to Georgia as Adjarabet leaped into a tie with Winamax for eighth place worldwide. Two PokerStars offerings - the rooms servicing Spain and France - were knocked down as a result, with PokerStars.fr booted out of the top ten.

Go Chico Go

The U.S.-facing Chico Poker Network has pulled into a tie with Merge Gaming for second place in the unregulated U.S. market behind Bovada. Both sites now average 500 cash players. Merge, featuring lead skin Carbon Poker, averaged 600 players when March began.

Rumor has it that Chico has added Bitcoin as a payment processing option. That's been the start of a trend in 2015, as the Winning Poker Network (WPN) also added Bitcoin across its sites earlier this year. We are still waiting for industry leader PokerStars to put an end to the rumors and go the Bitcoin route as well.

Speaking of WPN, that network has tumbled as of late after bursting out of the chute in 2015. Player traffic gains of 58% in January and 15.8% in February have been rocked by an 18% decline in March. WPN currently averages 450 ring game players.

U.S. Regulated Market

This update began by highlighting the Delaware merger with WSOP.com in Nevada that has propelled both into gaining mega players. WSOP.com is king of the hill in the regulated market in New Jersey, however, by way of its partnership in the Garden State with 888poker.

A seven-day average of 190 players allows WSOP/888 (NJ) to lead the way despite a 13.6% decrease in players in March. The Party/Borgata pairing in New Jersey remained flat in March, clocking in with a 160-player average.

The entire online poker industry is 11% off the pace from late March in 2014. A somewhat better statistic than previous year-on-year comparisons.