24 Dec 11
5 Online Poker Predictions For 2012
Barry Carter looks ahead to what 2012 might hold for online poker, after such a turbulent last 12 months in the poker industry.
Nobody could have predicted the events of 2011 in the online poker landscape, they were unprecedented and poker will never be the same again, particularly after Black Friday.
Only a fool would attempt to make some predictions for what 2012 might hold for online poker, now that the script has been metaphorically torn up in the way it has.
So here goes.....
The Race To Social Poker
 |
| Poker in the palm of your hand |
Everyone appreciates what a game-changer real-money poker on social media could be, and in 2012 I envisage seeing all the major poker rooms and social networks racing neck and neck to become the first one to tweet, poke, or +1 real money poker in 2012.
...and Mobile Poker
In equal measure, don't be surprised to see even less chat at live poker tables as everyone is playing poker on their mobile phones between hands. We have already seen some real-money poker apps on iPhone & Android in 2011, and in 2012 expect to see all the major operators with their own real-money poker app.No End In Sight For The US
 |
| Online Poker not a priority in 2012? |
A lot of major casino chains and investors have recently been showing interest in online poker Stateside, which is a great sign. But there are so many hoops to jump through in US politics that I envisage this to be a long and drawn-out process.
Especially when you consider the Presidential Election will take place next year, and online poker is not going to be a high priority.
I hope I am wrong, because regulated US poker is good for everyone in the industry, even if the games are ring fenced.
Protecting The Poker Ecology
We have already seen it happen a lot in the final quarter of 2011, the poker rooms are taking measures to protect recreational players from practices they view as damaging to the poker ecology.High rakeback deals, data mining sites, and poker software. These are all things that are viewed, rightly or wrongly, to hurt the poker economy. We are starting to see adjusted rake models, outlawing of data mining sites, banning winning players, and anonymous tables emerging to reinvigorate the poker ecology.
PokerStrategy.com CEO Dominic Kofert shared his thoughts on this issue recently, where he criticised some of the practices that discriminate against winning players.
Poker operators are becoming increasingly aware that increasing net deposits from recreational players is key to the lifeblood of the poker economy, and expect more aggressive attempts to improve the poker ecology in 2012.
Full Tilt Returns, and Storms
 |
| FTP back in 2012? |
If, and it is a big IF, Groupe Bernard Tapie manage to resurrect the site.
A few months ago Full Tilt looked like it could never come back, they were the most hated name in the industry. I never thought anyone would want to play there again.
But since a deal with GBT started to look likely, I have been really surprised by just how eager people are, not to get their money, but to play there again. They did have great software and good games, but I am shocked how many players seem not to have learned a thing from the whole scandal.
If they return, the buzz it would create could see them jump right back into the number two spot in the poker traffic rankings where they once were.
by Barry Carter
#1
domde, 24 Dec 11 16:13
i'll play at full tilt when they come back. at least one rush table.#2
LimburgCwboy, 24 Dec 11 17:26
"....., but I am shocked how many players seem not to have learned a thing from the whole scandal. "I am a bit shocked myself .... regarding this comment.
It was not FTP, but a few greedy directors that made this scandal happen.
If these people are gone, it should be OK to play there.
+
How do you know if ANY of the other sites is not doing exactly the same thing at this moment.
If sites are not properly investigated by the regulator, this is even likely.
So your above line should read:
...., but I WOULD BE shocked IF REGULATORS HAVE not learned a thing from the whole scandal.
#3
kirezafirov, 24 Dec 11 18:45
#2 Like :D#4
Phoenix2104, 24 Dec 11 19:37
Totally agree with #2.I've tried many sites since FTP was shut down. I am shocked myself how people can stand playing on most of them.
#5
Sikac, 24 Dec 11 23:12
recreational player see as you most guys but I doubt that any pro will agree with you.Remember Pokerstars was in the same shit but clear his shit but this guys didn t do much except to wait for the right people to take them out. The point is you don t play on a site that tricked you if you are living from this money or should I better say businness.#6
martinstids, 25 Dec 11 00:21
FTP was my favorite grainding site. i will def play there again#7
Cpwpoker, 25 Dec 11 02:56
if full tilt returns :It his name and software that is returning but since the management changed etc we can say a brand new full tilt is coming which is without scandal ^___^
#8
JimmyChances, 25 Dec 11 07:52
wouldn't go anywhere near full tilt. lesson learned.#9
Phoenix2104, 25 Dec 11 09:04
The way some people think is quite amazing! Do you think the name or the software of a poker site can be evil or something?What if the people that were managing FTP somehow bought let's say PokerStars. According to the way you view things you would still swear by PokerStars and stir clear of FTP under a totally new management because of its name!!!
Well if pro poker players have that kind of brains I think there is a lot of money to be made in poker..
#10
Shevtshenko, 25 Dec 11 09:45
"They did have great software and good games, but I am shocked how many players seem not to have learned a thing from the whole scandal. "What should we have learnt?
That poker sites do everything possible in order to make as much money as possible and in the process don't care at all about the players? I doubt it is, or never was just FTP that did this.
#11
funkphenomena, 25 Dec 11 13:02
its damaging the poker ecology more than anything else if winning players get punished. that would take away the motivation from the recreational gambling fish and be perveiced as rip-off. winning has to be rewarded, rewarded and nothing else.#12
drago85, 26 Dec 11 03:39
Likeeeee#13
roopopper, 26 Dec 11 10:06
They missed out "the roobot will crush nl2!!!" :-)#14
jaaesa, 26 Dec 11 22:01
Social poker is going to be nuts!#15
Fubu27, 27 Dec 11 01:09
I disagree with that not learning from the scandal thing as well. It sounds silly to me to think it's still risky to play there with a whole different management.It's like saying it would be risky playing poker online at all. Something like: "shocked people still play poker online after this whole scandal".
#16
JohanRember, 27 Dec 11 11:16
The software does not contain malicious managment. The new management will have to do everything they can to ensure the players that they can play there safely - if anything I think they can be trusted as they wont run the same scam the previous owners did.And I do agree that sites cannot reward the winning players too much. It's quite simple, sites pay to get deposits and turnovers in their software. With less funds, less turnover is possible. With less withdrawals - funds will climb - and economy will thrive. Simples
#17
MrMardyBum, 28 Dec 11 09:25
"I am shocked how many players seem not to have learned a thing from the whole scandal."I think this is a bit OTT, it's new management and awesome software, what reason do players have for not trusting the new owner, based on the old owners actions?