PokerStrategy.com Mobile Series - Interview With Jeffrey Haas Of PokerStars

In the first of a series of features on the fast developing world of mobile poker, we talk to one of the men behind the new mobile app from PokerStars which has got UK players talking, Jeffrey Haas.

Jeffrey Haas

Last week, PokerStars launched their first real money mobile app which played within their dotcom liquidity. So far it has only been players from the UK that have benefited from this app, but it has got everybody in poker talking.

We caught up with Jeffrey Haas, PokerStars Director of New Platforms, to get the low down on this exciting new development for the landscape of online poker:

PokerStrategy.com: How long have you been working on this product?

Jeffrey Haas: Mobile poker has been on the PokerStars radar for almost three years; however this particular product we have been working on for about one and a half years.

PokerStrategy.com: This is not the first real money poker app on the market, why did you wait so long?

Jeffrey Haas: We wanted to respectfully approach the different devices from a user experience point of view. Mobile phones and tablets are very different to PCs and laptops in so many ways, particularly from a body language perspective: the way we hold, look and use a mobile phone is a lot different to the way we use a tablet device - and both are completely different from how we use traditional desktop or laptop computers.

Think of how you play games on a tablet while reclining on a couch, or on a mobile phone while you're standing or walking. A lot of intentional design went into creating an exceptional poker game for the form factors of mobile players; and that occurred as a result of thinking about mobile poker specifically for a long, long time.

We wanted to produce not just the best product on the market, but also the best product we could possibly produce. So we waited until we thought we had it right. Hopefully our players will agree with us.

PokerStrategy.com: Why has it just been launched so far in the UK, is it essentially a beta test?

Jeffrey Haas: We launched our first mobile poker game for play money in Italy on November 24, which became a real money app on January 6. The development is on-going, and it will be a measured expansion as our confidence in mobile grows. I hope players from the rest of the world will be very excited with what they will have coming their way in the near future.

"I expect to see 25% of our players using this app by the end of 2012"

PokerStars Mobile

PokerStrategy.com: So what we are seeing now is by no means the finished product?

Jeffrey Haas: There is no such thing as a finished product in software development. More so in an environment like mobile gaming that is evolving so rapidly. There are lots of organic changes that are on-going. We will be responding to player comments in a number of communities, forums, and focus groups - and that feedback will manifest itself in the evolution of our mobile game.

We really want to encourage all the players out there to give us feedback on the product, both good and bad; we are already seeing some wonderful ideas coming back to us.

PokerStrategy.com: How much of a game changer is this likely to be for the future of online poker?

Jeffrey Haas: I remember I said in 2006 that "this is the year for mobile poker". Now, in 2012, this really is the year for mobile poker. I expect to see nearly 25% of our players using mobile by the end of 2012, and nearly 50% by 2013.

There are fewer laptops being sold these days, tablets and mobile phones are fast replacing them. Casual players are really going to flock to the mobile app.

PokerStrategy.com: Does this also mean that the demographic is likely to change from the typical young male poker player we currently know?

Jeffrey Haas: PokerStars wants to be the destination of choice for every poker player on the planet. If your grandmother wants to play freeroll tournaments on her mobile phone, we totally respect that. If you want to grind the Sunday Million on your iPad, we respect that too. We aim to satisfy the needs of every potential poker player out there.

PokerStrategy.com: Is this app geared more towards low stakes and recreational players?

Jeffrey Haas: I have seen no evidence to suggest this. This will be attractive to those players with less time to spend on poker or who just like the form factors of playing on mobile devices. So if you are passing time in a doctor's waiting room, or on a bus or train, you could load up a few hands of cash or a Sit & Go.

"I hope players from the rest of the world will be excited with what is coming in the near future"

PokerStrategy.com: Are you concerned that the instant gratification nature of mobile apps could encourage addictive behaviour?

Jeffrey Haas: PokerStars takes these issues very seriously. The mobile app actually includes a Responsible Gaming section where players can find information about this subject. Players can also opt for self-exclusion and restrict their deposit limits directly from within the app, if they believe they can't play responsibly.

We're the only mobile poker operator in the world to do this today, because we believe it is very important to provide an enjoyable and positive gaming experience for all players, regardless of platform. It's also noteworthy that our staff are well trained in the importance of responsible gaming, and we work closely with organisations like GamCare.

PokerStrategy.com: The one thing that seems to be missing from the app is the ability to deposit and withdraw, is that for security reasons?

Jeffrey Haas: We simply have not focussed on the cashier part of the app yet. With regards to security, like every other part of PokerStars, we treat mobile security with the utmost seriousness. If you use an RSA Security Token for desktop access, you will use the same for your mobile device. We would never release a mobile app that does not meet the same high standards as the rest of our products.

PokerStrategy.com: The early response has been amazing, how exciting is it to see this product launched as part of the dotcom liquidity?

Jeffrey Haas: I find it very exciting as a player, and have enjoyed the testing process for a long time. The user interface is really designed for an optimal mobile poker experience. If you took some time out to really play the different formats that are available and tested out the multi-tabling facility, you would see that the interface is really fluid and naturally adaptive. It is especially fluid with how it integrates with the existing dotcom liquidity.

Find out more about the PokerStars Mobile app

by Barry Carter