POKER NETWORK NEWS

NYX Poker Network: Sites, Bonuses and More

It is time to say goodbye to the OnGame Network and introduce the new name of the NYX Poker Network. This page gives you an overview of the new NYX Poker network, and the best available bonus for players looking to check it out!

I have to say that OnGame was a neglected by the two previous owners… Amaya had the big brands of PokerStars and Full Tilt instead, and before that BWin merged their players into the Party System – leaving OnGame Completely. This network does not allow US players.

NYX Gaming is an established player in the gambling market – with offices on 3 continents (Vegas, Stockholm and South Africa). They have a suite of top quality casino games and slots, as well as a bingo product. With poker moving towards a recreational model as we go into 2016, this could be a smart acquisition of a network at just the right time.

My personal favorite site on the NYX network is Red Kings Poker, one of the original OnGame members – I have explained why below.

What to Expect on the NYX Network?

This is not the biggest network, sitting in around 12th place according to the ever helpful Poker Scout – with peaks of 315 cash game players and many times that enjoying the sit n goes and tournaments.

What you will find is here are very few of the ‘pro grinder’ types, and a lot more regular people who enjoy the occasional game… there are a lot of sports betting brands on this network, and many players cross over from there to the poker room. This makes NYX Poker sites a great place to enjoy a relaxing game, and for those with some experience the games can be very profitable too.

Holdem is where the action is, though there is smaller selection of Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo too.

Here are some other features for players not familiar with the NYX Network:

-          Blaze Poker (a fast-fold variation which works great on smartphones).

-          Grand Series of Poker (European tour of live tournaments where you can qualify online)

-          Very slick software, compatible with most devices

-          Fishmarket Tournaments (new players get free $11 entry, making the fields very soft, runs intermittently)

-          Free Holdem Manager 2 Pro (as part of a sign up deal).

-          Special ‘Red Kings’ Bonus (only at Red Kings, see below).

Best NYX Network Site?

My personal favorite site on the new NYX Network was one of the original and most innovative members of OnGame – Red Kings Poker.

This was the first site to have a mobile poker client, the first to have a Mac download (for those too young to remember, poker was dominated by Windows-only download sites for many years!).

Red Kings also offer the best bonuses on the NYX Poker Network… both the initial bonus and the ongoing loyalty rewards.

First up, you’ll get a 100% match of between $250 and $2500 (the bonus code is CLUB250, CLUB500, CLUB1000 and so on).

Next you get an additional $300 bonus the first time you are dealt the 2 red kings together in a real money cash game. This goes up to $500 if you lose at showdown with them (please do not say in the chat box what you are doing, this is against the rules).

If there is a Fishmarket tournament due you’ll get an $11 entry token for that. If not then there are usually a long list of promotions and specials going on, so make sure that you check out their website.

Red Kings really know how to look after their loyal players. With the new network owners NYX poised to do a better job than the previous 2 owners, this site could be a big success story for 2016. Head on over to www.redkings.com and see the soft games for yourself now!

Iron Poker – The Best Canadian Poker Room

Iron Poker has quickly become the top choice for online poker in Canada. The site is operated by PT Entertainment, the same company behind Titan Poker, and is fully licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. As part of the iPoker Network, you’ll get to enjoy some of the softest poker tables on the internet.

Here you can find out all about why Iron Poker is the best Canadian iPoker site, and get a free $20 on top of your 200% welcome bonus, by using the code PBCLUB when you register via my links ( www.ironpoker.com ). First below is a quick look at the software, before seeing what games are available. Then the banking options and customer support are covered, before finishing up by checking out Iron Poker’s Welcome Package and other offers.

Continue reading →

Most Popular US Poker Networks Summer 2015

The offshore poker industry is going from strength to strength while the individual states argue about the fine print of their legislation. There are several brands offshore with 10+ years of experience – along with some newer entrants to the market which are bringing a fresh approach to the online poker experience.

What I like best is that the focus of these sites is not on the ‘online pros’ that used to play 12 tables on the big international sites to eek out a living. Instead the focus is on giving recreational and part-time players the best experience. Bovada is the best example of this – with their ‘recreational player model’ keeping the number of pros down.

To say that this model has been a success is an understatement.

Bovada is now around 4 times bigger than their closest rival.

Here is the order of the most popular US poker sites in the Summer of 2015. Data comes from Poker Scout – though the comments and pros / cons of each site below are entirely mine.

#1 – Bovada 1700 Average Cash Game Players

#2 – Chico Network (BetOnline) 475 Average Cash Game Players

#3 – Winning Poker Network (America’s Cardroom) Average Cash Game Players

#4 – Merge Network (Carbon Poker) 280 Average Cash Game Players

#5 – Equity Network (Full Flush) 140 Average Cash Game Players

 

Popular US Poker Sites – Summary and Pros / Cons

#1 Bovada

This is the US facing site which is part of the wider Bodog brand. This is a trusted site, and players at the poker tables, casino and sportsbook tend to become very loyal. The recreational player model keeps the number of pros down. This involved restrictions on software tools, limits on how many games you can play at once (4 for cash / sit n goes) and anonymous play rather than screen names.

Pros: Biggest site, best choice of tables and excellent tournament events.

Cons: Anonymous tables take a little getting used to!

link removed.

#2 – Chico Network (BetOnline)

Another old and trusted brand. BetOnline has been offering one of the biggest and best Sportsbooks for US Players for more than a decade from their base in Panama. They have more recently started offering poker via the Chico network. This is growing fast, and has the softest games of any US facing site (all those recreational players coming over from the sportsbook!).

Pros: Soft games, fast growing network + long list of player promotions.

Cons: Smaller tournament selection at the moment (this is growing, though has some way to go).

#3 – WPN / America’s Cardroom

The Winning Poker Network does appeal to the small stakes pros, and is the only major US network to offer a rakeback deal. Players at America’s Cardroom get 27% of their fees returned each week, through the cashier system of the site (no 3rd party). There are also 2 progressive leaderboards which reward a higher volume of play. ACR is also the home of the single biggest US poker tournament, the $1,000,000 guaranteed which comes around every 3 to 4 months.

Pros: Generous player rewards, particularly for higher volume players + big tournament events.

Cons: Tighter / Nittier tables than some other sites.

Just a quick mention for the other networks. Merge are in trouble at the moment, with payment delays and a huge dip in player numbers. I recommend a wait-and-see strategy for now. Equity Network need to show some more growth before they become a serious contender. I will take another look at them in the fall.

Bovada grew to be 4x the size of their closest competitors for good reasons. I recommend you check them out over at (link removed)

US Poker Offers February 2015

Lots happening for online poker players at the moment, here is a quick roundup, focusing on the offshore sites and their offers for Feb 2015.

The good news is that payments are getting easier and easier for these sites, with improved credit card acceptance (first time) and new sites accepting Bitcoin too.

Carbon Poker, the flagship of the Merge Network, have always had great software and easy games. Now there is a tournament event (COPs) and a special offer of $10 in Sit N Go entry tokens on top of the already huge 200% welcome bonus.

COPs: This tournament event runs from Feb 8th and features games with buy-ins spread over 3 tiers. The prize pools are big ($3 million in guarantees) and there are plenty of qualifier games running right now to get you a seat in one of the big games. As more people start to join these events, the guarantees can only get bigger.

$10 SNG Tokens: This is for new players, and comes in the form of 2x $3.50c and 2x $1.50c tokens to play any of the different sit n go formats (double up, super-turbo, knockout and so on). Use coupon code FREESNGPK when you register, and you’ll get the tokens on top of the 200% matched bonus (max $5k), free HUD software and 1 month of video poker training.

Check out the great software at (link removed) for more

$1 Million Guaranteed Tournament (is back!)

This event takes place on the 22nd of Feb at America’s Cardroom. After a successful launch during December, we are onto a second game. If this one goes well, I hope that this will become a regular feature – maybe even every quarter. If you have a smaller bankroll, then there are plenty of qualifier games which are already running. These go through different stages, so everyone can get involved.

America’s Cardroom also have the excellent ‘Beast’ and ‘Sit N Crush’ promotions to keep the bankrolls of their loyal players topped up.

They have also started to accept BTC (Bitcoin) deposits, giving you another option on top of credit cards and money transfer services.

Bovada

No specific Feb promotions to share with you just at the moment. What Bovada have done is start to push their mobile poker offering very hard. Combined with their ‘recreational player model’ (anonymous games, no tracking tools, limited multi-tabling options), you’ll find this is easily the softest poker room still welcoming US players. Check them out at (link removed)

Talking of mobile games, I have set up a brand new website, which focuses on all forms of gambling (starting with poker, casino and sports betting) on mobile devices. There are already more than 350 pages up, and many more are already in the pipeline, check out www.hightechgambling.com for more.

 

How To Change Your Name On iPoker Network Sites Like William Hill, Titan Poker, Poker770, Bet365 And Paddy Power

Can You Change Your Screen Name On Titan Poker, William Hill, Poker 770, Bet365, Paddy Power and other iPoker Network Sites in 2015?

Got an embarrassing screen name? A poker history which dates back to when you were a beginner which you would prefer to leave behind? Want to hide from the regulars who know your game a little too well?

These (and many more) reasons all lead to one question: How can I change my screen name on iPoker Network sites like Titan, Bet365, William Hill and PaddyPower?

While these sites do not allow direct screen name changes, there is an easy work around which can see you playing at the same tables – with several additional hidden advantages too! Continue reading →

Legal US Poker in 2014

The legal status of online poker in the United States of America is forever changing. Many players worry about getting on the wrong side of the law when it

comes to playing poker legally in the USA. In fact, there are several legal poker options available to US players – including legal offshore sites – in
2014 that will allow you to quickly play against your fellow poker loving compatriots online. Continue reading →

New! Twister Sit N Goes On The iPoker Network

It is not too often a brand new poker variation is released and immediately captures the imagination of players worldwide… That is exactly what has happened with the new ‘Twister Sit n Goes’ on the iPoker Network. These combine fast 3 handed short-stacked play with a randomized prize pool in each new game which can be 1000 times your buy-in.

This post shows you the new games and outlines how PBN readers (that’s you!) can grab and extra $20 free cash on top of your 200% first deposit bonus at the biggest iPoker site – Titan Poker. Continue reading →

Best Fast Fold Omaha Poker Games

Omaha Poker Is Available In Zoom, Rush And Speed Holdem Format

This Article Shows You Where To Find The Best Fast-Fold PLO and PLO8 Games Online

I have a confession to make, I’m rather too fond of PLO Zoom for my own good. For some reason I find this crazy format relaxing. Yep, I’m talking about 3 tables of super-fast pot-limit Omaha with barely time to register the latest beat before the new cards have arrived.

The thing is, there are enough bad players (especially at the lowest few buy-in levels) that I can even make a profit while I am playing.  Continue reading →