The coronavirus pandemic has left players in the American poker community at a loss with only a few states offering legal online poker options and even fewer having reopened their cardrooms. Offering a social gaming-style solution that allows US residents to continue playing their favorite card games is Global Poker.
At Global Poker, an innovative sweepstakes model is used so players across the United States can play poker online legally. Unsurprisingly, the site has seen a tremendous increase in traffic since lockdowns were imposed and the spread of COVID-19 caused the closures of poker rooms all over America.
The Global Poker Business Model
Global Poker’s business model is pretty unique in the online poker world. Instead of requiring players to make direct deposits using money that they will gamble in cash games, the site asks players to purchase Sweeps Coins ($1 USD is equal to SC1).
The Sweeps Coins that players purchase are then used to bet in cash games or buy-in to tournaments across the site. A wide range of cash games and tournaments are available, appealing to both microstakes players and high rollers – so, all types of poker players are welcome.
When players want to cash out their winnings, they can do so by redeeming their prizes. Their Sweeps Coins are awarded a cash value which can be sent directly to players’ bank accounts. This process takes between 3 and 5 business days.
A Legal Online Poker Solution
Due to the use of the site’s sweepstakes model, Global Poker presents a legal option for poker fans across the USA. Residents in all states (except Washington) can play on the site within a framework that cannot be scrutinized by gaming authorities.
Currently, there is only a handful of states in which online poker has been regulated and legalized. They are:
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
This means that there is a significant portion of the American population that does not have access to legal online poker games, and Global Poker appeals to these players.
Traffic Boosted by COVID-19
Normally, players who don’t have access to legalized online poker sites would simply find a land-based venue – but, this is currently not an option. In many states, poker rooms and casinos remain closed. In states where cardrooms have been able to open, many players continue to stay away just to maintain their safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
As such, Global Poker is the perfect solution. On this poker site, players can still enjoy their favorite game while they don’t have access to a brick-and-mortar cardroom. So, it’s not surprising that there has been such an uptick in traffic at Global Poker.
In response to the increase in players, the operators at Global Poker have added new competitions and features to appeal to former members of the live poker community. In addition to new high stakes ring games, the site also introduced bigger and better guarantees – such as a SC500,000 Main Event in the Sunday Scrimmage.
The owners also ensure that as many players as possible have access to the site. The browser-based platforms means that Global Poker can be played from either mobile or desktop devices, and that now downloads are required. It’s fairly unusual for a big poker brand to exclusively operate no-download software, but it definitely works in Global Poker’s favor.
As lockdown restrictions continue to be upheld, it is expected that Global Poker’s traffic will only continue to increase. In turn, the site is sure to keep rolling out new features and competitions that cater to both land-based regulars and online poker fans.