Online poker
Online Poker can now be played in South Africa against real people thanks to 3 Pigs Poker. Online Poker has had a dramatic effect on the number people playing around the globe. Total revenues from during 2006 exceeded R 15 billion with players numbering in the millions.
Online Poker has resulted in the appeal of traditional poker venues having diminished as the rise of technology from big players like 3 Pigs Poker has increasingly put entertainment at our fingertips. Online gambling has been one of the frontrunners in this quantam shift in mindset as people choose the safety and comfort of their own homes over the many undesirable downsides to traditional casino's.
Of course the glitz and glamour of quality casino complexes will always be there for holidays and special events, but for the majority of poker players around the world, online play is a very attractive alternative and is here to stay.
Online Poker venues such as the Rand support 3 Pigs Poker, are dramatically cheaper because they have much smaller overhead costs. For example, adding another table does not take up valuable space like it would for a land based casino. Venues such as 3 Pigs Poker tend to be viewed as more player-friendly. For example, the software may prompt the player when it is his or her turn to act. Online rooms also allow the players to play for low stakes (as low as 1c) and often offer freerolls (where there is no entry fee), attracting beginners.
The major online poker sites offer varying features to entice new players. One common feature is to offer tournaments called satellites by which the winners gain entry to real-life poker tournaments. It was through one such tournament on that Chris Moneymaker won his entry to the 2003 World Series of Poker. He went on to win the main event causing shock in the poker world. The 2004 World Series featured three times as many players than in 2003.
How online poker rooms profit
Online Poker rooms typically generate the bulk of their revenue via three methods.
First, there is the rake. Rake is collected from most real money ring game pots. The rake is normally calculated as a percentage of the pot based on a sliding scale and capped at some maximum fee. Each room determines its own rake structure.
Second, pre-scheduled multi-table and impromptu sit-and-go tournaments are not raked, but rather an entry fee around ten percent of the tournament entry fee is added to the cost of the tournament.
Third, some sites also offer games like black jack or side bets on poker hands where the player plays against "the house" for real money. The odds are in the house's favor in these games, thus producing a profit for the house.
These are also the three primary methods brick and mortar casinos derive profits from operating poker tables.
Bonuses
Online Poker has a common practice of giving new and existing players free meals, hotel rooms, and merchandise, Online poker rooms have needed to develop new ways to reward faithful customers. The most common way of doing this is through deposit bonuses, where the player is given a bonus code to enter when placing money into an account. The bonus code adds either a percentage, or a set amount of chips to the value of the deposit. One should be aware that these are not up front payments. The bonus is released in a piecemeal manner in accordance with the number of raked hands played. In addition, several online cardrooms employ VIP Managers to develop VIP programs to reward regular players and additional bonuses exist for players who wish to top up their accounts. These are known as reload bonuses.
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