PokerStars Blocks Play Money Games in Washington State, Federal Judgment Unnerves Social Gaming Industry. PokerStars has blocked free-to-play games in Washington State. According to the State Gambling Commission, the online poker giant is one of several providers of “freemium” social casino-style games that opted to withdraw services to state residents last week, following a federal court judgment on the legality of the Big Fish social casino app.
If you’re a poker player and you want to make money, then you need to find the fish. Most players randomly play poker online, not even thinking about what kind of competition they’re going to be up against. This is a real error.
Half of today’s game is to seek and destroy. If you want to play online poker for real money, then you need to go to the sites that have the most traffic. By doing so, you’re going to find the largest pool of players. When you find the largest pool of players, you will find the most fish or the softest poker game. Let’s take a look at where to find the most fish.
The best places to play poker online for real money are Ignition, Bovada, and Intertops.
#1 Ignition
Ignition attracts a lot of players because you can win 1,000 times your buy-in in a short period of time in a tournament. They will also run a tournament series from time to time in order to attract new players. These new players are often recreational. If you want to take advantage of someone who will be willing to call your all-in with AJ-off while you’re holding AA, then you might want to play poker for real money on Ignition. It is considered one of the best online sites because of all the fish swimming around.
#2 Bovada
Ignition might be one of the best online poker sites for US players, but Bovada can sure give it a run for its money. Bovada has an advantage because it has been around since 2004. Therefore, it has the most US players of all poker online sites. Bovada is also known for having the fastest payouts, which might make it the best online poker sites US players. Americans love money, and they want their money fast. They can find that at Bovada.
If you love Monster Stack tournaments and you’re seeking online poker real money, this is the place to go. You will find the game you want at 7 a.m., 7:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. All of those are Daily Monster Stack tournaments. This is a limited-time event, but you can safely bet that something similar will launch right around the corner on this poker online site. Bovada likes to take care of its players. Therefore, if the Daily Monster Stack tournaments are a success, they will bring it back or do something similar in the near future.
#3 Intertops
Intertops is a bit different. If you’re seeking a cash game, otherwise known as a ring game, then this is where you want to go. Cash game players tend to play online all day and/or night. It’s difficult not to do so if you know what you’re doing and your opponents don’t. When it comes to ring games, this is one of the top sites out there. Intertops also offers freerolls and sit & go tournaments.
Online Poker Strategy
The online game is a bit different than the live game. You see a lot more hands per hour online and people tend to be more aggressive. They also tend to make looser calls. This is because they’re hidden behind a screen and won’t be embarrassed like they would in a live setting. This is a tremendous advantage for a patient player. You don’t even need to bluff. With the online game, you can be the biggest NIT in the world and still make money. Just sit back and wait for an opponent to make an error. Then start counting your money.
On Wednesday, the Washington State Gambling Commission tweeted that it has been receiving questions about free online casino and poker sites, such as PokerStars, denying access to state residents.
We’ve received questions about #FreePoker sites denying access to Washington residents. Please read below to learn more. Our agency did not order these sites to deny access to free poker. If you have concerns, please contact the websites directly. pic.twitter.com/idhLg95GGF
— WA Gambling Comm (@WAGambling) April 4, 2018
What prompted PokerStars to stop offering play money poker?
A recent ruling by Ninth Circuit of U.S. Court of Appeals stated that social casino games are illegal under the State of Washington’s existing gambling laws.
It began back in 2015 after a woman lost over $1,000 in virtual chips. She sued Churchill Downs, the then-parent company of Big Fish Casino over the loss.
Under Washington law, gambling is “risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance.”
It all boils down to what constitutes value. Value, according to the law, includes anything that can be exchanged for money or the “the extension of a service, entertainment, or a privilege of playing a game or scheme without charge.”
Washington Online Poker Sites For Play Money Games
The appeals court reversed the decision of the lower court ruling that virtual chips are not a thing of value.
Big Fish Casino prohibited the sale of virtual chips for money, but it did require players to use virtual chips to play their games. That means virtual chips have a value because players cannot play without them.
With virtual chips now defined as having value, it stands to reason, play money casino and poker games are in violation of Washington States gambling laws.
PokerStars responds to blocking play money games
USPoker requested comment from PokerStars on the matter this week and received the following statement from a company spokesperson:
“On Thursday, March 29, 2018, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that, under Washington State law, free-to-play games violate state gambling regulations. As a result, The Stars Group is immediately taking actions to block play related to social gaming from Washington State. We are reviewing the rulings and ensuring that our activities are in line with state regulations. We are hopeful the law will be clarified and that when it is, we will be able to reinstate all Washington players at their current status.”
The statement falls in line with the jurisdiction review policy on the PokerStars website.
“Our management team regularly reviews our operations along with independent 3rd party professionals to assess the business risks and opportunities for our brands on a market-by-market basis.”
PokerStars taking precautions
PokerStars blocking access to its play money site in Washington is smart. It tells the U.S. gaming market that it isn’t leaving anything to chance.
Back in 2013, Nevada became the first state to regulate and legalize online poker. The bill included bad actor language in its legislation.
A bad actor is any company that allowed U.S. citizens to play poker on its site after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.
Play Poker For Money
Labeled a bad actor, PokerStars was not allowed to enter the market in Nevada when it launched.
It was 2011 when the Department of Justice shut down U.S. online gaming sites. Since that time, PokerStars has been diligent in its dealing in the U.S. gaming market.
Currently, Pennsylvania is preparing for online gaming, and PokerStars intends to be “among the first operators to launch.”
PokerStars operates in New Jersey under the Resorts AC gaming license. Mohegan Sun manages Resorts and owns Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania.
A partnership between any Pennsylvania casino and PokerStars is only speculation at this time. And it’s likely New Jersey and Pennsylvania is just the beginning for PokerStars.
It is reasonable to think PokerStars has an eye on expanding in the U.S. beyond New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Especially as the debate around online gaming legislation continues in several states.