Weekly Roundup February 15th 2013
The big news that came out this week was that Lock Poker removed a large number of tables from the Revolution Gaming Network. This change has affected no limit and pot limit games with blinds of 2/4 and higher. It also affects all Texas Hold’em and Omaha fixed limit games.
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/195/lock-poker/high-stakes-segregation-1297091/
This was met largely by dissatisfaction from Lock Poker players. There are several reasons why this has caused concern for players in the US online poker market.
Lock Poker has notoriously been among the worst US facing online poker rooms in terms of cashout speeds. This issue does not just affect US players, all players that request a cashout from Lock Poker report slow cashout speeds. Players in Europe that are accustomed to receiving cashouts in just a few days report 1-2 month delays in receiving payments to their Neteller or Skrill accounts. US players can expect to wait 2-4 months for cashouts.
Many players feel these delays are playing a part in the move to eliminate access to Lock Poker players by other Revolution Gaming Network partners. There are two reasons for this.
Some Lock Poker players have found it easier to dump chips to their friends on other skins than to wait months for their money. A Lock Poker player can intentionally lose to a friend on another skin, then that winner can request a cashout from the skin. These payouts are received in just a day or two, as opposed to months at Lock Poker. The two players may then settle up outside of the system. Moving all games with a buyin of more than $200 eliminates this problem.
Another concern is Lock Poker’s inability to pay other Revolution Gaming skins their rake earned. Networks have a general clearinghouse that electronically determines how much each skin is owed by the network based on the rake generated by their players. There are reports that skins are getting slow paid by Lock Poker, the owner of the Revolution Gaming Network.
This decision has destroyed game selection at higher limits. This could damage the network’s ability to offer players games outside of low and micro limits due to the split player base. All Lock Poker players should be aware of the slow payouts by the network owner. These issues do not affect most other skins, although Cake Poker and Juicy Stakes also have slow payments to players compared to other Revolution Gaming skins.
US Online Poker Cashout Speeds
The latest US Online Poker Processing Report was released Thursday. Online poker withdrawal speeds are as fast as they have been in months. The Winning Poker Network, Intertops and Bovada all received an A grade. Check out this month’s report to find out where your online poker room stands.
http://www.pokeraffiliatesolutions.com/poker-affiliate-blog/pokeraddict/887-february-us-online-poker-payment-processing-report.html
Mini Online Super Series II
The Winning Poker Network is offering the Mini Online Super Series between now and February 24th. A total of 100 tournaments will be offered. There are over $500,000 in guaranteed prize pools. The final event will be held on the 24th. That event has a $109 buyin and a guaranteed prize pool of $100,000. The Winning Poker Network, consisting of skins Americas Cardroom and True Poker, consistently offers the fastest withdrawal speeds to US players.
Bovada Poker Black Diamond Poker Open
Bovada is another fast paying US online poker room. Bovada is offering players the Black Diamond Poker Open, which runs between now and March 24th. Games include No Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Hold’em, Fixed Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and Omaha High/Low.