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May 22, 2007
I'm Glad We All Calmed Down
Thanks to everyone who participated in TwoOuts this week. It's building slowly but surely. I'm working on partnering with one or two well-known poker bloggers to drive more traffic to the site. I'm also looking into some custom software that's more Reddit-like. I'll probably wait a little while to see if it gains some traction first.
I have been reading a lot of poker blogs and news articles lately. One thing I've noticed is that my assertion that we all needed to calm down a bit was correct. I should have taken the bet in the comments there. On that day, January 21st, PokerStars had peaked at 12,499 players according to PokerSiteScout. On May 18th, it peaked at 15,587. Both were Sundays. If you look at the chart it shows steady growth.
Full Tilt showed similar growth, going from 5,604 to 7,217. The number of people who Play Online Poker at Bodog Poker Room (<-shameless product placement) actually seems to have dropped a very slight bit from 2,436 to 2,257, though I hear for those willing to Western Union the money in, the games are better than ever.
Most interestingly to me, Party Poker, despite giving 85% of their customers the boot, is still the second largest poker site, though just barely. It really seems like poker is going through a boom in the rest of the world like it did here 5 years ago. They've been smart to focus their marketing efforts more overseas, which they were doing even before the UIGEA.
Epassporte is still taking Americans, as I predicted. Click2Pay seems to be in some goofy sort of limbo, where they won't accept new American customers but will service ones they already had, though it's been a couple months since I've used them so I'm not sure that's still the case. YouTeller still hasn't launched, but is saying in the summer at the latest, though under what name is still apparently a topic of debate.
Poker sites have been pretty lax in offering new payment methods. I would say that was surprising, but this is the same group that didn't bother to spend even a tiny fraction of the billions they raked in on lobbying while the far right attacked. A wise man once told me you don't have to be very bright to make money off of gambling.
Posted by themaroon at May 22, 2007 11:47 PM
Comments
I was shocked recently when, for kicks, I decided to try to buy in to PokerStars with my bank card. I couldn't believe it when it was approved.
It was a very small amount of money ($200) but that card has been rejected in the recent past.
Posted by: Jeff D at May 23, 2007 11:59 AM
not that it matters, but may 18th was a friday, and it was in the middle of Stars' 10billion hand promotion.
Posted by: dragonystic at May 23, 2007 6:32 PM
I just reloaded $600 off of my bank issued debit card for the 25% bonus on PokerStars. It went thru no problem. I'm in the process of getting the PokerStars PayTru debit card which will supposedly allow me to cash out at any ATM with no monthly fees. We'll see.
Posted by: Whatever2002 at May 23, 2007 6:35 PM
From epassporte's "updated" T&C's:
"We reserve the right at Our sole discretion to block access to or to close Your Account if: (i) You load funds onto Your Account from any source that You do not have the legal right from which to transfer funds; (ii) You violate these Terms and Conditions; or (iii) We are so directed by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Should We close or block access to Your Account for the reason identified in VIII.B.i and/or XIII.B.ii, You immediately forfeit the remaining funds in Your Account."
I'd love to know the significance of this and if anybody has had any problems bc of this.
Posted by: john at May 23, 2007 7:22 PM
Would anyone whose bank check/debit card works for depositing to PokerStars or Full Tilt Poker share what bank card (bank) it is?
Even better if it is an internet bank.
Unfortunately, I know that FirstIB (First Internet Bank of Indiana) VISA check cards are declined at PokerStars.
I'm surprised the sites don't maintain a list of check cards that are not declined.
Posted by: ErikR at May 24, 2007 5:18 AM
Pokerstars maintains a list of credit cards that are not declined. I know this as I asked them via email 2 years ago and they sent me back a list. Thanks!
Posted by: Neil at May 24, 2007 12:32 PM
planetpoker originally said money in my account was processed on feb 28th/07...i called 8 weeks later..was told it went outb in april...i just called and was told they have "trouble with their bank" and don't know when they will be sending it out....translation:..screw you...stay away from these crooks
Posted by: patricia pearson at June 12, 2007 12:34 AM