CalShark.com, a new free-to-play online poker room, opened yesterday, an event that would not normally be big news, especially because the games are all for play money. What is interesting about this poker room, however, is that it is run by California brick and mortar card rooms and Native American tribes, not an overseas gambling firm.
The poker room is operated by the California Online Poker Association (COPA), a coalition of 60 California card rooms and tribal governments “dedicated to providing a safe and secure option for online poker that maximizes the economic benefits to California.” Members of COPA include the likes of the Bicycle Club Casino, Hollywood Park Casino, Commerce Casino, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. All told, members of COPA operate more than 65 percent of the poker tables in the state.
The site is powered by Playtech, the operator of the iPoker Network, which is the third largest poker room/network on the internet for cash games, according to PokerScout.com. Support will be provided by a joint venture between Playtech and Scientific Games called SciPlay.
As already noted, CalShark.com is a free-to-play site; it will not be possible to deposit real money. Both Texas and Omaha Hold’em will be offered, in ring game, multi-table tournament, and Sit-and-Go formats. Because the games are all for play money, the aim of CalShark.com is to provide a fun atmosphere for people to learn and develop their poker skills. Social networking will be emphasized and CalShark.com has a Facebook application in the works.
“CalShark.com has features that most other online poker sites do not have including a no download/flash version to play on,” said Pierre Wuu, Director of Online Operations at COPA in a press release. “Our system allows the players to stay engaged, earn chips and be extremely interactive with other players and friends.”
Part of the way CalShark.com plans on keeping people engaged is via a points system through which players can escalate up a leveling system. Players will earn points based on actions they take and the size of the pot. Winning a pot is worth the most points (again, the amount varies based on pot size), reaching a showdown is next, and players can even earn points by just folding. CalShark.com will host tournaments that will be restricted to players of certain levels, so there is an incentive other than pride for moving up.
Players who are running low on chips can reload in one of three ways:
• Purchase them with game cards that can be found at local retailers.
• Complete “achievements”
• Invite friends to play.
Chips can be transferred between players, but only after each person has added the other to their friends list.
While CalShark.com is operated by a California organization, it is open to players around the world.