This week, another major online poker room found a new home, as Ladbrokes Poker joined the Microgaming Network. A bevy of high-stakes promotions will be held as part of the changeover, which became official on Tuesday, including an exclusive Ladbrokes Poker $1 Million Rake Race.
Ladbrokes joins Betway, BetOnBet, Eurolinx, GNUF, and Unibet as other sites on the Microgaming Network. According to PokerScout.com, which tracks ring game traffic on online poker sites, the Network is the 12th largest with a seven day running average of 1,180 cash players. Its seven day peak average is nearly 2,400.
In a press release distributed this week, Ladbrokes Poker’s own Edward Ihre commented, “The heart and soul of Ladbrokes Poker will remain – with some necessary enhancements to boost its vitality. As such, players can rest assured that the unrivaled security, reliability, and trust that are synonymous with the Ladbrokes brand will continue to be of the utmost priority in our delivery and commitment to our customers.” For the first time in its history, Ladbrokes will offer games in both U.S. Dollars and Euros. The Network, however, does not accept players from the United States.
One of the highlights for Ladbrokes Poker players will be the $1 Million Rake Race. The top 3,000 finishers in the Rake Race will finish in the money, with first place taking home $20,000. The first installment of the $1 Million Rake Race takes place this month, concluding at the end of the day on February 28th. Second and third places in the Rake Race will pocket $15,000 and $14,000, respectively, with everyone winning at least $50 for making the final leader board. It’s one of the richest rake races ever to be held online and pays out top prizes that are similar to those awarded in two $250,000 rake races taking place on NoIQ Poker. Ladbrokes officials expect the $1 Million Rake Races to continue until at least April.
Ladbrokes Poker is also dishing out prize packages for the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP), which kicks off in May from the Rio in Las Vegas. These include a seven night stay at Caesars Palace, $2,000 for travel expenses, a $1,050 buy-in to the exclusive Vegas Dream Satellite (which awards a $10,000 Main Event buy-in to the top 10% of the field), a $220 Second Chance buy-in (which has two Main Event buy-ins added to its prize pool), a $110 Last Chance Satellite (which awards a Main Event buy-in to the top Ladbrokes qualifier), two VooDoo Lounge party tickets, and coaching by Ladbrokes’ Jon “Skalie” Kalmar and Steve “fivek” Davis.
The site will give WSOP prize package winners a chance to enter the Main Event without having to take down a live satellite by also holding several online qualifiers. Winners will be automatically entered into Day 1A of the 2009 WSOP Main Event. Vegas Dream packages are up for grabs every Wednesday night on Ladbrokes in $550 buy-in tournaments. Qualifiers for the $550 event take place daily for $60. Satellites into the $60 Daily Finals are available starting at $6.
Last year, Peter Eastgate, who plays on Ladbrokes under the name Peter4002, became the youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever at age 22, shattering Ultimate Bet pro Phil Hellmuth’s standing record of 24. Jeff “JaffaCake” Kimber was the next best Team Ladbrokes member last year, finishing 120th for $41,000. Other finishes by sponsored pros of the online poker room included Kristian “Obbe” Obbarius (232nd), Mark “Balou” Crocker (352nd), Trevor “BigTR” Reardon (358th), Steve “fivek” Davis (389th), and Nick “Kegsy100” Keegan (396th). There were a total of 6,844 entrants in last year’s Main Event. As in 2008, the 2009 poker spectacle will see its final table pushed back until November. The 2009 festivities will also feature a $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament to commemorate the 40th running of the Las Vegas tournament series.
The change to Microgaming Network’s software has also resulted in Ladbrokes Poker players being able to take advantage of a Quick Seat feature, auto rebuys and add-ons, cash game tables that include antes, single hand tournaments, added chat box options, and automatic registration for sit and gos.
Ladbrokes is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “LAD.” At the time of writing, it is trading down ₤4.00 (2.11%) to ₤186.00, with the Exchange a few minutes away from closing for the week. The past 52 weeks have seen Ladbrokes’ stock fetch between ₤133.75 and ₤342.25.