There’s been a great deal of everyday life that has shut down since the COVID-19 pandemic began and people were put into, to paraphrase The Clash, “the clampdown.” Along with carry-out meals from restaurants and grocery stores, there have been some businesses that have experienced a resurgence, however. One of those, perhaps not surprisingly, is in the gaming industry – there has been an explosion in the numbers playing online poker and, by extension, online casinos.
60% Increase in April Alone
None other than Forbes.com is recognizing this increase in online poker. Writer Chris Sheridan points out that 888 Holdings, the owners of 888.com and software providers to WSOP.com in the States of America, has seen a 60% increase in their traffic since people around the world were, for lack of a better term, quarantined in their homes. These numbers are across the board for 888, both in their international and U. S. operations.
“As we look at April 2020 numbers compared to April 2019 and January 2020, we see over 60% uptake in daily poker active players on our U.S. poker platform, which includes our Interstate Poker Network,” said Yaniv Sherman, a gambling and sports betting expert and Head of Commercial Development at 888 Holdings. “We are seeing similar trends on our global poker network, a testament of a recreational destination that people are enjoying while sheltering in place.”
According to PokerScout, 888Poker has peaked out at over 3200 players on its site, with a seven-day average of over 1600 cash game players. Their combined New Jersey/Delaware/Nevada outlet – the only such operation in the U. S. – also has shown some improvements, peaking at almost 900 players over the last week while earning a seven-day average of 475 players. These are sizeable increases for the sites compared to even three months ago.
The increases have also been seen in another part of the U. S. online gaming industry. Pennsylvania has been seeing a surge in players for its online casino and poker operations, with PokerStars PA (the only game in town at this point) seeing a peak of 2364 players earlier this past week. Their seven-day average is creeping closer to the 1000 player mark – currently it sits at 950 players – and, for the first time in history, a piece of the U. S. market is poised to enter back into the Top Ten of all online poker rooms in the world (PokerStars PA is currently ranked 12th in the world).
New Jersey Benefits from Quarantine
The coronavirus situation has also benefitted the New Jersey online poker operation.
In March, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement announced that online poker in the state saw its greatest revenues since the state opened for online gaming and poker seven years ago. The three operators in the Jersey market – WSOP/888, PokerStars NJ and partypoker NJ – earned a “take” of $3.6 million for the month, besting the previous record of $3.4 million in January 2014. That previous record was soon after the opening of online gaming and poker in the Garden State, while the new record can be directly attributable to the coronavirus lockdown.
Is it Sustainable?
The big question is whether the current numbers are sustainable, and all indicators are pointing towards yes. With people still shut in their homes and casinos across the U. S. and around the world still closed, people seem to be flocking to the online version of the game to get their Jones taken care of. Although there are rumblings of some casinos beginning to ease back into operation, many people aren’t going to feel comfortable entering large crowds.
The same is true of poker rooms, but perhaps even more so. With the restrictions being put on table games, including distancing of the players and tables, live poker rooms are going to be under pressure because they do not deliver large amounts of revenue. Many casino operations, already looking for a reason to close poker rooms and put in slot machines, may see this as the opportunity to do so. The online numbers show that there is a contingent of people willing to play poker but, if their live outlets aren’t safe and secure, they might just stay online.