iPoker scraps two-tier liquidity model
Playtech-owned poker network merges player pools as it looks to attract more recreational players
Playtech’s iPoker Network has scrapped its two-tier liquidity model and will re-merge player pools less than three years after separating skins into two select groups.
The controversial 2012 split was designed to improve the network’s poker ecology by separating major sportsbooks such as bet365, William Hill and Paddy Power, who brought in large numbers of depositing players, from smaller operators who were less active with investing in and marketing the product.
But in a post on Playtech-owned affiliate site PokerStrategy.com, iPoker Network said the decision to merge the two liquidity pools was the “next logical step” to make iPoker a “recreational friendly poker network” and to make big sportsbook licensees “drive more traffic to poker”.
The news comes after iPoker Network rolled out its “revolutionary” new rake allocation at the start of the start of the year. The new method, dubbed source-based rake (SBR), changed the way individual player value was calculated.
“After introducing SBR as part of the new player valuation formula, sportsbooks, who historically have introduced lots of new players to poker, are starting to take an interest in the network again alongside their other offerings, which will only attract even more players to the game” the post said.
iPoker Network also said a new “more recreational player friendly” version of its software was in beta testing.