Future of iPoker

[omgRB]

Yo, I'm a complete newbie on this forum but have a decent player base on 1 iPoker skin in particular based on RB. I'm pretty lucky and its making me some low 5 figures each month.

Anyways, where do you guys see iPoker going as a network ? Just RB seems to be killing it, there is word of some new policy which will allow the network to monitor rb more.

Basically, I woudn't say I'm particuarly worried atm, but curious as to where you see everything 6 months or a year down the line?

[Lutz]

Well, iPoker currently cracks down on illegal rakeback - the recent victim being parasitic skin Propaganda Poker.

This is a pretty good thing for everyone except the parasites and their players. It will improve margins for the rooms, so they have bigger incentives to bring in genuinely new players instead of poaching existing ones.

If iPoker manages to regulate their VIP systems (so that their skins compete against other networks, and not vs each other), they are bound to grow - and probably will be joined by some more sportsbooks that would prefer the best regulated network the most.

As a player, you should not be worried. If you make 5 digits, you will prefer much more in the long run from a healthy network than from 10% more short-term rakeback.

Playing on the parasitic skins is a little like tax evasion - it's possible to do it and to vote for making it impossible at the same time. But I'd recommend not to - it's a risky game. If Propaganda wouldn't have been bailed out by Betclick - who knows if the bankrolls would be intact.

[3jokers]

I think iPoker is the most promising I have ever seen. Hope they don't get too greedy ruin it all though. I don't see the point in having casino side games in a respectable poker client.

[simoneaton]

iPoker has a strict policy on rakeback offered and for this reason bet365 does not allow any affiliates to do RB. I am surprised that some iPoker rooms get away with this when others can't including us.

[Lutz]

@simoneaton:
That's what I said - currently there are still a lot of rogue skins and affiliates. But Playtech is cracking down on them.
My regards to Gil, hope you arrived well back at home

@omgRB:
I suggest you move to an honest room like bet365. They are reliable, honest & will stay in this business for years to come.

[Giorgio]

Celeb Poker recently moved to iPoker and all existing Rakeback deals were grandfathered with the knowledge/approval of Playtech.

[Trev]

Celeb Poker recently moved to iPoker and all existing Rakeback deals were grandfathered with the knowledge/approval of Playtech.

That always happens when a site moves over to Ipoker though.

Most people sell it as a RB-equivalent because that's the only way players understand what they're receiving. But I haven't seen any sites advertising an Ipoker "rakeback" just the loyalty program.

[Mr-AJ]

I don't think that ipoker is in a "stop that rakeback stuff no matter what" mood. They make a lot of money with penalties right now and as long as the network doesn't collapse (no indications so far) there's no rush. Obviously they take down parasite skins because they bring no value whatsoever and make existing skins (also ipokers TitanPoker) angry.

[simoneaton]

@simoneaton:
That's what I said - currently there are still a lot of rogue skins and affiliates. But Playtech is cracking down on them.
My regards to Gil, hope you arrived well back at home

@omgRB:
I suggest you move to an honest room like bet365. They are reliable, honest & will stay in this business for years to come.

Will pass on your regards to Gil.

It is tough operating an honest affiliate program when certain programs continue to get away with offering Rakeback to the affiliates. It is just a matter of time before other networks follow suit as ipoker as offering rakeback results in a lot of heartache for operators/affiliates and particularly players who feel they have been hard done by when they do not receive their rakeback.

[doovde]

I'm not going to lie but when I played on ipoker grinding 100nl I was attatched to a shady rakeback deal and it was great. I was getting a fantastic deal and playing good volume each month. My rakeback was taking my win rate up substantially.

Can you blame the players for seeking out the best value for themselves?