COVID-19 has played havoc on global finances, shut down giant corporations and brought world economies to their knees. But for some industries, corona has been kind and, dare we say it, even profitable.
Online poker players have enjoyed a bustling few months since the virus caused brick-and-mortar casinos and poker rooms to shut down temporarily or permanently, depending on how they fared.
There has been a marked increased in traffic to websites where online poker players hang out, and therefore a rise in their poker income.
According to professional online poker player, Drew Layton in an interview to The Guardian: “I wouldn’t say I’m thriving because of the pandemic, but one area of my life has gotten a little better All of a sudden, being self-employed is a huge benefit.”
Poker operators are reporting on more players turning to the online version of their favorite game, now that that they are being forced to spend so many weeks, or even months at home in lockdown.
Why should an increase in the number of online poker players affect the revenue potential of veteran players? The answer lies in the expertise level of those who are newer to the game. Amateur players are less experienced, which makes it easier for professional players to beat them on the green felt. In addition, when more players sit down to a virtual poker game, the pot naturally increases.
Take a look at the numbers coming out of the four US states where online poker is legal and regulated. In Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, online poker revenue reached record levels in March 2020. The Garden State saw an unbelievable 90% increase compared to last year, with operators taking in a combined total of over $3.6 million on March.
We still have to see how the coronavirus will affect the gambling industry long-term. Not all casinos will be able to return to normalcy, or at all, and we expect to see employees let go and revenue losses for quite a while. This will obviously have an impact on off-shoot industries, such as online poker.
