- 20 handpicked stories trace GGPoker’s 2023 journey
Until Jan 7, GGPoker Players Can Change their Screen Names (January 2023)
Top line: “In an unexpected move, GGPoker has added the facility to allow players to change their screen names.”
Key takeaways:
- In an unexpected move, GGPoker has added the facility to allow players to change their screen names.
- The policy was implemented on January 1, giving players a one-week window to choose a new handle.
- Players have until January 7 to change their aliases. A new setting has been added to the players’ user account section, accessible under 'My Page,’ allowing a player to pick a new nickname.
- “With the start of a new year, we are providing an opportunity to change your nickname! The year has changed, and so can your name,” a message sent to players on GG’s poker client.
GGPoker Expands Irish Presence with Dublin Poker Festival Partnership (January 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has added yet another live tour to its growing tally of partners. This time around, it has teamed up with the Dublin Poker Festival.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker has added yet another live tour to its growing tally of partners.
- Dublin Poker Festival, in its tenth year, will make a return to its original February slot at Bonnington Hotel in Dublin.
- As part of this sponsorship agreement, GGPoker is offering online satellites to both signature events.
- The tour was formed a decade ago following the merger of the Amateur Championship of Poker and the European Deepstack Poker Championship.
GGPoker Obtains Online Poker License in the Czech Republic (January 2023)
Top line: “Online poker network GGPoker has obtained a license from the Czech Ministry of Finance to offer online poker in the country, the operator announced in a press release.”
Key takeaways:
- Online poker network GGPoker has obtained a license from the Czech Ministry of Finance to offer online poker in the country, the operator announced in a press release.
- The operator will launch in the market under the domain GGPoker.CZ “in the near future.”
- Per the press release, the license has been secured through a partnership with King’s slots s.r.o, the poker division of King’s Entertainment, the parent company of European licensed poker room King’s Casino.
- “I’m delighted to work with King’s slots s.r.o. to extend GGPoker access to Czech players,” said Marco Trucco, Head of Europe for GGPoker. “We will have a lot to offer the market in 2023 and beyond, including WSOP satellites, massive tournaments, the most exciting cash games, exclusive promotions, and more!”
GGPoker Will Send Over 600 Players to WSOP 2023 Main Event (February 2023)
Top line: “Leading online poker room GGPoker has committed to sending at least 600 players to the 2023 WSOP over the next six months in what organizers hope will be a record-breaking turnout.”
Key takeaways:
- The 2019 event attracted 8569 players, and last year fell just 111 short of besting the 17-year record.
- G00 Main Event seats will be awarded through GGPoker’s international online poker room.
- Another 100 seats will be given out on ClubGG, the company’s spin-off subscription online poker room.
- A 112 Seat Sprint will run on WSOP US Network.
GGPoker Attempts Record Turnout with GGMasters Overlay Edition (February 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has brought back the special overlay edition of its flagship freezeout tournament brand, GGMasters.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker has brought back the special overlay edition of its flagship freezeout tournament brand, GGMasters.
- Dubbed GGMasters Overlay Edition, the event will take place from February 19, featuring $10 million in guarantees, twice the prize money in the inaugural edition.
- The buy-in stays at $150 ($138 going to the prize pool and $12 to the operator as a fee), meaning the tournament will need to attract a staggering 72,464 entrants to avoid an overlay.
- The operator is so confident it will overlay that, if the tournament meets the guarantee, Daniel Negreanu will add another million from his own pocket, boosting the guarantee to $10,000,000 and ensuring a guaranteed overlay of $1 million.
GGPoker Launches Play Money Tables (April 2023)
Top line: “Online poker giant GGPoker has deployed play-money tables onto its global dot-com client, allowing players to play games with each other with fictional chips.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker deploys free-to-play poker tables on its platform.
- Play money chips have no monetary value and offer players a risk-free environment.
- Available in multiple cash game variants, free play tables come with a 5% rake.
- Players receive 20,000 free chips upon signing up and can claim 10,000 more daily.
- GGPoker adds chat support and new cash game tables in its latest software upgrade.
High-Stakes Community Forces GGPoker to Roll Back Rake Hike (April 2023)
Top line: “In quite a rare win for players, GGPoker has reversed its move to increase the rake cap at high-stakes games after players staged a boycott to protest the hike.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker reversed its decision to increase the rake cap at high-stakes games after players staged a boycott to protest the hike.
- The move led to an immediate backlash, with the number of active high-stakes tables dropping drastically.
- Behind the scenes, GGPoker kept the lines of communication open with the high-stakes community, with Bertrand “ElkY’ Grospellier acting as the mediator.
- On April 16, GGPoker reached an agreement with the protestors and rolled back 90% of the hike.
- This is not the first time protests or boycotts have resulted in a favorable outcome for players.
GGPoker’s $200M World Festival is Nearly 3X Bigger than PokerStars’ SCOOP (May 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has launched a brand new tournament series, the GGPoker World Festival, for the bustling month of May. And it blows everything out of the park.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker launches GGPoker World Festival for May with 232 events.
- The series has $200M in prize money and sets a record for the biggest online tournament series.
- Buy-ins range from $2.50 to $25,500, with tournaments spread across four buy-in tiers.
- Most high-profile events are structured as phased tournaments with dozens of Day 1s.
- The series includes events such as a $5 buy-in Mystery Bounty Grand Opening and a $10,300 buy-in, $10M guaranteed event.
GGPoker Adds Prop Bets & Voice Message in Latest Software Update (May 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker continues to expand its ever-growing list of additional fun features, adding more unique elements to its platform as part of the latest software upgrade.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker introduces Prop Bets and Voice Messages for a better poker experience.
- Prop Betting allows side wagers between players unrelated to game outcomes.
- Last Longer Prop Bet introduced with a group of players competing to outlast each other.
- Voice Messages allow players to communicate and express emotions in a fun way.
- GGPoker is known for innovation, with more unique features to come.
GGPoker & EAPT Partner to Run Online Qualifiers on EA Poker Platform (June 2023)
Top line: “World’s leading online poker network GGPoker has added yet another live organizer to its growing tally of partners, this time inking a deal with the EA Poker Tour (EAPT).”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker partners with the EA Poker Tour (EAPT) to host online qualifiers on the EA Poker room.
- The EA Poker platform offers a comprehensive online poker experience with access to GGPoker’s player pool.
- The EAPT is a well-established mid-stakes tour in Europe and Asia, known for its affordable buy-ins.
- Prior to the collaboration with GGPoker, the EAPT had a successful partnership with partypoker.
- GGPoker’s network continues to grow with partnerships with various live venues and brands in the poker industry.
GGPoker Partners With Controversial Influencer True Geordie (June 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has teamed up with famous YouTuber and content creator Brian Davis, more commonly known on the internet as True Geordie.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker partners with popular influencer True Geordie, aiming to enhance its media presence.
- The collaboration includes a weekly freeroll tournament and True Geordie representing GGPoker at the WSOP Circuit.
- True Geordie’s massive online following and podcasting success make him an ideal brand ambassador.
- PokerStars terminated its contract with True Geordie due to controversial remarks, but GGPoker embraces the opportunity.
- GGPoker’s strategy of poaching ambassadors from rival platforms has been successful in expanding its brand.
GGPoker’s Cash Game Traffic Surges to Record Highs (August 2023)
Top line: “Online poker network GGPoker has widened its lead in cash game traffic rankings, consistently maintaining around 9000 seats for over four weeks, the latest cash game data reveal.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker’s cash game traffic has reached record levels, maintaining around 9000 seats for over a month.
- Online poker giant PokerStars lags behind with traffic around 3,500 seats, a fraction of GGPoker’s figures.
- This success is remarkable given the typical summer slowdown and GGPoker’s relatively low profile just five years ago.
- GGPoker’s growth is attributed to its partnership with the World Series of Poker, software development, and strategic ambassador acquisition.
- GGPoker has also successfully navigated regulatory obstacles, establishing a strong presence in markets like Russia and Asia.
- Even if its growth slows, GGPoker is expected to continue leading its competitors, with the upcoming WSOP Online Bracelet Series set to attract more traffic.
GGPoker Blocks SharkScope, Launches Tournament Honours (September 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has decided to prohibit public tournament databases such as SharkScope from tracking and displaying tournament results on its platform. Such a move has been taken to protect “weaker players,” the operator says.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker has blocked public tournament databases like SharkScope from displaying tournament results on its platform.
- The move, aimed at protecting less experienced players, took effect from September 1st.
- GGPoker also launched a new feature, “Tournament Honours”, highlighting player achievements in tournaments.
- Despite the timing, GGPoker insists the SharkScope ban and Tournament Honours launch are unrelated.
- The decision sparked debate in the online poker community, especially among dedicated SharkScope users.
- GGPoker is not the first to restrict tournament results, with partypoker and 888poker implementing similar restrictions previously.
GGPoker Pulls Plug on Ask Fedor AI Poker Coach (September 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has made the decision to remove its premium coaching tool known as “Ask Fedor” from its online poker platform.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker discontinues its AI poker analysis tool, “Ask Fedor.”
- The service was launched in April 2022 and used AI for hand analysis.
- New sign-ups were halted on September 1, and subscriptions are no longer available.
- Existing users can use the service until October 6.
- GGPoker has not provided a specific reason for discontinuing Ask Fedor.
GGPoker Marks 2 Years in Dutch Market with Anniversary Series (September 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has announced that it will run a special anniversary tournament series to mark two years of operations in the regulated Netherlands market.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker celebrates two years in the Netherlands with an exclusive tournament series.
- The GGPoker Netherlands Anniversary Series features $150,000 in guarantees.
- Dutch players enjoy exclusive access to this commemorative series.
- Four events cater to players of all levels with varying buy-ins.
- The series includes multi-day events and satellite tournaments.
GGPoker Set to Curb Late Registration Abuse in MTTs (October 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker is set to implement a new measure to combat the unfair advantage some players gain through late registration exploitation in tournaments. In response, they are gearing up to introduce a new software update, scheduled for release later this month.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker is introducing a software update to prevent late registration abuse in tournaments by implementing a random seating system.
- This move is aimed at curbing unethical behavior by players who manipulate the system to gain an unfair advantage.
- Standard procedures have been exploited, with multiple players entering a tournament simultaneously, often ending up at the same table and slow-playing to evade elimination.
- The new algorithm will randomly assign late-registering players to tables, reducing the likelihood of new entrants ending up at the same table.
- This change will promote fair competition and benefit recreational players who often fall victim to such predatory behaviors.
- This issue is not limited to GGPoker, with other operators like PokerStars, partypoker, and 888poker also grappling with similar challenges.
GGPoker Implements Changes to Cash Games and Tournaments to Combat Collusion (October 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has deployed changes to its Pot-Limit Omaha Five-Card cash games, switching from six-handed to five-handed tables “as an anti-collusion measure,” the operator stated. It has also deployed a change to its tournament late registration process to curb abuse.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker has implemented security measures to combat collusion by switching Pot-Limit Omaha Five-Card cash games from six-handed to five-handed tables.
- A change to the tournament late registration process has also been introduced to curb abuse.
- The changes come in response to concerns about collusion and the removal of Sharkscope tracking.
- Other updates from GGPoker include an improved tournament filter option, multi-phase satellites, and a new win-loss graph feature in PokerCraft.
GGPoker “Well On Track” to Send Over 1000 Players to WSOP Paradise (November 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker expressed confidence in surpassing the originally announced number of online qualifiers for the upcoming WSOP Paradise stop in the Bahamas.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker anticipates surpassing 1000 qualifiers for WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas.
- Paul Burke, Head of PR, expresses confidence in exceeding the initial target.
- WSOP Paradise at Atlantis Resort offers over $50 million in guaranteed prizes.
- GGPoker’s extensive satellite program ensures a robust turnout for live events.
- Additional promotions, including the Paradise Parlay Bonanza, enhance player incentives.
GGPoker Admits “Mistake,” Rectifies Spin & Gold Payout Error (November 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has taken corrective measures to address a payout mistake in its lottery-style sit-and-go offering, Spin & Gold.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker acknowledges and rectifies a Spin & Gold payout configuration error.
- The mistake, affecting thousands, led to unintended additional fees.
- Error related to the probability of the lowest multiplier in the game.
- GGPoker takes responsibility, corrects configuration, and refunds fees.
- This incident follows a similar payout mistake in GGPoker’s All-In Fortune in April.
GGPoker’s New Winter Series Comes with $5 Million Add-on Giveaway (December 2023)
Top line: “GGPoker has offered a sneak peek into its upcoming tournament series scheduled for the holiday season.”
Key takeaways:
- GGPoker’s new Winter Series Giveaway guarantees over $50 million in prizes from December 15 to January 15.
- The series includes a $5 million giveaway, with a $1 million Happy New Year Freeroll and $4 million in tournament bonuses.
- The $1 million freeroll is open to all players from December 20 to January 1, with daily participation limits.
- GGPoker will add 10% more value to tournaments, potentially increasing tournament guarantees by 10%.
- Four signature events include a $125 Christmas Day Mystery Bounty and a $250 Series Grand Finale with $2,024,000 in guarantees.
- The Winter Series marks a departure from GGPoker’s usual WSOP Winter Circuit Series, as focus shifts to the inaugural WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas.
