PokerStars’ popular fast-fold product Zoom has been reintroduced on its newly launched dual-state network, which combines NJ and MI online poker players.
Zoom Poker is a no-nonsense fast-paced poker format where players immediately move to a new table once they fold their hands. The Zoom structure is quite popular in the dot-com markets, especially among players who prefer playing poker on their mobile phones.
As pokerfuse reported last month, PokerStars US debuted Zoom on Monday, January 23 but then soon had to pull its new offering because of technical bugs. Players reported issues with tables not starting even after meeting the minimum number of players required to start the table.
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After the issues were mitigated, the operator relaunched the game the same week, running it for a limited period, with tables kicking off at 7 PM ET. They are available at three table stakes: $0.01/$0.02, $0.05/$0.10, and $1/$2.
However, per the players report, the traffic was insufficient to keep the high-stakes table running. But when the tables ran, the pool size supported over 50 players.
Unlike other game poker variants, Zoom requires adequate liquidity to keep games running, as without at least a dozen players in the pool, there can be a long pause between folding one hand and getting seated at another. Without sufficient liquidity, the gameplay experience at Zoom tables would not be ideal and would defeat the very purpose of the game’s nature, i.e., fast-paced.
Therefore PokerStars started spreading Zoom cash game tables only after the two states merged, creating a much bigger player pool. On January 1, the operator combined its PokerStars MI & PokerStars NJ player pools to create a single PokerStars US Network, becoming the first operator in the country to launch a multi-state shared liquidity network after MI joined the compact.
The game is not yet available on the standalone PokerStars PA platform for the same reason.
Double Rewards for Early Birds
To boost players’ participation and celebrate Zoom’s full release status, PokerStars is running a special Zoom Week promotion for its MI-NJ shared network. The promo began on February 8 and will run through February 15.
During this special week, players will earn double reward points if they are among the first ten players. Per the rules, they will keep earning double points if the pool stays below ten players.
Once the pool grows to ten players or more, those first ten will continue to earn boosted points for a further ten minutes of play. The offer is available in all three table stakes for a limited time only.
The promotion could be extended or become a permanent offering if it helps run the games at peak hours.
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- Best online MTT schedule
$1 Million Guaranteed Weekly Tournament Schedule
The new shared liquidity network has allowed PokerStars US to bump the guarantees on its NJ/MI weekly tournament schedule. For February, PokerStars is promising $1 million a week, across all tournaments — which the operator is touting as the biggest weekly guarantee in the regulated US online poker market.
“We are excited to announce that we will be guaranteeing $1 million per week across our tournaments for our shared Michigan and New Jersey pool,” said Severin Rasset, Managing Director for PokerStars US Network, in a recent press release.
“The combined liquidity of NJ & MI enables us to reinforce our weekly schedule with more tournaments available every day, a wider variety of buy-ins, bigger guarantees, and giving our players the best available in the market,” Rasset added.
Pennsylvania, which is not yet part of the multi-state online poker compact — has not been left out. PokerStars PA players will be vying for half a million every week this month.
Looking to get in on the action? Check for the latest PokerStars US deposit bonus, then create your account and start playing!
