I strongly think what we are doing will be disruptive to how rake and rewards are done in online poker in PA.
BetRivers is on the verge of launching online poker in Pennsylvania. Its launch is poised to shake up the whole US online poker landscape as it would be the country’s newest regulated platform in many years with a full-fledged offering.
BetRivers Poker, as we know, is a continuation of Phil Galfond’s Run It Once Poker, which was built with a focus on fairness and player-centered innovation. It was built to address concerns over high rake charged by other operators.
Now, under the ownership of Rush Street Interactive, BetRivers Poker is carrying forward that same philosophy to the US-regulated market, retaining a similar tagline: Fun. Fair. Rewarding.
Recent statements from a BetRivers Poker spokesperson indicate their intent to shake up the Pennsylvania online poker market, promising an aggressive rewards program and a highly competitive rake structure.
BetRivers Promises Lowest Rake in Pennsylvania
While the final details of BetRivers Poker’s rake and rewards program are still under wraps, a company spokesperson hinted that players can expect a lower rake structure compared to other PA poker operators.
“We think we’ll have the lowest rake in PA, and we have vetted this claim, so I can say it,” a BetRivers spokesperson confirmed on a PA poker Discord server.
During the beta testing, BetRivers was charging around 4.50% to 4.75% rake on cash games. If this pricing remains when the site officially launches, it would make it a front-runner in the market. PokerStars PA, for instance, charges between 4.50% and 5%, while the rake at WSOP PA starts at 5% for lower stakes and BetMGM Poker PA charges a 5.5% rake across all stakes.
In fact, this rate would be even lower than what Run It Once Poker charged in the global dot-com market, which was set at 5.75% for micro stakes and 5.5% for low to mid-stakes.
Not only is BetRivers aiming to undercut the competition on the rake, but they also have ambitious plans for player rewards. When asked about what the rewards program looks like at BetRivers Poker, the spokesperson hinted at a highly competitive rewards program, saying, “What we have planned is aggressive enough that I’ve presented what I think the headlines are to our compliance team… I strongly think what we are doing will be disruptive to how rake and rewards are done in online poker in PA.”
Return of Splash the Pot Rewards Program
Looking back at its predecessor, Run It Once Poker distinguished itself with a generous rakeback program, particularly through its innovative Splash the Pot feature, which revolutionized the online poker industry.
As the name suggests, Splash the Pot returned a portion of the rake collected at the tables in the form of extra cash randomly distributed among players. The amount of the “splashed” pot depended on the size of the pot in the previous hand, with additional money varying from one big blind to, in rare instances, up to 1,000 big blinds. Typically, the winner of the hand received the extra cash.
Initially, the percentage of rake returned to players was set at 51%, but this was later adjusted to 30% after the introduction of additional rewards programs.
What made Splash the Pot unique was that it did not offer flat rakeback, or required players to put a certain level of volume or generate a specific amount of rake. Neither the program required players to opt-in or complete missions; instead, every player was eligible for splashed pots from their very first hand.
The program did not discriminate between recreational and professional players, ensuring that all types of players had an equal chance to benefit. Additionally, it added a new layer of strategy to the game, as players had to adjust their play based on the size of the splashed pots.
This innovative feature proved to be such a game changer that it inspired other online poker operators to create their own versions, such as Cash Drops by GGPoker, Hot Tables by BetMGM Poker, and Winamax’s earlier Hold-Up, now rebranded as Escape.
BetRivers Poker Expected Rewards Program and How it Will Compare
While the Splash the Pot feature has not been tested during the ongoing beta sessions, it is likely to be a significant component of BetRivers Poker’s rewards program once the site goes live.
Splash the Pot was just one aspect of the rewards system at Run It Once Poker. The platform also featured a traditional weekly rakeback program called Legends, which offered up to an additional 45% in direct rakeback. When combined with Splash the Pot, players had the potential to earn up to 75% in rakeback.
Legends functioned as a more conventional rakeback program, providing players with cash rewards based on their rake contributions at the tables. Players received their rakeback at the end of each week, and the program included five reward tiers. Players who reached the Legends tier earned a minimum of 30% rakeback, with the potential to increase to 45% if they maintained their level for four consecutive weeks.
It is likely that BetRivers Poker will reintroduce the Legends program, potentially integrating it with BetRivers’ existing iRush Loyalty program. This combination of reward systems could enable players to claim up to 75% in rakeback.
If BetRivers Poker indeed offers up to 75% in rakeback, it would stand out as the most generous rakeback program in the US-regulated poker market. Currently, established operators like PokerStars provide up to 33% in rakeback, while WSOP Online and BetMGM Poker offer rewards programs, with exact percentages likely topping around 40%.
Even the fixed rakeback program with 45% from BetRivers would be competitive and appealing to players in the market.
When is BetRivers Poker Launching in Pennsylvania?
BetRivers Poker is currently in the beta testing phase, with the final round of soft launch scheduled for October 19. If everything proceeds smoothly, the platform could go live in Pennsylvania as early as next week.
Initially, BetRivers Poker will launch exclusively in Pennsylvania; however, there are plans to expand to other states such as New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia, with even plans for a shared liquidity network.
