Newly launched sweepstakes poker site ClubWPT Gold has introduced a Time Bank feature—standard in online poker—but with an unusual twist: Players must pay a portion of their big blind to use it.
In online poker, a Time Bank grants players extra seconds to act on their hand, typically provided for free and replenished periodically as part of the game’s structure. Most poker operators include it as a standard feature without additional charges, covering the cost within the rake or tournament entry fee.
However, ClubWPT Gold is taking a different approach, charging players 20% of a big blind for just 10 extra seconds of decision time. And as observed by pokerfuse, there appears to be no cap on usage.
For example, at a 25/50 Sweeps Coins (SC) table, activating the Time Bank would cost 10 SC—equivalent to $10 in a $25/$50 real-money game.
For those unfamiliar, ClubWPT Gold operates differently from traditional online poker sites like PokerStars or WSOP Online. Available in most US states with a shared player pool, it allows players to enjoy poker games while redeeming Sweeps Coins (SC) for real-money prizes. Each SC can be exchanged for cash at a rate of $1 per SC.
It is unclear whether this paid Time Bank feature applies to tournaments or satellites.
Backlash Over Paid Time Bank
Unsurprisingly, players are outraged by the move. No other online poker site is known to charge a direct fee for using a Time Bank. While platforms like PPPoker allow players to purchase virtual currency for in-game perks—such as throwing objects at opponents, tipping the dealer, or extending their Time Bank—these purchases don’t come directly from a player’s chip stack.
Some frustrated players have even started promoting alternative sweepstakes poker platforms, such as Clubs Poker, which follows a similar model but does not charge Sweeps Coins for Time Bank usage. (In fact, Clubs Poker stands out as a solid alternative—one key reason being that it doesn’t charge any Sweeps Coins for using the Time Bank.)
However, the decision to charge players a portion of the big blind for Time Bank usage may not be entirely misguided. The feature is likely intended to speed up gameplay and discourage excessive tanking.
ClubWPT Gold is still in its early stages, having launched publicly just last month after an extended beta period. However, it lacks several standard features found on most online poker sites. There’s no downloadable app, no multi-tabling support, no player notes or labels, no hand history, no preflop bet customization, and—until now—no Time Bank. These limitations were highlighted by Doug Polk, who is currently attempting a challenge to turn $100,000 in profit on the platform within a month.
Yet, these very shortcomings have contributed to a softer player pool, making the site appealing to recreational players. While ClubWPT Gold has now introduced a Time Bank, it comes at a cost—one that has left many players frustrated.
Despite its lackluster software, ClubWPT Gold has managed to generate significant hype, attracting thousands of new sign-ups. Of course, having the backing of one of poker’s biggest brands (World Poker Tour) has certainly helped.
The site has also shown a willingness to respond to criticism. Following Doug Polk’s complaints about high rake and poor software, ClubWPT Gold lowered the rake cap on its higher-stakes heads-up and ring game tables.
However, the introduction of a paid Time Bank has been met with strong backlash. Whether the site will stick with this controversial feature or eventually remove the pay-to-extend option remains to be seen.
