PokerStars and Winamax Fight for First Place in France

For the first time in over 18 months, PokerStars.FR briefly overtook Winamax in cash game traffic and became the largest regulated online poker room in France.

According to traffic data provided by PokerScout, on July 18 PokerStars.FR boasted 1135 players, based on a 7-day moving average of concurrent cash game players, with Winamax at 1120. PokerStars maintained this lead until July 25. Today, there’s only 1% difference separating the two networks.

Winamax took the lead from Pokerstars back in January 2012. One year later, it boasted almost 50% more traffic than PokerStars and was dominating the market.

The last six months have seen the largest drop in Winamax’s traffic in recorded history, and it has reached its lowest point, down from a peak of 2285 to 1085 today.

Winamax is working to expand its reach from outside French borders by marketing to English-speaking players, though it has yet to see a positive effect from its efforts. PokerStars.FR also permits players outside of France to play on the site, though does not promote that fact.