- UK focused Sky Poker has put a major software redesign into beta testing.
- The upgrade adds many features to make multi-tabling easier.
- A change to the VIP system in April also encouraged high volume regulars.
- The overall strategy appears to be aimed at increased liquidity.
Sky Poker has announced that a major redesign of its poker room software is now in beta test. The new design is currently working on Hold’em tables but will be rolled out across the rest of the site next month.
The new design offers substantially upgraded support for multi-tabling. Tables will be fully resizable, action buttons will be larger and graphics will have more clarity.
Players will be able to use preferred seating and set options to auto-top up their stack if it falls below a pre-set size. The note taking facility will include color coding for players who like to categorize their regular opponents.
As a TV broadcasting company, Sky regularly airs online action from its site. This weekend, the Sky UKOPS online tournament series will run over four days, and event highlights will be broadcast on the Sky Poker TV Channel.
Sky blundered badly with a previous software release for mobiles—Sky Go. A full explanation of errors and mistakes was published on their own forum by Alun Webber, Managing Director of Product Design & Development. A refreshingly honest communication which bodes well for both the prospects of this launch being carried off without glitches, and for the level of customer service Sky customers can expect.
Recently Sky Poker was reprimanded by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which challenged a bonus advertisement that breached their rules. Other poker operators had to take rapid action as the advertisement followed a form that has become standard across the industry.
In April, Sky replaced their VIP system with one which awards automatic rakeback payments to high volume players.
The new VIP program, and now new software, signal a strong intention to take on their better known competitors. Combined with the emphasis on multi-tabling in the new software, this suggests that Sky has adopted a strategy of increasing player liquidity at the center of its poker room plans.
