While it is still too early to call online poker in Nevada a failure, things certainly are not going well in the Silver State. The Nevada Gaming Control Board recently released its November Gaming Revenue Report, revealing that online poker revenue continued its decline.
According to the report, total internet gaming “win” for November, which only includes poker, was just $641,000 statewide. That represents a 42 percent drop from the same period last year and a 3.6 percent decline from last month, when total online gaming win was $665,000.
The latter figure could actually be considered a point of optimism. The change from October 2014 to November 2014 was the smallest decrease in internet win in quite a while for Nevada. November was the fifth month in row with a drop in online gaming win, but of those months, it was the least painful. October saw a drop of 4 percent from September, which, in turn, witnessed a 6.6 percent drop from August. August was miserable, with online gaming win that was 22.5 percent lower than it was in July, and July was 7.6 percent lower than June. June was the last time the number increased, rising 20.3 percent from May, to $1.037 million.
The other thing that might be looked at as a silver lining is that November was the month that Ultimate Poker closed up shop. This, of course, is not good for the industry, but considering it closed about halfway through the month and gaming revenue was still only 3.6 percent lower than it was in October might be a good sign for the future.
There are now just two online poker sites remaining for Nevada residents, though it may as well only be one. WSOP.com is effectively a monopoly at this point with almost all of the online poker traffic. According to PokerScout.com, WSOP.com has averaged 150 cash game players over the last seven days. Its only competitor, the South Point casino’s Real Gaming, has just a single, solitary player during the past week and a 24-hour peak of only eight players.
More online poker sites are hopefully on tap to launch sometime this year, but no time table has been announced. 888, which provides the software for WSOP.com, has said it plans to launch its All American Poker Network (AAPN) in Nevada. Three sites be on the network at the beginning: WSOP.com, an offering from the Treasure Island casino, and a new 888 site. All would use 888’s software. Nevada also has an interstate poker compact with Nevada, which allows players from either state to play on sites based in the other. The AAPN would also look to include the three Delaware online poker sites, all of which also use 888’s software.
