The Quick Summary
Only Poker is a recent addition to the Cake Poker Network, which encompasses over fifty poker rooms – including such industry stalwarts as Doyle’s Room and Poker Host – and has been in business since 2004. The big drawing point for Only Poker is seen in their tagline, “No bullshit, only poker,” meaning you won’t find a sports book or online casino with the site. This is something that will definitely draw those who are interested in just playing poker and not in the other “bells and whistles” a site may offer.
Popularity: 6 of 10 – Good
With Only Poker being a part of the Cake Poker Network, you can anticipate finding a game at any time. The Cake Poker Network is one of the top ten online poker destinations for players in the game today. According to the online poker tracking site PokerScout.com, there is a seven day average of 2150 cash game players per week. The player counts have previously peaked at nearly 3200 cash game players, which don’t include their tournament action.
One of the appealing aspects of Only Poker is that it is U. S. player friendly. This ensures that there will be action on the tables throughout the day on the site, with peak traffic occurring in the early evenings in the United States. And Only Poker has the community appeal of its smaller size, which some players may prefer to the larger online poker rooms in the industry.
Security: 9 of 10 – Excellent
Only Poker had to go through a tremendous effort to become a part of the Cake Poker Network, which is noted as one of the most secure in the industry. They are one of the few rooms (like the others on the CPN) that disallow third party software, such as PokerTracker and Hold’em Manager, which some players believe give an unfair advantage to some players. While this may be a drawback for some, others might find this refreshing.
In addition to preventing the use of third party software, Only Poker allows players to change their screen name as often as every seven days. On their website, Only Poker states that this “negates the effectiveness of shared or prolonged poker data tracking.” Only Poker also uses state of the industry 256-bit TwoFish encryptions for play and financial transactions and is vigilant against several other potential issues in online poker such as collusion and bot usage.
Player Competition: 5 of 10 – Fair
While there are currently no sponsored professionals for the site, Only Poker is making inroads to change that situation. It is rumored that five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman will soon sign on with the room, giving it one of the most flamboyant personalities in the celebrity world today. If Only Poker continues to pursue top flight celebrities and poker players for their site, they could become a major player in online poker.
Only Poker’s addition to the Cake Poker Network immediately gives them credibility in terms of traffic. As previously stated, anywhere from 2000 to 3000 players will be in action on their cash game tables. Because Only Poker is new, however, players on the room might be a little green when it comes to poker and there could be vast differences between skill abilities on the Only Poker virtual felt.
Site Software: 9 of 10 – Excellent
Only Poker’s software offers two different views that a player can use for their playing experience. One is a near-3D viewpoint with players at the tables being presented as avatars. The second is an overhead view that just gives the basic information that a player needs: the names of your opponents and their chip count. Either option is very fluid in play, and glitches are rare.
The lobby is easy to navigate and particular games are quite simple to find. Only Poker uses an excellent filter that will only present games that meet your search criteria. This makes for a quick entrance into games that a player wishes to play.
Customer Support: 6 of 10 – Good
There are several different methods that Only Poker offers for players to contact the company. Help is available 24/7 through not only phone support but also through e-mail options. For those that look for a speedy response, the players can either call a toll free number or directly fax Only Poker. For those with less immediate concerns, they can e-mail support and usually receive a response within approximately 48 hours.
Company Ethics: 8 of 10 – Very Good
Only Poker, as previously stated, doesn’t allow third party software and also is continuously on the lookout for any possible shenanigans on the site. The option to change your player name on a weekly basis is meant to safeguard a player’s anonymity.
Site Promotions: 8 of 10 – Very Good
Only Poker offers many of the staples that are a part of the Cake Poker Network. Players earn Gold Cards and Gold Chips through their play, which can be used for entries into special tournaments. There is also the Gold Stacks program, where players can earn cash back for completion of certain Gold Stacks on the site.
Tournaments are a huge part of Only Poker’s offerings. There is a $125,000 Guaranteed Tournament every Sunday, with the last Sunday of the month offering a $250,000 Guaranteed Tournament. Players can earn entry into these tournaments through buying in the traditional route, satellites or even using their Gold Cards and Gold Chips. There are also special satellite events for major tournaments such as the recently completed Aussie Millions and the upcoming Irish Poker Open.
Initial player offerings at Only Poker are some of the best in the online industry. Players can earn a 110% first time depositor bonus and, if a player wants to build a bankroll, there are excellent freeroll events offered.
Overall Review: 7.28 of 10 – Good
Only Poker has many things that players will find appealing. If they build a solid base of either celebrity or professional poker player endorsers, this will only add to their appeal. Being a part of such a prominent network also makes Only Poker a solid addition to the online poker world.
