On 888 Pacific Poker, members will soon enjoy new features as part of Version 5.4 of the site’s software. The online poker room is also one month into its brand new multi-table tournament structure on the 888 Network, which is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “888.” The new software is expected to be rolled out in March or April.
Littlewoods Gaming jumped to the 888 Network several months ago. Classic Poker also has plans to join the Network, although no official date has been given. Customers on Pacific Poker will soon be treated to a Money Transfer feature, which can be accessed through the Cashier or task bar at the top of the client. The new addition allows customers to send funds to fellow players on Pacific Poker and will be available on March 1st.
Password protected tournaments will also debut. They come in three different types, starting with the “Basic” version, where all players with the tournament’s password can enter. Alternately, players can specify who will have access to the private event. Finally, players can specify lists of people who are eligible to participate. Password protected tournaments are fully-customizable and will be available when Version 5.4 of the software debuts.
With regards to hand histories, players will be able to save them straight to their computers, allowing for compatibility with PokerTracker, Poker Office, and other poker software programs. These are critical for players to be able to review past play for leaks and other deficiencies in their games as well as research opponents. Other competitors in the tracking and analysis marketplace include Hold’em Manager and Poker Copilot, which is compatible with Macs.
A player being able to take their time to act is common in live tournaments. On Pacific Poker, members can soon utilize a Time Bank in ring games and tournaments in order to contemplate critical decisions on whether to call, bet, raise, or fold. Its time will be replenished automatically or manually based on a player’s preference. In addition, when a player is disconnected from the table and it’s their turn to act, the Time Bank will also kick in.
The first-time deposit bonus will also receive an extreme makeover. The bonus will be 100% up to $400 and the first 25% of it is instant and made available to the player immediately. A “Bonus Meter” is displayed right on the table so players know what’s required in order to unlock it. Daily $500 First Time Depositor freerolls will occur during a new customer’s first week and a $1,000 weekly freeroll will also be a part of the tournament offering. Finally, 20 tickets into the site’s marquee $100,000 Guaranteed will be up for grabs for players who have deposited for the first time during the previous week.
A $20,000 Guaranteed tournament runs Monday through Saturday at 20:35 GMT. The $55 tournament awards 3,000 starting chips and blinds increase every 15 minutes. Every Sunday at 20:00 GMT, Pacific Poker holds a $100,000 Guaranteed Deep Stack Challenge, a $130 buy-in contest. Qualifiers begin at $2.20, feeding into $55 qualifiers on Sundays or $38 qualifiers that run Monday through Saturday. For the former tournaments, one person will qualify for every $140 in the prize pool. For the latter, one in four qualify for the $100,000 Guaranteed. In addition, $6.60 qualifiers feed into a $30 tournament on Sunday that awards one entry for every $140 up for grabs.
According to traffic ranking site PokerScout.com, Pacific Poker is the 13th largest worldwide with a seven-day running average of 1,120 cash game players. Its 24 hour peak is 1,928. It sits just ahead of Bodog and behind the Microgaming Network.
