Poll: what will be the most common poker trend in 2012?
With iPoker, Bodog, and PokerStars all making, or considering, changes in recent months, how will online poker develop this year?
As a number of operators continue to record a decline in poker figures, some have taken it upon themselves to implement notable changes in the early part of this year.
PokerStars is set to roll out its Zoom product imminently, supplementing changes to its rake structure and following rivals’ innovations last year such as Chilipoker’s Chiliconnect and real-money mobile clients from bwin and others.
However, while such notable innovations are one way in which operators have begun to look to stem the decline, networks such as iPoker and Ongame have both considered the segregation of liquidity to varying degrees, with iPoker’s reported plans to launch a network-within-a-network seen by some as little more than an extension of a trend begun with exclusive cash tables on certain skins.
Other sites and networks remain intent to appeal to recreational players, with rake alterations and moves to stamp out rakeback altogether chief among their targets. Some have also looked to protect their recreational player base through features such as anonymous tables, something implemented most recently by Bodog.
In this week’s poll, we invite you to have your say on which trend will be followed by the majority of the online poker industry: segregated liquidity, new innovations, or a clampdown on rakeback. To vote, see the right-hand side of this page, and if you have any alternative suggestions please post them in the comments section below.