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Many of the online poker rooms coming on line these days are not rooms that stand alone, offering unique software and promotions. Instead, these rooms are often part of a network of rooms.
What is a Poker Network?
Each room of a network uses the same basic software. This allows them to share poker tables with other rooms of the network, making it easier for players from either room to find a game.
They also often share what I would call "feature" promotions. When several rooms band together, it is easier for them to offer large guaranteed money tournaments, or satellites to major land-based events.
This does not mean that every room on a network is the same. Often they provide their own customer support and promotions. One room on a network might offer new players a large welcome bonus, while another might offer a generous comp system. Another might offer more freerolls and guaranteed money tournaments.
So, when opening an account at an online poker room, you are often choosing both a poker network to play on, and a specific poker room on that network to be responsible for your customer service and player rewards.
What are the major poker networks?
I have reviews specifically for the:
- Prima Poker Rooms - soon to be renamed the Microgaming Poker Network
- iPoker - also referred to as the Playtech Poker Network
- Crypto Poker Rooms - who all run software developed the Cryptologic Gaming company.
But, those are not the only networks online. Other popular networks inlcude:
- Tribeca Tables - which is the home to Doyle's Poker, Victor Chandler Poker, and Golden Palace Poker. There are well over 60 different rooms on the Tribeca Network.
- Ongame - is the software supplier for Poker Room.com. But, there are many other rooms on that network. They include HoldemPoker, EuroPoker, eCardroom, Aloha Poker, Panther Poker and others.
- Boss Software - powers a network of poker rooms that include CelebPoker, Imperial Poker, Poker Heaven and others.
- B2B - is a popular poker network with many rooms, including 24h poker.
- Las Vegas from Home - is the home of Superior Poker, and English Harbour Poker (poker arm of the English Harbour Casino), and ActionPoker.
Skins of Poker rooms
While some sets of poker rooms share software and players, calling them a network would be a bit of an overstatement. For example, Absolute and Goal poker both share the same software. Rather than referring to these two rooms as a network, I'm more likely to call Goal an Absolute "skin".
Here are some other skins
- Absolute Poker - has several skins
- True Poker - has a couple of skins, including Third Bullet
Over the upcoming months I'll be adding reviews to several of these networks, and overviews of many of the rooms you'll find there.
This page was last updated on July 27th, 2006.
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