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full tilt end gameFull Tilt End Game the final chapter of the once popular online poker software comes to an end on May 17 with the FullTilt Merger with PokerStars.

The Full Tilt Poker software will be retired this week when the player database of Full Tilt merges with the PokerStars platform.

Traffic had dwindled considerably since Amaya Gaming acquired the platform in 2012 probably due to the bad reputation the site gained from Black Friday.

After the merger FullTilt will be a poker skin on the PokerStars network sharing the same software and player pool. The change will make it easier for Amaya to update one platform and enter regulated poker markets under a single license.

Full Tilt End Game Merger PokerStars

pokerstars futureWhat is PokerStars future under new ownership going to be like? Since The Rational Group has been acquired by Amaya Gaming, what is the future going to be like for companies PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker?

The best part about Amaya Gaming is the amount of gaming licenses they have worldwide with more than 100 licenses including: UK and New Jersey.

Under new ownership PokerStars future in US is looking bright and will launch in New Jersey within the next few weeks.

Full Tilt Poker has dropped significantly in poker rankings since Amaya have started to focus on online casino games and new FullTilt live dealer casino.

Many PokerStars pros have been dropped from the roster the latest incident was with WSOP champ Joe Cada who terminated his contract because the site would no longer offer him a 100% rakeback deal.

This week thousands of PokerStars Affiliates were dropped due not bringing enough players or not actively promoting the site.

PokerStars Future Under New Ownership

online poker sites top 5The Top 5 online poker sites and networks have changed so much over the last decade but has since seemed to stabilize after Black Friday.

One of the constants for the most part of the decade has been PokerStars leading the way since 2006 when PartyPoker withdrew from the US market after the UIGEA was introduced.

Full Tilt has since fallen from the list of top 5 online poker sites and focused on online casino games which now includes a Liver Dealer casino. Amaya Gaming acquired The Rational Group, the company which owns both PokerStars and FullTiltPoker, under new ownership the online poker giant hopes gain first position in the regulated poker market in the United States.

888 and bwin.Party were amongst the first to start operating in New Jersey, 888 also provides it’s software for the official WSOP poker site which operates in New Jersey and Nevada. 888 also operates the All American Poker Network and provides software for the Delaware Poker Network which features three online poker sites.

The iPoker Network of more than forty online poker sites keeps their current position in 3rd place with only a few hundred players difference between 2nd place poker site 888poker.

Top 5 – Online Poker Sites and Networks in 2014

bovada poker holiday gift grabBovada Poker Holiday Gift Grab is a new Christmas promotion where players can win cash, Sony Playstation 4’s or an iPad mini every week.

The Bovada Poker promotion runs for most of the Holiday season 2-29 December with a weekly draw where players can choose from three incredible Holiday Gifts.

Players can also get a weekly cash bonus by earning the required amount of points each week of the promo, by earn points players will also get their entry into the draw.

Bovada Poker only accept USA players and have more players at the tables than any other US poker site main due to the fact they offer the fastest cashout times.
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Full Tilt Poker player traffic dropsPlayer traffic at FullTilt Poker has been on a rapid decline as measured by their cash game traffic according to the stats found on Pokerscout an independent poker traffic stat tracking site.

The once popular poker room Full Tilt, find themselves occupying the number four spot in global poker traffic stats since being reopened under the control of PokerStars.

When FullTilt Poker reopened back in November 2012, albeit without their USA players, they immediately catapulted back to their original second place spot that they had occupied prior to closing and it certainly seemed like Full Tilt  were back on track to maintaining steady traffic flow once again, however this traffic was short lived as many players simply cashed out their funds (USA players can only cashout now) and moved on to greener pastures including the likes of PartyPoker, 888 Poker and iPoker (Titan,Winner).

To a large extent, FullTilt Poker have created their own demise by offering players below par bonuses and thinking along the lines of PokerStars management who offer little in terms of player rewards.

One could always argue that PokerStars deliberately intended to crash Full Tilt Poker, doing so would surely improve their own position in the market with less competition.

PokerScout Current Traffic rank (7 day average):

  1. Pokerstars – 23,600
  2. PartyPoker – 3,300
  3. iPoker (Winner, Titan) – 3,200
  4. Full Tilt Poker –  3050
  5. 888 Poker – 2,450

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