With casinos shuttered and live tournaments canceled, online poker becomes the go-to platform for players worldwide.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to restrict physical gatherings and force the closure of entertainment venues, online poker is experiencing an unprecedented boom. With live tournaments suspended and casinos across the globe shut down, both professional and amateur players are turning to the virtual felt to stay in the game.
The timing has created a perfect storm for online platforms, with some reporting nearly double the traffic in recent weeks. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) alone has seen a 46% increase in participation in its online circuit since the outbreak began.
“It really hit home when I stopped going to live tournaments a month ago,” said Jeff Boski, a Las Vegas-based poker pro and vlogger. “There has been an online poker boom of sorts. The field numbers in cash games and tournaments have almost doubled.”
The shift to digital poker is more than just a trend—it’s a lifeline for many professionals. According to the World Poker Tour, more than 60 million Americans play poker, with many relying on the game as their primary source of income. For these players, online poker is the only viable alternative during the shutdown.
Marle Cordeiro, another professional player, echoed the sentiment. “We have to accept that it could be months and months before we get back. But even then, the casinos are probably some of the dirtiest places so I don’t know if I will be rushing to go back right away.”
While the long-term implications for live poker remain uncertain, the current surge in online activity could reshape the landscape of competitive poker for years to come. For now, one thing is clear: poker is far from folding—it’s just going all-in online.
