US Online Poker MTT Profit | Loss Report (April 2014)
In this report, ProfRB.com compiles monthly data on all US-facing online poker rooms in terms of whether or not their multi-table tournament schedule produces a profit, or a loss of money. This report includes US-facing online poker rooms Bovada, Bodog, Ignition (Pai Wang Luo Network), Carbon Poker (Merge Network), ACR Poker (Winning Poker Network), Intertops and Juicy Stakes (Revolution Network), Pokerhost and Full Flush Poker (Equity Poker Network), and BetOnline Poker (Chico Network). Note: BetOnline debuted in our July 2014 report, while the Equity Poker Network debuted in our May/June 2014 report.
Every US-facing network offers its players a daily MTT schedule - we track tournaments from guarantees of $1,000 to $5,000 and higher - and we take player totals from these tournaments to determine if the room or network makes or loses money on each event. While common thought in the online gaming world is that tournaments are mostly 'loss leaders' and a miniscule portion of a gaming company's overall bottom line, you can tell by the data presented below just how strong (or not as strong) these rooms and networks are at attracting players to their sites.
A couple of notes before we dig into the numbers. The figures we report do not include freeroll or tournament ticket entries into these MTT's, so the numbers you see below are what we call "precise estimates". To see each individual US-facing online poker room's tournament schedule, full results, the amount of overlays they produce, prize pools, and more, check out our MTT Overlay and Player Traffic reports here.
APRIL 2014 PROFIT | LOSS REPORT
Monday through Friday schedule (March: 21 days)
Mar 3-7th: $79,955
Mar 10-14th: $79,238
Mar 17-21st: $79,759
Mar 24-28th: $86,877
Mar 31st: $18,567
MAR 2014 TOTAL: $344,396 (+$52,053 from Feb 2014, +1 day from Feb M-F schedule)
Saturday and Sunday schedule (March: 10 days)
Saturdays (Mar 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th): $104,917
Sundays (Mar 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th): $258,323
MAR 2014 TOTAL: $363,240 (+$84,372 from Feb 2014, +2 days from Feb Sat+Sun schedule)
Special Tournaments
Black Diamond Poker Open Contender Series: +$76,912
GRAND TOTAL (March): +$784,548 (up $213,337 from Feb)
Bovada entered April having made pretty sizable increases in profits from their tournament schedule over the previous month. While others may have seen slight reductions heading into the typical slower season of summer, there's no denying the machine that is the Bodog Network. The Black Diamond Poker Open Contender Series was just a sampling of this - the Championship Series, the financial results of which will be included in the May Profit | Loss report, earned more profits than any of the other networks earned through their entire monthly schedules. With continually increasing guarantees and a penchant for holding strong despite industry trends, look for Bovada, the US facing side of Bodog, to continue its course as the #1 option for US players.
If you're interested in taking advantage of Bovada's soft fields and large MTT offerings, consider signing up with Professional Rakeback.
Monday through Friday schedule (March: 21 days)
Mar 3-7th: $13,380
Mar 10-14th: $10,199
Mar 17-21st: $8,553
Mar 24-28th: $16,298
Mar 31st: $3,582
MAR 2014 TOTAL: $52,012 (-$13,479 from Feb 2014, +1 day from Feb M-F schedule)
Saturday and Sunday schedule (March: 10 days)
Saturdays (Mar 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th): $15,374
Sundays (Mar 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th): $28,859
MAR 2014 TOTAL: $44,233 (-$7,371 from Feb 2014, +2 days from Feb Sat+Sun schedule)
Special Tournaments
none
GRAND TOTAL (March): +$96,245 (down $20,850 from Feb)
The Winning Poker Network took a bit of a step back despite moving up into second place on this month's report. The standing will be short lived, however, as Merge's reintregration of partner rooms will assuredly move them back ahead of WPN next month. The Online Super Series, the results of which will be included in May's report since the event ended in April, was seen as a launching point of sorts, and it was believed that the bounce received from the event would boost their overall profits in terms of their MTT schedule. But thus far, that has yet to be the case - in fact, overlays have increased in April in dollar amount, taking more profits away from WPN. And a slower than desired March didn't set them up as well moving forward. Health wise, there's nothing to be concerned about. But with Merge now firmly planted as the #2 option for US players, WPN will need to re-step up their game in the weeks and months to come.
If you're interested in playing on ProfRB.com recommended Winning Poker Network skins ACR Poker, Black Chip Poker, and/or True Poker, be sure to contact your friends at Professional Rakeback.
Monday through Friday schedule (March: 21 days)
Mar 3-7th: $29,395
Mar 10-14th: $3,897
Mar 17-21st: $8,494
Mar 24-28th: $10,153
Mar 31st: $2,501
MAR 2014 TOTAL: $54,440 (-$29,160 from Feb 2014, +1 day from Feb M-F schedule)
Saturday and Sunday schedule (March: 10 days)
Saturdays (Mar 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th): $9,928
Sundays (Mar 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th): $18,808
MAR 2014 TOTAL: $28,736 (-$2,307 from Feb 2014, +2 days from Feb Sat+Sun schedule)
Special Tournaments
Carbon/Aced Micro Online Poker Series: -$1,437
GRAND TOTAL (March): +$81,739 (down $88,714 from Feb)
The month of March was a brutal one for the Merge Gaming Network in terms of their MTT schedule and the profits generated from it. Merge was down over 100% from February, which had fewer days and was aided from the Carbon OPS. But this will only serve to be a "bottom out" point for the weeks and months to come, as Merge desegregated their offerings across Carbon and Jazette player pools - the results of which were immediate and apparent. Once Pokerhost left to join the Equity Poker Network, Merge had the ammo they needed to re-combine their efforts network-wide. The results will be increased profits across the spectrum, and with May featuring another Carbon OPS series, you can bet that Merge will be a serious player heading into the summer. Where typically things slow down during this time of year, Merge is positioned to buck the trend as a solid #2 in the US online poker landscape.
If you're interested in playing on Merge Network skins Carbon Poker and/or Aced Poker, be sure to contact us!
Monday through Friday schedule (March: 21 days)
Mar 3-7th: $1,992
Mar 10-14th: $1,851
Mar 17-21st: $1,643
Mar 24-28th: $1,427
Mar 31st: $367
MAR 2014 TOTAL: $7,279 (+$1,526 from Feb 2014, +1 day from Feb M-F schedule)
Saturday and Sunday schedule (March: 10 days)
Saturdays (Mar 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th): $1,471
Sundays (Mar 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th): $7,546
MAR 2014 TOTAL: $9,017 (+$2,234 from Feb 2014, +2 days from Feb Sat+Sun schedule)
Special Tournaments
none
GRAND TOTAL (March): +$16,296 (up $3,760 from Feb)
With a continued minimal tournament schedule and player traffic holding at relatively moderate levels, profits generated from MTT's are typically light for the Revolution Network. Though they made slightly more in March then they did in February, this is drops in the bucket considering operational costs and casino-generated dollars - not to mention the other three networks reported above. Juicy Stakes and Intertops, the primary and ProfRB.com recommended rooms on Revolution, seem to be content for the time being with a limited MTT offering. And considering the network's roller coaster past, now settling after jettisoning pirayas like Lock Poker from its stead, making a couple of bucks is a far better alternative than losing money in buckets as was the case last summer.
ProfRB.com recommends Intertops Poker (invite-only for US players) and Juicy Stakes on the Revolution Network. You can contact Professional Rakeback with your interest in either of these fine rooms.