A pack of playing cards scattered across a background
Running a poker room is a good business when managed properly. The biggest threat to you as a poker room operator is churn. Churn is when you lose players for various reasons that may directly or indirectly be your fault. The best strategy is to reduce the reason for churn by improving the poker room to meet the needs of your players. You can elevate different areas of your poker room to keep players happy and engaged. In this article, we will discuss 6 of these methods, let's get right in!
Game Speed
Increasing the game speed is an underrated poker room solution for operators. Players prefer rooms that are quick and convenient. Offer players rapid and turbo tables which have increased speeds that suit most players. Players who prefer a slower experience can opt for your basic poker experience where the game is adequately paced. You should also remember that the more hands are played, the higher your rake. Therefore, introducing these faster tables increases your earnings. Fast and smart fold tables can also be introduced to increase the speeds of games and prevent players from being idle.
New Variants
Having poker variants in your poker rooms improves the overall experience for players. It is important to have the most common variants available while also having less common options. This gives players a chance to play their favorite games while discovering new variants which create new experiences. It is important to have a system that exposes players to all the variants available in your poker rooms. This gives the lesser-known variants a chance to get discovered by players. You can switch out the variants available weekly while keeping player favorites on your roster.
Use Reliable Software
The best way to keep players coming back is to have a reliable poker room devoid of technical difficulties. This is why you must use a reliable service provider with stable servers. They must also have an active customer service team that can attend to any issues that arise on the fly. The provider must also have a smooth onboarding process that makes it easier for new players to start playing. They should also prioritize player safety through proper encryption processes and the protection of user data. Most importantly, the provider must have a smooth UI and be fun to use.
Increase the Pot Amount
Increasing the pot amount is a great way to increase your rake while also making your tables fun. While unlimited tables may be a great idea (especially for whales) most players are happy knowing there is an upper limit. The best way to increase the pot is by introducing an Ante. The Ante is a set mandatory bet that all players must make to the pot before the initial round of cards are dealt. This raises the pot amount while also raising the stakes for players and improving the playing experience. You should also have tables with different pot limits to cater to player needs.
Reduce Commission Percentage
Poker room operators know that the easiest way to increase the rake is by raising the commission percentage. Raising the commission percentages can increase churn and reduce your customer retention. While this may be tempting to do, it is always better to reduce your commission in exchange for players playing longer sessions. When players play for longer, your low commissions add up and give you more money in the long run. Effectively, this strategy sacrifices short-term gain in exchange for customer retention and future profits. Use a rakeback system that appeals to players and encourages them to play for longer hours.
Keep Players Engaged
Poker rooms do not make money when players lose money as the games are against other players. Poker is different from card games like blackjack where players compete directly against the house. The rake (percentage of the pot) is how poker rooms make money. Therefore, the more pots available, the more money the poker room will make. You need to keep your players active and engaged if you want to make the most money from your gaming sessions. You should implement features that prolong the stack, diversify gameplay, and improve player experiences. Features like cashout insurance and double board make each round more dynamic and improve the play times which increases your poker room revenue.
