NJ Online Poker Check-In: A WSOP First For New Jersey

Here’s a look at what’s new in the world of NJ online poker sites, including the first time a New Jersey  player won a World Series of Poker bracelet without leaving the state, and Borgata’s Mega Tuesday Summer Slam.

WSOP / 888

Major changes/announcements: First ever WSOP bracelet was won online in NJ.

New tournaments: Online WSOP Bracelet Events on June 29, 30 with sattellites running daily.

Prize pool/structure changes: None

Upcoming online series: TBA.

Upcoming live events: The WSOP runs in Las Vegas through July 15.

Good news/bad news: WSOP NJ (and WSOP Nevada) has overtaken the No. 1 spot in regulated poker. It’s understandable since they have so much going on right now, which has made for a very exciting time for poker. I hope that the success of the online satellites, the online bracelet events and the expanded daily schedule will influence the rest of the year’s online schedule.

With the combined player pools for NJ, Nevada and Delaware only growing and the understanding that more states will follow in the near future, online poker and its future is at its brightest point since 2011.

A good solid weekly schedule with ongoing satellites into live WSOP Circuit events around the country will work now. It would make sense for WSOP to implement an ongoing lammer satellite system for circuit event buy-ins nationwide, similar to the online lammer satellites currently being offered for WSOP events. This would be a great addition to the Sunday schedule (hint, hint).

New Jersey resident Matt Mendez won the WSOP $565 pot-limit Omaha event for $135,000 last week and made history by being the first-ever player online in NJ to win a bracelet. This is one of the most positive things to result from the recent player pool merger and really is exactly the goal for regulated poker. It can hopefully serve as a good example and inspiration for other states to regulate poker as well.

Borgata / PartyPoker / PlayMGM

Major changes/announcements: $2,500 reload bonus and the Mega Tuesday Summer Slam.

New tournaments: The Thursday $535 buy-in/$12,000 guaranteed has changed to a $320/$7,500.

Prize pool/Structure changes: The minimum number of players paid out in the nightly $100/$10k has increased to 12.

Upcoming online series: TBA.

Upcoming live events: Borgata Summer Poker Open, July 10-27.

Good news/bad news: The Quarterly and Monthly freerolls ran recently, with 626 total Borgata players participating and winning over $23k in prize money. Being able to cash in these tournaments is a nice perk, especially on a Sunday, for Borgata players and some of them let Twitter know:

The Tuesday $535/$12k six-max tournament will not only remain on the schedule during the summer but a generous promotion has been attached to it, which kind of works out to buy ten, get two free. From June 12-Aug 28 if you play in:

• Six out of the 12 weeks, you will receive an entry into the $600 land-based opening event at Borgata in September.
• Seven of 12, you get the seat plus 100 tournament dollars.
• Eight of 12, you get the seat and 200 tournament dollars.
• Nine of 12, you get the seat and 300 tournament dollars.
• Ten or more, you get the seat and 535 tournament dollars.

This promotion is truly unique and hasn’t been offered in NJ previously and is a nice example of how Borgata is trying to provide a boost to online poker during the traditionally slow summertime while also providing extreme value to their loyal, full-time NJ residents.

A $2,500 reload bonus is being offered during the same time period as the Tuesday Summer Slam. Players can make $500 deposits each week for five weeks and have the opportunity for a 100 percent match.

PokerStars

Major changes/announcements: none.

New tournaments: none.

Prize pool/Structure changes: none.

Upcoming online series: TBA.

Upcoming live events: TBA.

Good news/bad news: PokerStars NJ slipped to No. 2 for the first time since it entered the regulated market. The WSOP player pool merger, expanded tournament schedule and sheer lack of players in NJ during the summer are all contributing factors.

It will be interesting to see what happens around September when things are a bit back to normal with WSOP presumably not running so many satellites and special tournaments. However, if WSOP keeps a somewhat altered expanded schedule in the fall, Stars will most certainly have to counter to get back out in front. Hint: Satellites might be the answer.