Numbers Game: PokerStars PA Details First Week Statistics
After a week of real money online poker in Pennsylvania, PokerStars released some Week 1 statistics on Monday. Some of those highlights included winners and player numbers from the first series of Sunday tournaments.
Company officials were pleased with the first week of action and outlined some of the action for USPoker.
“Players took to the felt in droves with an outpouring of love for the game and excitement at its return,” a PokerStars spokesman said.
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PokerStars PA Sunday majors and tournament scores
As part of the site’s launch celebration, PokerStars added some big prizes for its first Pennsylvania Sunday majors. A look at the entry numbers and payouts offer a glimpse into what PA poker players may be in store for.
The first ever $100 Sunday Special attracted 472 entries and was won by “Catfur77” for $7,712.
A player named “NeolithicFarmer” had a particularly nice day. Farmer took down the $250 Sunday High Roller for $4,902.
This Pennsylvania rounder followed that up less than two hours later by shipping the $100 Nightly Stars for $2,375.
In total, more than $140,000 was awarded across the Sunday tournament schedule. Many players enjoyed their first Sunday of online poker since Black Friday.
Numbers from the first week of action at PokerStars PA
It’s been a rare event to see a new online poker platform launch in the US. But Pennsylvania players were apparently eager to get back to the tables.
At one point even on Day 1, the number of players surpassed the number playing online poker in New Jersey. PokerStars PA awarded $12,305 across 12 scheduled tournaments on the first day, despite only being live for eight hours.
The first real money hand was won by “JeremyBearimy,” who scooped a $3.82 pot.
After two days of a soft launch on Nov. 4-5, the site became fully functional Wednesday through Sunday. After those five full days of play, more than $450,000 was awarded in tournaments.
For the week, the site dealt more than 15,000 Sit and Go tournaments with $500,000 awarded to players.
A few more PA online poker highlights
With one week in the books, PokerStars and Keystone State players hope those numbers continue to rise. The number of concurrent players peaked at around 745 shortly after 8pm on Day 1.
Here are a few more highlights from the first week:
- The $20 Moonlight Express was the biggest Day 1 tournament and won by “TallnessBink” for $651.88.
- The first $100 Nightly Stars was the biggest tournament on the first day of full launch. “love2playpoker” earned $3,248 for the win from a $16,340 prize pool.
- Almost 400 Sit and Go tournaments also ran on Day 1, ranging in buy-ins of $1 to $100.
- Day 2 saw more than 1,000 seats filled for much of the night.
- The $50 Bounty Builder on Day 2 saw the first five-figure prize pool. The event was won by “jb2paint” for $1,331 plus $1,081 in bounties.
- In total, the second day of action saw $34,061 awarded in scheduled tournaments and 1,000 Sit and Go’s run.
- The $200 Thursday Thrill was taken down by “Schmuckersville” for $1,994 plus $2,261 in bounties.
Looking ahead at US online poker
Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey legalized online poker in 2013. Since that time the markets have stagnated a bit and Pennsylvania now offers some hope for the industry.
It becomes the fourth state in this poker club. PokerStars is now the only operator in the fifth most populous state, with almost 13 million residents.
That doesn’t mean more will enter the mix. WSOP.com and partypoker have both applied for licensure with plans to launch. When that will happen isn’t yet clear.
But for players, many are just happy to be back in the action.