The online poker industry’s push to engage Twitch users is being taken up a level thanks to Americas Cardroom and a $75,000 cash giveaway.
Dubbed the King of Twitch Poker, and bringing together some of the streaming platform’s top gamers, the competition is the first of its kind.
Announcing its latest innovation on September 30, Americas Cardroom said events will take place online between October and December.
Freebie for Twitch Followers
Per the rules, each Twitch celebrity will act as a figurehead for satellites running on Americas Cardroom.
Entry to the tournaments is free, but players will have to be an active member of a host’s streaming community to take part (a referral code is required).
During each MTT, rebuys will cost $2, and those that make it through will get to play in the King of Twitch Poker finale.
First to host an event is MTV and Comedy Central star, Andy Milonakis. Now a fan favorite on Twitch, Milonakis and his followers will take to the virtual felt on October 2.
Once the first qualifier is over, a host of Twitch stars, including Mitch Jones (aka MitchJones) and Gabriel Baptista (aka Gabepeixe), will host additional satellites.
Americas Cardroom expects 120 players to make it through to the final, where the top finishers will take home a share of $75,000.
For Twitch streamers and viewers, the event is an opportunity to play against fellow novices for the largest prize pool of its kind.
For the poker industry, it’s another chance to tap into a rapidly growing market. Twitch alone has 15 million daily active users, but the overall gaming community is much larger.
According to Newzoo’s Global Games Market Report 2019, there are now 2.5 billion gamers worldwide. That figure is up 13.4 percent from 2018, and means annual gaming spend now tops $152 billion.
Americas Cardroom Tapping into $152 Billion Market
With a burgeoning userbase, online poker operators have been sizing up the industry for the last few years. Today, many of the top operators host their own Twitch channels.
Shortly before the Americas Cardroom announcement, PokerStars rolled out a unique product known as Chat Plays Poker. Giving Twitch viewers a chance to take part in poker games without the financial implications, the innovation could bridge the gap between video gaming and poker.
King of Twitch Poker is a more obvious lure, but it may prove to be just as effective. Americas Cardroom spokesperson, Michael Harris, believes the game-changing prize pool could unearth a new talent pool.
“Our greatest hope is we find new talent in the ranks of Twitch, and a new generation of poker stars would get their start at this event,” Harris said in an official press release.
Gaming pros such as Bertrand Grospellier have found success in poker over the years, but their transition was a matter of personal preference.
With a share of $75,000 on the line, and a chance to rub shoulders with some online stars, King of Twitch Poker could inspire the casuals to make the jump.
