PokerStars is looking to capitalize on a traditionally busy time on the Indian online poker calendar with its latest promotion, Diwali Rush.
Running between October 28 and November 5, the country-specific tournament series will feature 34 events and a guaranteed prizepool worth $200,000. In among the traditional variants, players will be able to try some of PokerStars’ recent innovations such as Zoom and Win the Button.
Buy-ins will range from $10 to $160, while a series of satellites and freerolls will be throughout the festival. Additionally, to sweeten the pot, one player will receive a Platinum Pass worth $30,000.
Rush of Interest During Diwali
For PokerStars, Diwali Rush will be its first chance to make an impact on the Indian online poker market. Last year, traffic reached record levels at the tail-end of October thanks to Diwali’s links with gaming.
As the Hindu legend states, those that gamble during Diwali will have good luck and prosperity during the coming year. With 80 percent of Indians aligning themselves with Hinduism, Diwali has become a time of plenty for online poker operators.
As reported by local media outlet the Times of India, Khelo365 saw its daily traffic average increase from 10,000 to 13,000 during 2017’s festival. With the holiday set to fall on November 7 this year, PokerStars is looking to strike as activity reaches its peak.
PokerStars Making Up for Lost Time
Although the legal status of poker is still unclear in certain parts of India, the industry is growing in stature. Local online operators like Adda52 have been working with high-profile celebrities and building up a fanbase since 2016 and now international operators are entering the market.
As was the case in New Jersey, PokerStars is a latecomer to the party. However, with Diwali Rush representing its biggest move since going live April, the series could be the push is needs to establish itself as an emerging force in India.
Unlike the US where it previously enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading online poker brands, PokerStars has never fully established its presence in India. Between this and the country’s often insular business culture, the operator needs to make its presence felt.
With traffic likely to spike in the coming days, the time is right to offer one of the largest guaranteed prizepools in India.
