PokerStars Spin & Go tournaments have been given a boost, quite literally, thanks to a new high-speed format.
In the latest twist on its lottery-style games, PokerStars has created Flash tables.
Designed to be faster than their traditional counterparts, Spin & Go Flash tournaments will see players scoop payouts topping $1 million in just a few minutes.
Shorter Levels, Smaller Stacks
Revealed to the online poker world on October 11, the new, single-table showdowns will feature one-minute blind levels. That’s three times faster than standard Spin & Go tables.
Additionally, Flash tournaments will feature starting stacks of 300 chips rather than 500.
The aim of the new format is to inject some added intensity and excitement into the three-handed tournaments.
For some players, however, the addition of speed will fill an already high-variance game with even more swings.
When the lottery-style tournaments first gained popularity, many regulars felt they were a cash grab. With small starting stacks, short blind levels and, random prize pools, the games feature more variance than regular sit and go tournaments.
But, over the last five years, players have warmed to the games. By developing new strategies, there are players that now thrive in the Spin & Go arena.
The new Flash format will challenge seasoned players to adapt once again. What’s more, the new tables should attract more casual players that want a quick way to play for some sizeable prizes.
Spin & Go Flash to Keep PokerStars Popular
There’s no doubt speeding up the games will give PokerStars another way to generate more rake.
From a business perspective, the online operator is always looking for ways to increase revenue. Contextually though, more rake means more activity across the network which, given the industry’s changing dynamics, is more important now than ever.
After dominating the online poker traffic rankings for over a decade, PokerStars is now the industry’s second-largest operator. Although it still has the most active overall player base, it trails IDNPoker in cash game activity.
According to PokerScout, IDNPoker has a seven-day cash game average of 6,400 players to PokerStars’ 6,000.
This changing of the guard has given other online poker operators confidence they can do the same. For PokerStars, it’s a sign that change is necessary to stay on top.
Earlier in October, talk of anonymous tables made the headlines. This pending innovation follows other recent offerings, such as virtual reality games and 6+ Hold’em.
Even though it may have slipped in recent months, PokerStars remains the biggest brand in poker. What’s more, it’s software team is one of the most active in terms of ideas and innovations.
Spin & Go Flash tournaments are another update designed to keep PokerStars ahead of the game, but they certainly won’t be the last.