Nevada’s online poker market experienced a sharp 22.5% decrease in August after taking in $742,000 – the lowest total of 2014. This is $243,000 less than the state’s three regulated poker sites (Ultimate Gaming, WSOP.com, Real Gaming) made in July, when the WSOP was going on. At first glance, this seems like a terrible setback for Nevada iPoker. However, there are some footnotes behind these numbers to discuss, which you can read about below.
August Nevada Online Poker Revenue is Better than Last Year
While there’s nothing to celebrate about a 22.5% revenue decrease, one positive takeaway is that the market is making more than last year. In August of 2013, Nevada poker sites made $677,000, which was 8.8% less than August of 2014.
Summer has ended
One topic that’s often discussed around this time of year is seasonal trends. Online poker predictably experiences a traffic decrease in the summer, then picks back up again in the fall and winter. With August being the last month of summer, it’s almost a given that people will be grinding on the Nevada poker sites more over the next several months.
The WSOP affected Nevada online poker revenue
When the Nevada online poker market’s revenue hit $985,000 in July, this was of course propelled by the 2014 WSOP. The cross-promotional campaign by WSOP.com – where they did a lot of land-based advertising at the Rio – was a huge success. So WSOP.com’s traffic boost was a big reason why the state’s overall numbers looked so good in July. And it was only natural that there’d be a drop-off in August after the world’s largest poker tournament event ended.
Looking Ahead
There may not be a ton of room for growth with Nevada iPoker. Aside from the thriving tourism industry, the state only has around 2.76 million residents. However, colder weather and an interstate pact with Delaware indicate some positive signs ahead. And if the Silver State can link up with more states in the future, their long-term growth prospects will certainly improve.