- Google searches of “online poker” reached the highest amount since 2013 during the pandemic
- Pennsylviania will be licensing a new online gaming operator, World Series of Poker, in the midst of the peaked interest in online poker
LAS VEGAS - While social distancing and staying at home has become a new normal for many Americans, interest in online poker has increased.
Google reported that the global searches for “online poker” have peaked to the highest point in the past seven years.
"Online Poker" searches on @google hit 5-year high during coronavirus pandemic pic.twitter.com/QLZo3y7Cgq
— Weston Blasi (@westonblasi) May 29, 2020
Of course, the most traffic for this topic was during the lockdown when live casinos were closed.
The increase of these searches began the same week sports leagues stopped their seasons.
The hiatus of sports truly created a new age for online poker and if the industry takes full advantage it could be popular for a long time.
While interest in online poker has grown, the industry has also targeted new audiences as the lockdowns ease from the Coronavirus pandemic to continue success in the future.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP), which just had its first Super Circuit Online Series that featured $100 million in guaranteed, is profiting off the peaked interest in online poker.
The WSOP is in the works to become the state of Pennsylvania’s second online operator to be licensed for online gaming. Harrah's Philadelphia Casino, owned by Caesars Entertainment, will go live with the brand.
Though online searches have recently dipped for online poker, it seems that it could continue to be popular even when all the live casinos and sports start back up.