For many affiliates (and players for that matter) the Boss Network is generally not the first site that is discussed or recommended when you are talking about rakeback. This is despite having fabulous well known brands on their network including fine PAS partners such as Paradise Poker (one of the first online poker sites in existence) Interpoker, Fortune Poker, and Poker Heaven (which all have great established reputations). The omnipresent Virgin Group has even got a poker room on the network.

I’m sure a big part of them not being a “top tier” rakeback location has to do with the fact they don’t accept USA players and that they aren’t a top traffic site. Still they are ranked number #9 for real money cash traffic, according to PokerScout. This is higher than sites/networks such as Cake Poker, Everest Poker, the 888.com Network and Entraction.

The Change

For much of the time they have offered rakeback, Boss has had a stipulation for rakeback players that they must generate €100 during the month to qualify for rakeback – something that surely puts off many new players and low rakers (casual players). Fortunately, this is all changing on September 1st, as the Boss Network is lowering the MGR (Monthly Gross Revenue) requirement from €100 to €10. They still have a cap, but for the overwhelming majority of players, this is effectively a negligible amount. So will this new change have a significant impact on the network, or even on a smaller scale, will it have any more than a slight effect on a player’s decision where to play?

According to a newsletter release from Paradise Poker, they are going to try this new idea for the remainder of 2010 and will reanalyze it at the beginning of next year. Is the new scheme going to be effective for both the network and players, and should it be something that should be implemented in 2011 and beyond?

Why It Matters To Players

For many players, raking €100 is not an extremely easy thing to do. First of all, many online players are what we would call “casual” and don’t play a lot. In addition, many of the players that may play a bit more, play the lower limits. I recently gathered some real money cash game data from the lobby of the Boss Network during peak times. What I found is that around 75% of players at the most popular online cash games (No Limit Hold’em) are playing at 0.25/0.50 -- any currency -- and below. At full ring, a player would maybe have to play around 25 table hours -- 25 hours playing 1 table or 12.5 playing 2 -- at 0.25/0.50 full ring to reach €100 in rake. This is a little over 5 hours per week playing one table. Obviously, this is not a lot for many grinders but when you think about the guy who may play a single table for a few hours on Friday night after the kids go to bed, this could be standard.

As you go further down in stakes levels (where many beginners start) it becomes even more difficult to reach €100 in MGR. Again, to many players, especially those that are experienced, this isn’t going to seem like a lot. But the traffic indicates that for whatever reason, players prefer the lower stake levels, especially new players who may be timid about playing with money online.

For tournament players or SNG players, the €100 cap becomes even more unappealing. A player who likes to play €10+€1 Sit N Gos or tournaments would have to play 100 during the month; a player who moves up in stakes to the €20+€2 level would have to play 50. How many “casual” or new players do that?

My View

My personal opinion is that this is good for everyone, although a drastic change to the Boss Network probably still isn’t likely. Side note: I’d love to know the percentage of players who stick to their first site they ever play or at least make it the primary site they play. It seems there is a ton of value in being a player’s first site, but that’s a subjective opinion.

So I’m pleased that a larger number of players are now able to give Boss a more serious look. Too much of the possible player base was effectively restricted from rakeback by the MGR requirement. These days, poker sites are doing more to attract brand new players to their sites -- especially with growth stabilizing -- and this will certainly be one more thing that makes new players seeking rakeback more welcomed. Granted you certainly could argue that many casual or new players don’t know about rakeback, but I’m sure there has been more than a few players looking to sign-up for rakeback that have skipped Boss -- or quit playing there -- once they realize that they have to rake €100 during a month to qualify for rakeback.

I think this is just one of those moves where everybody wins. The Boss Network becomes that much more appealing to new players and low rakers to give them another viable option to take their online play. More new players are brought to the sites that generate rake, feed the games and quite possibly become life long customers to one of the Boss Network skins. As affiliates which enable players to receive rakeback and exclusive promotions, sending these new players to the sites is also our gain as well. Everybody wins.