Online Poker Traffic Rises Half Point This Past Week

Odds are good that online poker traffic will continue to rise even more this week with a brutal Arctic blast taking over much of the U.S. right through the upcoming weekend, extending as far South as Gambling911.com's Miami Beach headquarters in fact. 

Online poker during the final week of 2009 rose a half point according to PokerSiteScout.com, which monitors said traffic numbers at all the major Internet card rooms.

That charge was led by US-accepting PokerStars and two non-US facing brands, Microgaming and Everest.

The arrival of the new year marked the end of the slow holiday period and the beginning of the busiest season for online poker. If past patterns hold true, we will see traffic rise significantly over the next few weeks, according to PokerSiteScout.com.

PokerStars, it observed, was on the verge of capturing 40 percent market share, a mark which has not been surpassed since PartyPoker's heyday in 2004 and 2005.

After five straight weeks of gains in November and early December, the number two online poker room, Full Tilt Poker, has now posted its third straight weekly loss, notwithstanding their traffic is up 87 percent over the past year.

Cake Poker, home of Gambling911.com endorsed Doyles Room, was up 45 percent.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher