While the global gross gaming yield (GGY) is dominated by games of chance like slots and roulette, poker retains a cult following in all four corners of the world.
The ultimate casino game of skill, poker, requires everything from statistical analysis and strategy to a basic level of psychological understanding. So, mastering the game is easier said than done, especially for those who play competitively and in high-stakes tournaments.
Of course, there are several underlying technologies that continue to define tournament poker. But which of these are the most seminal, and how are they impacting the experience of players?
The Rise of the AI Coach
Artificial intelligence (AI) has made its mark on numerous industries and applications, and online poker is no exception to this rule. Initially, it was basic AI poker bots that would flood online tables, but the technology has since found a more positive niche in the game’s infrastructure.
More specifically, we’ve seen AI tools become increasingly sophisticated of late, breaking new ground in terms of poker strategy, historic hand analysis and the identification of gameplay patterns. As a result, players have turned to AI in pursuit of advanced and tailored coaching, which can be beneficial regardless of your existing skill level.
AI bots can be developed to intuitively adapt to your playing style during practice hands, providing opposing strategies that can probe any weaknesses in your armory. This compels you to constantly review, adapt and evolve your strategy, while also creating a more flexible and agile playing style over time.
Such bots can also analyze styles and patterns across a huge selection of online platforms, identifying the best ways to tackle specific hands and against various types of players.
The Emergence of Blockchain – Impacting Every Aspect of Online Poker Tournaments
The GG Poker registration site unlocks tournaments that boast a huge array of formats, including rebuys, satellites and progressive bounty competitions. It also enables you to deposit using a range of cryptocurrencies, creating an additional layer of flexibility and financial security.
These tokens completely eliminate the need for traditional payment gateways and commission fees, allowing you to complete instant deposits and withdrawals and maximize your bankroll further.
Crypto payments are also inherently secure, as they’re encrypted via a public key and can only be decrypted by a private key. A new private key is generated for each individual transaction, while this cryptographic hash is virtually impossible to intercept or hack online.
Of course, the rise of blockchain-powered casinos and poker rooms has also introduced increased levels of security across the board. This technology is completely transparent and immutable, with every in-game action and hand permanently recorded to make game manipulation a complete impossibility.
Big Data and the Personalisation of Tournament Experiences
Online poker tournaments (and even cash games) are able to generate huge swathes of player data, which can also be analyzed quickly and in-depth in the age of big data.
Leveraging this has enabled poker networks to better understand players and cultivate meaningful, personalized experiences. This can manifest itself in many ways, from customized tournament recommendations that reflect your bankroll size and experience levels to the delivery of enhanced bonuses.
Players can now access more information pertaining to them and their opponents than ever before, too. As a result, relevant big data sets can be harnessed to help optimize playing strategies, according to your own strengths and weaknesses and those of a particular opponent.
Poker networks are continuing to gather larger and more granular datasets, allowing for even deeper levels of personalization. However, operators must be careful about how they collate and utilize data, while also keeping this away from the hands of questionable third parties.
