Online poker continues to draw millions of players worldwide, and choosing the right platform can make a substantial difference in your playing experience. With numerous options available, players need reliable information about which sites offer the best combination of traffic, security, and rewards. This review examines three leading real money poker platforms based on concrete data about their player numbers, promotional offerings, and operational features.
GGPoker: The Current Market Leader
GGPoker has established itself as the world’s largest online poker room through consistent growth and strategic acquisitions. The platform reached 13,157 concurrent cash game seats in January 2024, a record that demonstrates its commanding position in the market. Throughout 2024, GGPoker maintained an average of 10,701 concurrent cash game players, representing an 18.2% increase from the previous year.
The platform’s dominance becomes even more apparent when examining its market share. GGPoker currently controls more than 60% of the international online poker market, with more traffic than all other dot-com poker providers combined. Even after a natural adjustment from peak levels of 12,500 players in early 2024 to approximately 10,000 players by mid-2025, the site maintains its position as the largest network by a considerable margin.
Financial Backing and WSOP Acquisition
In October 2024, NSUS Inc, GGPoker’s parent company, completed a $500 million acquisition of the World Series of Poker brand from Caesars Entertainment. The deal involved $250 million paid upfront in cash, with an additional $250 million scheduled for payment within five years. This acquisition positions GGPoker to expand the WSOP globally, creating competition for established tours like the EPT and WPT while offering more festival opportunities for bracelet events.
GGPoker already powers WSOP.com in Ontario since April 2022, and the acquisition allows for further integration between online and live poker offerings. The 2024 WSOP Online series featured 33 gold bracelet events with millions in guaranteed prize money, running from August 18 to September 30, with satellite tournaments starting at $1.
Player Rewards and Promotions
The numbers behind GGPoker’s promotional offerings paint a picture of substantial player value. In 2024, the platform distributed $464 million through various promotions, marking an increase of over $100 million from the previous year and exactly double the amount given away in 2021. Tournament players benefited from $3.89 billion in prize money throughout 2024, a 29.24% increase from 2023’s $3.01 billion.
The Fish Buffet loyalty program serves as the foundation of player rewards. Players receive approximately 100 Fish Buffet Points for every dollar paid in rake and fees, though this rate varies based on game type, table behavior, and deposit history. The program offers flexibility with two reward structures: players can spin a wheel for potential returns up to 100% or select fixed cashback rates reaching 60% at Platinum levels. The weekly cashback option provides consistent returns for players who prefer predictable rewards over variance.
New players face a choice between two welcome bonus structures. The first option provides $100 in cash and free tickets, delivering $40 worth of tickets within six days plus an additional $60 earned through All-In or Fold games. The second option offers a 100% matched deposit bonus up to $600, releasing at $1 for every $5 in rake generated. Players have 90 days to clear the matched deposit bonus.
Security Measures and Fair Play Enforcement
GGPoker has implemented strict security protocols to maintain game integrity. The platform explicitly prohibits real-time assistance software, with detection methods that resulted in significant enforcement actions. Initial public results showed 13 accounts banned with $1,175,305 returned to affected players, 27 additional accounts banned without fund confiscation, and warnings issued to 40 users.
The prohibition extends beyond software to include apps, websites, and both physical and digital reference materials. Using charts during play carries penalties ranging up to permanent bans and fund confiscation. To strengthen these efforts, GGPoker established a Poker Integrity Council featuring Jason Koon, Andrew Lichtenberger, Fedor Holz, Seth Davies, and Nick Petrangelo. The council’s involvement signals a serious commitment to fair play, with plans to extend online bans to live WSOP events for players caught using prohibited assistance.
Game Variety and Platform Features
GGPoker offers standard formats, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha, alongside unique variations like Short Deck poker and All-in or Fold. The All-in or Fold jackpots saw remarkable growth, increasing from $60 million to $146 million over three years, representing almost 250% growth. The platform’s tournament schedule includes regular events like the GG Masters with substantial weekly prize pools.
The mobile application provides full functionality with an interface that allows easy access to different gaming options, tournament information, and promotional details. Payment processing supports multiple methods, accommodating players from various regions as GGPoker continues expanding into regulated markets. The platform secured a license in the Philippines in 2024, launching the country’s first legal real-money online poker site, while also partnering with OlyBet in Lithuania and adding PokerArabia to its network.
PokerStars: The Former Giant
PokerStars once dominated online poker but has experienced notable traffic declines in recent years. The platform’s cash game player base decreased from approximately 4,000 concurrent players in late 2022 to around 2,000 players currently. For Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha cash games specifically, PokerStars averages 2,100 players based on seven-day averages from October 2024.
Despite reduced traffic compared to its peak years, PokerStars maintains the second-largest player pool among international poker sites. The platform continues operating in multiple regulated markets and offers a comprehensive tournament schedule. However, the 50% reduction in concurrent players over two years indicates ongoing challenges in retaining and attracting players in an increasingly competitive market.
WPT Global: The Rising Competitor
WPT Global has shown remarkable growth since its launch, expanding from a minimal presence to approximately 2,000 concurrent players. This growth trajectory places it among the top tier of online poker platforms by player count, though still considerably behind GGPoker’s market-leading position.
The World Poker Tour brand provides WPT Global with established recognition in the poker community. The platform’s rapid growth suggests effective player acquisition strategies, though long-term retention remains to be proven. With roughly 2,000 concurrent players, WPT Global has surpassed several established competitors, including partypoker and 888poker, each of which now averages slightly over 500 concurrent seats.
Market Comparison and Traffic Analysis
The current online poker market shows distinct tiers of operators. GGPoker’s 10,000-plus concurrent players dwarf all competition, while PokerStars and WPT Global compete in the 2,000-player range. The iPoker network maintains steady traffic between 1,500 and 2,000 players, demonstrating stability without substantial growth or decline.
Smaller operators like partypoker and 888poker have seen their positions erode considerably. Both platforms previously commanded larger shares of the market but now operate with approximately 500 concurrent cash game seats each. This consolidation toward larger operators suggests players increasingly value the liquidity and game selection that higher traffic sites provide.
Conclusion
The data presents a definitive ranking of real money poker sites based on measurable factors. GGPoker’s combination of market-leading traffic, substantial promotional investments, and strategic positioning through the WSOP acquisition places it firmly at the top. The platform’s 60% market share and consistent player numbers above 10,000 demonstrate sustained operational success.
PokerStars retains its position as a major operator despite declining traffic, while WPT Global’s growth trajectory makes it an interesting option for players seeking alternatives. Each platform offers distinct features and player pools, but the traffic numbers and promotional values clearly establish the current hierarchy in online poker.
Players considering these platforms should evaluate their personal priorities regarding game selection, tournament schedules, and reward programs. The substantial differences in player traffic directly affect game availability and tournament prize pools, making this a primary consideration for serious players seeking consistent action across various stakes and formats.