With the U.S. government having done some serious harm to the online gaming industry over the past year, entrepreneurs have been looking for ways to looking for ways to fills the void left by so many online sites as they fled the U.S. for safer ground. Two sites are stepping up their efforts to be the chosen alternatives to major Internet poker sites – Duplicate Poker and Ujogo.
DUPLICATE POKER was first introduced to Pokeratizens back in late August. I recently had the chance to speak with Dan Goldman (VP of Marketing) and Nolan Dalla (Director of Communications) when I was doing an article for Poker Pro Magazine about Duplicate. The article will come out within a few weeks, but for now, a few important notes:
1. The offer to receive $5 with no strings attached when signing up is almost done – limited time remaining on the offer.
2. I didn’t realize that this game was designed based on duplicate bridge. Interesting.
3. Long-time poker pro and coach Bob Ciaffone is the primary poker consultant for the site.
4. Banks support the site, and players can use Visa, MasterCard, or American Express to transfer funds. The corporate office is even located right in New York City, a choice that shows utter confidence in the legality of the site.
UJOGO.COM is different. It’s basically a poker site that only allows free play, no money can be deposited to play. However, there are big prizes being given away for cash and prizes, and as more people sign up, the site is supposed to be offering buy-ins to major tournaments. Susie Isaacs is now being sponsored by the site, and a few notes on it all:
1. No download is required to play. Just log in and begin playing.
2. This may be the first free-money site to sponsor a pro player. And I know Susie – she did a lot of research before signing a deal, as she’s been offered deals before but didn’t have enough confidence in the sites to do it.
3. This is a legal site as well, since customers don’t deposit money to play.
SO, there are alternatives in this online poker market. Have you signed up or will you try them out? Can these sites be successful? I’d love to read your thoughts.