The new edition of “The History of Online Poker” from PocketFives and 2CardsCollege covers the leader of the industry in early 2000s. These historical events will be backed up by testimonies of contemporaries who discussed such a tumultuous thing as “real money online poker” during this generally calm epoch.

Part 1and Part 2.

1999–2001: Paradise Poker

Paradise Poker emerged on the market during the absolute monarchy of Planet Poker. As is often the case with absolute monarchies in changing times, Planet Poker’s throne was shaking, and it was because of the unstable software. And the young rival used this handicap to the fullest extent.

It is not known whether Paradise Poker’s management had been waiting for the occasion or if it was pure coincidence, but when Paradise launched, the games at Planet Poker were unavailable and technical issues were being fixed several days later. Having a week handicap, the new poker room was quick to gather a user base.

At the turn of the century, search engines were conquering a niche in cyberspace; Google was starting its way as well. Nowadays, the largest search engine in the world processes 40 billion requests a month and guards its reputation very attentively, but back in 2000, Paradise managed to make a deal with the evolving company for a targeted advertisement. If you typed “poker” in Google, you would see links only to Paradise Poker.

Planet Poker’s team refused to throw in the towel and was the first to introduce high-stakes games: Limit Hold’em cash with blinds of $20/$40. However, copying an offer like that was easy as pie. Soon, Paradise boasted No Limit Hold’em tables, then $40/$80 Limit Hold’em, and the days of the pioneer room were numbered.

That was also when it became evident that the online poker niche was way too big for two sites and new contenders began to emerge after 2000. First it was UltimateBet, followed by PartyPoker and PokerStars.

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It wasn’t long until the fate of a massive part of the market was determined by tournaments. It’s tournaments that PartyPoker started its ascension with and it’s tournaments that PokerStars made its name with.

PokerSpot, a poker room founded by Dutch Boyd in 2000, was the first to offer tournaments with real money buy-ins. Attracted by the spirit of competition, people flooded the room first to take part in freerolls and then full-scale multi-table tournaments with a buy-in of $15. But the “don’t care” attitude and the endless crashes of the software and unavailability of support led to a wave of cashouts, after which the PokerSpot users found out that even if you got a check, you simply couldn’t cash it.

As a result of the crooked business of the company that processed deposits, PokerSpot was shut down amid a scandal and some players never saw their money again.

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Being the largest cash operator, Paradise Poker had a good grip on the situation in the following years. The poker room let its customers play at two tables at the same time and introduced statistics which showed the average pot size and average number of players on the flop.

Paradise Poker’s software had an obvious advantage over its competitors first for its stability, but it had always been arduous to please customers at all times. The year 2000 saw a new 2+2 forum devoted to online poker, where users immediately started discussing the possibility of cheating and other issues with the new game. Paradise got its part of it too.

Below are the most interesting – from our point of view – posts from the “Internet Poker Cheating” thread from January to February 2000.

“Internet Poker Cheating” by George M. Rice, Jr.
Oooo, new forum, let me be the first. 😉
I’m concerned that as internet poker becomes more popular, the “casinos” will be tempted to cheat. They could do this by having robot players at a table and fix it so that these robots win more than their share of hands. How’s one to know if a player really exists?

“Re: Internet Poker Cheating” by mick
I will not play over the web. There will be a time when one person will have 8 computers set up in one room, playing eight of the hands. Just think how easy to see one seat with the nuts, using the other seats to keep raising to string a sucker along.

Having said that, I have talked with dealers and players that use the system set up in 2+2, (I can’t recall the name) and they are reporting consistent wins, and are getting paid off. So I guess it is just a risk if you want to take it.

“Online Poker Tips” by 3 Bet Brett
Since I have recently begun dabbling in online poker, I thought I would give you a few pointers to help you fit in online when you decide to try it.
1. This is the most important point, so naturally I list it first. Never ever ever, no matter what it costs to call, or what your hole cards are, never give up your blind. Those guys that are raising you don’t have anything anyway. You just need to catch a flop. Then teach them a lesson.
2. Don’t get hung up on starting hand requirements. Really. Any two will do. Especially if they are suited. Don’t ever fold suited cards. You’re never that far behind in Holdem, so get in there and play.
3. If you manage to catch a pair on the flop, even if it is bottom pair, you must go to the river. Maybe even throw in a raise or two. Those other guys probably just have AK. Don’t let them run over you.

“Blind Skipping” by KJS
I have played about 10 hours on Paradise Poker and have noticed that some players have a tendency to sit out when they are in the blinds and re-enter the game with a post after they button is passed them, thus they don’t have to play out of the blinds–the worst position post-flop. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? Is it explicitly against the rules of PP? Seems like a player who was slightly dishonest and looking for an angle would do this every round if he was not at risk of losing the right to play there.

“Randomness at paradise poker?” by KJS
I must say that I am not much for conspiracies, nor am I implying there is one is this case but I just saw something in a 5-10 game at Paradise that seemed waaaaaaaaay beyond mathematical expectation. I have played about 20 hours there and it is starting to make me wonder. Seems like those who have written that the boards are more coordinated than one would assume using probability might have something. How about the game I just left.
6 consecutive hands: 4 full houses and one quads!! Including boat over boat twice in a row and boat over nut flush once. The board paired in every instance, two paired once and tripled up once. Almost every case included pretty descent to excellent starting hands. Hmmmmmmm.

“Developing bad habits online” by Juan Carlos
I have been playing at Paradise quite a lot over the last months and have noticed that I am developing some bad real-life habits.
At the computer I am constantly saying things out loud like “Come on heart!! heart heart heart!! F!@#!!!”. Rooting for cards, screaming obscenities when they don’t hit, etc.
For the first time in a long time, I went to a real game last night and found myself almost doing the same thing.

“Dying Rich” by Jakell
I have been doing pretty good gambling on the internet lately and have a couple three thousand dollars spread out on different poker and sports books sites. I like to keep the money in the accounts rather than cash out so I don’t have to go into my pocket to play.
My question, for you lawyer types is, what happens if I die or otherwise become incapacitated? How do my beneficiaries get this money? (I’m at the age where I have to think of these things.)

“Paradise Poker Teacher Wanted. Will Pay” by Joe
I am looking for someone to let me look over their shoulder while they play Holdem on Paradise Poker. I will consider going anywhere but prefer to stay in Texas. They must prove beforehand that they win on Paradise Poker. Price negotiable…

“ParadisePoker is crooked. Here is the proof” by Vadim
The same few people seem to win much more money than the rest. Are they better players? Could be.
On last Saturday I finally got one of these two players to play heads up against me. Unless he was a psychic, he simply knew my cards. He folded 2 showing kings at exactly the moment I got a J to my pocket Jacks, he raised me with Ts and 4s when I had 9s and 2s, when I had 3 of the same suit showing, he folded if I had a flush, and stayed if I didn’t. After that I was absolutely convinced that the game was crooked.

“Our response” by Paradise Poker
We try to stay out of public forums whenever possible, but when our good name is slandered we must come forward and present the facts.
The fact is that the contents of the Vadim posting are untrue. His posting is an attempt to follow through on his threat to slander us if we did not refund his losses after his account was closed. He NEVER wrote us any email stating his “findings”, as they never occurred – it is a slanderous fabrication on his behalf.
After we closed his account, he stated to us in his final email:
“And here is the posting that will appear tonight everywhere on Internet. Try to convince anyone that it is not the truth.”

“Re: Anyone else making money?” by Old Pro
Playing poker online is so boring and the action is so hard to follow that I find myself wondering how long it can last.

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In 2004, Tom Dwan made his first deposit to Paradise Poker. The same year, the company was sold to the British gambling operator Sportingbet for $297 million.

In 2006, the Bahama Islands held the Conquest of Paradise Island tournament series organized by the poker room. Brian Malczewski triumphed in the Main Event, earning $500,000.

In 2010, Sportingbet had to pay a fine of $33 million due to an illegal gambling lawsuit in the USA. The following year, Paradise Poker became part of the Ongame Network.

From 2009 to 2012, the operator held the Paradise Poker Tour with stops taking place in different European capitals. Now, Paradise Poker is shut down.

But the actual leader in poker changed back in 2003. PartyPoker moved to the forefront.

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This article was prepared by editorial office from 2CardsCollege Pro Poker Training. Join the club!