According to the PokerScout Scouting Report, the last four years have shown a shift in player preferences on PokerStars in terms of the stakes they play. Looking at levels that range from $0.01/$0.02 to $2/$4, the shift has shown a predominance toward lower-stakes play. From 2010 to 2013, play at $0.02/$0.05 showed an increase of 55% and, looking at the 2013 to 2014 comparison, the $0.01/$0.02 tables have shown an increase of 12%.

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Compare that to play at the higher end of the scale. From 2010 to 2013, play at $1/$2 and $2/$4 dropped by 37% and 44%, respectively. In 2013 to 2014, play at $1/$level was flat, but $2/$4 fell by 13%. This drop-off was consistent from $0.02/$0.05 to $2/$4, especially over the 2013 to 2014 comparison.

The reasons for this could be twofold. New players coming in don’t quite have the bankroll to jump into the higher-stakes games; thus, they focus their attention on the lower end of the spectrum. It could also signify a shift in online poker trends toward a more recreational player in cash games rather than players who are looking to generate a potential second income.

The PokerScout report pointed out the problem these results can generate: “When players migrate to lower stakes, the operator loses revenue in the form of rake. The ongoing long-term decrease in liquidity is also costing PokerStars a significant amount of income.”

PokerStars’ rake has remained relatively steady over the four years of analysis. While players have increased, the rake generated has remained steady, but dropped slightly. In the report, PokerScout has been able to point out why this is the case.

Fast-fold poker continues to rise in popularity,” the report stated. “With Zoom Poker tables dealing 2.5/3 times as many hands per hour, the average number hands dealt per player has greatly increased. With that comes an increase in rake per player.” To paint the picture fully, the PokerScout report cited that PokerStars, despite a 4% drop in players and the shift to lower-stakes play, has only lost approximately 1% in rake during 2014.

PokerStars remains the dominant force in the online poker industry. According to PokerScout, PokerStars has a seven-day average of 20,000 cash game players (peaking at 32,507 over the past 24 hours, rankings pictured). To give an idea of how much of an advantage that is, you have to add together the next 24 online poker rooms’ seven-day averages to reach 20,000.

As PokerStars continues to enjoy its prosperity, the PokerScout report did have some warning signs for the site. “It is difficult to say which of the trends have more staying power, but clearly each has its limits,” the report stated. “Common sense says that if the liquidity decline continues, as it theoretically could for quite some time, increasing fast-fold popularity will eventually be unable to make up the difference.”

PokerScout’s Scouting Report is a daily newsletter for the online poker industry, with in-depth data and analysis of the market. More information can be found by clicking here or contacting support@pokerscout.com.

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