Who Will Be the Next PokerStars?

It's an interesting question that a lot of people are asking post-Black Friday as so many online poker sites shut down .  Is the online poker giant truly that vulnerable and –  if so –  who could be in line to replace PokerStars at the top of the online poker heap?

Party Poker is certainly a viable contender.  Having rebounded from the tragic impact of the UIGEA, Party boasts substantial liquidity, a situation the recent merger with bWin will only improve.  With that additional player base and the full financial strength of a publicly traded company, Party Poker could easily become a real threat to PokerStars' long-held spot at the summit.

The iPoker network could also make a substantial run at the top as PokerStars shuts down, as they already have quite a solid player base, a quality reputation, and a hoard of affiliates that –  if properly motivated –  could send a surge of traffic through their doors.  This network may be uniquely positioned to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding the current situation as players who are no from the US still decide to re-evaluate where they play.

Many people believe the eventual successor to PokerStars has yet to really assert themselves in the sphere.  We're speaking here, of course, of the Caesar's 800  lb gorilla, which has only recently began to push into real-money operations overseas.  While obviously dependent on the notoriously slow pace of legislation and regulation before they can go global, you simply cannot dismiss the power of the WSOP parent brand, an asset that could allow them to easily capture the lion's share of the US market when legislation eventually does push through at the Federal level.

There's another possibility that some aren't considering –  namely, that the “new” PokerStars could simply replace the old one at the top of the traffic list.  People who are quick to count out PokerStars must ignore the intimidating array of tools at their disposal, including a player base that dwarves competitors, strong footholds in many emerging markets, and a lobby that, even lacking US traffic, still produces an amazing amount of rake.  That rake, more than anything else, could allow Stars to fight off what will no doubt be a horde of competitors in the coming weeks and months.

The online poker industry is no doubt headed for a significant shakeup as the fallout from Black Friday continues. Whether that shakeup re-shuffles the power structure or simple moves some pieces around will be the ultimate question to consider.