anyone have experience in starting a poker website?

**BenBale** · 08-09-2006 09:37 AM

Hello,

I am considering the idea of starting a poker website like www.partypoker.com and many other sites around.

Has anyone ever done this before? Is there some sort of software you can buy where its all set up and you just brand your poker room?

If so does anyone have any details?

Thanks in advance

Ben

**extremeprofits** · 08-09-2006 10:17 AM

I was interested in making a poker site cause I always play online poker. Well you do get pretty good money when people sign up for you, yet it does take time. I was thinking myself to run a online poker business like partypoker, but it costs around $100,000.

It sounds like a good idea, I think they do provide you some stuff to help you set up the page.

Jon

**BenBale** · 08-09-2006 11:21 AM

well all the poker websites software it looks the same just different logos, so there must be a package out there thats the same or similar you can just brand.

dont know how much that would cost, and as for $100,000 to start it thats abit steep. like i said i dont know how much the software would cost but the server you run it from would cost about £3000 a year maybe more for the best server money can buy.

i have a plan for the site to make it different from other sites to encourage people to join. also have a very catchy name thats not copyrighted (like trade mark) so if i did do this i would trade mark the name get the domain, get my web design team to make the website and link it up with the software package, then theres registering the company, getting someone who will do the yearly accounts etc... maybe have to hire staff and get a small office for telephone support etc...

then im guessing there would be lisenses i have to apply for here in the UK, seen as poker is gambling.

anyone got any more info?

**Lex** · 08-09-2006 12:06 PM

Actually $100k is cheap, you can normally buy poker room software like that for around half a million. Normally millions if you want fully custom made and secure as possible.

The cheapest option would be to ask a poker ring like prima poker to add a site to there selection however this is like $200k. And your servers would be more than that.

**BenBale** · 08-09-2006 12:08 PM

where did you get that infomation from lex?

**POW** · 08-09-2006 01:52 PM

Poker is dying. Do some research on it, if that still didn't convince you to spend your time on something better, send me a message and ill tell you why online pokers future is looking as bright as Titanic's.

**kbud124** · 08-09-2006 05:08 PM

dont forget, you will need a significant budget for advertising.. a poker site is only as good as the number of players on it.

**Morpheus** · 08-09-2006 05:15 PM

Hmm...I think the market is flooded..

**NeeJam** · 08-09-2006 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by POW

Poker is dying. Do some research on it, if that still didn't convince you to spend your time on something better, send me a message and ill tell you why online pokers future is looking as bright as Titanic's.

Poker is one of the best paying keywords currently

But if your thinking of setting up a poker site you better not live in america because of those laws ''you'll get shut down and a few feds at your door''(quoted off a namepros member, when we were chatting about making one in chat). So your gonna have to move to like somewhere where those laws don't exist, and make sure you use a host that will allow you to run this type of site, so your gonna probably have to get your own server too!

**spyro** · 08-09-2006 06:03 PM

The laws on poker in the US are not very conducive to online gambling. I think the online poker market is pretty flooded and that you would have to fill some kind of niche.

**youngmoneyblog** · 08-09-2006 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by spyro

The laws on poker in the US are not very conducive to online gambling. I think the online poker market is pretty flooded and that you would have to fill some kind of niche.

I believe there are laws in the US government right now to ban online poker. In any case, I also believe all the gambling websites are based/incorporated outside the U.S. for legalality purposes.

**POW** · 08-09-2006 09:07 PM

I have got some questions via PM why I said poker is dying, ill give you my opinion here instead of replying to everyone.

1. I would say this is the number one reason poker is dying is that everyone and everyone's friend is trying to squeeze the last penny out of the poker players. The bad thing doe for us, trying to make money, is that there is a limited amount of poker players in the world. The key for creating a very successful business is to offer something that many people need but few offer, in online poker that is not the case. The poker companies are going mad over their potential customers, paying extreme amounts of their profits to advertisements (as n-james mentioned earlier, poker is one of the best paying keywords which means poker companies are among the most paying ones).

2. In Sweden a poker chip set were the most bought Christmas gift of the year last Christmas. Will it be next Christmas to? Hardly not. People tire and search for new things. Instead of focusing on last years most popular Christmas gift, why not sit down and try to figure out what will be NEXT years most bought gift (or anything at all that will be popular in the future). Now that is where the real money lies.

3. I have a few friends who play poker online, but i have dozens of friends who use poker sites in a complete different matter. Tax evasion. And does the government like that? No... The inspection of poker sites are getting tougher and thougher by the hour which makes it harder for you to operate a poker site. Wich in the end punishes the players.

**E320** · 08-10-2006 11:54 AM

Somehow strange that if this soft cost so much, why then they are useing people models from POSER.

**CardCat** · 08-10-2006 02:24 PM

If you are looking to profit from poker, look at a different model. Check out www.snbpoker.com. I helped them out a little with marketing.

Buy some tables and chips and offer free poker at bars/restaurants. Players get points for participating and more for finishing high. Bars pay you to come in a run the tournaments. They figure if someone is there playing poker for 2-4 hours, they are buying drinks and food. Then offer prizes for the winners, etc. US State laws vary on whether you can offer certain prizes like cash, so check it out first in your state.

Then get an affiliate deal with Full Tilt or someone else and get money if your players play on line.