Club WPT
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www.clubwpt.com Club WPT Yes good |
Current Signup Code – ALTERWPT
ClubWPT is a subscription based poker room, and as such, does not require a deposit to play there. Instead, you have the option of two membership types; one a free subscription for limited use of the room or a basic monthly fee of $19.95 (can be lower if you take the 3 or 12 month option) which allows you to play an unlimited amount of games per month including promotions worth up to $100,000 and satellites for entries to live WPT events (more information on the membership options can be found below). There are guaranteed money tournaments available every day for VIP members and freerolls that offer cash or satellite prizes. All this is included within the one monthly VIP membership fee.
When you create your account, you will begin on a 2 week free trial which gives you plenty of time to check out the room and try your hand at a few games and tournaments. After that, you will be invited to subscribe to one of the membership levels. Subscriptions, are of course, completely optional to the player.
Software – good
This is basically the old UltimateBet system without the security bugs that the former room suffered. I always liked this software, even if it does seem a little old-fashioned, simply because everything works well and there are little or no time outs. There are plenty of customization possiblilities and expandable or tiled table options.
Playability – very good
The lobby is simple enough to get around and the tables are easy on the eye with your pockets cards nicely enlarged and centered on the table. One minor quibble, would be the positioning of the action buttons (just above the centered chat box) but i didn’t find it a major distraction. Before you start entering games, it’s important to check your membership level and understand how each tournament or ring game works. Information about entry levels, blind structures, prize pools and more, can be found on the ClubWPT Homepage.
Traffic – good
Freeroll tournaments have low prize pools and high turnouts but the VIP membership games, especially the guarantees are great value for the monthly fee. There is plenty of action around the ring tables too although SNG’s can prove to be a little scarce in numbers.
Support – very good
Should you win any cash ClubWPT require that you e-mail, fax or mail proof of your age (photo-copy of ID) to them before proceeding. Response time is usually pretty good and the service friendly. Cash out speed can be a little slow but without any major problems.
Summary – good
ClubWPT is by far, the most successful of the subscription based online poker rooms. Partnered with the World Poker Tour© brand and endorsed by those well known faces of poker, Mike Sexton and Vince Van Pattern certainly helps and it’s certainly good to know that this unique room, is 100% legal for US citizens to play due to it’s club style membership plan. More detailed information on exactly why ClubWPT is legal can be found easily on the sites homepage.
Every night, there are daily guaranteed tournaments including lower limit $20 or $50 game right up to and including the $500 or $1000 tournaments. The Monthly $10,000 Guarantee is the big one and well worth the $19.95 subscription in itself. You can also choose to simply play with the free membership and there are still chances with this plan to win free money although you will really have to grind hard to build a bankroll and ring games are only available as play money.
If you intend to make ClubWPT your home, i think the VIP Membership is a must and value for money. The VIP level is subject to your state or territory (more on this below) and you will find out if you aren’t eligible for VIP status when you sign-up, and well before you need to choose which membership plan to take.
Membership Plans: Basic Membership | Free
A Basic Membership is completely free and it gives you access to play poker in daily “freeroll” tournaments as well as get inside access to the World Poker Tour. Inside access gives a member the resources to improve his/her game:
• An Introduction into Texas Hold ‘Em Poker including Videos with Amanda Leatherman
• Online Access to the Poker Odds Calculator
• Hand Rankings & Poker Glossary
• Online Access to Antonio Esfandiari’s In the Money
• Advanced Strategies from Poker Pros
• Access to Features & Articles
• Access to 10 Questions segment with Poker Pros
Membership Plans: VIP Membership | $19.95/month or less
VIP members play for over $100,000 in cash & prizes every month. Look for the “gold chip” for VIP member benefits. Eligibility is based on on your state’s current sweepstakes laws (see more below) and not the size of your bankroll. In addition to the benefits of a basic membership, VIP members get full access inside the World Poker Tour featuring:
• Unlimited Tournament Play at no cost other than the subscription price
• Over $100,000 in monthly sweepstakes cash & prizes
• Full Commercial-Free WPT Season IX Episodes Online & Bonus footage
• Online Access to WPT Poker magazine
• Las Vegas Discounts & Access to Anthony Curtis’ Las Vegas Advisor Guide
• Cool Digital Downloads and Assets like: Ringtones, Wallpapers, Screensavers and Avatars
Other VIP Membership Subscriptions Available:3 month $53.85 / 12 month $179.40
Note: Eligibility for VIP Membership is based on the State or Territory you reside in. State laws determine the guidelines for the sweepstakes laws and if your state does not allow for sweepstakes games then it is deemed inelgible and you cannot participate in the online poker tournaments. However, you can still create a free account and access great features like poker articles and episodes of ClubWPT Season 1.
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