Revamped ClubWPT Gold Launches California Game Days

A refreshed ClubWPT Gold is back in action in California, this time with a brand new business model, promising better players’ experiences. Unlike its competitors (Stake.us, Global Poker, and Clubs Poker), the popular social poker site didn’t completely exit California; instead, it restructured, cancelled the typical dual-currency model, and introduced ‘California Game Days’. 

California Game Days is a simple yet fun workaround to a legal roadblock—players can only initiate redemptions every 9 days monthly, while positioning its website as a “poker training platform”.

There’s Something New to Play at ClubWPT Beginning January 1st

January 1st was a day of reset for California and the gaming industry. It’s the start of the official ban of sweepstakes casinos and gambling platforms built on the dual-currency model. Days before the ban, a few operators had exited or had completely shut down.

But it’s a different story for ClubWPT Gold; instead of an exit, the operator has repurposed the site into a poker training platform and introduced its California Game Days.

Here are the salient features of ClubWPT Gold:

• California Game Days let players test their poker skills

• Players can win Chips that are redeemable in the site’s tourneys and ring games

• Players have nine (9) days to redeem these Chips

• Chips collected beyond the nine-day window are still valid for gameplay, but can’t be redeemed

• Unused Chips don’t roll over into the next month

Keeping tabs on the available Chips is made easier thanks to ClubWPT Gold’s wallet. A player’s wallet features two balances, one for Redeemable Chips and the other for Unredeemable Chips.

What’s the Reason Behind the Business Model Revamp?

ClubWPT Gold’s decision to revamp its business model is due to the ban on sweepstakes casinos, courtesy of AB 831. In response to this ban, ClubWPT Gold ditched the dual-currency model and now positions its website as a poker education and training platform.

Here, players can test their poker skills, play games, and claim Chips within California’s gaming laws. The workaround taps into AB 831’s rule on “limited and occasional” promos.

Currently, the program is active and generally operates within the law. No charges, cease-and-desist orders, or enforcement actions have been made as of January 22nd.

However, ClubWPT Gold’s model isn’t safe—if regulators and consumer advocacy groups found that Game Days become more frequent and chips are used for gambling, then there’s a possibility of another regulatory scrutiny.

REFERENCES:

• ClubWPT Gold