Last month, Full Tilt Poker announced its plans to cater more to casual poker players than professionals. Now, another major online poker operator has followed suit, as Party Poker has launched its Poker for the People initiative.

What Is Poker for the People?

The new Poker for the People campaign aims to level the playing field for all players at Party Poker. At many online poker sites, professional and experienced players are able to target casual players for a profit, which tends to discourage less experienced players from engaging in poker games online.

So, Party Poker wants to ensure that all players are able to have an enjoyable experience. To do this, the site will implement a number of changes to the software.

“Many of the tools and tactics that professionals use to maximize their edge have made the games too difficult for new players to survive,” says Tony Dunst, an Ambassador for Party Poker. “I think these changes will help level the playing field for casual players, and preserve the quality of games for professionals.”

Hand Histories

Players will be able to view their hand histories from the last year. However, the will not be able to download or save hand histories to their computers or mobile devices. 

Random Cash Game Seating

Players will no longer able to select their own tables when playing cash games. They will be placed on a room-wide waiting list, and they will randomly be seated when a seat becomes available at a table that suits their gaming preferences. This presents players from choosing tables based on the skill level of the other players.

Anonymous Players

When a player sits down at a cash game table, the names of the other players will be hidden. The player will not be able to see any usernames until the first hand is dealt. This also aims to prevent players from choosing table with less experienced players.

Results For Other Newly Recreational Poker Sites

Recently, UniBet and Full Tilt Poker have also shifted to a more recreational focus. Since starting its transition, UniBet has seen a 12% increase in profits. For Full Tilt Poker, it is still too soon to tell how the changes are effecting the site.

The operator has implemented a number of changes: lower maximum cash game stakes, removing heads up games, and removing table selection. These changes could have a dramatic effect on the site’s profits, and we are eager to see how players respond.