The Winning Poker Network (WPN) debuted in 2001 as the MyPokerNetwork, making it one of the oldest online poker networks.
WPN started dealing cards in 2001 with its first flagship skin, Americas Cardroom
The debut of the MyPokerNetwork under the Dobrosoft software platform introduced a cluster of smaller rooms, such as Aloha Poker, Casual Poker, DSI Poker, Live Action Poker, and others to the online poker scene.
At the time of its launch, major online poker sites like Paradise Poker, Ultimate Bet, PokerStars, and Party Poker were already established. Paradise Poker quickly emerged as a dominant force, dealing over 177,000,000 hands within just under two years.
Following four years on the Dobrosoft platform, Americas Cardroom and a few smaller skins transitioned to the larger OnGame network, which included popular rooms like PokerRoom.com. Americas Cardroom operated within the OnGame network for two years before OnGame exited the U.S. market.
Americas Cardroom moves to the Yatahay Network in 2007
Americas Cardroom made another move, this time joining the Yatahay Network. Instead of retaining their flagship room name, they shifted their players to an existing room called True Poker and put Americas Cardroom on hold temporarily. In 2007, some smaller skins affiliated with sportsbooks in San Jose, Costa Rica were added to the Yatahay Network.
True Poker gained early success in 2002-2003, being the first online poker site to introduce 3D graphics. However, as Yatahay’s software aged, other US-facing sites like PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Ultimate Bet gained a significant portion of the market, leaving the Yatahay Network relatively small.
Yatahay Network purchases Doyle’s Room in 2007
In 2011, a significant shift occurred in the online poker industry. On April 15th, 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice delivered indictments that led other sites to halt their operations in the United States, an event now known as ‘Black Friday’ in the poker community. This turn of events positioned Yatahay as one of the few remaining poker networks serving U.S. players. Moreover, in the same year, the Yatahay Network acquired Doyle’s Room, a site established by the legendary poker player Doyle Brunson, often hailed as the “Godfather of Poker.”
Despite these positive moves, Yatahay faced a similar fate to its competitors. On May 23rd, 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland issued indictments that resulted in the shutdown of 10 internet domain names, including those belonging to Yatahay Network sites. This event came to be known as ‘Blue Monday.’
Winning Poker Network debuts
Instead of exiting the U.S. market, the choice was made to rebrand the network as the Winning Poker Network and rebuild from the ground up.
The Timeline
Americas Cardroom history
Bringing big poker back to the U.S. market
Following ‘Blue Monday’, Doyle’s Room decided to depart from WPN, leaving Americas Cardroom, the original name used on the DobroSoft platform, to become the new flagship skin.
WPN ensured that all its players received their balances in light of the expected “run on the banks” that ensued after the indictments. The network then initiated the rebuilding process.
Hiring an exciting new CEO
At this time, the network appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, Phil Nagy, who had extensive online poker experience. Having been an avid poker player before the game ever transitioned online, he brought a player’s perspective that proved invaluable to helping to create many of the innovations that lay ahead for the network. The first order of business was changing the software from their dated 3D client into a more functional version that would allow for the kind of growth Nagy envisioned.
New software introduced in 2011
In 2011, Yatahay shifted to leasing software from the Bulgarian-based software provider IGSoft, which was more modern and competitive compared to their previous software.
To reinvigorate player interest and incentivize their return, the network focused on creating a promotional and tournament schedule.
Acknowledging PokerStars’ success in attracting players through an expanding tournament offering, WPN adopted a similar strategy to attract more players.
In 2019, the Winning Poker Network migrated to the SJH platform, moving away from their previous software. The new HTML5-based software enabled the network to generate new product concepts 10 times faster than their previous C++ platform.
Americas Cardroom’s transformation
Americas Cardroom had a complete transformation in 2023, unveiling an updated website and software, focused on delivering a premium user experience.
The update provided a smooth and customizable experience for players, with easy access to tailored promotions, tournaments, and a product portfolio catered to their game preferences.
Logo changes over the years
The original Americas Cardroom branding featured a classic design incorporating all four poker suits until a more streamlined version was introduced in 2010.
The brand’s redesign coincided with the Winning Poker Network’s revival of the brand in the same year, with a focus on a clear and timeless expression.
In the previous logo, Americas Cardroom included a star symbolizing excellence and a red spade, the most powerful poker suit, to signify the company’s endurance and progress throughout the years.
The current logo, unveiled in 2023, showcases a sleek star design presented in various colors to symbolize the company’s adaptability and continued innovation in a rapidly evolving industry.
Live Events history
Over the years, many online poker players have made the Winning Poker Network their home. While they have enjoyed WPN’s products and services, their desire to attend land-based or live events remained unfulfilled.
To address this, WPN began awarding packages to events like the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas. However, a better solution arose in the form of hosting their own sponsored live events. Here’s a look back at the history of these events throughout the years.
Latin Poker Series
The series initially premiered in 2009 under the name Latin Series of Poker (LSOP) but underwent a rebranding in July 2014, becoming the Latin Poker Series. The series was created to provide players with the opportunity to participate in live events held in various exotic Latin American locations each year.
A notable highlight of the series was a $500,000 guaranteed tournament in Peru in 2013. Additionally, the LPS Millions II in Panama in 2014 featured a $1 million guaranteed tournament, with multiple Day 1 venues including Panama, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Chile.
The Latin Poker Series concluded in late 2014, although one of its events, the Punta Cana Poker Classic, continued for several more years. More information about this tournament from the Dominican Republic can be found below.
Punta Cana Poker Classic
The Punta Cana Poker Classic (PCPC) was an annual live poker event that took place in the Dominican Republic from 2010 to 2017.
As the main sponsor, the Winning Poker Network awarded numerous full packages through online satellites, which covered the buy-in, airfare, hotel accommodation, and unlimited food and drink.
The PCPC was held at two different 5-star locations. For the first six years, it took place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and for the final two years, it was moved to the Melia Caribe Tropical.
Over the years, the Punta Cana Poker Classic attracted well-known poker personalities, including Doyle Brunson in the inaugural edition and Josh Beckley, the 2nd-place finisher in the 2015 WSOP Main Event, who attended in 2016.
The Cage Live
In 2018, the decision was made to transition from the Punta Cana Poker Classic to a land-based event in San Jose, Costa Rica, organized by the Winning Poker Network. This move aimed to allow players to visit WPN’s offices, experience their day-to-day operations, and meet the teams responsible for the network’s products, promotions, and support.
The Cage Live event was established as a result, based on WPN’s online Cage time-based cash game in a tournament format. While the online version lasts exactly five hours, the Cage Live is a 2-day event featuring six hours of play on both Saturday and Sunday. The buy-in for the Cage Live is higher at $5,250, compared to $1,050 for the online version, and players have their chips converted to real cash when time expires.
To make the Cage Live accessible, WPN awards packages every Sunday through special Beast and Sit & Crush Cage Live satellites, with each package including the buy-in, accommodations at the 5-star Taormina Hotel, airfare, and spending cash.
The Cage Live event has been well-received, running six times in 2018 and 2019 with mostly Hold’em versions and some PLO tournaments. Players appreciate the poker action offered at the Cage Live event, as well as the vibrant party scene in San Jose, promoted heavily by WPN.
Due to the global pandemic, WPN temporarily suspended the Cage Live promotion, but it made a triumphant return in 2023, attracting a significant response from players, including well-known Americas Cardroom Pros and CEO, Phil Nagy.
Punta del Este Satellites
In 2022, the Winning Poker Network (WPN) introduced the Punta del Este Satellites promotion as a new opportunity for players to experience live poker in an exotic destination. The promotion allows package winners to compete in the Main Event of the Enjoy Poker Series held in Uruguay. Each prize package includes travel expenses and accommodations at the upscale Enjoy Punta del Este Resort and Casino situated on Uruguay’s Atlantic Coast.
Winners of the Punta del Este promotion not only get the chance to participate in the Enjoy Poker Series but also enjoy the excitement and luxury experiences offered both on and off the poker tables at the 5-star resort.
High Stakes Adventures
In 2023, WPN began awarding High Stakes packages for the Super High Roller Series, which are valued at over $100,000. The winners of these packages have the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best players in prestigious locations such as Cyprus, Vietnam, and London.
This presents a unique chance for players to participate in high-stakes poker events in prime global destinations, showcasing their skills on an international stage.
Innovative Promotions
Recognizing the importance of maintaining a robust lineup of tournaments, WPN has made it a priority to continuously innovate and introduce new poker products to enhance their game selection.
This commitment extends to both cash games and tournaments, as evidenced by the introduction of the following promotions.
Welcome Bonus
Americas Cardroom greets new players with a generous 100% bonus up to $2,000 on their initial deposit, making it the most rewarding Welcome Bonus in the online poker industry.
The Beast
Launched in August 2013, The Beast was introduced by the Winning Poker Network as a replacement for its well-known Bad Beat Jackpot. This change aimed to provide more players with regular opportunities to earn larger rewards. The transition from the Bad Beat Jackpot to The Beast eliminated chance and introduced a points race for cash game players, offering all participants the opportunity to win.
Players accrue points when they play in The Beast, contributing to a leaderboard that distributes thousands of dollars in cash and tournament seats to the highest-ranking players. Initially established as a monthly competition, The Beast later evolved into a weekly race, allowing players to pursue rewards on a more frequent basis. Notably, there is no additional fee for participation in The Beast, as the prize pool is financed from the existing rake collected by WPN. As of now, The Beast has disbursed over $35 million in rewards.
Sit & Crush
Launched in December 2013, Sit & Crush serves as the Winning Poker Network’s equivalent of The Beast, catering specifically to Sit & Go and tournament players. Just as The Beast rewards top point earners in cash games, Sit & Crush recognizes and rewards high-performing players in tournaments. Initially introduced as a monthly leaderboard competition, it later transitioned to a weekly race, mirroring the format of The Beast. As of now, Sit & Crush has distributed over $8 million in rewards.
MO MO MO PLO
The Winning Poker Network has garnered a dedicated community of Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) players, and in December 2015, the network sought to show appreciation to this player base. As a result, the MO MO MO PLO promotion was introduced, offering an array of online poker tournaments, cash games, and jackpots specifically tailored for PLO players. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to create personal bonuses. This highly anticipated promotion has since become an annual tradition, returning each December.
High Five Tournament Series
In November 2013, the Winning Poker Network introduced The High Five, a 420-themed online poker series designed to pay homage to the 420 community and celebrate all things “green.” The original series showcased a $420,000 guaranteed Main Event and included a “courtesy break” scheduled for 4:20pm ET. Maintaining this tradition, subsequent series have continued to uphold the 420 theme and capture the spirit of the community.
Online Super Series
Originally created as the WPN’s virtual equivalent of the World Series of Poker, the Online Super Series (OSS) was packed with numerous tournaments spanning several weeks and boasting substantial prize pool guarantees, often reaching millions. It was common to feature a Main Event with guarantees ranging from $250,000 to $500,000. Over time, the Winning Poker Network increased the guarantees, including multiple Main Events guaranteeing over $1,000,000. Notably, in 2023, the series achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the $50 million guaranteed mark for the first time.
Mini Online Super Series
To cater to micro-stakes players, the Winning Poker Network launched a scaled-down version of the Online Super Series (OSS) in November 2012. Tailored to appeal to players with smaller bankrolls, the Mini Online Super Series featured a schedule packed with numerous tournaments. This initiative aimed to provide an exciting tournament experience for players at lower stakes. The Mini Online Super Series quickly gained popularity among the poker community, often surpassing its guaranteed prize pool expectations.
OSS Cub3d
Building on the success of the Online Super Series and Mini Online Super Series, WPN combined these two series periodically, and later introduced the Bigger Online Super Series to the lineup. The first fusion of these series, known as the OSS Cub3d, was launched in July 2016, and the network has since organized many additional editions of this popular series. The OSS Cub3d typically starts with the Mini Online Super Series (MOSS), moves on to the Online Super Series (OSS), and ends with the Bigger Online Super Series (BOSS). Recent iterations of the OSS Cub3d have featured multiple tournaments guaranteeing over $1 million on both the OSS and BOSS schedules.
Freebuy Super Series
Freerolls have been a standard feature at online poker sites for almost two decades, offering real money prizes but usually limited in size. Typically, a few thousand players compete for a prize pool of just $100. In July 2015, WPN introduced Freebuy tournaments, which combine elements of both freerolls and buy-in tournaments. Players enter for free, but have the option to rebuy for real money or purchase an add-on if they run low on chips. To introduce Freebuys to players, WPN launched the Freebuy Super Series, comprised of freebuy tournaments that offered $150,000 in guarantees.
Million Dollar Sunday
Prior to Black Friday in 2011, the US online poker scene was thriving with regular appearances of six-figure and even million-dollar tournaments. However, after the events of Black Friday, guarantees plummeted with weekly tournaments topping out at around $50k or $100k in the United States. But in February 2015, the Winning Poker Network changed the scene with the Million Dollar Sunday, a $1 million poker tournament that was held frequently. At one point, the Winning Poker Network made this tournament a weekly event, losing hundreds of thousands of dollars each week. However, as the player base grew, the overlays became fewer, and the tournament was eventually replaced with multiple events. Unfortunately, it was eventually discontinued in 2022.
Million Dollar Jackpots
The 3-man Hyper-Turbo Sit & Go format, where players have the chance to spin for a $1 Million prize, rapidly became a popular choice among players. In this format, players select their buy-in, and once three players are seated at the table, the prize is revealed through a spinning mechanism. This unique and exciting format has attracted many players due to the potential for substantial winnings and the fast-paced nature of the gameplay.
$10 Million Venom
Following a series of successful $1 million Venom tournaments and the rapid growth of the poker network, WPN hosted the $5 Million Venom in the summer of 2019. Leading up to this multi-day event, WPN sites invested heavily in marketing, offering $0 Step tournaments to help players secure their seats for free. The effort paid off as the $5 Million Venom set a record for the number of entries and ultimately paid out a record $6,382,500 in prize money. The network also secured the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the largest cryptocurrency winning jackpot in an online poker tournament, with a $1,050,650 Bitcoin payout. Today, the Venom has a regular guarantee of $10 Million and has even held one at $12.5 Million, further solidifying its status as a premier event in the online poker world.
Cryptocurrency changes everything
The challenges faced by online poker players, especially in terms of payment processing, were significant in the post-Black Friday and Blue Monday era. In many regions, intricate banking restrictions and regulations made depositing funds into online poker accounts a complicated and uncertain process. Even players in jurisdictions where online poker was legal encountered obstacles when trying to fund their accounts.
The unpredictability of payment processors and card issuers often resulted in rejected deposits, frustrating players and potentially causing them to miss out on tournaments and promotions. Withdrawals were also plagued by delays, with players facing uncertainties and delays in receiving their winnings due to various intermediaries involved in the process.
While third-party electronic wallets were an option for transactions, they were perceived as slow, inconvenient, and expensive by players. The reluctance of casual players to navigate through these services highlighted the need for a more seamless and efficient payment solution in the online poker industry.
The Winning Poker Network took a progressive step in late 2014 by embracing blockchain technology and welcoming bitcoin as a payment method. By leveraging the decentralized nature of bitcoin, WPN provided players with a secure, efficient, and transparent payment option that bypassed traditional banking intermediaries. This move towards cryptocurrency integration helped alleviate the payment processing challenges faced by players, offering a more seamless and reliable transaction experience in the online poker ecosystem.
2015: First cryptocurrency transaction accepted
High Stakes Adventures
When the Winning Poker Network (WPN) first accepted cryptocurrency transactions in January 2015, Bitcoin had yet to gain mainstream recognition. Despite this, WPN recognized the potential of Bitcoin to address their payment processing challenges and quickly embraced it as a solution.
The integration of Bitcoin allowed players at WPN sites to experience significant improvements in the efficiency of funding their accounts and withdrawing winnings. Transactions that previously took days or weeks could now be completed in a matter of minutes, providing players with a much more seamless and timely experience. The decentralized nature of Bitcoin also eliminated the reliance on complex regulations or the uncertainties associated with traditional intermediaries, offering players increased convenience, speed, privacy, security, and affordability.
Recognizing the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies both globally and within the online gaming community, the Winning Poker Network expanded its support for crypto rapidly. This expansion included not only the heavy promotion of Bitcoin starting in late 2017 but also the acceptance of 60 different cryptocurrency options. This move provided players with unprecedented flexibility and further solidified WPN’s commitment to embracing and leveraging the potential of cryptocurrency within the online poker industry.
Cryptocurrencies comprise 60% of transactions
In 2023, the Winning Poker Network decided to streamline their cryptocurrency selection to focus only on major coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether. This change allowed for even faster processing speeds to accommodate the growing number of cryptocurrency transactions on the network.
Cryptocurrencies have become an integral part of the Winning Poker Network’s business, with 60% of all transactions conducted using cryptocurrencies by 2019. Even though conventional payment methods are still accepted, the percentage of crypto transactions continues to grow rapidly, highlighting the increasing popularity of cryptocurrencies as a viable payment option for online poker players.
To ensure player convenience, all cash games and tournaments on the Winning Poker Network take place exclusively in US dollars. The network automatically converts cryptocurrencies to US dollars when players deposit or cash out, effectively eliminating any concerns related to crypto volatility while playing. The adoption of cryptocurrencies has proven to be a significant value-add for players on the Winning Poker Network, providing them with efficient and convenient payment solutions that enhance their online poker experience.
2019: WPN sets Guinness World Record
On Wednesday, July 24, 2019, the Winning Poker Network (WPN) made history by earning the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ title for the largest cryptocurrency winning jackpot in an online poker tournament. This milestone was achieved after the conclusion of the network’s multi-day $5 Million Venom tournament, where the event winner received a substantial prize of $1,050,560 paid in bitcoin.
$5 Million Venom biggest tourney ever hosted
The $5 Million Venom tournament hosted by the Winning Poker Network (WPN) achieved a final prize pool of $6,382,500, establishing it as the largest tournament ever hosted by a US-facing poker site. The success of the event was greatly attributed to the Winning Poker Network’s robust support for dozens of cryptocurrency options, which facilitated easy participation for players.
The overwhelming success of the tournament showcased the pivotal role played by cryptocurrency support in attracting a broad and diverse player base. This inclusive approach aligned with WPN’s commitment to welcoming players of all financial means and skill levels.
Agile Scrum Methodology
The Winning Poker Network (WPN) operates using the Scrum Agile management methodology, distinguishing itself from traditional management approaches commonly seen in the online poker industry. This shift in management style was initiated by CEO Phil Nagy, who recognized the limitations of micromanaging every decision and sought a more efficient and collaborative framework for project management.
In the Agile methodology followed by WPN, teams are empowered to specialize in their respective fields and are entrusted with delivering valuable products or features to stakeholders. Each team within WPN comprises a Product Owner responsible for articulating the product vision and a Scrum Master who collaborates with the team to determine tasks to be completed within a designated sprint period (typically two weeks).
The two-week sprint cycle embraced by WPN emphasizes rapid iteration and feedback loops, allowing teams to quickly identify and rectify any deviations from the desired outcome. This approach enables teams to “fail fast” and make necessary course corrections within a short timeframe, promoting efficiency and continuous improvement.
Transparency is a key principle of Scrum Agile approach at WPN, with teams sharing their progress and tasks openly with one another. Progress is measured in story points, a unit of measurement that quantifies the effort required for specific tasks. By focusing on key performance indicators and embracing independence to experiment and innovate, WPN staff are able to leverage the Agile methodology to drive productivity, collaboration, and adaptability in their project workflows.
Some promos did disappoint
Sit & Go 2.0
Initially dubbed as the “Next Evolution of Poker,” the reality for WPN was quite different. Despite a year-long endeavor in development and marketing, the network discovered the harsh truth that making Sit & Go’s engaging was a challenging task. Consequently, the game was discontinued after slightly over a year of being in play.
6 Plus Poker
Anticipating that 6 Plus Poker would be the next popular game choice among players, WPN made concerted efforts to offer it in both cash games and tournaments on their platform. Despite their proactive approach, the game did not gain traction. While 6 Plus Poker remains a popular and growing game in Asia, it was eventually removed from WPN’s offerings during a software update in mid-2019.
Flying Bucks
In an attempt to entice players with the allure of free money, WPN introduced the Flying Bucks promotion. This feature launched a flying avatar on the screen, offering random cash rewards to the first player at the table who clicked on it. However, the promotion proved to be unpopular among players. Many found the random cash amounts to be small, and the presence of the distracting avatar led to dissatisfaction among the player base. As a result, the Flying Bucks promotion was swiftly discontinued.
WPN Offices
In 2011, the network downsized by moving into a smaller floor in a nearby building, while increasing support staff to cater to players. Despite staff doubling from 15 to 30, player pools remained small.
After rebranding to WPN, the network experienced significant traffic growth, necessitating the addition of more support staff and the expansion of various teams like social media, email marketing, and security.
By late 2017, WPN outgrew its designated floor and leased an entire office building, boasting a staff count exceeding 350.
Although the new office was intended to be WPN’s permanent home, rapid hiring led to overcrowding. Fortunately, an opportunity arose to acquire a larger office space to accommodate the expanding team, providing a permanent solution and better service to players and partners globally.
While beginning with just 15 employees, the Winning Poker Network now boasts a global team of over 400, with further growth anticipated.
WPN Staff
Since its establishment in 2001, the Winning Poker Network (WPN) has experienced remarkable personnel expansion, currently employing 400 individuals across various global locations. Specialized fields within the team include IT, Security, Marketing, Product Development, and Human Resources, with a majority of staff holding degrees ranging from Bachelor’s to PhD.
Emphasizing the belief that talent is fueled by its people, WPN management ensures that employees receive benefits akin to those provided by Fortune 500 companies. The workforce diversity at WPN is noteworthy, with a rich blend of cultures, languages, and ethnicities represented among its staff.
Furthermore, WPN fosters a culture of personal growth and encourages employees to pursue their interests beyond work. A recent survey revealed popular hobbies among staff, such as cooking, photography, video games, reading, and athletics.
