Global Online Traffic Declines 9 Out Of The Last 10 Weeks

According to the latest Scouting Report figures, global online poker has continued its downward trajectory in 2014 and last week ending 22nd March recorded a 3% fall in traffic compared to the previous week. Relative to the same week last year, however, global online traffic was down by a substantial 14%. Twelve weeks into this year, and cash game player traffic has now declined for nine out of the last 10 weeks.
The situation doesn’t seem to be any better in the nascent US online poker industry, either, with the country’s three regulated markets of New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware all showing a slow but steady decline. One explanation offered has been the clement weather, with PokerScout noting “Spring has sprung, and unfortunately that means traffic is heading lower. Activity levels should decline slowly until early-mid April, at which point a steep descent begins.”
The latest worrying figures brings to mind the prophetic words uttered by 2005 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Hachem, who recently surprised the poker community by declaring “I think poker is dying and it’s dying because it’s no longer fun for people to play.”
With regard to online poker, the Aussie’ words seem to be ringing true, leading numerous analysts to come up with possible solutions to remedy the situation and draw more players back into the game. An article posted by Steve Ruddock provides an interesting perspective on the current situation, with the poker author suggesting that in order for another Poker Boom to occur middle-aged players, who were once the backbone of the game, need to once more drive the poker economy.
The younger crowd have been apportioned blame for decimating the old guard, who used to play for fun before the new breed of savants moved in. According to Ruddock “the prey [middle-aged players] was suddenly very aware they were prey, and because of this a lot of them lost interest.”
Ruddock subsequently concludes the following: “Poker as a pastime or as an enjoyable way to spend an evening seems to be dead (at least in the minds of this crowd), but a second Poker Boom, with an emphasis on bringing middle-aged people with disposable incomes back into the folds could give us the best of both worlds.”