The New Face of Online Poker
It’s the sweepstakes component that makes Club Bluff, as well as the other network skins, unique. Players are not paying for poker on this network; they are paying for a service, to be a part of a club. Calapp and his team are looking to offer a community atmosphere when you join Club Bluff. It will cater to any level of player, from the casual home game player to someone looking to make splash at the WSOP or WPT.
“You are joining a club when you sign up. You get a digital subscription to BLUFF Magazine, you get tips from the pros, you get live chat support, and you are getting $3,000 in Las Vegas discounts. We are always looking to add more benefi ts as well. We want this to be similar to AAA, where you join and are getting values from top brands around the world. On top of all that value you have the opportunity to play in great poker and blackjack tournaments.” Remember your favorite fast food sweepstakes as a kid, McDonalds’ Monopoly? Being a part of Club Bluff is as simple as that. According to Calapp: “You go to McDonalds with two dollars. You purchase a Big Mac, so you get a product for your two dollars. On top of that, they give you a game piece, and that game piece allows you the chance to play the Monopoly game. Hopefully you can collect enough game pieces by buying more products and win a prize. We took that model and applied it to online poker.”
Clubs are defi nitely not anything new to the poker world. We have all heard stories about the private poker clubs around the country where some of our favorite poker personalities, such as Phil Laak and Howard Lederer, got their start. It seems natural that the club atmosphere gets intertwined with the online poker scene.
To the casual poker fan, this seems like a perfect fi t. Club Bluff is an online poker club where you can play poker in a competitive environment with zero risk. “It’s competitive entertainment,” says Calapp, “similar to spending your money at the movies, except the entertainment is in the form of poker. “Of course there are other venues to play poker for free, but we all know it’s not the best experience. Nobody takes it seriously; everyone is going all in every hand. It’s not like real-life poker. We wanted to add that competitive edge that real-money poker has without the risk, which is why we have so many great cash prizes.”
Ok, so we know the concept behind Club Bluff and the other UBT network clubs, but just how simple is it to get online and starting taking down some cash? There are two ways to play. First, you can just sign up and create a free account, where you will be considered a guest. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for the software, the lobby, and in general what Club Bluff is all about. You also have the chance to play in some daily ten-dollar freerolls. You can upgrade for $19.95 to receive full membership benefi ts, and that’s where the real excitement begins.
When you are a full member, you automatically begin with 500 tournament credits. These credits can be used to play in any poker or blackjack tournaments as well as sit-n-goes that run on the network. If you ever dip below 500 credits, your account is replenished back to 500 at midnight every night. “500 will be enough to get you into most of the tournaments we offer. We understand people have lives, and schedules, but we still want to give you the chance to win, and be able to play in that nightly $1,000 tournament,” states Calapp. In addition to winning cash, you also earn tournament credits, which is added to your account total. Adding tournament credits is a great way to get into some of the bigger events offered on the network. Club Bluff also offers satellites if you want to win your way directly into a larger tournament. Recently, the network has been running ten satellites a day that offer the chance to get involved in a tournament where you could possibly win a WSOP seat. Club Bluff also offers daily satellites to a monthly $20,000 tournament where the winner pockets $5,000!
What happens if you do slay your competition and fi nd your way to the big $5,000 score in Club Bluff’s monthly $20,000 tournament? According to Calapp, it’s pretty simple. “You log in and will see the $5,000 credited to your account instantly. Now, you can let your money sit and it will take care of your monthly membership fee, or you can submit a claim on it. Once you click “claim”, the request goes straight to our banking department. Because we operate legally in the U.S., under sweepstakes laws we have to comply with federal tax regulations on any prize over $600. We then verify who you are by getting a copy of your identifi cation via fax, email, or mail. Once you are verifi ed, a check is sent out immediately. It’s as simple as that.”
Since Club Bluff, along with its network siblings, is still so new, there are still many features yet to be added. Players can expect stat tracking and leader boards for all of the tournaments and SNGs. Club Bluff is also looking to expand its buddy list system to ensure that friendships and competitive rivalries are created within the club. Additionally, players can soon expect a wider variety of games, including H.O.R.S.E, Omaha, Stud and Triple Draw.
The thing that is great about poker is how the game continuously evolves to suit the needs of its players and fans. People in the industry realize that it’s the fans and players that drive the popularity of the sport. Club Bluff continues that evolution by offering a product that is not only unique and 100% legal, but also appeals to both the game’s devotees and the masses of poker hobbyists who are looking to learn the game in a friendly, fun, and competitive environment.
