Ask HN: How to monetize a play for fun poker site?

Re:Ask HN: How to monetize a play for fun poker site? by Russelldb on Tuesday November 04, 2008 @05:25AM (#353261)

Hi Joel, Don't want to sound like a stalker or sound too fulsome so don't get the wrong idea but I follow you in twitter and read your posts on the erlang list and find you inspirational.

My opinion on this is:-

1. Forget the subs. Let people play for fun for free and if they want to bet take a cut of the ante or pot or something (IE you only make money when people spend money and even then only make a little). Make it very, very easy to bet (Paypal, google checkout easy). But let people play for Kudos too.

2. Also let people play on Facebook. Do Facebook Connect (or other social networks) so peeps joining your site can bring all their friends (their whole social graph). Make it so people can play away from your site basically (iPhone etc)

3. Bring in non-players IE have tutorials, novice tables, private game rooms stuff like that. There is a huge untapped market of women who love to gamble (witness the power of Bingo in the UK) if it is fun and social.

Personally I'd back you whatever as your drive and commitment are evident. Whether you follow my advice or not I expect you to succeed with this or another idea and if I had a few 10s of thousands of pounds I'd be in like Flynn. Sorry if that embarrasses you.

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Re:Ask HN: How to monetize a play for fun poker site? by wagerlabs on Tuesday November 04, 2008 @05:42AM (#353271)

Russell,

I can't take a cut of the pot or ante as that will convert me into a gambling site, of the type that are illegal in the US.

I'm all for letting people play for free but I would like to make at least enough money to support the site and cover development cost.

I have an idea for a Mac/Win/iPhone client built with Unity [1] but I need to launch something first and let people kick the tires. This is where the Flash client comes in.

What about letting people replenish their balances, for a fee, e.g. pay $5, get $1000 in play money?

[1] http://unity3d.com

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Re:Ask HN: How to monetize a play for fun poker site? by Russelldb on Tuesday November 04, 2008 @06:12AM (#353288)

>I can't take a cut of the pot or ante as that will convert me into a gambling site, of the type that are illegal in the US.

Ah. I wasn't aware of the legal implications in the US.

>What about letting people replenish their balances, for a fee, e.g. pay $5, get $1000 in play money?

That sounds good and quite normal too. Probably both ideas together will net you most returns: Pay a monthly sub and get free transfer in of funds but if you just want to play now and again then pay to transfer in playing money. And still have play for free if no money involved? Or is there no point to that do you think? Maybe an initial freebie?

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Re:Ask HN: How to monetize a play for fun poker site? by wagerlabs on Tuesday November 04, 2008 @06:22AM (#353297)

Initial freebie sounds good. $1000 to start or something like that.

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Re:Ask HN: How to monetize a play for fun poker site? by apsurd on Tuesday November 04, 2008 @06:16AM (#353291)

People can already play unlimited hands for free at any major for-money poker site. I can't conceive how anyone would possibly pay $5.00 to play for free, especially when you can enter "sit and go" tournaments on for-money sites for the same price, all with a chance to win back real money. They also have 1 and 2 cent poker rooms so again .... simply can not see how this can be taken seriously.

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Re:Ask HN: How to monetize a play for fun poker site? by wagerlabs on Tuesday November 04, 2008 @06:22AM (#353298)

Can you set up a private table at any major for-money poker site?

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Re:Ask HN: How to monetize a play for fun poker site? by jasonwatkinspdx on Tuesday November 04, 2008 @01:49PM (#353716)

I did private tourneys with friends at pokerstars before the 2006 law.

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