Sweepstakes poker operator ClubWPT Gold announced a new business model this week. The plan scraps free-to-play games and Gold Coins, and instead has players purchasing poker training credits to play and redeem winnings for prizes.
The plan attempts to maneuver around the dual-currency model, which involves receiving Sweeps Coins after purchasing Gold Coins. The platform is now offering players a product with a training element for their money instead.
Hand Analysis Instead Of Gold Coins
The training element comes via a hand analysis tool that “gives feedback on past hands you’ve played and offers suggestions on how the hand might have been played better.”
The company notes that the tool analyzes every action players make throughout a hand and shows how close they were to game theory optimal (GTO) play.
“With each purchase of Hand Analyses, you’ll also get ‘Chips’ that you can use to play the games on ClubWPT Gold,” the site notes. “You can use Chips to play poker for real cash prizes at ClubWPT Gold. The Hand Analysis tool allows you to get feedback on all of the hands that you play.”
The approach offers a different path for the popular sweepstakes operator and may help to shield the company from incoming restrictive laws. The transition comes as some states move to make sweeps casinos and dual-currency gaming sites illegal.
California currently has a bill in front of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) that would ban sweeps platforms. The new business model gives ClubWPT Gold a chance to keep operating in the country’s most-populous state.
Move Comes After Training Site Acquisition
In August, ClubWPT Gold purchased Doug Polk’s Upswing Poker training site. That played a role in the shift in business model and allowed the company to quickly transition to the hand analysis model.
“After acquiring Upswing Poker, the launch of our Hand Analysis tool marks the latest step in ClubWPT Gold’s long-term vision to offer a poker training and playing experience that’s unlike anything ever seen in the industry,” the site noted on X/Twitter.
The site promises more to come including aggregate stats profiles, customized drills tailored to a player’s own style, and more. Of course, many players will simply purchase these hand analyses in order to continue playing on the site.
Polk is also an ambassador for the site and hosted a two-hour livestream on Twitter this week detailing the changes.
“It makes sense, I think, when we look at the legal landscape of U.S. poker for Gold to want to transition to something that is a little more sound, a little more defensible,” Polk said.
