www.IgnitionPoker.eu/Poker
This New Online Casino Packs Serious Horsepower. Ignition Casino are a new brand, opening their site in 2016. This is part of a group of casinos owned by the Lynton Ltd, which include the popular Slots.lv Casino and Bovada Casino. They have a huge welcome bonus, which is.
My Ignition Poker review looks at the site from the perspective of new players, rather than from that of someone who was migrated to the site from Bovada Poker in September 2016. It explains what sets Ignition Poker apart from other US poker sites and how you can take advantage of the excellent range of opportunities. If you are ready to “unlock the action” without delay, click the “PLAY NOW” button.
Introduction to Ignition Poker
Ignition Poker was launched in mid-2016 as an online poker site exclusively for US players. Soon after the (temporary) closure of Bovada Poker was announced, all the players from Bovada Poker migrated to Ignition Poker – giving the site an immediate boost in traffic. Then, in July 2017 Ignition Poker opened its doors to players in Australia following the country´s domestic ban on most online gambling operators, further increasing the number of players using the site.
The popularity of Ignition Poker is not only attributable to picking up players who had nowhere else to play. One of the site´s best features for new and casual players is its anonymous tables. Players are represented by seat numbers, rather than by user names, and this prevents more experienced players using poker software in order to gain an advantage at the tables. Anonymous tables helps level the playing field and provides new and casual players with a fairer poker environment.
Ignition Poker Bonus
The Ignition Poker bonus is a 100% match on first deposits up to $1,000, plus another 100% on first deposits at the site´s casino up to $1,000. The Ignition Casino bonus is pretty good. It has a low rollover requirement if you like playing slots and there is plenty of time allowed to clear it. Further information about this bonus can be found in my Ignition Casino review. However, for the purposes of my Ignition Poker review, I am only going to focus on the poker element of the bonus.
The poker bonus is remarkably straightforward – and exceedingly generous in terms of how it is cleared. Once you make your first deposit, an equivalent amount is placed into your bonus account. You transfer funds from your bonus account to your real money account by collecting Ignition Miles when you contribute to the rake deducted from a cash game or pay a fee to enter a Sit & Go game or Multi-Table Tournament. $5 of your outstanding bonus is transferred for each 150 Ignition Miles collected.
What makes the Ignition Poker first deposit bonus so generous is that Ignition Miles are awarded at the rate of 15 per dollar contributed to the rake or paid in tournament entry fees. So, once you have paid $10, you will automatically receive $5 in bonus. It is the equivalent to 50% rakeback, which is a better return than at any other USA-friendly poker site. Unfortunately, the first deposit offer only lasts for thirty days, after which any unclaimed bonus will be forfeited.
How Long Does it Take to Clear the Ignition Poker Bonus?
| Game | Full Ring Hold´em | Zone Poker | Regular Sit & Go | Jackpot Sit & Go | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stakes | $0.10/$0.25 | $0.10/$0.25 | $5.50 | $7.00 | $5.50 |
| Hands/Games per Hour | 60 x 4 | 120 x 4 | 12 | 18 | 6 |
| % Participation | 33% | 20% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Average Pot Size | $2.00 | $2.00 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rake per Hand/Game | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.50 | $0.46 | $0.50 |
| Rake Paid per Hour | $3.90 | $4.80 | $6.00 | $8.28 | $3.00 |
| Points Awarded per Hour | 58.50 | 72.00 | 90.00 | 124.20 | 45.00 |
| Hours Required to Clear Bonus | 128.20 | 104.16 | 83.33 | 60.48 | 166.67 |
In the table above, the following assumptions have been made:
- The amount of the first deposit in this example is $250. This justifies buying into $.010/$0.25 cash games and playing in tournaments with a $5.50 or $7.00 buy-in. You should adjust the buy-in amounts accordingly if you deposit more or less than $250.
- The “Hands/Games per Hour” figure assumes you are multitabling four tables. Therefore, the figure of “40 x 4” corresponds to forty hands per hour on each of four tables. During peak hours, the actual rate of hands per hour may be faster.
- The “% Participation” figure for cash games is based on the average number of players seeing flop per hand. Your actual % participation may fluctuation according to your playing style (loose, tight, aggressive, etc.).
- To clear a $250 first deposit bonus, you need to earn 7,500 Ignition Miles. Therefore, to calculate the “Hours Required to Clear Bonus” figure, I have divided 7,500 by the “Points Awarded per Hour” figure.
Please note this information is provided for illustration purposes only. Due to the number of variables, it cannot and should not be relied upon as a guide to plan your online poker action.
Ignition Poker Download, Mac and Mobile Compatibility
The Ignition Poker download is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. When you click on the “Download Poker” button to start the installation process, Ignition´s software will identify which of the two operating systems you are using and send the appropriate file to your computer. The minimum system requirements are Windows 7 or Mac OS X 10.7 (or later) with 200 Mb of free space and 1 GB of memory.
Players who want to play Ignition Poker on a mobile do not need to download special software or apps. Simply visit the site from your iPhone or Android device and log into your account. The Ignition Poker mobile website gives you access to the full range of games that is available via the PC software download – having added Sit & Go games and Multi-Table Tournaments to the mobile platform in October 2018.
The Range of Games at Ignition Poker
The range of cash games is much what you might expect from a leading online poker site. Ignition Poker hosts “regular” cash games in NL Hold´em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo, with players having the option of choosing whether to play heads-up or on a 6-Max or full ring table. For players looking to clear the first deposit bonus a little quicker, Ignition Poker also has games of fast-fold Zone Poker with stakes ranging between $0.02/$0.05 and $2.50/$5.00.
The range of Sit & Go games and hyper-turbo Jackpot games is actually very good, and most games tend to fill up quite quickly – even outside peak times. However, what really sets Ignition Poker apart from other US facing poker sites is its tournament schedule, which is packed full of valuable events that don´t have the long registration periods you will find on many other sites and that pay the top 20% of the field to distribute more money to more players.
Promotions and Player Rewards Program
It is interesting that Ignition Poker maintains its position as the number 1 USA-friendly poker site without throwing a lot of money at promotions. That´s not to say there are none at all. The site has “Bad Beat” and “Royal Flush” promotions, and frequently run valuable tournament series with seven-figure guarantees despite there being very little chance of an overlay in either the feature events or the satellites feeding into them.
The player rewards program was updated in December 2019 to an eight level scheme that rewards players with discounted exchanges for tournament tickets and casino bonus the higher they climb through the statuses. Ignition Poker now also awards daily cashback at rates of up to 15% and – an important consideration if you intend making Ignition Poker a permanent home – your status level never falls once you have achieved it.
The Level of Competition and Volume of Traffic
The level of competition and volume of traffic are major positives for the site. I have already mentioned how anonymous tables level the playing field between new and experienced players, and many “good” players – or those using player tracking aids – tend to stay away from Ignition Poker, enabling “decent” players to enjoy a lucrative experience simply by playing ABC poker.
The opportunity for “decent” players to enjoy a lucrative experience drives thousands of players to Ignition Poker – ensuring that there are always cash games available, that Sit & Go games fill up quickly, and that the value of tournaments continues to grow. The level of competition and the amount of traffic are my two main reasons for recommending the site to US and Australian poker players.
Player Security and Customer Support
Ignition Poker and Casino is run by a team with many years´ experience. I have played on the team´s sites since the early 2000s without a problem, and it doesn´t appear I am the only one. It is always a good idea to review players´ comments in online poker forums before recommending an online poker site; and, judging by the reports of cash outs being processed quickly and queries being resolved expertly, I would suggest most players are happy with the player security and customer support.
If you need any help when you first start playing at Ignition Poker, you will find a whole library of Help pages on Ignition´s website. If these don´t resolve your problem, you can contact the site by email or by live chat. Live chat can be accessed via the website or poker client. Simply click on the cashier button in the poker client and then click the “Chat Now” link alongside where it reads “Any Questions?”
Pros/Cons
- Pro #1 – Assuming that the level of competition and traffic volumes remain the same as before, you should always get a game at Ignition Poker.
- Pro #2 – The software has been updated and has tons of customizable features. You can now play up to 20 tables at a time on the Windows download.
- Con #1 – The full first deposit poker bonus is hard to clear within thirty days if you only have a limited amount of time available or are a micro-stakes player.
- Con #2 – There are charges for depositing and withdrawing through any method other than Bitcoin. There are also quite low limits to how much you can withdraw.
Ignition Poker: Review Conclusion
I really like Ignition Poker. Sure, it doesn’t have million dollar tournaments or six-figure Bad Beat Jackpots, but it is solid, reliable, and fair. I particularly like testing my skills on a level playing field, taking advantage of the comprehensive satellite schedule to qualify for valuable tournaments, and the new Miles rewards program that won´t penalize me for taking a break from the action every now and then.
If you have not yet played at the site, it is worth consideration. You don´t have to deposit $1,000 to benefit from the first deposit bonus if it is beyond your comfort zone. Just start with $50 or so and see how you get on. There are plenty of players who have built decent bankrolls from modest beginnings; and, at Ignition Poker, you have a better chance of emulating them than at any other USA poker site.
Ignition Poker FAQ
What is Zone Poker?
In Zone Poker, if you don´t like the hand you have been dealt – or the flop doesn´t fall kindly for you – you can “fast-fold” your hand and be taken to a new table at which you will be instantly dealt a new hand. Playing Zone Poker at Ignition Poker means you don´t have to wait after folding your cards for the hand you were in to finish before getting re-involved in the action.
Ignition Poker offers fast-fold Zone Poker in No Limit Texas Hold´em, Pot Limit Omaha, and Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo at stakes between $0.02/$0.05 and $2.50/$5.00. It´s a great game to play if you lack the patience to play at a regular table, or if you are in the process of clearing the Ignition Poker bonus as you get to play more hands per hour (which means you collect more Ignition Miles per hour).
How Easy is it to Deposit and Withdraw at Ignition Poker?
Ignition Poker lets you to fund your account using major credit cards, Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. I recommend using Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash as credit card deposits can attract a fee of 5.9%. Your deposit is also 100% guaranteed to be accepted if you use cryptocurrency, whereas credit card deposits can sometimes be rejected depending on your card issuer.
You can request a free withdrawal by Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash once every three days. You can also request a withdrawal by check, but you are only allowed one free check withdrawal every ninety days. Additional check withdrawals attract a fee of $100, so I don´t recommend this method.
With regard to payment issues, I´ve never experienced any, and – judging by the positive comments on the Reddit Ignition Poker thread – neither have many other players. While searching through the Reddit Ignition Poker thread, I did find one contributor – “17FocusRS” – who seems to have got his payment schedule really well organized and looks as if he is enjoying profitable sessions on a regular basis:
Ignition Casino Poker Overlay Tool
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Is Ignition Poker Rigged?
Absolutely Not. Because Ignition Poker is the most popular US-friendly poker site, you will likely hear more bad beat stories from players at Ignition Poker than at any other site – that´s just math (more people = more moans). Apparently, the reason behind any misconceptions that Ignition Poker is rigged – or any other US poker site – is psychology; and I have to thank another contributor to the Ignition Poker Reddit thread – “IADaveMark” – for this explanation:
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How Does Ignition Poker Rake Games?
Ignition Poker makes its money by deducting a rake from cash game pots or by charging a fee to enter a Sit & Go or multitable tournament. Cash game rake at Ignition Poker is $0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot, but is capped according to the number of players in the hand and the stakes being played for (see table below). Fees are 10% of the Sit & Go/tournament buy-in, or less when you play higher buy-in events.
| Ignition Poker Rake for Cash Games | |
|---|---|
| Stakes up to and including $0.10/$0.25 | |
| Number of Players | Max Rake |
| 2 | $0.50 |
| 3-4 | $1.00 |
| 5+ | $2.00 |
| Stakes above $0.10/$0.25 up to $10.00/$20.00 | |
| Number of Players | Max Rake |
| 2 | $1.00 |
| 3-4 | $2.00 |
| 5-6 | $3.00 |
| 6+ | $4.00 |
Is Ignition Poker Legal in My Jurisdiction?
This is a grey area. You will not be breaking any laws if you play online poker at Ignition Poker unless you live in Washington State. However, because of licensing restrictions, at the time of writing this Ignition Poker review, the site does not accept new players from DE, MD, NJ, or NV. Because of the fluid nature of online gambling regulation in the US, I advise you to read Ignition Poker´s terms and conditions before registering for an account.
If you live in Australia, the situation is even more complicated. The Interactive Gambling Act had the intention of prohibiting unlicensed sports betting operations, and online poker was caught up in the legislation. The government has indicated it is in favor of regulating online poker, but hasn´t got around to it yet. Consequently, there is no enforcement action being taken against operators offering online poker. Like in the USA though, this situation could change.
Ignition Casino Poker Overlay Free
What about Ignition Poker Connection Issues?
If you have read the question “is Ignition Poker rigged”, you will understand why you hear so much about Ignition Poker connection issues (more players = more moans). Connection issues get mentioned quite a lot on the 2+2 Ignition Poker forum where they tend to be isolated cases (i.e. one person asking if anybody else is having connection issues); but, because they get mentioned quite a lot on the 2+2 Ignition Poker forum, it is also a great place to find solutions if you experience a problem. Most of the times if the problems continue it comes down to doing a Windows update, or to download the latest Ignition Poker software and doing an uninstall and install again.
What is the Ignition Poker Contact Phone Number for Customer Support?
The site recently published a comprehensive Help Center on its website to answer Frequently Asked Questions about Ignition Poker; but if you can´t find an answer for your specific question, live chat is available in the cashier, you can email the site via an online contact form, or you can contact Ignition Poker Customer Support by calling 1-855-370-0600.
Many tournaments in Ignition Poker´s Golden Spade Poker Open are failing to meet their guarantees, providing extra value for players who cash in the events.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote that Ignition Poker´s Golden Spade Poker Open was not enjoying the most auspicious of starts and that even tournaments scheduled on the opening Sunday of the series had failed to meet their guarantees. I thought the situation would change as the series progressed, but that hasn´t been the case, and many tournaments are still overlaying.
Furthermore, satellites guaranteeing a fixed number of seats in a target event are being cancelled due to failing to attract the minimum number of entries. Often these satellites fall just one entry short of the required minimum, and it may be a good idea to keep an eye on the satellite schedule over the coming weeks to identify opportunities to where one more entry will start a potentially valuable satellite.
Overlays Not Massive, but Still Worth Noting
The volume of overlays is not going to cripple Ignition Poker nor cause the series to be cancelled. However, when tournaments don´t attract sufficient entries to meet their guarantees, it means the site is adding money to the prize pool. Sometimes the difference is covered by the fees charged to enter the tournament, but that´s not always the case as the selection of tournaments below indicates.
| Event | Buy-in | Guarantee | Nº of Entries | Overlay | Overlay minus Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSPO 62 | $150 + $12 | $30,000 | 169 | $4,650 | $2,622 |
| GSPO 63 | $60 + $6 | $7,500 | 113 | $720 | $42 |
| GSPO 64 | $125 + $10 | $15,000 | 124 | ($500) | ($1,740) |
| GSPO 65 | $75 + $7 | $25,000 | 323 | $775 | ($1,486) |
| GSPO 66 | $60+ $6 | $26,000 | 502 | ($4,120) | ($7,132) |
| GSPO 67 | $25 + $2.50 | $15,000 | 547 | $1,325 | ($42.50) |
What is interesting about the distribution of overlays is that they are not occurring at specific buy-ins or at certain times of the day. It appears that tournaments are randomly failing to meet their guarantees whatever time of day they are played at – regardless of structure or format of game. It will be interesting to see how this situation develops in forthcoming events with larger guarantees, especially the $500,000 guaranteed Main Event scheduled for Sunday 14th November.
Why It May Pay to Wait for Main Event Satellites
At present, Ignition Poker is running daily satellites with a $55 buy-in ($50 + $5 fee) which are advertised as GSPO Main Event satellites. However, these events do not have any guarantee, and state that one GSPO Main Event ticket will be awarded for every $450 in the prize pool. Therefore, if only six players enter, there will only be $300 in the prize pool and that´s all the winner of the satellite will get.
Consequently, it may be better to wait for the “guaranteed” GSPO Main Event satellites starting on November 16th. There are eight guaranteed satellites scheduled for the final weekend of the GSPO series with buy-ins of $75 + $7, plus a mega-satellite on the afternoon of the Main Event guaranteeing ten seats for the target tournament (buy-in also $75 + $7). Further last-minute satellites will be run during the four hours of late registration with buy-ins starting at $40 + $4.
Don´t Miss Out on the Value in Ignition Poker´s GSPO Series
Although the Main Event and guaranteed Main Event qualifiers may be almost two weeks away, there´s no sense in missing out on the value in Ignition Poker´s GSPO series by waiting until the guaranteed satellites start running. Visit Ignition Poker today and check out the GSPO tournament lobby to identify events in which there may be overlays and any opportunities for value.
If you are not yet playing at the site, be sure to first check out my Ignition Poker review. The review gives you all the information you will need to enjoy a potentially lucrative experience at the site and provides full details on how to claim the 100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000. If you like playing casino games, you might also wish to check out my Ignition Casino review which provides details of a further first deposit bonus up to $1,000 plus information about the site´s VIP loyalty scheme.
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