The influx of online players are generally newer to poker and more inexperienced, making it easier for professionals to win. Veteran players are making more money for two reasons, according to Peters. According to the American Gaming Association, a trade group, 987 of the US’s 989 casinos were closed by early April to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, in states like New Jersey and Nevada where gambling is big business, many avid poker players unable to go to casinos may be migrating online. With more time being spent at home, the number of people turning to online poker is increasing, said Donnie Peters, managing editor of online poker news site and forum. Operators in New Jersey, for example, took in a combined $3,629,112 that month – an increase of 90.9% year over year, according to numbers reported by the New Jersey division of gaming enforcement, and more than double February’s online poker revenue. The four US states with legal online poker sites – New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Pennsylvania – reported record revenues in March. “All of a sudden, being self-employed is a huge benefit.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m thriving because of the pandemic, but one area of my life has gotten a little better,” he said. Layton said he had seen a marked increase in traffic to websites where he plays and thus a rise in his income.
