SwitchPoker is accepting Bitcoins!

[ThePok]

A more professional Pokersite is now acceting Bitcoins

https://www.switchpoker.com/

http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/12362-worlds-first-bitcoin-poker-payments-launched

[ThomasV]

apparently this is getting some attention

http://pokerfuse.com/news/poker-room-news/switch-poker-adds-bitcoin-deposit-and-withdrawal-option/

[DeathAndTaxes]

As someone who played online poker for a couple years I will just say Bitcoin (w/ some smart hedging) + OnlinePoker = Match made in heaven.

Between the fraud, high credit card fees (you think 3.9% is high try 11.9% for "high risk businesses), govt interference, and other costs (like crooked offshore payment processors walking away w/ millions) payment processing is insanely high for online poker.  Literally the single largest cost to running a site.  Nothing else even comes close.

I can't believe it has taken it this like before a site start accepting it.  Players should like it too because getting an serious money out of online poker site involves half dozen hoops you need to jump through (to protect site from the dozens of methods one can launder stolen funds thought poker site).  It has gotten worse in recent years. 

Back in 2002 (dark ages of online poker) I could get a $2000 check from Party Poker and it would be at my door in 2-3 days.  By 2008 cashouts were taking anywhere from 7-21 days.  I don't play anymore (because US govt nanny state-ism) but from what I have heard from friends who still do play cashouts can take much longer now. 

Bitcoin could greatly help that.

[ssaCEO]

Uh, I'm callin' bullshit... 

First of all, there's nothing more professional about this cheap ass javascript client. Secondly, this is the statement from their press release:

"Switchpoker.com, the world's first real money online poker site compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, today announces it is the first real money poker site to offer the revolutionary virtual currency Bitcoin as a deposit and payment method."

That's obviously false; I'm sure BTCOnTilt and Seals would agree. But their press release was picked up and parroted by poker review sites, and they're about to pwn both the current sites for "bitcoin poker" SEO in about 3 days. (Not that it's worth a lotta hits, but still).

It's fine if it brings more players to the currency, but why make false statements? And why don't they let people deposit and withdraw from their own wallets instantly? What's with everything being run through bitcoin247, and why haven't they put a rep on this forum?

[fizzisist]

Uh, I'm callin' bullshit... 

First of all, there's nothing more professional about this cheap ass javascript client. Secondly, this is the statement from their press release:

"Switchpoker.com, the world's first real money online poker site compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, today announces it is the first real money poker site to offer the revolutionary virtual currency Bitcoin as a deposit and payment method."

That's obviously false; I'm sure BTCOnTilt and Seals would agree. But their press release was picked up and parroted by poker review sites, and they're about to pwn both the current sites for "bitcoin poker" SEO in about 3 days. (Not that it's worth a lotta hits, but still).

It's fine if it brings more players to the currency, but why make false statements? And why don't they let people deposit and withdraw from their own wallets instantly? What's with everything being run through bitcoin247, and why haven't they put a rep on this forum?

I think the difference here is that the play on the site is in EUR instead of BTC. BTC is just offered as a deposit method. Also, the number of players on the site is a very important factor, but I don't know how large switchpoker is. I'll have to try it out some time!

[DeathAndTaxes]

Uh, I'm callin' bullshit... 

First of all, there's nothing more professional about this cheap ass javascript client. Secondly, this is the statement from their press release:

"Switchpoker.com, the world's first real money online poker site compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, today announces it is the first real money poker site to offer the revolutionary virtual currency Bitcoin as a deposit and payment method."

That's obviously false; I'm sure BTCOnTilt and Seals would agree. But their press release was picked up and parroted by poker review sites, and they're about to pwn both the current sites for "bitcoin poker" SEO in about 3 days. (Not that it's worth a lotta hits, but still).

It's fine if it brings more players to the currency, but why make false statements? And why don't they let people deposit and withdraw from their own wallets instantly? What's with everything being run through bitcoin247, and why haven't they put a rep on this forum?

I think the difference here is that the play on the site is in EUR instead of BTC. BTC is just offered as a deposit method. Also, the number of players on the site is a very important factor, but I don't know how large switchpoker is. I'll have to try it out some time!

Exactly and they allow fiat deposits via traditional methods.  It is more a hybrid approach in between BTC only plays and "traditional online poker".

[Jonathan Ryan Owens]

Uh, I'm callin' bullshit... 

First of all, there's nothing more professional about this cheap ass javascript client. Secondly, this is the statement from their press release:

"Switchpoker.com, the world's first real money online poker site compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, today announces it is the first real money poker site to offer the revolutionary virtual currency Bitcoin as a deposit and payment method."

That's obviously false; I'm sure BTCOnTilt and Seals would agree. But their press release was picked up and parroted by poker review sites, and they're about to pwn both the current sites for "bitcoin poker" SEO in about 3 days. (Not that it's worth a lotta hits, but still).

It's fine if it brings more players to the currency, but why make false statements? And why don't they let people deposit and withdraw from their own wallets instantly? What's with everything being run through bitcoin247, and why haven't they put a rep on this forum?

I think they actually *are* the first real money poker site to offer Bitcoin as a deposit method. Seals and BTConTilt don't convert to USD/EURO on deposit, and have only Bitcoin as withdrawal methods as well.

I can say this: If I were Seals or BTConTilt, I'd probably be upset that all of my limited clientele will be going elsewhere. We all knew it would happen sooner or later though, so I hope they (Seals + BTConTilt) enjoyed it while it lasted :/

-Jonathan

[Eveofwar]

Uh, I'm callin' bullshit... 

First of all, there's nothing more professional about this cheap ass javascript client. Secondly, this is the statement from their press release:

"Switchpoker.com, the world's first real money online poker site compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, today announces it is the first real money poker site to offer the revolutionary virtual currency Bitcoin as a deposit and payment method."

That's obviously false; I'm sure BTCOnTilt and Seals would agree. But their press release was picked up and parroted by poker review sites, and they're about to pwn both the current sites for "bitcoin poker" SEO in about 3 days. (Not that it's worth a lotta hits, but still).

It's fine if it brings more players to the currency, but why make false statements? And why don't they let people deposit and withdraw from their own wallets instantly? What's with everything being run through bitcoin247, and why haven't they put a rep on this forum?

I think they actually *are* the first real money poker site to offer Bitcoin as a deposit method. Seals and BTConTilt don't convert to USD/EURO on deposit, and have only Bitcoin as withdrawal methods as well.

I can say this: If I were Seals or BTConTilt, I'd probably be upset that all of my limited clientele will be going elsewhere. We all knew it would happen sooner or later though, so I hope they (Seals + BTConTilt) enjoyed it while it lasted :/

-Jonathan

Which gives even more reason to become the first.  If this pans out, they missed out...no one to blame but themselves unfortunately (

[ssaCEO]

We run freerolls any time there are a few players -- and we've always denominated in USD, not in Bitcoins, across the casino; we treat Bitcoins as a deposit method, no more or less.

Anyway, JRO are you implying that Bitcoins aren't "real money"? I thought you believed that to be a weak argument, at least from a legal standpoint.

[btcontilt]

Good luck hopefully you can create some good press for gambling with bitcoins.  We already programmed the change to USD, will be implementing in the next few days.  We still will only do withdrawals in bitcoins though.

[ssaCEO]

Withdraw as well?

Yes. To and from your own wallet or anywhere you want. We're looking toward expanding to other methods, but BTC has been our starting point and, hopefully, will remain the favored way of doing things. From our perspective, no other method comes close.

[Jonathan Ryan Owens]

We run freerolls any time there are a few players -- and we've always denominated in USD, not in Bitcoins, across the casino; we treat Bitcoins as a deposit method, no more or less.

Anyway, JRO are you implying that Bitcoins aren't "real money"? I thought you believed that to be a weak argument, at least from a legal standpoint.

ssaCEO: No sir. I am implying that an existing USD site hasn't stepped up until now to offer BTC as a deposit method that is representative of USD/Et al where the BTCUSD market price is used to fund in USD/other.

Good conversation.

-Jonathan

[LZ]

The official announcement:
http://www.switchpoker.com/bitcoin
http://blog.switchpoker.com/2011/11/22/bitcoin-payments-added/

Deposit with Bitcoin
Min: ฿3.00. Max: ฿200.00

Withdraw with Bitcoin
Min: ฿20.00

Also you will get €50 after you reach 20k SPPs if you will enter
lzsaver in the "Friend" field in the deposit registration form.

[kpriess]

Good to see Costa Rican sites into this, so many bookies and online casinos here, but I'm sure this is the only one taking BTC for now..
Can't understand that physical address tho..

[darkmule]

Edit to remove griping and complaining.  Despite being slightly later than the original email told me, the method of depositing 7 BTC to accompany my 3 BTC and thereby reach the 10 BTC withdrawal minimum succeeded, and the transaction went off without a hitch.

I have therefore entirely deleted my original complaint on this thread and can say that while I can't play there, SwitchPoker seems trustworthy.