1. Phil Galfond Poker Room Ideas
2. Phil Galfond Poker Room Games

Run It Once Poker is the brainchild of Phil Galfond. He is the owner of three World Series of Poker bracelets, won in PLO, PLO8, and NL 2-7 Single Draw events, respectively, and plays for the highest of stakes when it comes to cash games. Phil Galfond, a well-respected high-stakes pro, announced he will be launching an online poker room designed for the players (source: pokerarena.cz) For a long time, online poker community has been advocating for a group of high stakes pros to come together and start an online poker room whose management would actually understand the poker. Galfond originally announced he was working on an online poker room last September, when the high stakes/high volume community’s anxiety over the ongoing changes at PokerStars was at its peak. The project, RunItOnce Poker, is ambitious. Run It Once is an independent room, which is the project of online poker superstar Phil Galfond. The public beta of the room launched in February 2019, but it wasn't until the fall of 2019 when it started widespread promotion of the room. Online Poker with Huge Rewards - 30% - 75% rakeback for every player! 100% First deposit bonus up to €600 - Built-in HUD No Bots Community Focused - REWARDS SNG SELECT PROMOTIONS GALFOND CHALLENGE FEATURES.

In September 2016, poker pro Phil Galfond announced that he was going to start his own online poker room named after his poker training site, Run It Once. His idea was to build something that would cater to players of all types, that would focus on fairness, and that would be transparent. Since then, we have heard so little about the new poker room that most of us assumed the project had been shelved. But last week, Galfond wrote a long blog post on RunItOnce.eu (which we assume is the web address for the poker room), explaining what has been going on and trying to get back to the concept of transparency.

Galfond explained that the delays have largely been related to software development.

“Our software delays weren’t the typical delays that come with the territory,” he said. “We made some significant missteps early in our software development (I don’t just mean our tech team – I’m as much to blame as anyone) and it set us on a course that’s been very difficult to navigate.”

He brought in new leadership and a new tech team, which resulted in a reworking of the development strategy. They believed they had the option of either continuing down the track they were on with the downside that future development would be hampered, or redo a whole bunch of things to increase flexibility, but which would also push back the launch even further.

They decided to go for a hybrid strategy of staying on track with cash games and launching them this summer while continuing to work on tournaments, which would be launched in Phase 2.

Galfond said this decision was made for a few reasons:

1. We didn’t want to release anything we aren’t proud of, so launching with unpolished and partial versions of multiple offerings was off the table.
2. We figured that you’d rather have something from us than to wait much longer for us to offer everything.
3. We were furthest along on cash games, and even if we hadn’t been, launching with tournaments only would be extremely challenging for a new site fighting for liquidity.

As mentioned, a big goal for Run It Once was to make a poker room for players, rather than make all decisions just to benefit the business. As such, Galfond said that the rake will be “sensible,” allowing people to actually be able to beat the games if they are good players. He also said the cash games will be “focused on fun and on pure, authentic poker.”

The rewards system will be good for both pros and recreational players. Pros will benefit the most, but recs should be happy, as well. And interestingly, Galfond said it will be impossible to leave rewards unclaimed.

Phase 2, which does not have a target date yet, will include:

1. General software enhancements, more user options
2. A distinct SNG offering
3. An innovative Tournament experience
4. An awesome nosebleed stakes offering, with several unique ideas from someone who’s played these games for a long time and thinks he knows what they need!

Between now and when Phase 1 launches, Galfond has promised to provide updates on what to expect.

Prominent poker pro Phil Galfond has recently announced that his Run It Once poker site will finally be opening the actual poker-play portion of the site that was promised nearly two years ago.

In an announcement made at RunItOnce.eu, which will likely be the portal for the game server once its up and running, Galfond waxed long — very long — about the many delays, setbacks and unexpected developments that delayed the site, first announced in September of 2016.

To his credit, as the site’s majority owner and public face, Galfond shouldered personal responsibility for many of the problems the effort encountered. Among them:software development delays, changes in both operational leadership and technical staff, and a reevaluation of what the site should focus on and offer.

With all that, admitted Galfond, the site still isn’t ready. And with the idealized version of what he and his partners still a long ways off, Galfond announced that the rollout would occur in two phases. Phase 1, due at some point his summer, will offer cash games, while tournament play and other special offerings will be delayed until Phase 2, with an unspecified launch date.

Here’s part of what Galfond had to say about the Phase 1 launch:

Our Phase 1 platform will provide cash games that (we think) look and feel great and include some exciting and innovative features. …

We decided on this for a few reasons:

• We didn’t want to release anything we aren’t proud of, so launching with unpolished and partial versions of multiple offerings was off the table.
• We figured that you’d rather have something from us than to wait much longer for us to offer everything.
• We were furthest along on cash games, and even if we hadn’t been, launching with tournaments only would be extremely challenging for a new site fighting for liquidity.

A significant amount of further marketing text followed, but as for specifics beyond the cash-game launch, there wasn’t much for details. The site will include a reward system skewed slightly toward dedicated pros, and Galfond has always promised reduced rake at his tables, but how different RunItOnce’s offerings will be compared to other sites still remains to be seen.

Galfond also admitted that the Phase 1 details “were left vague for a reason,” as he plans to fully market (in a blog-posting sense) each of the site’s significant or unique details. “We have some fun features and distinct policies that you’ll have to wait to hear about, but I assure you that Run It Once Poker, even in Phase 1, will be different from the rest.”

Such promises have been made by many new operators, though few others have had Galfond’s gravitas, meaning it’ll be interesting to see what’s in store.

Then it’ll be on to Phase 2, which is when tourney play on the site will commence. According to Galfond:

Phase 2 will include:

• General software enhancements, more user options
• A distinct SNG offering
• An innovative Tournament experience
• An awesome nosebleed stakes offering, with several unique ideas from someone who’s played these games for a long time and thinks he knows what they need!

Galfond added, regarding the lack of a timetable, “I just became ready to announce Phase 1, so I’m still a ways away from sharing estimates for Phase 2. You’ll hear from me on that once I have something concrete to tell you.”

So the waiting game for Galfond’s market audience continues. But now, there’s the promise of something real, something soon.

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