Poker is one of the most popular games in online casinos, land casinos, and homes across
the globe.
3D poker is♣️ now a huge part of the gambling industry, with sites small and
large offering players a chance to play games♣️ in three dimensions.
While it’s now a
crowded field, it wasn’t always so.
PKR Poker Network was the first poker network to
♣️ offer poker games for cash in a 3D environment that was totally customizable. PKR games
blazed a trail for what♣️ was to come, but ultimately it’s fire burned too bright and
this great poker games network went out of business♣️ – with PokerStars buying up some of
its assets.
Read on for the story of one of the most important websites♣️ in the history
of online poker.
PKR Poker Network was the first 3D UK poker site
The PKR Poker Network
started operations♣️ in 2006. It was an independent network that ran with its own
software and had its own network of players.♣️ The PKR games network offered a superb
interface with 3D design, which inspired its name: PKR 3D Network.
The PKR Poker
♣️ Network guaranteed its gamblers the online poker experience of a lifetime, thanks to
the great game range, cool incentives, and♣️ sophisticated design. This made it an online
poker site that was truly ahead of its time – indeed, the major♣️ players, such as
PokerStars, have now followed suit and have their own VR poker rooms.
In terms of sheer
gaming experience,♣️ the PKR poker network truly delivered the goods – while VR
technology was still very rough around the edges, PKR♣️ games smoothed them down as much
as possible. It did this in a few brilliant ways, specifically in how your♣️ PKR games
character acted:
Your PKR games character displayed body language
Your PKR games
character employed expressions
Your PKR games character used chip♣️ tricks
This not only
made the overall playability very high, but it also gave an element of realism that
other online♣️ poker sites simply couldn’t replicate.
The PKR Poker Network was licensed
and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and the♣️ UK Gambling
Commission – it was registered in Alderney. All these things meant that poker fans
could play PKR games♣️ safe in the knowledge that they were using a legitimate gambling
site.
PKR games couldn’t keep up with PokerStars & the♣️ rest
For a while, everything was
gravy with PKR games – the network gained in popularity and had as many as♣️ five million
gamblers at one point, with 15,000 poker fans playing simultaneously.
But that’s not
all.
PKR games went beyond being available♣️ in a unique 3D poker network. It partnered
with the now-defunct men’s magazines Nuts and Loaded to launch branded poker♣️ rooms. It
also signed an exclusive license with Playtech. And to top it off, PKR games held
in-person, live tournaments♣️ – the first took place in London and featured gamblers from
over 150 countries.
But some good things come to an♣️ end and this was true of PKR
games.
It struggled to compete with the sheer might of rivals like PokerStars and
♣️ 888poker. Indeed, those two brands also used their own online casinos to add further
revenue to their financial might –♣️ 888 Casino and PokerStars Casino.
The result was
that PKR went bankrupt and ceased to be in 2024, leaving thousands of♣️ poker players
with final balances that were yet to be paid out. That’s when PokerStars stepped
in.
PokerStars buy PKR games♣️ assets & help UK poker players
When PKR games ceased to be
available in May 2024, there were a lot of♣️ poker players who’d played its games and
built up significant balances. In fact, there were thousands of unhappy gamblers who
♣️ feared they would be a victim of another Black Friday.
PokerStars saw an opportunity to
both acquire thousands of new customers♣️ and secure an enormous PR win – they could be
the poker brand that saved poker players from losing their♣️ hard-earned money. How? By
buying up PKR’s games assets.
PokerStars made a deal with the bankruptcy administrators
looking after the PKR♣️ case. Part of the terms of that deal meant that PokerStars has to
pay the final balance of 60,000 PKR♣️ games players.
How good was PKR’s games
selection?
We’ve made quite the fuss about PKR, and with good reason – PKR games♣️ was
the first provider that allowed UK poker players to gamble in 3D, making the company a
genuine visionary in♣️ its field.
But wait for a second, are we getting carried away –
was there a decent selection of games for♣️ poker players, or was this a novelty act that
offered one game and nothing else? We can tell you that♣️ the PKR games catered to a
range of poker players.
The games available on the PKR Poker Network included Texas
Hold’em♣️ and Omaha in limit, no limit, and pot-limit forms. You could also play these
games on the network in SSTs♣️ as well as MSTs.
So, while PKR’s games selection paled in
comparison to those you now get from PokerStars, there was♣️ a solid amount – certainly
enough to keep many poker fans happy.
Did many online UK poker stars play PKR
games?
PKR♣️ did well to consolidate its initial player base, making big waves in its
first three years of operations to secure♣️ 11,437 gamblers.
Statistical data from May
2009 showed the peak hour number at the cash game tables on the network to♣️ be about
1,100. For tournaments, this number went to 5,000 during peak hours.
At this early
stage, PKR managed to overcome♣️ the problems that are the bane of new networks – low
traffic, bad game range, and so on. This continued♣️ and at its peak level of operations,
five million people played PKR games – so yes, plenty of UK poker♣️ stars played PKR
games.
How good was the 3D software of PKR’s poker games?
The toast of the PKR Poker
Network was♣️ its software. The software provided stunning 3D graphics and
functionality.
The software on the PKR Poker Network took customisation to new♣️ levels
and provided players with a great online poker experience.
Some of the key features
that the software brought to PKR♣️ games included:
Multi-table play
A great
lobby
Mini-view
The ability to view your data and statistics
Hand history
Unique
avatars
If that wasn’t quite enough, the software♣️ used to create PKR games also gave
you the ability to sneak a peek at your hole cards – quite♣️ the advantage!
PKR was an
online gambling site ahead of its time, offering a 3D poker experience like no other
when♣️ it was launched. PKR games were great to play and had enough diversity and great
features to keep almost any♣️ poker player interested.
But PKR’s tale is a cautionary one
– it went out of business and left its gamblers out♣️ of pocket until PokerStars stepped
in, and this was despite being regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission
and the♣️ UK Gambling Commission.
So, what’s the lesson to take from PKR? You should
regularly withdraw some or all of your winnings,♣️ so that they’re in the safety of your
own bank account – because you never know what tomorrow might bring.
FAQs♣️ about PKR
games
What happened to PKR Poker & PKR games?
PKR poker went into administration in May
2024, meaning that PKR♣️ games were no longer available.
When this happened, PokerStars
stepped in and acquired PKR’s assets. In doing this, PokerStars settled the♣️ accounts of
thousands of people who had played PKR games and had money in their PKR account.
Am I
able to♣️ have more than PokerStars account?
You cannot have more than one PokerStars
account – if you are caught with more than♣️ one account you can have all of your
accounts banned.
What is the best online poker site for gamblers?
There are so♣️ many
great online poker sites for gamblers to try their hand at, but three really stand out
– PokerStars, 888Poker,♣️ and Full Tilt Poker.
You can also get a great poker experience
from many of the best online casinos, with the♣️ top ones often featuring their own live
poker rooms.
