Summary
- Players can now video-chat while playing private home games
- The new feature is currently accessible via the web app only
- Home games continue to be a hit among players
PokerStars is trying out a new innovative feature for its Home Games product. The world’s largest online poker site has added a new video chat function at the tables which is initially available for players in the dot-com and EU markets.
The webcam integration aims to replicate the live home game experience and is part of PokerStars’ latest software upgrade. It is currently in Beta and is only available through the web app.
New Webcam Feature
Players will now be able to use webcams while playing private games so they can see each other while the action is in progress. They can also interact with each other via live voice chat making the experience more “real“.
Along with introducing the new webcam function, PokerStars also made some changes to the overall appearance and design of its Home Games product which now uses a dark color scheme, giving it a sleeker and more modern look. It’s also now easier for players to set up a new game, with the lobby also being redesigned.
PokerStars’ Home Games product is among the best out there, boasting plenty of features with a range of poker formats being made available to players. Just last year, the site added PKO tournaments and also made the product accessible via its mobile app. With the new webcam function, PokerStars has once again made a major upgrade to its home games, as the format continues to pick up steam.
COVID-19 Pandemic Boosts Home Games Popularity
The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the live poker scene, shifting the focus towards the virtual felts. With people stuck at their homes due to lockdown measures implemented across the world, the demand for online private games soared.
The live poker schedule has been back to its usual busy state over the past few months, but COVID-19 continues to pose a threat, with new variants emerging. More recently, governments reinstated numerous restrictions as they fight the spread of the new Omicron variant.
With home games continuing to be popular, the addition of the new webcam feature to PokerStars’ private home games is a step in the right direction for the operator. It joins many other sites such as partypoker, 888poker and Unibet which also previously launched a similar feature.
