Titan Poker is one of the great success stories in the online gaming industry. Through hard work, innovative promotions, and a general will to succeed, they’ve maintained a high level of success despite the sometimes tumultuous events in the world of Internet gambling.
My experience with the site goes back six years, so I feel comfortable writing this Titan Poker review for both veteran players and curious newcomers. If you’ve been thinking about becoming part of the online poker craze or jumping ship from your current card room, I think you’ll find that Titan has a little something for everyone.
Brief History
In 2004, the company behind Titan Poker broke into the market by launching Noble Poker. Most sites at this point were relatively stingy when it came to sign-up bonuses, so Noble Poker immediately got a sizable amount of attention when they offered a 100% matching bonus up to $600. Within a short period of time, they went from a relative unknown to a major player.
The following year, Noble Poker was sold to Empire Online. The proceeds from this sale were used to create Titan Poker, and they began offering games on the same network as Noble (PlayTech’s iPoker Network).
Just like with Noble Poker, Titan used a combination of marketing and alluring bonuses to quickly build their player base. One notable tactic included teaching beautiful women the basics of poker, dressing them in Titan Poker clothing, and then entering them in televised tournaments.
When the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed in 2006, the iPoker Network was one of the first to withdraw from the U.S. market. Despite losing a sizable number of players, they rebounded and became the number three poker room by 2008.
In the years since the passage of the UIGEA, Titan has concentrated on the European market. This strategy has proven successful, although recent legislation on the state level within the U.S. has created the possibility of an eventual return to America.
Quality of Customer Service
Most online card rooms are lacking when it comes to customer support, but that’s not the case with Titan Poker. They have representatives standing by 24/7 to assist you, and they can be reached via email, live chat, or toll-free numbers. A number of languages are supported, and you can count on the person assisting you to be courteous, well-trained, and an overall pleasure to deal with.
Overall Software Quality
The overall site software is just fine, although the lack of synchronized breaks is a major hassle for anyone who enjoys playing tournaments at multiple tables. Despite this complaint, customers can take advantage of a replay feature, game search filters, and savable hand histories.
The software for their sportsbook, poker rooms, and casino games are all designed by PlayTech, one of the oldest and most respected names in the industry. While it doesn’t break any new ground, it can be relied upon to function smoothly and without annoying bugs or lag time. The presence of a downloadable and Flash version is also welcome.
In addition to being available for Mac and PC users, Titan has met the demand for mobile gaming. By downloading their app, you can enjoy gaming on the go with your iPad, iPhone, Android smartphone or tablet. Their mobile feature alone boasts 60,000 registered players.
Banking Options
The banking options from Titan Poker are pretty standard, although they can vary depending on which country you’re located in. Deposit options include the following:
- Credit Card
- Bank Transfer
- E-wallet
- Personal Check
- Cash Transfer (such as Western Union)
The above choices are also available when it comes time to request a withdrawal, along with the option of receiving a check via courier. The speed on payouts has always been solid, with e-wallet transfers taking one or two days. Customers receiving a check should expect the longest wait, but even that method should be resolved in under two weeks.
Game Selection
If you’re a fan of variety, you may be disappointed with what Titan Poker has to offer. In theory, they provide a decent selection of games that includes the following:
- Texas Hold’em (fixed and no limit)
- Fast Fold Hold’em Poker (no limit)
- Six Plus Hold’em (no limit)
- Omaha (fixed and pot limit)
- Omaha Hi/Lo (pot limit)
- 7-Card Stud
- 5-Card Stud
Notice, however, that most of these games are versions of Omaha and Hold’em. Stud games do exist, but you’ll find them running at a much lower rate. This is no big deal if you prefer mainstream poker games, but anyone searching for a more exotic challenge needs to look elsewhere.
If you decide to play on your mobile device, you’ll find the selection of games is a bit different. At the moment, you can choose from the following on your tablet or smartphone: Razz, SpeedPoker, Omaha, Texas Hold’em, 5-Card Stud, and 7-Card Stud.
Player Traffic
Titan Poker is part of PlayTech’s iPoker Network, which is basically a system that allows multiple sites to share a pool of players. While Titan is the primary site in the network, there are a total of 26 affiliated skins. These range from the well-known (William Hill Poker and bet365) to the somewhat obscure (PokerPlex and Tain). No matter which site you choose, however, the traffic numbers apply to all of them.
Based on the exhaustive and continual research done by PokerScouts, the iPoker Network is the third-largest card room in the world. A recent snapshot of the site showed their seven-day average to be 1,400 cash players, while their peak during a 24-hour period was 2,437. As for tournament players, the average during a seven-day period was 1,800, with that number rising to more than 4,000 at some points.
This number is well short of the figures pulled down by industry leader PokerStars, but it still positions Titan Poker (and the iPoker Network) as one of the biggest options around. When you’re drawing in traffic from 26 different sites, it’s hard for individual card rooms to match your numbers.
Deposit Bonuses
Titan Poker first gained a reputation by offering sizable sign-up bonuses, and that trend hasn’t stopped. They currently provide customers with a 100% matching bonus up to $2,000 on their first deposit, which is the best deal in the industry. Players have 60 days to meet the playthrough requirements, and the bonus is paid out daily in $5 portions.
In addition to the 100% bonus, new players also receive four entries into $2,500 freerolls, one entry into the monthly $10,000 bonanza, and treasure coins that can be redeemed for cash or prizes. I’ve tried to find better incentives, but Titan Poker continues to lead the pack in this area.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of card games other than Texas Hold’em and Omaha, Titan Poker may not be the best fit for you. For those who prefer these two options, however, you’ll find a wide array of tournaments and cash games to choose from.
The low and mid-stake games can be especially profitable for skilled players, as there are still plenty of fish to gobble up. Hardcore players can also try their luck at the higher limit tables, although you’ll find your skills put to the ultimate test by a surprising number of online professionals.