PokerRoom has returned to the online poker scene. This ends several weeks of rumor and speculation about if the company was going to launch a real money site. The new site is offering real money play as part of the Ongame network. It is currently only available to players outside the U.S.

Anyone who played poker in the U.S. pre UIGEA will remember PokerRoom.com. It was one of the most respected online sites as well as one of the most popular for poker online. The site was renowned for its integrity as well as for providing player friendly software. They also spread a wide variety of poker games.

New players are going to be able to take advantage of the loyalty program and deposit bonuses. This will be especially important when it comes to recruiting players from other sites. One might say that now is actually a very opportune time for PokerRoom to reenter the market.

The aftermath of Black Friday has changed the landscape for online poker rooms. Many of the sites that were operating have either been shut down or are completely demolished. Full Tilt is essentially no longer functioning. Poker Stars is no longer a US poker room, and AP/UB are gone. This allows PokerRoom to try and go after some of the displaced market share.

While PokerRoom will not be able to go after the U.S. market, they can get players from all other areas. One of the most recent developments in the online poker landscape is the player reaction to PokerStars recent rake changes. Many of the full time pro grinders have decided to leave PokerStars and are looking for other sites. PokerRoom will certainly be able to pick up some of these players.

When the U.S. does decide to pass pro poker legislation PokerRoom is in a fantastic spot to reel the benefits. They do not have the problem that PokerStars does in regards to the DOJ and the UIGEA. PokerRoom voluntarily left the U.S. market in 2006 and therefore is not likely to be banned from getting a license.