Phil Galfond’s Run It Once (RIO) poker website has finally gone live. The long-awaited launch took place on February 6 and poker players will be eager to see what the new online poker offering has to offer. The poker website was initially expected to go live in 2018 but things did not work out as per plan.
Players can now check out the poker website in its entirety, including its features and rewards systems. Phil Galfond has been working on RIO for more than two years, taking a step back from tournament action in favor of perfecting the new online platform.
Main Features
Galfond has been keeping the poker community in the loop of what his team has been working on, releasing videos and updates every now and then to share the latest progress on his new project. Galfond, a three-time WSOP winner, assured everyone that RIO will be different from the rest of the poker websites out there and will bring a whole new level of gaming experience that’s anchored in fairness and transparency.
Among the unique features of RIO is the absence of Heads-Up Displays (HUDs) which are replaced by a dynamic avatar system. The website also has a “table alias” feature that protects the identities of the players, as well as an autoseating mechanism that disables table scouting and seating scripts.
StreamR Rewards System
During the end of 2018, Galfond explained the details of RIO’s StreamR rewards system that aims to encourage more players to stream their games. The rewards are given according to a tiered structure. Players will be given 50 percent net rakeback if they achieve the minimum requirement of 200 hours of watch time per month (Level 1). The next two tiers (Level 2 & Level 3) awards players with between 75 – 100 percent rakeback, while TeamRIO streamRs receive 110 percent rakeback plus more rewards.
Splash The Pot
Perhaps one of the most exciting things about Run It Once is its “Splash The Pot” rewards scheme which seeks to give all players equal rewards. Galfond has been firm in his belief that all types of players should be valued and that pricing should be based on what is sustainable and fair.
On the RIO website, Galfond explained that their rake across the board is lower than the two leading poker sites (PokerStars and Partypoker). While Galfond maintained that rake levels are subject to change and will be updated over time, he emphasized the importance of using “common sense” in adjusting rake according to speeds, types of game and achievable edges.
RIO’s Splash The Pot hopes to provide a fun system for all players by achieving net rakes through high rewards and higher base rake. The Splash The Pot system prevents the use of bots and will make sure that all rewards are collected. Prizes and rewards may come in many different forms, such as missions, chests or points redeemable, but RIO will make sure that players will not be put at a disadvantage.
Splash The Pot offers 51 percent rakeback for all players and base rakes start from 4 percent to 5.75 percent. Everyone will be given the same fair edge.
In the event of changes to the website’s policies, rules or rake levels, Galfond promised they will all come with explanations and that their reasons will always be glued to the company’s values and vision.
More Innovations Coming to RIO Soon
Players can now visit the RIO platform and play 6-Max No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha games. More variants and formats will be added soon and Galfond has promised to keep everyone up to date with the latest developments.
Galfond is urging players to support RIO and spread the news on social media. Galfond said they want players to try the platform as soon as possible and provide them with feedback. He knows that achieving RIO’s long-term goals will really boil down to the level of support shown by players.
RIO’s main goal is to provide a poker website that gives players the top priority. The poker website will focus on making sure that their poker experience is filled with fun and excitement made available in an honest, secure, and fair manner.