Is SwC Poker Still Running Today?
SwC Poker has been around for a long time and is still running today. Since it uses Bitcoin and operates offshore, the site welcomes players from around the world.
It doesn’t have the impressive traffic numbers of its Bitcoin poker site competitors, though. But there’s a steady stream of players online every day, so you won’t have too much trouble finding a cash game to join.
Traffic and Game Types at SwC Poker
SwC Poker traffic has a daily average of just under a hundred, and peaks at around 300 during the evening hours in the US.
But, while it has a huge variety of games – everything from OFC Poker and Badugi to Razz and 2-7 Draw – most players on the site flock to the Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha tables.
It’s not the highest traffic numbers, but you’ll still often find more than 100 tables to join, since a large chunk, around 70%, are Heads Up games. There’s also SnG action at 5-max tables, but they don’t fill up particularly quickly, so you might have to wait around a bit.
The good news is that SwC Poker has a decent tournament schedule with plenty of daily freerolls and more than 50 Hyper and Turbo MTTs every week. Its larger-stakes tournaments include The Daily Crumb and The Daily Deep, with $1,000 and $20,000 guaranteed prize pools, respectively.
You’ll also find some special tournament events with six-figure prize pools, but they don’t come around often.
SwC Poker’s software is streamlined and polished, if a little barebones compared to other offshore poker sites. The Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android apps are generally stable and lag-free, with some customization available to meet your UI needs.
SwC Poker Bonuses and Promotions
SwC Poker has an attractive rakeback system through its VIP program, where you earn “Krill” points as you generate rake. The more Krill points you have, the higher your rakeback tier, going all the way up to 50% at the highest level. But it’s easier to earn points from cash games than tournaments, since only early registrants get these reward points.
You should keep an eye out for Krill promos, with higher rakeback and tickets for large prize pool tournaments up for grabs when you cross certain thresholds. Regular players will also find the weekly leaderboards and bonuses, such as the Bad Beat Jackpot, useful.
Another aspect that keeps players coming back is SwC’s low rake, equating to around 5% for regular MTTs and 6% for events with guaranteed prize pools.
SwC Poker Drawbacks
While it has a solid VIP program, it only helps keep regular players hooked. One of SwC Poker’s biggest drawbacks is that there’s no welcome bonus, one of the main ways a poker site brings in new players. Whether through match deposits or tournament tickets, and often, both, even the most popular high-traffic poker sites offer plenty of poker bonuses.
Another issue is the relatively low levels of traffic. The wide range of game options, decent tournament schedule, and good software are wasted when there aren’t enough people to fill up tables. If you’re looking for consistent action, you might be better off looking elsewhere.
SwC Poker Alternatives
SwC has a lot going for it – the game variety is unmatched, it has a solid tournament schedule, the VIP program is impressive, and the desktop and mobile apps are reliable.
Unfortunately, the low traffic is its biggest letdown, and you’ll likely enjoy a similar, if not better, experience at some other poker rooms that have much higher traffic.
If you’re looking for a like-for-like alternative to SwC Poker, we recommend checking out CoinPoker. It’s crypto-only, offers an industry-leading welcome bonus and 33% rakeback, and boasts nearly a hundred times the traffic compared to SwC.
Tournament grinders won’t have any trouble finding an MTT to join at ACR Poker, which has an even more packed tournament schedule, plenty of freerolls and satellites, and incredible traffic.
And if you’re looking for one of the best loyalty programs around, check out Ignition Poker. Its VIP program is excellent, and you’ll enjoy plenty of soft games since players often jump over from the casino and sports betting sides.
SwC Poker isn’t bad, but a nice welcome bonus would pull in more traffic, which is the main thing this poker room needs.