Revolution or Regression? GGPoker Shakes Up High-Stakes Play with Invite-Only Tables

GGPoker has thrown a major curveball into the high-stakes poker world, shifting its highest VIP cash games from publicly accessible to private, invite-only tables.

The market-leading platform now has these games under an ‘Exclusive’ tab in the lobby, replacing the former VIP section with a model that restricts play to a pre-selected group of poker players.

Access is now limited for high-stakes No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Short Deck tables $25/$50 and above. Even though a new $10/$20 stake became accessible to all players, the move sent ripples through the high-stakes community.

What’s Behind the Curtain?

Under the new ‘Exclusive’ tab, there is now a private, club-like atmosphere on GGPoker, granting access only to invited players—a model often seen on private club-based poker apps like ClubGG, PokerBros and PPPoker. This shift went into effect on November 8, with initial whispers circulating among GGPoker’s regulars since late October.

According to the official GGPoker site, the Exclusive Games offer ‘a private, customizable home-game experience managed by individual hosts’. Under this arrangement, hosts (acting similarly to agents on poker apps) handle everything from inviting players to overseeing deposits, withdrawals, and table activity. Only players with host invitations can join the Exclusive Games, and each host retains full control over player selection.

This arrangement has drawn a mixed response, with some players welcoming the exclusivity and others voicing concerns over limited access and increased reliance on host connections.

For those interested in hosting, GGPoker emphasizes that it’s not a casual role; only players who meet strict eligibility requirements and demonstrate a high level of responsibility can qualify.

To add another layer of exclusivity, these private games won’t even show up in the client unless players are logged in—and players’ access may vary by region depending on local regulations. Unlike traditional tables, the stakes aren’t denominated in USD, aligning GGPoker’s high-stakes game model closer to app-based play styles.

Pushback from the Poker Community

Unsurprisingly, this sweeping change has sparked debate. Some members of the poker community argue that moving high-stakes games behind a velvet rope contradicts the spirit of open competition, transforming GGPoker’s high-stakes tables into a private enclave.

Joey Ingram is Disappointed

Outspoken poker personality & content creator Joey Ingram expressed his disappointment, noting that the shift reduces the availability of public, high-stakes battles—games that were historically open to anyone with the bankroll to play.

Ingram speculated that this move could open the door for a new platform that appeals to players looking for a more transparent, open playing field.

Getting rid of public game battles completely and going private only when it seems like there is a nice group of players that still want to battle in a public system at all stakes doesn’t make a lot of sense to me but a big opportunity for a new poker site

— LEGION | Joey Ingram 🐉 (@Joeingram1) November 9, 2024

Dirk Gerritse is Sad but Optimistic

Top Pot-Limit Omaha player Dirk Gerritse (known online as ‘Venividi1993’) also voiced his frustration, pointing out that the invite-only structure now cuts his profits in half.

Gerritse expressed his optimism too though, mentioning that whenever poker posed new challenges for him in the past, in the end, he emerged victorious.

@GGPoker decided to change their highstakes lobby which means I will not be able to play there for the foreseeable future. It’ll be a 50% “paycut” overnight.

It reminded me of going broke and being turned down by my old poker team two years ago:

Two negative events that…

— Venividi1993 (@thevenividi1993) November 9, 2024

GGPoker Spokesperson Reacts

In response, a GGPoker spokesperson clarified that the decision stemmed from demand among high-stakes players for more controlled, club-style environments. By introducing the Exclusive Games, GGPoker aims to offer players a more tailored experience, addressing feedback they received over recent months.

Doug Polk Weighs In

Shortly after, high-stakes poker pro & YouTuber Doug Polk weighed in on the recent changes too in his trademark sarcastic style:

App-Inspired Rules: Mandatory VPIP & Squid Game

Beyond exclusivity, GGPoker has also introduced a unique set of rules inspired by app-based club poker, aiming to increase action at the tables.

Exclusive games now feature a mandatory VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money in Pot) rule, requiring players to enter the pot at least 35% of the time for Hold’em, 40% for Omaha, and 45% for Short Deck. Players must meet these thresholds over a sample of 50 hands, or they risk a one-hour table ban.

This requirement is intended to keep the games active and discourage overly tight or passive play, a common challenge in high-stakes games. Similar VPIP requirements are common on social poker apps like GGPoker’s own ClubGG platform, helping create a more recreational player-friendly environment.

Another unique addition is the ‘Squid Game’ rule, also known in club games as ‘Stand Up’. This rule requires players who have yet to win a hand to pay a penalty to the rest of the table. The game continues until all but one player has won a pot; the last player remaining without a win must pay a larger penalty, typically three times the big blind, distributed among the winning players.

This rule, GGPoker states, aims to increase player engagement and add excitement to the exclusive tables. When asked if these rules could expand to non-exclusive games, GGPoker noted that while it’s not currently under consideration, they could explore it if player interest grows.

GGPoker’s History of High-Stakes Controversies

This isn’t the first time GGPoker’s changes to high-stakes games have stirred controversy. In recent years, the operator has faced repeated backlash, with many of these issues centered around rake and transparency.

Just last year, GGPoker attempted a rake increase for No-Limit Hold’em, nearly doubling the fees for high-stakes games. The response from the high-stakes community was swift and decisive, leading to a boycott and a rollback of almost 90% of the proposed rake increase within two weeks.

In another widely discussed move, GGPoker made real names mandatory for players at high-stakes tables, a policy that was initially unpopular among pros who preferred anonymity.

While GGPoker’s rake remains higher than other platforms like PokerStars, the company argues that it offsets these costs with substantial promotions and giveaways, adding value for recreational players.