According to the most recent Scouting Report from PokerScout, the nation of Franceleads the world’s segregated online poker markets in player value. The Report, which is released weekly and contains a bevy of information about online poker traffic, read in part, “Player value was estimated using our standard rake model, which takes into account variables such as player counts at various limits and the number of hands per hour, but does not consider the actual rake structure of each site.”

Six segregated markets were compared in total: France, United States, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Sweden. PokerScout was surprised by the appearance of France in the top spot “considering the large number of Winamaxplayers who play the very lowest micro-stakes.” Winamax accepts real money players from the European Union and is one of the leading brands in the competitive French market. Speaking of that, check out PocketFives’ France poker community.

Perhaps affecting the player value numbers in France is a hotly contested battle between Winamax and PokerStarsfor market supremacy. The two are in a dead heat in terms of average ring game player counts, according to PokerScout, at 1,120. Winamax has a higher 24-hour peak at 2,696 at the time of writing, with PokerStars coming in at 2,146.

With the highest player value in a segregated market, there’s definitely a considerable amount at stake for whichever site ultimately comes out on top. Winamax’s cash game traffic is off 20% year-over-year, while PokerStars’ French traffic is down 8%. PartyPoker‘s traffic in France follows a similar pattern and is down 10%.

PokerStars rules the roost in Italy, which came in third in terms of player value, and the numbers aren’t even close. PokerStars has an average of 1,600 cash game players in Italy, over three times the next closest competitor, Ongame. In Spain, it’s more of the same, as PokerStars’ Spanish site has a running average of 1,400 cash game players, nearly quadruple the next closest room, 888.

Ultimate Pokeris the lone regulated online poker room in the United Statesand has a seven-day running average of 177 cash game players with a 24-hour peak of 299. It’s likely bracing for the launch of what could be up to three competitors in Nevada in the next few months: AcePlay, WSOP.com, and Real Gaming, which are aligned with Stratosphere, Caesars Entertainment, and South Point, respectively. Ultimate is fresh off dealing its 10 millionth hand.

Thanks to PokerScout for supplying PocketFives a copy of this week’s Scouting Report.

PokerScout’s Scouting Report is a daily newsletter for the online poker industry, with in-depth data and analysis of the market. More information can be found by clicking hereor contacting support@pokerscout.com.

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