Former PokerStars and Full Tilt executives are working on the new NFT and AI-based poker brand PokerAces

A new NFT-based AI poker brand is in the works from former Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and 888 executives and consultants. Called PokerAcesThe project seeks to bring “fun” back to online poker by leveraging new technologies and games, according to i3soft, the company developing the product.

“Poker is our passion; but we don’t like where online tournament poker is going,” said a statement from i3soft. “Online tournament play will continue to stagnate until recreational players are re-energized with a fun gaming experience that respects their time and money.”

Founders John Caldwell and Bob Williamswho has worked with PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, claims that online poker is “stagnant” with players leaving the game due to factors such as competitors using add-on software and real-time assistance (RTA) to analyze hand history and playing style.

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) has changed the game; However, it may be more appropriate to say that it has solved it,” claims i3soft. Their new brand of poker seeks to “level the playing field” and give players “the unmistakable feeling of tournament poker without the hours and hours of grinding.”

Each PokerAces tournament allows players to skip the typical tournament play and quickly find out “if they’re in the money,” a press release explains. The first phase of the PokerAces gaming experience – called the race to the money – uses AI to play down to the money “much, much faster” than in regular tournaments.

“In other words, the AI ​​will fight during the initial stages of the game until the money is reached,” the company says. AI poker bots will play against each other until the bubble is reached. Each one has a completely unique play styleas the metadata of their NFTs will be endowed with “PokerDNA.”

From that point on, the players are faced with a decision. Option one, take over the cards and go for the win; and option two, let their “ACE” continue to compete on your behalf. Players can use the ACE feature for a few hands as their automatic poker player. According to the company, their proposal solves the problem of RTA ruining the gaming experience by adding NFTs into the equation.

❓Is the deck stacked against recreational online players?♠️ We think so.♦️Join us on our journey as we try to bring some balance and fairness back to the game.♥️Check out our “Hello World” post. ♣️ #PlayPokerACES https://t.co/PjpHUHtJzZ

— Pokeraces_io (@Pokeraces_io) 30 June 2022

ACE NFT turns “play to earn” into “execute to earn”. PokerAces uses a proprietary algorithm that analyzes a player’s performance against their expected finish and rewards them with i3X tokens. The platform allows for NFTs that are customizable and evolve with the user.

“With PokerAces, your achievements—such as earning gold status or winning a major tournament—are reflected in your NFT,” a press release explains. “We’re also excited to level up our NFTs in the not-so-distant future with wearable options like sunglasses, headphones, hats and more.”

Customizations for NFT can be earned through tournament play, or purchased with the i3X token, which players will receive for playing tournaments. This marks a new step in the poker world experimenting with NFTs: last year the Polker brand launched a Metaverse-based poker platform with NFT rewards; while PartyPoker announced plans to partner with Theta Labs to allow players to collect iconic moments in poker history.