GGPoker Rolls Out New Time Bank Card System — With a Twist

The Time Bank Cards: What’s New and How It Works

Time Bank Cards are now GGPoker’s default method for handling extra decision time at the table. To keep it simple, when players sit down for a session, they’re allocated a limited number of free Time Bank Cards — how many depends on the game type and stake level. These can be used when the regular decision timer is about to run out, granting a one-time extension for that street. Once used, the time doesn’t roll over to the next betting round or hand.

So far, so standard, right?

But the real change comes once those freebies are gone. In cash games, players who find themselves in need of more time can purchase a Paid Time Bank Card — at the cost of one big blind. This gets them an extra 30 seconds to act. Only one paid card can be used per hand, and the option is unavailable in formats like All-In or Fold or during Flip & Go’s Flip stage.

Now here’s the interesting part: that one big blind doesn’t go to the house. It’s redistributed among the other players at the table. If the amount can’t be split evenly, any leftover fraction is given to players in order, starting from the left of the dealer.

According to GGPoker, the goal is to prevent time bank abuse while offering a solution that feels both fair and functional. According to the poker giant, there are three core benefits to the system:

• More control for players facing tough spots
• Faster overall gameplay
• A redistribution mechanism that rewards those who act promptly

The Fine Print — and the Implications

The new system applies across all of GGPoker cash game formats — including No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Short Deck, and the Rush & Cash fast-fold variant. However, players in tournaments won’t be able to purchase extra time, keeping with the traditional time bank structure.

So far, the response from the poker community has been mixed, especially among high-volume grinders and multi-tablers. Don’t get us wrong, many players welcome efforts to curb deliberate slow play. However, others have raised some concerns. The most common? That asking players to pay for time — even if redistributed — adds pressure to act quickly and could negatively impact decision quality, particularly in tough spots.

Multi-tablers may feel this most acutely. With multiple games on the go, keeping pace across all tables becomes more demanding. The new system may effectively encourage players to reduce table count — or accept that deep thought comes at a price.

GGPoker has defended the move as a direct response to player feedback. “Time Bank Card was implemented due to continuous player feedback asking for something to be done about players consistently and deliberately slowing the game down,” a spokesperson said on Reddit.

The move also places GGPoker at the forefront of a growing trend. ClubWPT Gold recently introduced its own paid time extension feature, charging players 20% of a big blind for 10 extra seconds. WPT Global has a similar setup. The difference? On those platforms, the time bank fee goes to the operator. GGPoker’s redistribution model — where the table benefits instead of the house — is a compromise.

So, Fair Play or Pay to Think?

For now, reactions from players have ranged from intrigued to skeptical. Some see the paid card model as a fair trade — you get time when you need it, and everyone else gets compensated for the slowdown. Others argue that it creates unnecessary friction in hands where extra thinking time is part of good poker, not time-wasting.

The inclusion of the feature in Rush & Cash, a format designed for fast play, has also raised eyebrows. For their part, critics suggest the pace is already high enough and that punishing players with a time toll could backfire.

Still, for many casual players — especially those who prefer a fast, smooth-flowing game — the change may be a welcome one. At its best, the system encourages thoughtful play when it matters and discourages dragging things out when it doesn’t.

One thing’s clear: as or now, if you want more time to tank at GGPoker, it’s going to cost you — but not everyone loses.