Poker community responds to COVID-19 pandemic.
The international poker world has responded to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and canceled several upcoming live tournaments in Europe. The question of whether the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas will be canceled has sparked a heated debate between various poker pros on Twitter. Here's a summary:
Affected high-profile live events
The global pandemic of COVID-19 is not only endangering lives and causing economic disaster, but is also leaving its mark on the world of poker. As safety measures become increasingly stringent, several upcoming poker events in Europe have been canceled. Last week, the World Poker Tour (WPT) Barcelona (March 22-April 5), which was organized by PartyPoker among others, was called off. The prize pool guarantee of a staggering 3 million euros was withdrawn.
PartyPoker is also said to have suspended MILLIONS Cyprus (April 29-May 11). The premiere of "Siege of Malta" (April 15-20) and the Malta Poker Championship have also been canceled. It has been known since the beginning of the week that the Irish Poker Open (April 6-13) and the Bounty Poker Tour Tallinn (March 19-20) have also been canceled. All of the aforementioned tournaments have been postponed indefinitely.
PokerStars also suspends tournaments
The market leader PokerStars has also announced that it is cancelling certain European live events due to the coronavirus. The entire Road to PSPC tournament series in Hamburg, La Grand Motte, and Madrid is affected. According to management, players who have already qualified for one of the three cancelled events will be contacted individually to reschedule.
However, not all tournaments will be cancelled. As things stand, the upcoming European Poker Tour (EPT) in Sochi (March 20-29) will be played as planned. The same goes for the BSOP São Paulo (March 19-24) and the ongoing Okada Manila Millions (March 9-15). The aim is to strike a balance between fulfilling players' wishes, protecting participants, and acting responsibly.
Special security measures
PokerStars is working closely with the respective partner casinos to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken at the aforementioned events. These measures include regular disinfection, daily cleaning of all poker equipment, and regular replacement of playing cards. In reference to the current situation, the company announced on its website:
"The situation is very dynamic and live tournaments are a big part of what we do. We review each event on a case-by-case basis and react accordingly to the latest developments in tandem with our casino partners."
PokerStars also has a plan for players who no longer wish to participate in existing tournaments out of fear of infection. Players will be given "full flexibility in their decision." Should anyone feel uncomfortable participating in the events, customer service is available at any time.
In this context, Rob Yong from PartyPoker recently tweeted that 40 out of 87 players have already withdrawn from the current Millions Super High Roller Series in Sochi, Russia. It remains to be seen whether a similar withdrawal will also take place at the EPT.
WSOP: Will it be cancelled?
The annual World Series of Poker (May 26 - July 15) is a major tournament series on the poker calendar. Thousands of players and fans from all over the world flock to Las Vegas every year to watch or participate in the tournament at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.
Last week, however, the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Las Vegas, leading to whispers in the local poker scene that the high-profile event might be impossible to organize given the spread of the virus. One of the main reasons for this assumption is that players from all over the world traveling to Las Vegas could counteract efforts to contain the disease. With travel already severely restricted, some speculate that organizing the event might not be feasible. Poker pro Doug Polk, for example, said, "There are just so many countries flying in players, and with strict travel restrictions, that may not be realistic."
The WSOP organizers, however, maintain that they have no plans to cancel the event. "We are monitoring the developments of COVID-19 and have no plans to cancel the WSOP," reads the current statement on the website. The organizers only published their tournament schedule for 2020 at the end of December. A tournament with more variation and new game types is planned, including an anticipated return of freezeout tournaments.
WSOP Bet Causes Controversy
A controversial bet has been placed on Twitter by poker pros Doug Polk, Mike McDonald, and Dan O'Brien, who bet on a WSOP cancellation due to the coronavirus. Polk offered odds of 20:1 that the tournament would be cancelled. McDonald and O'Brien later followed suit with odds of 12:1.
The action quickly caused a stir within the poker community. The fact that poker players were betting on events related to the suffering of others was problematic for many poker fans from an ethical standpoint. Canadian poker player Daniel Negreanu made his position clear: "Ethically, it's just wrong, and I disagree with the idea."
As a professional gambler, I'm willing to wager on a lot of different things. However, there are certain things I won't bet on - things like people suffering, dying, or getting a virus. If you win a bet on one of those outcomes, it feels pretty grim, right?
He then made a point about the WSOP management, saying they were more focused on the money than the safety of their staff and patrons. With that in mind, this major bet seemed to generate quite a bit of attention and prompt action from the higher-ups. Pokernews reported that the talks carried on into the small hours. It's unclear exactly what the outcome will be, though.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
