PokerStars are suspending all services in Russia

[fundiver199]

pokerstars have just announced on their Facebook page, that they are suspending all services in Russia. No reason is given, but for sure this must be connected to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some forum members including myself have called for this move for quite some time already, so I am happy to see, that PokerStars is finally doing, what many other international companies have already done.

 

[SpanRmonka]

Yes I just heard that, wonder how many more will follow suit.....Might we even see overlays at Stars in the next weeks?

I feel sorry for the Russian people too, they are gonna have a really tough time, with all the sanctions, but of course its nothing when compared to be invaded, displaced, killed beaten and controlled. We can only hope it has the desired effect, and quickly. Russia needs a revolution, and get rid of Putin.

Easy for me to say tho from the comfort of my sofa in the UK.

 

[La reytor]

It is a real shame so many innocent lives have been lost in that war, I know Russian players who have nothing to do with that conflict and now they are alone, I just hope that this war ends since in Ecuador we are paying high prices for first class products need the bread of 0.10 cents will now cost 0.25 cents which is a quite considerable increase, since many of the ingredients have gone up, like the sack of flour that used to cost 20$ now costs 47$ and many products are going up in price for this armed conflict.

 

[Sham3415]

In my opinion, it is wrong to suspend the participation of these citizens, since they would surely see the invasion of Ukraine in a bad way and, as always, the weakest will receive the punishment that corresponds to such heartless characters who think they are great by the time they they do not put the chest to the bullets

 

[Shumkoolie]

In my opinion, it is wrong to suspend the participation of these citizens, since they would surely see the invasion of Ukraine in a bad way and, as always, the weakest will receive the punishment that corresponds to such heartless characters who think they are great by the time they they do not put the chest to the bullets

The problem is they are fed the information from The Kremlin, though from my understanding, there already have been protests in Russia against what is happening. But if they see a completely different visual of what's going on, they won't see it the way most of the rest of the world sees it. I do agree with you that many would see things in a bad way if they could see what we see.

The only Russian streamer I know is InnerPsycho (Mikhail Shalamov) who was formerly a Team PokerStars pro, but is now, if I'm not mistaken, associated with GG poker. I don't believe he's streamed since last month, so he may be affected access wise, or for other reasons from streaming.

 

[001Jaguar]

A lot of decisions made after the invasion and a lot of sanctions on Russian Economy and will effect definitely who lives in Russia currency going down and people will feel in the future months this decision probably it’s because of the sanctions it might be a good move for Pokerstar because of the economy in Russia

 

[fundiver199]

Yes I just heard that, wonder how many more will follow suit.....Might we even see overlays at Stars in the next weeks?

We will surely see a drop in volume, since Russia was one of the biggest markets for Stars if not the biggest of them all. But Stars are usually fast to adjust their guaranties to avoid overlays. But for the next few days at least we could see some overlays.

 

[fundiver199]

Can someone here train me to become an assassin?

As I understand it, there have been multible assassination attempts on Putin over the years, but he is very well protected. So most likely we are not going to get rid of him that way.

 

[fundiver199]

The problem is they are fed the information from The Kremlin, though from my understanding, there already have been protests in Russia against what is happening. But if they see a completely different visual of what's going on, they won't see it the way most of the rest of the world sees it. I do agree with you that many would see things in a bad way if they could see what we see.

And unfortunately I have heard rapports, that while the president of Ukraine has certainly won the information war in most of the world, Putin has won it in Russia. A majority of russians really beleive his nonsense about "special operations" and "denazification of Ukraine". Reportedly many even refuse to beleive, what family members living in Ukraine are telling them, because its so different from the picture presented on Russian TV.

So the majority of Russians do in fact live in a parallel universe, and for that reason sanctions will likely not provoke a revolte. They might even increase Putins popularity at least in the short term. But they are still good, because harming the russian economy deminisn the countries ability to conduct war. So its a non-violent alternative to bombning factories and supply lines, as was done in WW2.

 

[Joe]

Willing to go to Ukraine any day.

Can someone here train me to become an assassin?
:vroam:

Yes.

 

[Nokaut men 1997]

Just one player with a Russian address kicked me out of the tournament. So one should not believe everything that is written on social networks.
Russia is too big a market for PokerStars to give up so easily.
On Monday, the Russians won 2nd and 3rd place in the Sunday Million which further reinforces my claim.

 

[fundiver199]

On Monday, the Russians won 2nd and 3rd place in the Sunday Million which further reinforces my claim.

Because that tournament began on sunday, before PokerStars decided to stop their services. Its a 2-day event, and they did not kick russian players out of tournaments, that had already begun. Which would certainly not have been fair either.

 

[papapokera85]

It's a pity, but Russia has its own poker platforms, so it won't be boring)) And the sanctions will affect not only Russia, but the whole WORLD! And everyone will only blame themselves!

 

[Mauricio Perrotta]

Because that tournament began on sunday, before PokerStars decided to stop their services. Its a 2-day event, and they did not kick russian players out of tournaments, that had already begun. Which would certainly not have been fair either.

Yes, it could also be that they are Russians playing at pokerstars from another IP address in another country. Yesterday in the qualifying freerolls for sunday millions there were Russians playing, less, but there were.

 

[fundiver199]

Yes, it could also be that they are Russians playing at pokerstars from another IP address in another country. Yesterday in the qualifying freerolls for sunday millions there were Russians playing, less, but there were.

If an account is registered in X country, then the player will show with that flag, even they are logging on in another country. I have played several MTTs and SnGs today and not seen a single player with russian flag at the tables. Of course russians can play, if they permanently reside in a country, where PS offer there services, just like americans can. But then their location will show as that country not Russia.

 

[fundiver199]

And the sanctions will affect not only Russia, but the whole WORLD!

This is try mainly through higher commodity prices. Some of that is due to the war and not sanctions though, since Ukraine was a major exporter of food products like grain, and this has now been disrupted by Mr. Putin.

And everyone will only blame themselves!

I certainly dont blame anyone except Putin and his supporters. Defeating Hitler also came at a cost, but its a cost, we must be willing to shoulder. After all paying a bit more for energy and food is a small sacrificy compared to being forced to hide in bomb shelters, while your country is being destroyed by an evil foreign power wanting to take it over.

 

[DS3]

PokerStars have just announced on their Facebook page, that they are suspending all services in Russia. No reason is given, but for sure this must be connected to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some forum members including myself have called for this move for quite some time already, so I am happy to see, that PokerStars is finally doing, what many other international companies have already done.

I am happy with the decision also and hope other sites join with the sanctions (though I think it unlikely all will).

I have scanned down the comments and wanted to add my opinion regarding information and the effect sanctions could have.

Jill Dougherty is a journalist and academic I admire with 50 years of direct experience with Russia. She was just forced to leave Moscow as Putin is now threatening journalists with a 15 year prison sentence if they describe the invasion as a war. Dougherty believes it might be the last time she reports from Russia.

In an interview back in Washington she made a point of talking about communications and the Russian media. Dougherty confirmed the fact that a few of us have discussed here - elderly Russians accept what they are spoon fed by state dominated television and newspapers. But for other Russians there are still options available in spite of the media clampdown for citizens to communicate with each other and source unfiltered information.

Now that the likes of even McDonalds have shut down, numerous people must be asking what the hell has really happened and I imagine they will start to turn to various Apps which will allow them to be truly informed of the reality.

That is where, hopefully, a real people's movement will grow and gather steam.

 

[Shells]

Here is CardsChat's article on this topic -

PokerStars Joins Global Corporate Boycott Against Russia for Invading Ukraine

 

[JordanH]

I am happy with the decision also and hope other sites join with the sanctions (though I think it unlikely all will).

I have scanned down the comments and wanted to add my opinion regarding information and the effect sanctions could have.

Jill Dougherty is a journalist and academic I admire with 50 years of direct experience with Russia. She was just forced to leave Moscow as Putin is now threatening journalists with a 15 year prison sentence if they describe the invasion as a war. Dougherty believes it might be the last time she reports from Russia.

In an interview back in Washington she made a point of talking about communications and the Russian media. Dougherty confirmed the fact that a few of us have discussed here - elderly Russians accept what they are spoon fed by state dominated television and newspapers. But for other Russians there are still options available in spite of the media clampdown for citizens to communicate with each other and source unfiltered information.

Now that the likes of even McDonalds have shut down, numerous people must be asking what the hell has really happened and I imagine they will start to turn to various apps which will allow them to be truly informed of the reality.

That is where, hopefully, a real people's movement will grow and gather steam.

At first I was skeptical about the usefulness of withdrawing conveniences, goods and services from the Russian marketplace. But I think you've really hit on the point here. If all of a sudden I can't buy a Big Mac or an iphone or watch my favorite shows on Netflix I'm going to go looking to find out why. It shouldn't take too much digging for tech savvy Russians to get to the truth.

Ikea, Apple, McDonald's among companies cutting ties with Russia over Ukraine invasion: LIST

 

[fundiver199]

I am happy with the decision also and hope other sites join with the sanctions (though I think it unlikely all will).

I have scanned down the comments and wanted to add my opinion regarding information and the effect sanctions could have.

Jill Dougherty is a journalist and academic I admire with 50 years of direct experience with Russia. She was just forced to leave Moscow as Putin is now threatening journalists with a 15 year prison sentence if they describe the invasion as a war. Dougherty believes it might be the last time she reports from Russia.

In an interview back in Washington she made a point of talking about communications and the Russian media. Dougherty confirmed the fact that a few of us have discussed here - elderly Russians accept what they are spoon fed by state dominated television and newspapers. But for other Russians there are still options available in spite of the media clampdown for citizens to communicate with each other and source unfiltered information.

Now that the likes of even McDonalds have shut down, numerous people must be asking what the hell has really happened and I imagine they will start to turn to various apps which will allow them to be truly informed of the reality.

That is where, hopefully, a real people's movement will grow and gather steam.

The russian propaganda is pretty obvious, but its important to remember, that in war there is always a lot of propaganda from both sides. The large picture here is pretty clear and simple, but when it come to the daily news, which we get flooded with right now in western countries, we really need to take it all with a grain of salt and not get emotionally carried away. Yes maybe a childrens hospital got hit by bombs, and thats obviously not good, but we dont know the whole story of, what exactly happened and why.

Also I cant help but note, that certain US media like Fox News seems to be doing a fair bit of war mongering. Which ok that might be cool, if you are 8.000 km away from the front line, but for those of us, who are closer to the scene here in Europe, its not really, what we need. And sometimes US media, although technically free, are not any better than those of Russia.

I was chocked, when during a discussion about the Ukraine war on one of the US news channels, the journalist referred to the 2003 invasion of Irak as "Operation Iraki Freedom". If such terms are used here in the west to white-wash, what was a very similar unprovoked attack on an independent country with the purpuse of changing the regime, then how can we complain about russian media calling the invation of Ukraine a "Special military operation?"

 

[TeUnit]

I feel bad for the players, but its great that they are doing the right thing.

 

[milka1605]

The ban on pokerstars is not a big blow for the Russians. Poker is not daily bread. Much more awaits them ahead - default and high inflation. Their money will become toilet paper.
Such inflation was already in the 90s. When everyone became millionaires at once. Salaries were paid in millions of local currency.

 

[valeski 28]

Good afternoon.Well made decision by PokerStars.I hope the other big poker sites will do the same.Sorry for the many and good CC Russian members.I hope they will be back soon.

 

[Edgerik]

It does not seem to me a very wise decision, those who play poker in Russia are the people, not the government, the people always pay the consequences of bad governments.

 

[DS3]

At first I was skeptical about the usefulness of withdrawing conveniences, goods and services from the Russian marketplace. But I think you've really hit on the point here. If all of a sudden I can't buy a Big Mac or an iPhone or watch my favorite shows on Netflix I'm going to go looking to find out why. It shouldn't take too much digging for tech savvy Russians to get to the truth.

Ikea, Apple, McDonald's among companies cutting ties with Russia over Ukraine invasion: LIST

This.

Obviously there was a run in Russian banks starting when the sanctions first hit as people wanted cash in their hands - that was about 2 weeks ago and Muscovites were not happy already. Around the world Russians have been stuck cash poor- I just watched a clip of Russians visiting Bali cut off at the ATM and now their credit cards got chopped a few days ago.

No one is under any illusion something has gone drastically wrong in their lives.

This is why Jill Dougherty underlined the access to communication apps that as you say 'tech savvy' Russians can use to search for the truth. I can see how the average Russian might be hesitant to believe that war is being conducted in a vicious manner- after all the fact most people are patriots does not make them fanatics. But, there have been so many drastic changes in front of them, at this point that people are going to be demanding answers regarding the cause and effect.