PokerStars Places Restrictions on Chinese Players

According to several published reports, PokerStars has taken drastic steps to prevent collusion between players in China. As a result of rules changes that took place sometime in the past week, players from China will no longer be allowed to sit at any ring game table where any other player from the country is already seated.

This follows a similar rule change over the summer that prevented Chinese players from playing in the same sit-and-go tournaments together. That change followed the unraveling of a large collusion ring based in China that rocked the site this past summer. That ring targeted the “Double or Nothing” SNGs, and ended with PokerStars paying a reported $2.1 million in compensation to the victims of the collusion at those tables.

It is not clear whether another instance of collusion prompted this change, or if it was a preemptive decision to prevent trouble down the line. No major collusion issues – or associated compensation packages – have been reported lately, though it is possible that collusion on a smaller scale prompted PokerStars to take action before any major problems surfaced.

In either case, the new rules effectively make it impossible for Chinese players to compete against each other in nearly any games, with the exception of scheduled multi-table tournaments.

The following statement was issued to Chinese players from PokerStars in regards to the change:  

“PokerStars.com has introduced a new security feature that prevents players from certain countries playing at the same ring game table.”

“This restriction means that only one player from each of these countries is able to play at the same ring game table. You are able to play at any ring game table you wish but once you are seated no other player from your country will be able to join the table. Similarly, if another player from your country is seated, you will be unable to join that table until they leave.

“We regret the inconvenience that this has caused you but this policy has been implemented to enhance the integrity of the games.”