PokerStars Removes $1c/2c Games
7 years ago
22 Jun
(Photo: Pokerstars.com)
In a move that appears to be designed to push players up to a higher level of play, PokerStars have started a trial removal of the lowest buy-in No Limit and PLO cash tables on their Belgian site, PokerStars.be – with the possibility of it being rolled out across all of their markets.
Starting last week, on the June15th, Belgian players logged in to find the tables gone with a message from PokerStars stating:
We frequently review the selection of ring games and tournaments within our lobby and monitor how that affects the overall playing experience, whether playing on smartphone, tablet or desktop.”
Although Belgian players use different software as part of the regulatory set-up in their country, they are still part of the main PokerStars liquidity pool, and many have seen this move as a precursor to the Amaya-owned site rolling out the changes market-wide.
In a response from PS customer support, shared in the 2+2 forum:
We are sorry to inform you that this is intentional. We are indeed trialling the removal of $/€/£ 2.00 No Limit as well as $/€/£ 0.01/0.02 Pot Limit and No Limit games in Belgium, since June 15th.”
With the Stars brand still reeling somewhat from the backlash to their changes at the higher end of the poker ladder- boycotts and strikes resulting from their VIP and SuperNova changes late last year – it’s unclear how this latest attempt to apparently force players up a level will be met by the poker community.
“Given they try to both remove high stakes and micros, when will stars be only 1/2 zoom?” asked Shevtshenko on Pokerstrategy.com which was met with the reply from laalaa9 who said:
…it would be awesome if the lowest stakes were ~25NL. There would be more fish for regs, maybe even more deposits for Stars.”
It is this last point which critics and sceptics of PokerStars will see as the main reason for the changes. Higher buy-ins means more deposits and subsequently more rake for Stars, the trial evidently being to see if this extra income more than offsets any players leaving the site because of the removal of the lowest micro-stake.
Many players –perhaps most, your writer included– learned their trade at the $0.01/0/02 stakes, where a good grounding in poker principles and strategy could be gained without damaging your bank balance too much. A 150% increase in buy-in however, is a big increase, even if it still ‘micro-stakes,’ although there are other sites that no longer run $2NL either.
In their fairly typical response, PokerStars say a lot without addressing these issues at all, stating:
We experiment with all aspects of the game by trying out new challenges, promotions, and types of poker
Back on 2+2, regular poster ArtyMcFly wrote:
..it seems like a pretty weird strategy, as the reaction of Belgian players (do they move up, quit the game, or switch to another site?) is not necessarily a good predictor for what would happen if Brazilians or Brits faced the same 'closure'. It's quite unfortunate for Belgians that they are 'guinea pigs' in this trial, as being locked out of the lowest stakes games while other nationalities can still play seems quite unfair.”
What do readers think of this change? Do you play 2NL cash games? If you had to ‘move up or leave’ what would you do? Answers below please!
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