The Impact of COVID-19 To The Poker Industry

 

COVID-19 has decimated the planet, resulting in all types of chaos. While insignificant in comparison to the suffering caused in other areas, the poker world has been hit hard by the looks of COVID-19, as have most other sorts of gambling.

It’s not all been bad news for poker fans though, jointly man’s loss is another man’s gain. Looking to entertain themselves during the lockdown, poker players flocked online in droves and replace the adrenaline surge they’d usually experience in their local casino, which almost certainly shut thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

There are now many that believe that the COVID-19 pandemic will change the globe of poker for the foreseeable future, relegating live play to the background and bringing about another golden age for the web game.

Lockdown Causes Closures and Cancelations

At face value, the lockdown enforced in many nations and other parts of the globe was terrible news for the gambling industry. Roulette wheels weren’t spun, and poker tables saw no action whatsoever as casino doors were closed and banks of slots were left empty. As a result, casinos found themselves earning no money from their physical premises in any respect. It absolutely was a disaster.

The 2020 World Series of Poker

One of the foremost high-profile poker events full of the coronavirus pandemic was the planet Series of Poker. The annual festival of poker is traditionally held in Vegas and sees thousands of players intermingling in various tournaments – not a decent idea with a highly contagious virus around. Instead, the shutdown caused many events, including a number of the most Event, to be held online.

Casino Closures Drive Players Online

The pandemic has been a large boost to the net poker industry. Before it, many had been concerned that the net poker bubble was slowly deflating, with many turning their backs on the web game. However, stuck reception with nothing to try and do, many decided to start out playing online poker like poker IDN again to pass the time, while others who had never played before took to poker sites for the primary time, eager to find something to alleviate the boredom of being stuck reception.

 

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No Poker in the slightest degree for several

However, there was one big problem: not everyone within the US could play online. States like California, Texas, and NY, to call but some, haven’t legalized online poker yet, meaning that players there have been cursed with nothing to try and do. Sure, they may play employing a VPN, but doing so meant they ran the chance of getting their funds confiscated by their poker site if they were discovered. Some managed to leap state lines into a state with legal poker, however, this simply wasn’t practical for several.

Concerns Over Problem Gambling in Pandemic

They say that the devil makes work for idle hands, and plenty of were concerned this is able to prove true during the pandemic. Gambling addiction is often a priority, however those vacant to try and do while in lockdown were thought to be at particular risk, especially if they’d already had a previous problem with gambling. Add the chance of job losses and also the financial stresses caused by the pandemic, and addiction was an awfully real possibility.

A New Normal in Reopened Casinos

A slight easing of the virus saw casinos and poker rooms reopen some months ago, which came as an enormous relief to everyone within the industry. Anyone visiting a casino or poker room since they reopened will have seen an enormous change though, with every kind of public health protocol being implemented to assist prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Casinos Heading Back to Lockdown?

While still heavily restricted within the way they operate, casinos have recently been getting back on their feet, beginning to a minimum of earning a number of the money they have so as to stay their businesses viable. There’s a concern, however, as COVID-19 hasn’t gone away. Instead, it’s making a second surge throughout the globe, with many places going into second lockdowns.