NEWS
9 March 2020
PokerStars postpones European tournaments amid virus concerns
By Owain Flanders

The three events are part of the poker operator’s ‘Road to PSPC’ – a new series of tournaments.

The tournaments, which were scheduled to take place in Germany, France and Spain, will be rescheduled for a later date.

In a statement released on its website, PokerStars said: "We are closely monitoring the spread of Covid-19 and working with the casinos operating the events we sponsor to ensure we are being kept up to speed with all the latest developments.

"The situation is highly dynamic and live tournaments are a big part of what we do. So we are endeavouring to strike a balance of catering to our players’ wants while also protecting attendees, and ensuring we act responsibly."

In addition to postponing the three tournaments, the operator is introducing safety measures at its events outside of Europe to reduce the risk of infection.

PokerStars will provide hand sanitisers, ensure all poker equipment is sanitised daily and change card decks regularly at its three upcoming events in Brazil, the Philippines and Russia.

Last week, Macau reported its gross gaming revenue was down 88% year-on-year for the month of February due to the impact of coronavirus.

In the US, an Oregon casino was forced to close after an employee became the state’s third positive case.