Players in India can no longer play at PokerStars

They're probably saving you a lot of money. It's the rest of the world that should be upset. (except 'they' isn't amaya... it's your government)

Black Friday didn't happen in 2009. it was in April 2011.

I'm certain that USA poker players would be extremely happy if Stars rolled out an option for them to play where only citizens from their own country could play on the site (way better than nothing at all).

From the other thread:

Aparajit said:

Its no Govt decision.... Its jokerstars decision, i read on twitter. They sold their Indian players to a Private company in India and as a part of the deal also let them use their name.. So look legit.. Its a scam.

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So I did a bit more research and actually Aparajit isn't entirely wrong.

online poker and gambling in India has always been a grey area.
From a legal perspective, everything depends on local jurisdiction. India’s laws give individual states the autonomy to introduce their own gambling regulations.

It looks like pokerstars did actually decide to downsize and outsource their operations in that country instead of trying to sort out all the local licenses themselves, with the new PokerStars.IN operated by Sachiko Gaming Private Limited, which is part of the Sugal and Damani group which reportedly operates skill game websites under the brand Khelplay.com, including an MPN skin on the Microgaming Poker Network, but had announced they would shut down these operations by March 15, seemingly to make way for PokerStars.IN.
According to some reports Khelplay had acquired a multi-games license from the country’s first jurisdiction offering online poker licenses to local firms, Nagaland. The license covered skill games including poker and fantasy sports.

And the pokerstars marketing spin on the decision to close its global dot-com online poker room in India in exchange for a local PokerStars India version was made in an announcement:
“In India, we have entered into an arrangement with a well-established domestic licensed lottery and gaming operator, which will give our brand access to this highly populated market and ability to build awareness for both our PokerStars brand and the game itself,” The Stars Group CEO Rafi Ashkenazi told investors.
Which is a bit strange as the global dot-com would already have been building awareness for both the PokerStars brand and the game itself.

In the end though it is still all about trying to keep within national and federal requirements.


Of course a more honest announcement would have said: 'it has come to our attention that our current operations might be unlawful in some states so we have entered into an arrangement with a well-established domestic licensed gaming operator to cover our backs, sorry for the inconvenience this causes to our previously loyal customers'.

Regarding Poker player living in India.

I remember a post from earlier saying the connection would be disconnected every so often. In one situation the player stated he was playing in a heads up tourney and was disconnected. He couldn’t click the bet button or anything but he could see his table and his chips slowly getting stole from the villain. He went on to loose the tournament this way.
Maybe it also has something to do with this??

Chemist said:

From the other thread:


So I did a bit more research and actually Aparajit isn't entirely wrong.

Online poker and gambling in India has always been a grey area.
From a legal perspective, everything depends on local jurisdiction. India’s laws give individual states the autonomy to introduce their own gambling regulations.

It looks like pokerstars did actually decide to downsize and outsource their operations in that country instead of trying to sort out all the local licenses themselves, with the new PokerStars.IN operated by Sachiko Gaming Private Limited, which is part of the Sugal and Damani group which reportedly operates skill game websites under the brand Khelplay.com, including an MPN skin on the Microgaming Poker Network, but had announced they would shut down these operations by March 15, seemingly to make way for PokerStars.IN.
According to some reports Khelplay had acquired a multi-games license from the country’s first jurisdiction offering online poker licenses to local firms, Nagaland. The license covered skill games including poker and fantasy sports.

And the pokerstars marketing spin on the decision to close its global dot-com online poker room in India in exchange for a local PokerStars India version was made in an announcement:
“In India, we have entered into an arrangement with a well-established domestic licensed lottery and gaming operator, which will give our brand access to this highly populated market and ability to build awareness for both our PokerStars brand and the game itself,” The Stars Group CEO Rafi Ashkenazi told investors.
Which is a bit strange as the global dot-com would already have been building awareness for both the PokerStars brand and the game itself.

In the end though it is still all about trying to keep within national and federal requirements.


Of course a more honest announcement would have said: 'it has come to our attention that our current operations might be unlawful in some states so we have entered into an arrangement with a well-established domestic licensed gaming operator to cover our backs, sorry for the inconvenience this causes to our previously loyal customers'.

Click to expand...

YES! I told you.


They SOLD INDIAN PLAYERS those who are loyal to them. for years..... LIKE MEEE

Such a disgraceful act by pokerstars...... How the fuc they took away my right to play! in a MISLEADING way.


Glad there is atleast ONE person with a MIND. You.


Funny there are all these other people here try to defend jokerstars as if they will get free tournament tickets for each positive post they write attackin me.... saying govt rules, legislation and other bullshiii. As if they are the law makers. Get the outo fuc outa here still decieving people... Damn
Just because 10 people say a LIE it wont become truth.. Its still a lie.


Pokerstars Scammed Indian Players and blocked them.

And sold them. Its the truth. They should rectify their mistake.

It's sad that poker is banned in many countries.

What happened to pokerstars?

Why cant i acces pokerstars.com from india and play like all normally do.
What is this shit pokerstars india.
Looks complete shit! [emoji34]

Thank your country for that.


At least you have something - some of us have no PS at all.

What happened?

Try to use VPN

This happened;
https://www.cardschat.com/forum/poker-rooms-10/players-in-india-no-longer-play-374693/

This probably came about because it somehow benefits the Indian government to have this arrangement. No doubt some shady back-room deal was a big part.

Yes it's bad that you can not play PokerStars, well, now you have to play at other poker rooms if you are allowed to play in the country, not only in your country you can not play, but in some other countries too it is impossible!

that's bad news. try to change VPN. hope this helps you

Governments seek to trivialize online poker, perhaps some caste of their civilization system has lost something, as in India, prevails caste power, you know, dalits have no money to lose, so went to play the great castes lost and ended up with online poker.

dakota-xx said:

1. PokerStars was forced to do this due to regulations in your country - you are mad at the wrong people.

2. The situation in the US is far worse than your situation. Again it is not PokerStars' fault at all - they hate it as much as we do.

3. At least you can play at PokerStars - only people in a few states in the US have that luxury - most of us can not play at all.

4. Unless other sites are doing the same - you still have way better options than we do in the US.

It is very silly to get angry at PokerStars and accuse them of a scam when this is what your country's government forced them to do.

PokerStars would love nothing more than to be able to let everyone in the world play on their main site - this change will cost them loads of money.

Also - please do not create thread titles in all caps - and don't post in all caps.

Click to expand...

I agree with the opinion of dakota-xx. The situation is certainly not that terrible for players from Russia, but all are under pressure from the government, which takes measures to restrict people's access to games for money outside the legally established places.
I have a question for dakota-xx: do restrictions apply to games in Las Vegas (Atlantic City) or are there two different documents limiting the game on the Internet and gambling establishments? How free can a US citizen play in gambling establishments?

That is just nasty sorry guys.