Russian Poker Players Face New Restrictions and Challenges

Russian online poker players are facing a series of challenges and restrictions as the year comes to a close. One of the most significant issues is the restriction imposed on WebMoney users. Starting from December 6, the Central Bank of Russia has issued a six-month ban on transferring rubles to other users, although users can still make purchases, pay fines and taxes, and withdraw money to a bank account or card.

PokerStars.ES has also become inaccessible to Russian players. The largest PokerStars reservation has advised players to switch to the Sochi client. All coins, prize chest bonuses, and other bonuses have been automatically converted to euros, and tournament registrations have been canceled and compensated. Players can withdraw their money at any time, and access to the client is still available.

In Crimea, access to 888poker and RedStar Poker has been restricted. 888poker cited local legislation as the reason for the ban, while RedStar Poker faced similar issues but later restored access for all players. Additionally, Flutter, the owner of PokerStars, won four awards at the EGR Operator Awards, including Poker Room of the Year and Employer of the Year. Entain, the owner of partypoker, won the Operator of the Year award for the fourth consecutive year. However, PokerMatch did not win the Europe Gaming Awards despite being in the shortlist. In other news, a NFT trader lost at least $250,000 due to a typo in the listing price of a Bored Ape Yacht Club token.