Rumors: EPT Moscow To Be Cancelled?

It was just a small announcement by the Russian Ministry for Sports, Tourism and Youth, and yet it rocks the poker world. According to this news, poker was taken off the list of acknowledged sports.

This could become a problem, as Russia has banished all casinos and gambling from the towns some time ago. So called Gambling Zones  were supposed to be built. There, citizens and tourists were able to gamble freely.

Poker, however, was a special case: a law was introduced that gave this game of cards the status of a sport. Therefore, it was possible to play poker in Moscow and other towns and cities of the country without limitation.

After this last change of mind of the Ministry, however, this could come to an end. And indeed, shocked Russian players report that there are hardly any cash game rounds in Moscow for fear of the stringent regulations.

The poker world is in an uproar about the new development in Eastern Europe and rumours are being spread all around in the forums.

PokerStars has not yet made an official statement. This leaves a lot of room for speculations as to whether and to what extent these news from Russia affect the upcoming EPT and whether it might even needs to be cancelled.