Impact of Coronavirus on Live Poker in India: Poker Room Operators Share Their Views on the Present Scenario

Impact of Coronavirus on Live Poker in India
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  • Attreyee Khasnabis March 19, 2020
  • 6 Minutes Read

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has already reported 225,484 confirmed cases and 9,277 deaths worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus labeled the infection as a pandemic, implying that the virus was spreading across multiple countries around the world at the same time.

While the COVID-19 has most certainly affected human lives, it has also crippled the world economy. With the outbreak leading to a shutdown of public and private establishments, several countries across the globe are facing a consumption crisis, which in turn will mean less economic output and lower incomes among the people who provide those services.

India, too, has not been spared from the financial crisis that is affecting the world society. As of March 19, there are 173 positive cases in the country and four reported deaths because of the pandemic. According to the Economic Times, “India’s economic growth could take a hit of up to half a percentage point in FY21 because of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, early estimates by the government suggest.”

Like all other industries, the poker industry has also been hit hard, primarily the live poker domain. All live poker tournaments in the country that were to be held in March, April, and May have now been postponed with the governments of Goa and Sikkim announcing the shutdown of casinos till March 31 and April 15, respectively.

With the shutting down of casinos, not only has the live poker scene been impacted, but many individuals linked to the sector like poker dealers, hospitality crew, etc., may well be out of livelihood for the next weeks, or even months, depending on how the situation unfolds.

The US and European live poker scene are also under-going a similar withdrawal. With casinos closing shop worldwide and multiple live series being canceled or postponed, it has emerged as a serious economic concern for people whose livelihood is dependent on the gaming industry.

Industry veteran and poker player Garry Gates recently tweeted how he has been working to help such people in need.

Garry Gates

Given the severity of the issue, the response he received was overwhelming.

The Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT) Xpress March Edition was one of the first live series to be postponed in India, followed by the National Poker Series (NPS) and DPT April Edition. The far-reaching effects of the lockdown of the live poker scene in India also saw Delta Corp.’s stock closing at a 52-week low of ₹62.80 today.

We reached out of the top poker operators in India to check up on how they are dealing with the present circumstances.

 

Poker Room Operators Vasim Rozani & Chirag Sodha Share Their Views

Two of the biggest online poker companies Spartan Poker and PokerBaazi, have set up their live poker rooms onboard the Casino Big Daddy and Casino Pride 2 in Goa, respectively. While PokerBaazi’s inaugural National Poker Series (NPS) that was slated to run from April 30 to May 5 was postponed, the second edition of the India Poker Championship (IPC) that is expected to take place in July has also landed itself in uncertain waters.

With Goa reporting its first confirmed case of the COVID-19 yesterday, PokerGuru spoke with Vasim Rozani (Big Daddy) and Chirag Sodha (PokerBaazi Live), who are presently dealing with the fallout of casinos being shut down, to get their views on the prevailing situation.

Vasim Rozani & Chirag Sodha
Vasim Rozani & Chirag Sodha

 

It’s been a few days since the Goa government announced the shutdown of public establishments, including casinos. What has it been like since then?

Vasim Rozani: Clearly, this matter is affecting tourism venues across the country, and the casino industry here in Goa is no different. We have to abide by the government’s mandate in the current environment, and all of these measures instituted will hopefully allow us to get past the end of the month, after which normal operations can resume.

Chirag Sodha: As we all must be aware by now, the COVID-19 is not to be taken lightly. Over the past week, I am sure each of us has heard plenty about the developments and rapid spread of the virus, and we really need to take the initiative as individuals and do our bits to stay safe and ensure the safety of others. At the moment, Goa and many other states have shut down malls, parks, cinemas, and all other public areas until further notice.

While the COVID-19 has affected human life worldwide, the practice of social distancing has also impacted the livelihood of many people. In the case of casinos, its the dealers, hospitality crew, etc. Are you taking any steps in this regard?

Vasim Rozani: We are following all the recommended steps by the government and are ensuring that our staff is doing whatever is required for them to be as safe as possible.

Chirag Sodha: Well, at the moment from what we understand, establishments are shut until the end of the month. By then, we would all get a better idea about what lies ahead in the months to come. Our staff has been asked to stay home or travel back to their hometowns, whichever they feel is safer. At this point in time, safety is of utmost importance, and the same has been communicated with our entire team here at PokerBaazi LIVE.

Is the casino staff getting paid? In case, the shutdown is extended for a few more months, what will happen to casino staff, both permanent and temporary?

Vasim Rozani: There is no change as of now, and it is too early to speculate on this matter, and we certainly hope the shutdown ends by March 31, so a sense of normalcy returns to gaming operations.

Chirag Sodha: Yes, all our permanent and temporary staff is still on a roll and will be receiving their due remuneration. As of now, everyone has been asked to be ready to come back to work in a few weeks; this is, of course, considering things are back to normal by then. Depending on what the situation looks like, we will have to take a call then.

The government has stated that all establishments will remain closed till March 31. How long will it take for operations to get back to normal once the lockdown is uplifted?

Vasim Rozani: After the government gives the green light to resume, it will probably take a few weeks for the news to trickle down to all our patrons.

Chirag Sodha: Again, this is something that is hard to know. My guess is that it would take at least a couple of weeks for operations to go back to normal, as I assume people would definitely be a little wary about visiting crowded places for a while, even after the lockdown is uplifted.

Will there be any safety measures implemented on your end to ensure that even after casinos are open for business, the COVID-19 is not spread unchecked within the casino premises?

Vasim Rozani: Measures like temperature checks at the entry, wearing masks, providing hand sanitizers at the entrance, among others, are being discussed and will be put into place in due course. Staff will also be instructed to be on the lookout of anyone who is looking visibly ill to get them checked.

Chirag Sodha: I am sure the government and the casinos will have processes in place, and we at PokerBaazi LIVE will ensure that we do everything we can to help out. Since places like casinos are more prone, I am sure the safety measures will also be taken accordingly.

What are your plans regarding live poker after the COVID-19 scare has subsided?

Vasim Rozani: I expect it will be business as usual. We have planned a couple of cash game festivals in the coming months, and the IPC too is expected to take place sometime in July or so.

Chirag Sodha: Once the scare has subsided, and I hope that is soon, we would be back to our usual operations. Events like the National Poker Series, which has been postponed due to the current state of affairs, will be back on the cards, and we will continue with our plan of growing the game through the PokerBaazi LIVE room.

Sodha also shared some very pertinent words of advice and caution, “During a time like this, I urge that each and every one of you stay vigilant. Follow the news, stay up to date, take all the necessary precautions, and lets all hope for the best. While social media has tons to offer, be selective about what you follow. Hope to see you all soon!”

We even reached out to Manish Adnani, who is the Business Head of Poker at Deltin Royale, and in a candid conversation, he told us, “I think poker is not really anywhere in the picture. It happens to be what we do and what we love. There is so much more at hand, at stake, that what happens later will be seen. We need to defend ourselves against this crazy situation right now.”

Manish Adnani
Manish Adnani

 

When asked if he would consider moving the postponed DPT series online, he said, “We might move the series online, we might increase… but I don’t see people buying for ₹50K games online. Its a lot of money. The whole essence of coming to a tournament, playing live, paying in cash is very different from playing online. The whole thrill of people playing live, I mean, I think now that this situation has happened, many people will relive the charm of playing live poker. For now, there are restrictions, you can’t move, you can’t cross borders, everything is shut down. When things go back to normal, people will realize the value of coming to a casino.”

“My honest view of poker is that it will happen. Going forward, things will be slow, I don’t see a lot of traction happening any time till October. It is going to be very hard right now. You know people are saving, they are preparing for the worst. So, it is more about taking care of yourself first than anything else that matters right now, and poker surely happens to be pretty low on the agenda for a lot of people right now,” he candidly added.

With the live poker scene now in a recession, it is possibly the best time for online poker companies to maximize on the situation at hand. If this past Sunday (March 15) that saw a total of nine players winning six-figures was any indication, the online poker scene is undoubtedly thriving, and the trend should continue as more and more people start staying indoors.

Six-time WSOP bracelet winner and GGPoker Team pro Daniel Negreanu has been advocating for the nation-wide legalization of online poker in the US during this time of crisis. While it is still a long shot in India, it’s still a big step towards the global legalization of the sport. In fact, similar to the WSOP and WPT announcing online series to make up for the cancellation of their live stops, Indian poker operators could also use this opportunity to shift their live stops online.

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