Poker World Abuzz with Reactions to PokerStars EPT Ban on Political Statements During Live Events

Politics has always evoked strong reactions, as the subject is a matter of great debate, depending on personal choices and opinions, which can differ greatly.

At the recent European Poker Tour €50,000 Super High Roller final table that took place on Wednesday in Barcelona, two players turned up wearing T-shirts with political slogans, a move which did not go down well with the organizers.

Olivier Busquet and Daniel Colman (cover image) attended the final table of the event at Casino Barcelona, in T-shirts that had “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” slogans displayed on them.

PokerStars was so upset by the incident that it decided to alter rules in reference to display of political statements and banned these completely.

Responding to the move, Eric Hollreiser Head of Corporate Communications PokerStars sent a written statement to CardPlayer Lifestyle’s Robbie Strazynski. He wrote, “Our tournaments are designed to promote poker and poker competition and not as a platform for political statements.”

Continuing he added, “Players have many channels to express their views on world politics, but our tournaments are not an appropriate place. We will refuse entry to any player displaying political statements of any kind.”

Before publishing an article on CardPlayer Lifestyle titled “There’s no room for politics in poker.” Strazynski tweeted that, “[It] doesn’t matter what “side” you are on. [The] EPTLive is embarrassing itself by allowing Daniel Colman and Olivier Busquet to wear those t-shirts,”

Strazynski strongly advocated that politics and religion were no-no topics at a poker table and added, “should any poker player wish to use the prestige of their notoriety to advocate a particular political issue, it’s their prerogative. However, PokerStars and other governing and sanctioning bodies in poker ought to have a rule against politics at the table itself.”

The two players had obviously taken advantage of their popular status and the large scale visibility of the event to give voice to their favorite political, involving the terrible conflict between Israel and Gaza.

Their act and the subsequent ban by PokerStars has raised many sharp reactions from the denizens of poker land. Critical reactions towards Busquet and Colman rose, as soon as the live streaming of the final table began.

While many including Strazynski have criticized the initiative by the two players, a voice has come out strongly in support of them.

Nolan Dalla, Media Director WSOP and poker historian responded to Strazynski’s recorded opinion with a blog post that was aptly titled, “Political censorship has no place in poker”.

Speaking about PokerStars decision, Dalla wrote, “PokerStars’ ruling on this matter and their newly-concocted position blockading what for many poker players is an important individual right of free expression, is perhaps well-intended.”

Chidingly Dalla added that the road to Hell was often pave with seemingly good intentions, saying, “it’s also terribly misguided and very likely to be fraught with future complications. In fact, it’s a terrible decision which merits the strongest possible protest.”

Dalla was of the opinion that politics was an important topic and one that should be discussed at any time to find socially acceptable solutions to problems. He explained, “Frankly, we need more politics — just about everywhere. We need more discussion about problems and possible solutions. Not during poker hands, mind you,”

Going on he added, “Politics is every bit as appropriate as table chatter about a sporting event or a bad date that went wrong. And there’s no way any misguided ruling is going to stop open dialogue between players.”

Dalla spoke out in support of the two player’s action and said that there was nothing objectionable about it and that it certainly did not deserve so harsh an action from PokerStars as a ban.

Dalla wrote, “There was nothing profane nor vulgar about either item of clothing. Frankly, the t-shirts would hardly even be noticed on the streets of any cosmopolitan city.”

He went on to state that, “Free Palestine, or End Apartheid, or Obama 2012, or Tea Party 2014, or I love Israel, or any other political expression is entirely appropriate in a free democratic society.”

Dalla concluded his piece with, “I’ve seen all of these shirts in poker rooms over the years. Here’s some advice — if you don’t like what you see, then turn away. If you don’t like the message or the person, then don’t talk to them.”

Well, it certainly seems that poker management is going the corporate way – all rules and low tolerance! While freedom of choice is all-important, there are some issues that should be left to self-restraint!