Poker players in the UK face a unique challenge as they face bans even though they qualify to play slot casino games. The new regulations introduced stated that all casino games have to be slowed down, giving a 2.5-second gap between gambling games to give the players time to get their bearing before playing another round of poker.

Introduced to curb the appetite of casinos, the measure is intended to protect players from losing money without looking at the amount. However, in a twist of circumstances, many poker agent companies have taken the opportunity to cut off players who win the most, citing the new regulations put in place.

Several casino sites offering different casino games, including IDN poker, have been called out. Such companies have been accused of using the UK gambling affordability checks as an excuse to ban players who win the most. Even though the players being frequent have proven that they can more than afford to play slot casino games.

The first one to sound the alarm is British professional Andy Wool, who has been banned from a certain casino platform. In a statement, the casino said they could no longer accept him as a player. On further prompting to explain, the casino giant stated.

“Please do understand that there is no accusation of any wrongdoing implied on your part. The action is born out of compassion and a sincere desire to help. We don’t want to see anyone hurt.”

Mr. Wool further revealed that he had provided all relevant documentation proving that he could play up to $100 on average IDN poker games. He added that his requests were fair as he wanted deposit limits of 1k for a day, 5k for a week, and 6k for a month, which he could comfortably afford but was banned by the poker agent company.

Posting on his Twitter account, he called out the company, stating.

“If the proof of my monthly income does not automatically prove that I can play the slot games from the site through poker agents and the cash I have given to the casino agent isn’t enough, I highly doubt anyone can play on the platform. It is why I’m giving my warning to all UK players.” 

Mr. Wools’s only option is to start small again, looking for independent online casinos with reputable IDN poker agents to enjoy the game again if he wants to continue gambling. It is unless his initial casino reverses its ruling on the matter.

Different casinos have been on the spot again after the allegations of banning the biggest winners was highlighted last summer…a German high stake regular was banned with an account of more than $180,000 in it. The complainant Tobias Duthweiler stated the account was closed after he started winning.

However, even with the differences in circumstances, many are taking it in stride, stating that it is the casino’s way of intimidating them, banning them from playing legitimately. The accusations point out that the slot casino giant is looking to attract more recreational players, beginners who are less likely to take the huge risks or win big, making bigger profit margins.

The UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission) introduced the regulations to go into effect as of 31st October. Gambling Commission chief executive Neil McArthur introduced the efforts as a new strategy to be implemented nationally to reduce gambling’s harmful effects. Different casinos have taken this up as the main reason for banning high slot casino game players. 

The sports minister Nigel Huddleston quickly congratulated the steps taken; thanking gambling commission chief executive Neil McArthur on the steps taken to curb the amounts families were losing from gambling.

Many family members are quick to welcome the move, hailing it as a life savior for many family members, whose addicted gamblers in one sitting would squander total monthly income.

However, with the move unprecedented, many more professional players have a hard time coming to terms with how the casinos have been given more power over them. Many pro players on Twitter were quick to point to the commission to consider all the loopholes, and not just a few should be affected.

Ryan Hutchison, a professional poker player, pointed out that those playing poker for a living are left jobless as he is in that group. 

In his Twitter feed, he stated;

“I asked them if it was okay to increase my deposit limit from the $200/day, and they refused. The simple reason is that I play poker for a living and do not have any payslips to show that I am capable of affording the amounts.”

Even after showing them that he had account balances of over $100,000, he was still declined service with an explanation that it did not prove he could afford an increase.

He pointed that the government was quick to curb big earners. Still, with the number of IDN poker agents parading their services, it did not mean that gamblers would not go to different casinos to prove payment capability and still blow their whole paychecks.

With statistics pointing to the $2.2bn industry growing bigger each year, the earnings seem to favor casinos with the strangling of high-earning pro players. It means all the money will remain on the platform as recreational players with no skill will have a smaller chance of winning it big.

The worst is yet to come as playing slot games in mortar and brick buildings is limited with the crisis in place. With no outlet, anger is growing within the gambling community as the players are looking at whom they can blame.

The backlash seems to gain momentum as many feel capping is extreme as their experience from as much as 20k days amounts to a measly $200 a day is without reason. With the players feeling cornered, the worst that is predicted to happen is the migration to black markets for IDN poker players to get the thrill of playing big.

However, other operators have embraced the changes on the new regulations introduced by the UK gambling commission. Many are willing to look through proof provided by players to make sure that they can play to their desired limits if their information matches. Still, high-stakes poker players expect harsher times ahead as the government seeks to introduce legislation to make into law some of the United Kingdom’s gambling commission regulations. With no official position from the government on how the changes will negatively impact the professional players, the only room they have to speak on their troubles is during the public participation before the laws are passed to include their recommendations. Many others hope that the gaming casino giants see sense in retaining their most valuable players, as they win large sums of money and spend similarly.