PokerStars WSOP 2011
Because of US indictments handed out by the Department of Justice, people residing in the US are no longer able play on the PokerStars download, the most popular poker download in the world. Everyone else in the world received can still play on the site, just not anyone residing in the US!
There have been some favorable changes. Here is an example: Europeans recently enjoyed a Spring Championship of Online Poker schedule that was much more European-friendly than in other years. Some of the changes have been bad, however. An example: SCOOP had much smaller prize pools this year.
Another consequence of Black Friday is the fact that PokerStars will not be at this year’s World Series of Poker. Years past have enjoyed some amazing Series incentives through PokerStars. For instance, there was a year that saw people automatically become Supernova just for playing the Main Event donning a PokerStars logo. They also had final table incentives for those willing to sport PokerStars gear during the November Nine.
These things were offered when when PokerStars was still among the best US poker sites available. Due to the legal problems with the US government, they are not taking any chances with the US at all. They will not have PokerStars representatives at the WSOP at all.
In 2010 there was a fancy PokerStars gathering and they gave free PokerStars clothing. They also arranged for hotel accommodations for some players. This year there will be none of that at all. There is no incentive for winning a Main Event package on PokerStars, and there is no incentive for going deep in the event.
None of this comes as any surprise. The target market for PokerStars is no longer the US and therefore WSOP would just go to waste. US TV stations have decided against airing PokerStars sponsored shows, and so the WSOP has nothing to offer them.
This article should not be a reason to become discouraged, however! If you live outside of the US, you can win WSOP event packages from the Willliam Hill download instead.