Radical cut – PokerStars limits the number of Cashgame tables

For all cash game players, PokerStars, the market leader, is breaking completely new ground – the maximum number of tables was reduced to four yesterday.

This isn’t too much of a sensation, because PokerStars had been testing a reduction to six tables in its Italian online version for over a year, but of course, this changes the job description for many grinders.

If up to 24 tables could be opened at the same time up to now, the professionals must get used now to a reduced surrounding field – or change the offerer.

Severin Rasset, who is responsible for innovations at the Stars Group, says: “We are aware that this step will have a big impact on many players – especially those who, as professionals, are dependent on multi tabling. We haven’t made this decision easy, but we’re confident it’s the right one for the future of poker.”

No explanation was given as to why PokerStars went even further with this step than it did with the test in Italy or as Phil Galfond, who had set a limit of six tables when Run It Once was launched.

The goal of the measure is, once again, the so-called ecosystem of online poker. Rasset continues, “We want to maintain a sustainable poker ecosystem and a platform that will bring joy to players of all skill levels in the future. Winning new poker players and keeping them in the game will be crucial for the future.

By reducing the maximum number of tables from 24 to 4, we are reducing the number of multi tablers and increasing the number of recreational players at each table.”

As expected, there have been protests from professional players in the relevant forums. Zoom and Spin & Gos are not affected by the changes – the pros may want to get their hands on them in the future.