The coronavirus outbreak has now been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global pandemic, with more than 120,000 confirmed cases across a total of 124 countries worldwide. COVID-19 has impacted the global economy, caused markets to stumble, halted businesses, and forced the cancellations of several events around the world.
In poker, major festivals such as the Triton Poker Super High Roller in Jeju, South Korea, World Poker Tour events in Asia and Barcelona, and the 2020 Irish Open, among others, have been cancelled over health concerns.
All eyes are on the World Series of Poker (WSOP) which is due to kick off in May in Las Vegas. As COVID-19 infections continue to rise in the US, there is real chance that the biggest poker event of the summer will be cancelled. This topic has been discussed in the latest episode of the DAT Poker Podcast, hosted by Daniel Negreanu and Terrence Chan.
Call For Online Poker Renaissance
Summer is supposed to be a busy season for poker players hoping to make it big in the live tournament arena. But the COVID-19 scare will most likely push a lot of people away from the tables, in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading further. So how are players and fans going to satisfy their poker craving while ‘confined’ at home?
Negreanu believes the action will continue online. With a lot of players expected to shift to online poker, it won’t come as a surprise if operators put out something huge in the weeks or months ahead. Chan agrees, saying the global pandemic could result in the renaissance of online poker.
The six-time WSOP bracelet winner also thinks the US government should now start working on legalizing online poker nationwide, so players can freely play online without worrying about legal consequences. The government should allow online poker even just for this period, Negreanu said.
Negreanu Shares Thoughts on COVID-19
COVID-19 infections are rising day by day, and Negreanu believes the only real way to curb the virus is to keep people away from each other as much as possible. According to Negreanu, avoiding physical contact is the best way to contain the outbreak, and suspending large gatherings and events, as well as implementing a temporary shutdown of usually crowded places like casinos and restaurants, will help big time in preventing the spread of the virus. The 45-year-old said he and his wife have now opted for home quarantine, and won’t be taking part in events for the time being.
Daniel Negreanu said the US has a lot to learn from Italy. Confirmed cases in Italy have now crossed 12,000, recording almost 200 deaths in 24 hours, bringing the COVID-19 deaths in the country to 897. The country has been in lockdown since last week, with tens of millions of people under quarantine. According to Negreanu, the US could suffer a similar fate if it did not take preventive measures to contain the virus.
US Government Should Look After Affected Businesses
In the podcast aired on March 11, Negreanu, who now represents GGPoker, also reacted to Trump’s previous statement about a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available in the next three months. Negreanu said the Trump administration should focus more on putting in place measures to aid those who will be most affected by a possible economic downturn, considering the pace at which the virus is spreading.
There are currently more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases in the US, including at least 31 deaths. The US government has now implemented travel restrictions to and from Europe, which is now considered the epicenter of the virus, as China, where the virus started, is now reporting a decreasing number of daily confirmed cases.
Poker players who tend to make their living playing live poker will be impacted and will have to turn to online poker if they are to continue to make a living. This will be difficult for most U.S. poker players as online poker is still banned in most states across the country!