i was thinking about this as well....

From the rules it appears that it is possible to do player transfers in different currencies (presumably working out your own rate) as long as you have an established account in the currency you're receiving. So you might have to do one nominal transfer through through Stars first, but that's not a huge obstacle.

Hi 2+2,

Firstly, let’s make it clear that multi-currency support is still a beta product, and is clearly marked so. We are listening to player feedback on how to improve the system, and we are open to making changes based on that feedback in the coming months.

When introducing this system, PokerStars had two main goals:

1.To allow Euro-zone players to keep money in and play in their own currency without having to worry about currency conversions, as Americans have done for years. There is a clear demand for such a system from many European players. This goal does mean that we can’t have tables in only one currency as is the case on some other sites. So the question is on how best to approach a multi-currency system, bearing that in mind.

2.To better handle satellites to Euro-denominated live events. In the past, PokerStars would set an exchange rate for live events when satellites launched (sometimes months ahead of the event). For example, we might decide that a €2000 EUR event was worth $3000 USD. Over the months that followed, exchange rates would fluctuate, and sometimes when the event actually started the rates would be so different that either players or PokerStars would suffer significantly as a result.

Running Euro satellites to Euro events makes much more sense, and eliminates this risk for players.

Regarding dividing the player pool, PokerStars does not plan to offer all games in both US Dollars and Euro. Instead, we will only introduce additional games where doing so would not harm the liquidity of existing games. For example, we plan to have both US Dollar and Euro 1/2 NL Hold’em tables, where there are at least a hundred tables running during peak times, but it’s unlikely we will have multiple currencies in 5/10 NL or higher games, at least until we have better liquidity there. Note also that when the FAQ mentions plans for adding games in Canadian Dollars and British Pounds, it means that we have the technical ability to do this, and that these are the most logical currencies to consider after Euro. However we may or may not add them, based on the experience gained from Euro games.

Regarding the convenience of the user interface and the management of multiple currencies – as this is a beta product, we’re very open to making changes to the user interface, and we certainly want to make it as easy as possible for people to play all of the games without having to go through complicated conversion processes. For example, we may introduce an option to allow the system to seamlessly convert when needed, without any intervention from the player. We’d be glad to hear any constructive feedback on improving the GUI.

The other key issues raised by posters were the 1% conversion fee, and having to pay a total of 2% when converting in two directions. I do plan to address these issues in depth, but due to the importance of these issues and the high-profile nature of this thread, further discussion with senior management is required before I can do so. I will post again in a few days with further information.

Regards,

Alex Scott
PokerStars Poker Room Management Team

PokerStars pays significant transaction costs on deposits and withdrawls. You are suggesting that they add a high-cost, 0 margin side of their business.

Also, in the example you gave where one person switches 400 dollars to euros 'at a profit', and the other person switches their euros to 400 dollars 'for a profit', both players win, but where do you think the profit comes from?

I have been playing online poker for 9 years. These types of changes just go with territory. Like when $5 dollar sit n go's were the lowest buy-in and they changed it so alot of the fish went to micro sit n go's. Anyway, when will the Euro games hit the 45 man Turbo's?

I think the American players are upset because they prefer to have alot of Euro players in there games. US players think Euro players are there bread and butter just as Euro players think americans are fish. Why else for all the panic over splitting the field?

Alex, do we have to wait for 2010 for euro lhe games?

Why do people keep saying "splitting the field"? They are not telling Americans that they can't play in the Euro games, and Euros aren't shut out of the dollar games, so why do people keep on saying this?

Also, people that are saying you have to keep a much larger bankroll are clueless as well. You are still playing the same amount of games you were before its just a matter of switching the currencies back and forth if you're short on one or the other.

That being said, the problem with both is the 1% fee. If there was no fee this would be a non-issue since everyone could keep both currencies without ever paying a fee. Obv switching back and forth takes two seconds.

I just bothers me that I will have to pay 1% to "seed" my Euro fund and then pay 1% on EVERY single Euro I make for infinity. It's like a tax and that really sucks.

I know. I was Just was explaining why I think they are using the term "Splitting the field". I'm American and very upset about the weak dollar. Cost me thousands of dollars more when I travel, so I will probably play with the Euro lol.

To those saying it's 2% in-and-out, you are wrong, it's actually only 1.99%.

The unfortunate thing is that this has the effect of hurting some games even more. Now you're going to have European players who keep their entire bankrolls in € and are effectively restricted to the popular games. These guys aren't going to pop into draw or stud or mixed games to blow off steam like they have before, and it's going to make those games even more reg-heavy and low-traffic than they have been.

I know it suks, but games maybe worth it if full of new players because of this.

The fee is what will cause the player pool split. It's an added cost to play in another currency, which some people won't pay, which will have the effect of segmenting the player pool. Whether that's a detriment to the profitability of the games depends on the players involved, but as an example, splitting the player pool in SNGs up would likely result in me being unable to play as many tables as I'd like in $ at some stakes. That would effectively require me to play in different currencies and pay the fees (unless I want to take some play off of Stars).

But if those Euro currency sit n go's are full of new and poor players it would be well worth it to take the 2% hit.

I have played 5,000 sit n go's. I know if my ROI is 15% with the average crowd it would be much greater than 15% + 2% with a very weak field.