So, the title basically says it all. I'm from Slovenia and we just received the notification emails we can only play until the 4th of July and then we're banned. Similar to what happened to Israel a few days ago.

In Slovenia you officially need to have a gambling permit form the State to offer any games so I understand where they are coming from. But this has been in use for the last decade so I don't know what changed. I'm afraid other sites might block us because of this. Time will tell I guess. We are also too small to hope for Stars to make a deal with the country.

So, I'm asking you my dear 2p2'rs, what are my options? From the top of my head:
1. Stop playing poker (possible)
2. Lear PLO and play on other sites (meh, not really happy)
3. Find enough PLO8 traffic on other sites

From what I know I can play on any other sites except Stars and Bodog so I have some options. I read the thread that discusses which sites offer PLO8 and I searched with pokerscout's game finder to see what kind of games run around the world. But the thread is a year old and I don't think pokerscout covers all sites.

I'd like to get info on games up to PLO8 $50 and for games PLO8 $100 and up. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

So from the top of my head:
1. Winning poker network (americascardroom.eu and similar)
Seeing how they accept US player I guess they have games at least up to $50 buy ins. How about higher? Do tables run during EU peak hours or only when Americans come to play?
2. iPoker network
Pokerscout shows a game or two up to PLO8 $50 from time to time. Do these games run regularly or just on special occasions?
3. Party poker
I hate this site. I just might prefer quiting poker than playing here. Do they still share the player pool with bwin? Can you still get rakeback if you play on bwin? Do the games run often?
4. 888
Probably similar to iPoker. Correct?
5. Chico
My first wildcard. I know nothing about this network. Are withdraws successful? Do games only run during US peak hours?
6. Pokerdom
I see they have a few PLO8 games going. Are they reliable? How are the withdrawals?
7. Ongame
I played there years ago. The competition was as soft as it gets. Back them it was one of the biggest networks but I see that the overall traffic is low nowadays. Do PLO8 games ever start?
8. Merge
As far as I know it's better to avoid it, right? Or have the payouts gotten better?
9. Microgaming
Probably similar to winning network. Do games go also during EU peak hours?

What I'm asking is: Do you think it is possible to get 4 tables of PLO8 $25 or PLO8 $50 going at any time across multiple sites? I'm ok with starting tables, playing HU or shorthanded play.

Thanks in advance my peps.

And remember, no one is safe apparently when it come to Stars

In short, no.

Sorry to say but non-Stars PLO8 action is pretty sparse. I'd say you're better off trying to work & focus hard on 1-2 tabling games in order to move up in stakes as soon as you can. From then on, try to table select good games when and if they run.

It's a very different way of approaching the game but in the long run it will probably be quite good for your game. Who know's, you might end up looking at 4th July being a turning point in your poker career

register in other country

Start the tables yourself and sit on all sites. Focus on peak-hours. I play almost every site u mention above and a few more. Its enought action if u want to play pl100/200.

Also a good opportunity to diversify and learn about other ways to make money online, like Kindle publishing or affiliate marketing or whatever.

It's sad to agree with omybike but I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day

"register in other country"

Yes but you need to be careful and precise in how you manage your networks and identity.

It is 100% fine to use VPN on Stars but don't forget your device is registered with Stars as well. If you move from Slovenia to Russia, Holland, UK then Stars will notice unless you change your identity - device, internet connection, banking details. Depending what country you proxy, you will need full photo ID and utilities to withdraw. If you try and VPN Stars and withdraw to your normal account then your account may be frozen and $s lost.

It's not difficult to create a false E-identity provided you know how to get the documents. You will also get new player bonuses but beware, Stars sometimes ban new players who play like old pros.

Ask yourself what is more hassle
1) dealing with low traffic and sparse games in different time zones on minor sites
2) doing all to play and withdraw on Stars

I can point you in the right direction if you don't know how to get the necessary things

lol wut haha

Thanks for your answers guys.

A few things. I make 95% of my online income with freelancing (fiverr) and I'm starting a few affiliate marketing projects so the money part of poker isn't all that important. I'm a recreational player and poker is a getaway from all other things in life. A breakaway from the daily grind of dull work if you might.

I have a job so physically moving is out of the question. But I do live like 5 kilometers from the Croatian border so I might want to check if it's possible to get an address there.

I'm not sure if I want to start playing Stars and forging my e-identity. These kind of things can come and bite you hard in the ass in the future. Seeing how I play only for fun I'm not going to risk it.

I guess I'll have to find games on other sites. I'll happily inform you what's happening on non-starts sites.

Where do you think I should start? I'm thinking winning and iPoker.

Vpn'ing stars is not advisable.
Also i believe they can ask for a one hour video now and also a legit governemtn id to check it is you playing,

Your better off moving to the croatian border or just try play on 888/ACrR/ipoker etc.

Also slovoch from your comments i hope you only have one stars account.

Austria isn´t far away from u.
or if u are from Brežice(Rann in german) just hop over the border to Croatia to play

Nice detective work as no German has called Brezice Rann for like 400 years Rann was a middle ages name for Brezice.

I'm sure there will be poker offices in Croatia as I'm so close to the border I could walk there. But seeing how this is a hobby for me I don't see the value in a poker office. But serious grinders will probably try this option.

WPN and Chico

Stars support told me VPN is fine. They even tell me I can change my location to Canada, UK, Germany, any country where Stars is legal

If Croatia is fine to play then it is fine to play ..... but is Slovenia fine to cash out? You need to ask support. It is not fine to cash out to USA bank account from global Stars for tax and law reasons

I have one account only and lately it feels like one account too many!!!

Yes things I said are used by bad people to multi-account, cheat and commit fraud. People doing that don't need me to tell them how.

Wabomushroom could use the same method to play on Stars like a few Americans do already. An e-wallet held by a friend in Croatia/Canada solves deposit and withdrawal problem. I think this is 100% fine and fair, nobody is trying to cheat. It would be great if lots more honest American, Slovenian and Israeli players did the same thing.

If Stars want 1 hour of me on Twitch I will charge them my standard appearance fee and coaching rate for each view. With that $5K I will fly to Isle of Man and tell them what dicks they are in person

What! It is not only Slovenia, I read this on twitter (plenopads).

"officially gg Israel, Slovenia, Czech Republic and unofficially yet confirmed Poland. Bad week for online poker."

Is BWIN/Party possible in Slovenia? I am trying to create a BWIN account but their site doesn't work except through proxy.

you are in the eu

you have the freedom to move to any number of countries that still allow stars if you must insist on playing on such an awful site

eightfour.

Winning network almost always has plo/8 going up to 2/4. Sometimes higher. You could play up to 10/20-15/30, usually hu though against one of the regs who opens up those tables and sits.

Wait, what? If they're fine with it then it means most of the risk is gone..can anyone else confirm the stuff about VPNs and the rest is true?

Cliffs:

*I live in a country where Stars is legal
*When travelling to or living in another legal country I can use VPN to set my location to any other Unrestricted legal country
*Living in USA or now Slovenia, Israel, Czech Rep, Poland and using VPN to say you are in a legal country (Croatia/Canada) is against Stars TOS
*Doing the above or any of the other things I suggested and getting caught will result in freeze of your account and money
*If you live in a banned country (except USA) you are probably permanently banned from Stars anyway. Seems + EV to open a new account

*Before I went travelling I asked Stars about using my VPN:

Thank you for your email.

We can confirm that PokerStars currently has no prohibition against a player physically located in Canada using our online service. Obviously, this may be subject to change, as we cannot guarantee future legal arrangements or future amendments to our rules.

Please be advised that using PokerStars real-money services from some countries (even if you use a service to try to hide your true location) *is* a breach of our rules.

Persons located in or residents of the United States and the United States Territories (the “Prohibited Jurisdictions”) are not permitted to make deposits into their accounts or engage in real-money play. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing restrictions on engaging in real-money play from Prohibited Jurisdictions applies equally to residents and citizens of other nations while located in a Prohibited Jurisdiction.

Players located in or residents of France and applicable territories, Italy, Estonia, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, and Spain (the “Restricted Jurisdictions”) are required to play according to the regulations in each Restricted Jurisdiction, using the appropriately designated, licensed game clients.

Any attempt to circumvent the restrictions on play by any persons located in a Prohibited Jurisdiction or Restricted Jurisdiction, is a breach of our rules. An attempt at circumvention includes, but is not limited to, manipulating the information used by PokerStars to identify your location and providing PokerStars with false or misleading information regarding your location or place of residence.

If there is anything else we can do for you, please let us know and thank you for playing at PokerStars!

Regards,

XXXXX
PokerStars Support Team

Wtf i missed tcoop as i was travelling and was at an ept, im fuming if this is true.