TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China decides to ban social media from promoting online poker applications. The government has said that poker is no longer recognized as a competitive game.
According to Macau-based Gaming Asia, by June 1 all social media will be off limits to online poker and other game ads. This is China's Ministry of Culture's latest policy, which asserted that online poker games are a means to illegal gambling.
However, the government's statement has been rebutted, as online poker players don’t bet with real money. Social media channels, like WeChat, are also prohibited from promoting any form of Texas Hold'em products.
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The managing director of Hong Kong Poker Players Association, Stephen Lai, said the decision will devastate industries across Asia.
"It is embarrassing that the government will not allow people from speaking about games," Lai told the South China Morning Post on April 23.
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Companies affected by Beijing's policy include Hong Kong-listed Boyaa Interactive, whose shares plunged 12% following the ban announcement. E-commerce giant Tencent was also forced to delete poker games from its app store.
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST | ASIAN GAMING TODAY | POKER NEWS