888 Bans US Players Living in Mexico and Canada

Players from the United States who had previously moved to Canada or Mexico have found their 888Poker accounts closed and their funds reimbursed. The room has not yet provided a public official statement on the case.

Apparently, 888Poker has banned US players who had previously moved from the States to Canada or Mexico. Player reports stated that American citizens playing from either of the two neighbouring countries have been sent emails, informing them of the move and providing instructions to be able to access their funds. Apart from the messages sent to players, no official statement from 888Poker has arrived.

According to PokerFuse.com, the letter reads as follows:

“This email is to inform you that we have taken a decision to discontinue your membership with us. We ask that you refrain from opening new accounts owned or operated by us, as these too will be closed and no monies refunded.”

Responding to queries from players, a representative of the room posted the following to TwoPlusTwo:

“We continuously monitor all 888poker accounts and activities and take steps accordingly. In the event you have received an email that you feel is an error, then please contact the support team and you will be answered in due course.”

The message still fails to explain the issue in detail and it is also unclear how many players are affected. Citizens of both Mexico and Canada are allowed to play; the room has definitely not withdrawn from these markets. However, certain players seem to be affected, possibly due to a failure in the algorithm, or whatever means 888Poker uses to filter such players.

Additionally, certain regions seem to be concentrated on, like Playa Del Carmen and Cancun, cities on the Yucatán Peninsula. Poker Refugees, a service to assist US players in finding a suitable place to relocate after Black Friday, recommends areas like these to players, in addition to offering trips like a vacation during the time of the SCOOP.

Since 888 offers its services in two regulated US markets, Delaware and New Jersey, the move may even be connected to the agenda of the room to distant itself from illegal services provided to US players.