PokerStars Faces Boycott on Its French Site

Many players restrain from playing in protest against changes to VIP systems and rake calculation After a mass sit-out by players, staged at Pokerstars' French site due to the players vs. operator dispute about the changes introduced by Pokerstars to VIP systems and rake calculation, the situation seems to be getting worse, mostly for the site itself. Namely, reports are arriving that many big-action players are boycotting the site, despite the operator's retaliation which involved locking some accounts and reducing table limits for those participating. What's more, this action may have only caused the players to become more fiercely engaged and organized in the boycott, and with success, as independent stats indicate that Pokerstars' French site has seen a serious drop in traffic. In addition, there have been talks of a representative of the players going to the Isle of Man headquarters of Pokerstars later this week, where he/she will try to persuade the management to appreciate the players' point of view and perhaps resolve the issue. Also, the changes introduced by the operator seem to have triggered more customer dissatisfaction throughout the world, as poker players in other places have similar complaints and are currently electing representatives to negotiate with Pokerstars. According to a French spokesman for Pokerstars, the company stands between a rock and a hard place, as the heavy French taxation makes "the current balance of the loyalty program unsustainable.”