The EPT Paris 2025, scheduled to take place from February 12-23 at Le Palais des Congrès, has been canceled. PokerStars and Club Barrière had made the decision citing regulatory uncertainties in Paris’s gaming industry for 2005 EPT Paris. “It just didn’t seem right,” as one player put it. “I’ve been an avid poker player since the age of 18. This was going to be my first live event anywhere in Europe if everything went well.”
This development follows recent news suggesting that the city’s gaming clubs. Already operating under stringent regulations since 2019, may face closure by year’s end. The announcement is particularly surprising coming just one month after unveiling the 2025 EPT schedule.
EPT Paris 2025 was set to open the new season with its third edition, following a record-breaking 2024. Last year’s France Poker Series Main Event attracted a huge 4,149 entries. While the EPT Main Event saw 1,224 players representing 69 countries take part. Barny Boatman emerged triumphant in 2024–thus further reinforcing this landmark event.
Licensing requirements have changed too much for February’s event to go ahead. While PokerStars is looking at rescheduling options in the future as yet no time frame has been set.
Players’ Livelihood in EPT Paris 2025
Online satellite tournaments for EPT Paris 2025 had already been launched by PokerStars. Packages contained buy-ins for both the EPT Main Event with side poker event (France Poker Series Main), plus accommodation and travel expenses covered to get there as well as back home afterwards.
Challenges in EPT Paris 2025 Paris’s Gaming Landscape
Paris’s gaming industry has had several hurdles since the 2019 introduction of stricter rules for gaming clubs. There is growing uncertainty about the viability of long-term plans, making it difficult to stage major poker events with any confidence.
The changes currently facing Paris are an awkward reminder of the inadequacies in gaming law. If the clubs have to close then Paris is in danger of losing its standing as an international poker hotspot.
EPT Paris 2025′ s Future
Nevertheless, despite the setback, both PokerStars and Club Barrière still believe that it will be possible to work with the French authorities so as to bring some firmness into an unstable regulatory framework. They hope this will mean the EPT can one day return to Paris. While EPT Paris 2025 has been struck off the calendar for a while, the rest of the 2025 schedule stays intact.
EPT Paris 2025 Next Stops
Between April 30 and May 10 the tour heads to one of its most glamorous settings, Monte Carlo 2025. With a tournament room that overlooks the Mediterranean this picturesque place promises as only part of its traditional elegance and excitement. From August 18-31 the tour will be back in Barcelona. One of its most popular destinations, its fame rests on large player fields and huge prize pools. Casino Barcelona is set to host another great series.
There Is Motion on New Stops
With no EPT Paris 2025 on the schedule, 2025 has an empty slot for another place. There have been all kinds of suggestions about possibilities later in the year. Notably, Cyprus and Prague– both with no listings on the first quarter wheel– could be back for an annual game or two somewhere in the second half of the year. Although we can only speculate.
Looking Ahead
PokerStars have said that they will keep the poker community up to date with any alterations in the timetable or changes to the tour itself. For the time being, players and spectators will have to wait to see how Europe adapts in the wake of such unforeseen challenges. But that’s not to say they will in any way forget the EPT’s other planned venues: despite the setback the EPT remains committed to providing a world-class poker experience.
The cancellation provides a salutary reminder of the complexity involved in global events, especially when pushed out to keep pace with changing regulations.PokerStars and poker players around the world will want nothing more than for Paris, with its new regulatory issues to be resolved quickly. They are hoping, and it appears- likely too (judging from what we have seen) Poker can still take its place on the EPT map in just that one city: as was before!
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