Poker NSW, a cooperative comprising a majority of poker operators across the state, have been informed by NSW Police that they are free to resume poker events pending certain new COVID-safe restrictions.
The approval comes after Poker NSW – whose members include the Australian Poker League (APL), National Poker League (NPL), WPT League and others – presented authorities with a COVID safety plan aimed at mitigating concerns over their ability to host safe poker events.
Poker events across the state were shut down in mid-August with NSW Health telling PokerMedia Australia at the time that any live poker events comprising more than 10 people were deemed to be in breach of public health orders.
On Monday morning, NSW Police informed operators that the blanket ban was now lifted, although Multi Table Tournaments are not allowed under current restrictions.
Instead, venues will be permitted to offer single table formats or any variant in which no single player interacts with any more than nine other players.
“We can play shootouts, Single Table SNGs, satellites and timed tournaments to name a few of the variants,” Poker NSW said today.
It will now be up to individual venues and franchisees as to how they will proceed over the coming weeks.
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