The Poker Stars Latin America Poker Tour Neuvo Vallarta event was canceled after local gaming officials stopped play on Friday, when the $2,500 buy-in tournament was already in its ninth level and had seen 153 of the original 242 players eliminated from the tournament.The 89 remaining players, along with the tournament staff and the media were escorted out of the tournament room, at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time.
At midnight the players were informed to return at noon on Saturday for a status update.When the players returned they were told that the tournament was being canceled.Each player would be awarded $5,000 from the prize pool, with the remainder of the prize pool divided up by chip count, which was only an estimate as no one was allowed back into the tournament room.In addition to the prize pool, each player would receive $500 for the inconvenience.
In a press release, Poker Stars stated:
“The Latin America Poker Tour (LAPT) confirms that it is cancelling the poker tournament in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, due to an indefinite suspension served on one of its local partners.
The LAPT states it has cooperated fully and in good faith with the requirements outlined by the Mexican government. The LAPT respects and abides by local regulations in each market.
LAPT’s partner in Mexico obtained a formal ruling from the Mexican Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) allowing the event to take place. As the LAPT compiled with every rule stipulated by the Code of the Mexican Federal Law of Games and Raffles, the reasons for suspension are being reviewed by lawyers of all parties.”
In light of these events it is doubtful that any high profile poker tournaments will risk holding an event in Mexico.The next LAPT event will be on January 20th-22nd in Vina Del Mar, Chile and the events in Mexico are unlikely to cause significant distress on this event.
Poker Stars offers satellites to LAPT, EPT, and many more land-based tournaments.Read our Poker Stars review or check out the Poker Stars website to learn more about playing online poker at Poker Stars.