EPT Paris 2025 Canceled Amid Regulatory Challenges

Will Shillibier Managing Editor

Dec 12, 2024 2 min read

A Sudden Change in Plans
The Future of the EPT

PokerStars and Club Barrière have announced the cancellation of the European Poker Tour (EPT) Paris 2025, which was originally scheduled to run from February 12-23 at Le Palais des Congrès.

The cancellation is part of a broader uncertainty surrounding Paris’s gaming landscape. Recent developments indicate that gaming clubs in the city, which have operated under strict regulations since 2019, are at risk of closure by the end of the year.

A Sudden Change in Plans

The announcement comes as a shock, particularly after the news comes exactly a month since the unveiling of the 2025 EPT schedule.

EPT Paris was slated to kick off the tour's new season, returning for its third year after record-breaking attendance in 2024. Last year’s France Poker Series Main Event drew 4,149 entries, while the EPT Main Event attracted 1,224 players from 69 countries, with Barny Boatman crowned champion.

However, shifting licensing requirements have created too much uncertainty for the February event to proceed. PokerStars noted that while they are exploring options to reschedule EPT Paris, no timeline has been set.

PokerStars had already had begun offering online satellites to the festival, including packages that included buy-ins, accommodation, and travel expenses, with options for both the EPT Main Event and the France Poker Series Main Event.

For players who had already secured online packages for the event, PokerStars has said that they will reach out to anyone affected to address concerns and have provided some helpful FAQs on their website.

PokerStars is urging players to contact [email protected] if they require any further assistance.

The Future of the EPT

Despite this setback, PokerStars and Club Barrière remain optimistic about working with French authorities to establish a more stable regulatory framework, potentially paving the way for a return to Paris in the future.

While a return to the city of lights is off the table for now, the rest of the 2025 European Poker Tour schedule remains intact.

The tour will head to Monte-Carlo from April 30 to May 10, with its glamorous tournament room overlooking the Mediterranean. Then, from August 18-31, EPT Barcelona will bring its signature energy, large fields, and massive prize pools back to Casino Barcelona.

But the cancellation of EPT Paris leaves an unexpected gap in the 2025 calendar. It also raises speculation about the potential addition of new stops later in the year. Both Cyprus, which joined the EPT circuit in 2023, and longtime favorite Prague, were notably absent from the initial schedule. Perhaps they may still have a role to play in the second half of 2025.

PokerStars has promised to provide updates on any developments regarding EPT Paris or other potential events as they arise. For now, the poker community will have to wait to see how the tour evolves in the wake of this unexpected change.

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Will Shillibier Managing Editor

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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