Although the effects of “Black Friday” were felt across the online poker industry it was American players who were the hardest hit. Whilst the majority of those players who can no longer play online poker were recreational players, there are still a significant number of men and women who played online poker professionally and have therefore been left without a source of income for the first time in years.
Over the past few weeks a number of high profile players have left the United States of America and relocated in a completely different country all together. Some of moved to Costa Rica, whilst others such as Daniel Negreanu, Brian Hastings, Vanessa Selbst and Phil Galfond have moved just across the US-border and set up home in Canada. Moving to a different country is never easy but the aforementioned players are all extremely rich and possible multi-millionaires so their move would have been easier than most, but what about the midstakes grinders, those playing $1/$2 to $3/$6 who make a healthy living from the game, but cannot afford to spend tens of thousands to handle the paperwork and all the hassle of moving? This is where Poker Refugees comes in.
Poker Refugees is a company that is designed to take all of the hard work out of upping sticks and moving to another country in order to continue playing online poker. At the moment they offer packages to Costa Rica, Panama and Canada but there are plans to offer other countries in the future. There is a one-time relocation fee of $1,000 in order for the player to become a member of Poker Refugees and after that it only costs $750 per person for two or more roommates or $1,500 per family, which when compared to the $30,000 talked about on the Two Plus Two forums when Daniel “jungleman12” Cates was denied entry and wanted to start legal proceeding to gain access, it is a drop in the ocean.
For their money players will receive detailed requirements and tips on setting up a local bank account, help in choosing a property, referrals to English-speaking professionals and complete guidance into the workings of their chosen country so that they can literally move in and start grinding again. Until poker sites are allowed to offer their services to American customers again, this could be the only way grinders are able to continue playing the game they love and rely on for income.
