Anyone else notice this?

[Kijjo]

I've been noticing a really high % of international players in the last week or so. I figured with the gov't crack down on deposits, it might affect the # of US fish we got playing, but I had no idea it could be noticeable THIS FAST!
Usually when I play a 9 player SnG there will be 1 or 2 overseas, 2 or 3 canadians, the rest american. Tonight I've played 7 SnGs of 6 max (so 35 players not counting myself), and I think I've seen about 20 canadians, and 8-10 internationals, then a handful of americans.
Someone please tell me I'm way off base here?

I guess you could "who cares?" But if this is for real, it does require an adjustment. International players play differently. Usually there's only 1 or 2 at a table, you can play your regular game without much difference, but if it's nearly the whole table, that's going to be a change.

PS - this is on Stars. I'd expect with a higher % of US players (that I've seen) on FT, the change would be slower to manifest itself.

[taipan168]

Depends on what time zone you're in. I play in the evening Australian time which is early morning US time. The other thing is that your sample size is too small, you could easily run into a lot of Canadians and others in 7 tourneys.

On your point of "internationals playing differently" - firstly, the term "non-Americans" may be a bit better since Americans are "international" to me and secondly whether you are a fish or a shark doesn't matter on your nationality, there are good and bad players in every country and I don't think they play any differently depending on their nationality.

[Jack Sawyer]

LOL, there is a whole world out there

and none of "them" are American!

[mcatdog]

...whether you are a fish or a shark doesn't matter on your nationality, there are good and bad players in every country and I don't think they play any differently depending on their nationality.

You're so diplomatic! Of course there's no substitute for paying attention to individual players and getting specific reads, because not everyone from the same country plays the same. But you can definitely make some generalizations that are helpful if you have no other reads.

Scandinavia - good players
UK, Canada - nits
Germany - calling stations
Brazil, Russia - maniacs
France, Italy - barely know the rules of poker

[Ryski]

"I figured with the gov't crack down on deposits"

^ Please elaborate. Did I miss something that happened very recently?

[drmcboy]

fail for no read on azns in the sng forum

[baudib]

OMG azns play pokah?

[Kijjo]

Oh don't start with the sample size crap. I play EVERY day. I'm telling you it's extremely rare for me to sit down at my game time at my buy-in levels and see a table with only one other american, or none. For me to do it 6 or 7 times in one night, after having noticed all week that it seemed off. If you say, "I see just as many americans as I always do" or something, I'll take your word for it, but we don't need a statistician to figure out how many tables I have to view before my sample size is relevant!
Gov't crack down = the UGIEA (I probably screwed up the order of the letters) is actually relevant starting January 19th (I think that's correct - I know it was about a week ago). Basically tons of american banks will be denying any form of payment to poker sites for fear of being prosecuted.
To americans that are profitable players, this law won't bother us except that you won't be able to switch your $ to another site (deposit). But to losing players (FISH), this will be a huge barrier until someone figures out a way around it and makes it very public.

[flomo]

same old, same old for me tonight on pstars $11

[taipan168]

Oh don't start with the sample size crap. I play EVERY day. I'm telling you it's extremely rare for me to sit down at my game time at my buy-in levels and see a table with only one other american, or none. For me to do it 6 or 7 times in one night, after having noticed all week that it seemed off. If you say, "I see just as many americans as I always do" or something, I'll take your word for it, but we don't need a statistician to figure out how many tables I have to view before my sample size is relevant!

I have not noticed any decrease in the number of Americans on the tables at the times I usually play.

Gov't crack down = the UGIEA (I probably screwed up the order of the letters) is actually relevant starting January 19th (I think that's correct - I know it was about a week ago). Basically tons of american banks will be denying any form of payment to poker sites for fear of being prosecuted.
To americans that are profitable players, this law won't bother us except that you won't be able to switch your $ to another site (deposit). But to losing players (FISH), this will be a huge barrier until someone figures out a way around it and makes it very public.

I haven't followed developments in this area recently, but as far as I know it hasn't been possible to deposit to a gambling site from a US credit card for some time now. It was a hiccup when Neteller was banned but Stars and Full Tilt arranged some kind of work-around (don't ask me how it works) but if you go to their website there are still lots of options for Americans to deposit.

[JR9477]

I don't know if or if not the UGIEA is affecting things, but I imagine it's more because it's slow time of year for many American businesses. The dreaded post holiday lull. Also us Americans are making more cutbacks than usual due to the market, so people don't have so much to waste on poker.

I think this is a good observation and Americans at the table should be met with some amount of caution. Many of the biggest micro losers are going to be out of the game, due to poor money management skill. This is going to leave a higher ratio of the slow losers, break evens, and winning players.

I don't think the higher stakes are going to be affected so much. As you go up in the stakes you have people who are more secure in their jobs, and able to withstand seasonal business changes.

I bet things will pick up a bit after people start getting their tax refunds and have money to burn again.

This is just guesswork on my part so feel free to agree/disagree.

[Kijjo]

Those are good thoughts JR9477, hadn't thought about the economy, disposable income, job loss issues.

I know that many credit cards didn't use to work, now they've locked-downt he e-wallet bank transfers and stuff apparently though for most banks.
It doesn't affect me since I don't deposit, but I hear people complaining on another forum site I use (where the level of poker player is much fishier). Many of them have depositted several times, and have now hit a road block.

[Ryski]

I've always been able to deposit but haven't tried in 6 months. I'm going to try tonight and see if it still works through my bank. This makes my semi nervous b/c I've been itching to return to poker after a long break due to being extremely busy in other areas of my life.

I'm sure I'll find a way to do it but ugh what a hassle.

[JR9477]

I had some extra in my live roll, so I deposited late December for the 25% bonus at Pokerstars. I had no problems depositing, but the company they went through to process the payment was unusual...

[Sir Pawnalot]

...whether you are a fish or a shark doesn't matter on your nationality, there are good and bad players in every country and I don't think they play any differently depending on their nationality.

You're so diplomatic! Of course there's no substitute for paying attention to individual players and getting specific reads, because not everyone from the same country plays the same. But you can definitely make some generalizations that are helpful if you have no other reads.

Scandinavia - good players
UK, Canada - nits
Germany - calling stations
Brazil, Russia - maniacs
France, Italy - barely know the rules of poker

TY for giving credit to Scandinavian players (I am Norwegian), although in my opinion a lot of them are recklessly aggressive...(especially Swedes) Just call them all day...

Germans- are tight players in general. Love to bluff them
Eastern Europeans- are uneducated with large egos.
Americans- Play their "good old TAG game" without really being AG.
Canadians- Friendly and gullible, Rob them blind while being friendly
ASIANS- BEWARE; THEY ARE ACTUALLY SMARTER THAN US
WOMEN- Tight/Passive. Fold whenever they bet (unless it is someone who is taking advantage of that...then it is time for some serious whoopass)

It is strange how seemingly irrational assumptions can be of use.