The International finally closes its doors

[teaulc]

London-based poker players have been dealt a hammer blow after The International decided to close its doors for the final time after a meeting with Hackney Council regarding the club's licenses. Back in December we brought you the news that The International, a private members club, had lost its operating licence after Hackney Council completed an 18-month investigation into the running of the club. Under the 2005 Gambling Act, private clubs are allows to run games of chance and poker at their venue but can only do so if these games are not the main focus of the club itself. The investigation found that poker was the club's main focus and it would therefore need to apply for a very expensive and difficult to obtain full gaming licence. The news broke on The International's Facebook page where the following statement was released.

After today's hearing with Hackney Council in regards to the club licenses we have to inform you that with immediate effect the club has closed. Its not all bad news as The Poker Olympics will still go ahead but not here but at The Western club. Still the same great events, the superb Int dealing team and massive guarantees which promises to be a great week.

There will be more information we can give over the next few days so please do check back.

All of us here at The International would like to thanks each and everyone of its members for the superb support over the last 4 and a bit years..... It been fun!

The Poker Olympics mentioned in the statement are being held in conjunction with our friends over at

Main Event Travel and we are happy to report they will still be going ahead, albeit at The Western Club instead. Running between 16-22 July, the Poker Olympics feature seven fantastic tournaments with buy-ins ranging between £10 and £300 and with guaranteed prize pools of between £3,000 and a staggering £30,000.

Read more:

http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2012/07/the-international-finally-closes-its-doors-8720.htm

[swampster]

Re: The International finally closes its doors After the Gutshot closed and they moved boroughs to Hackney they were never really going to have a chance - the new council would still go after them. Shame to see it go, it was always nice for a quick tourney 5 mins from my office.