Why is Online Poker so popular in Brazil and Ukraine?

[pentazepam]

There were by far more Russians playing on pokerstars than any other country before they got banned. Some of them might have found a way to play under another flag. Before black Friday were there more Americans playing on pokerstars than any other country? I did not play on pokerstars at that time.

Americans are surely missed.

Rest in peace Tuff Fish. Thanks for the laughs.

 

[yogo9]

Because of financial situation in these countries and also its a popular game with large population this is why.

 

[ninocabral]

In brazil, poker is really popular, but online is much better than live and I think it's because there aren't that many poker houses around here so it makes it much easier to play online.

 

[hilary antonik filho]

I read a lot of answers, but I don't consider that we Brazilians play poker to have a better income, I've said it countless times, I've been playing poker for 55/56 years I don't make a living from poker and I've never been able to make a living from poker, I play because I love it, it's my distraction, my hobby, it's not just anyone who can afford to go to a poker house here in Brazil, But whenever I go there are few seats available, sometimes I have to wait to be able to play

 

[Rob Hobson]

Because we need money 😂

 

[romerim]

I'm Brazilian, but I don't think poker is popular in Brazil, despite there being many players in online casinos (perhaps because of the population of 214 million people), I don't see poker being popular in the country. I don't know anyone who plays poker in my entire life.

 

[Cooking]

I'm from Brazil and I started to play poker around 17 years ago and I see that in the last few years poker is way more popular than it used to be. I think there are a couple of reasons why it's more popular now. One of the reasons is the fact that a couple of soccer players started to play and advertise poker, mostly of them on poker stars (Ronaldo, Neymar...). The second reason for me is that Brazil is a developing country and there are many people who are unemployed or that works 8 hours/daily to win a little more than $200 per month, which is not that difficult to win playing poker.

 

[Falzee]

I believe that it may be an escape for them from their everyday life.

 

[M13A13]

Brazil is still discovering poker. Nowhere in the world is poker as popular as in the United States, including online. Although you don't see Americans on pokerstars, this is due to a punishment that pokerstars has within the United States, but if I'm not mistaken, Americans are the pioneers in poker, maybe that's why Texas Holden is so popular, Texas is the name of the American state, which many know from the Bang Bang movies, that is, the Old West.
Another very popular country is Russia, but due to the war with Ukraine, the Russians are banned, which I think is a tremendous injustice, because what mere citizens can do against the decision of an aristocratic government like the Russians.
Now it's curious that even in war you find many Ukrainians at the tables instead of going to serve their country on the battlefields. This only reinforces the suspicion that we are playing against Robots.

 

[antonis32123]

Maybe they need more an extra way of income and poker is such a way . Or it's just random , no specific reason , who knows.

 

[Turtifice]

I didn't think poker was popular in Ukraine.

 

[KrazyKoo]

You turn that freeroll earned USD/€ money into Brazilian Reals and it becomes your monthly salary quite fast.

 

[0546474]

I think that the number of players from Ukraine is largely due to the policy of their state regarding the game of poker!!! For example, I used to often see poker advertisements on TV, as well as laws passed that consider tournament poker to be a sport, and not a game of chance!!!