Ultra Violent PokerStars Advert Banned In Germany
November 18, 2010 10:23 amA 90 second PokerStars commercial made in Germany has been banned from TV, after it was deemed too violent for public viewing.
The ad carries the strapline “Play Online Poker; It’s Safer PokerStars – Awarded Safest Online Poker Site,” and it then proceeds to “comically” demonstrate the perils of live poker in order to get their message across.
During the commercial, several PokerStars Team Germany Pros are seen playing live poker around a table before all hell breaks loose as they start attacking each other. Included amongst the gruesome array of assaults is one player having his throat slashed, another being hit in the forehead by a ninja star, while another is set on fire.
The message which PokerStars is apparently trying to communicate is that by playing poker online at the site, players are less likely to be cheated, have their chips stolen or suffer a violent assault at a German casinos or on their way back, perhaps.
PokerStars are obviously promoting their safety features which cannot be found in brick and mortar casinos, but the advert’s graphic nature has also been questioned at a time when the news has seen a rise in violence related casino crime.
For instance, the Berlin poker heist which took place earlier this year or several incidences reported in the US recently of casino patrons being followed back after a winning night out at the casino.
After the ban was implemented, Two Plus Two forum members then picked up the story with TheFly claiming that Team Germany was no longer being listed on PokerStars. as he posted:
“On Sunday, it was asked to an unnamed German Pro who was playing on PS why Team Germany was no longer listed, the response was “legal trouble I think”, it was then asked to the Pro “was it that wild TV commercial with the German Pros in it?”, and the response was “Yes”.”
“Perhaps this commercial was made without the blessing of Isle of Mann Headquarters, who knows. But whatever, it sure seems to be a pretty hilarious story in the making!”
Despite being banned from German TV, the ad which satirize poker violence has now gone viral, which was perhapsm its initial intention, and continues to receive plenty of exposure from sites such as YouTube and poker forums.