The infamous event known as 'Black Friday' in the poker community, which occurred on April 15, 2011, involved the U.S. government seizing the domains of major online poker sites like PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Ultimate Bet. This action was part of a broader effort to push for the legalization of poker in the U.S. by eliminating unregulated sites. Thirteen years later, six states have legalized online poker, with expectations for six more in the next five years. On the day of the event, many players found themselves unable to access their accounts, with some losing significant amounts of money. The government's intervention highlighted the risks of unregulated online gambling, as two of the three major sites had misappropriated player funds. The event forced many players to make tough decisions about their future in poker, with some choosing to move abroad or switch to live games, while others contemplated quitting altogether.
