Tencent forces poker platform closure

A popular Texas Hold’em poker video game has met its demise. The game is one of many offered by Tencent Holdings in China, but a recent increase in government scrutiny of the country’s gaming industry is causing a number of companies to rethink their offerings.

The “Everyday Texas Hold’em” was shut down yesterday. The game’s server will be turned off as of September 24 and all users will be compensated in according with Ministry of Culture regulations.

Tencent is based in Shenzhen and collects a significant amount of its profits from gaming. However, government censorship and increased regulations have been seen this year. The pressure has already forced Tencent to pull one successful game and censure others.

Due to the exaggerated government control being introduced this year, Tencent has already suffered serious financial defeats. On top of the losses related directly to the games, the company saw its market value plummet around $20 billion in a single day in August over increased concerns that the government was going to begin limiting all gaming.