The Fox Poker Club, one of London's busiest live poker venues, has announced that it is to close with immediate effect.
The closure was reported on the Fox Poker Club website on Monday 10th December 2012 with a (poorly worded) statement that read:
"It with regret that Genting UK plc today announces that the Fox Poker Club will cease operation. The Management and Staff of Fox Poker Club would like to thank all of it's customers for supporting the venture over the past two years. Further information will be released shortly."
According to the clubs twitter account, players will be able to cash in any outstanding poker chips and tournament tokens at the Cromwell Mint in Kensington from the 11th December 2012.
As of yet, no comment has been made regarding the £10 membership fee that players had to pay before entering the club, which many members are arguing should be refunded.
What Next For The Fox?
Shortly after the accouncement, rumours and speculations that Genting are intending to turn the club into a casino began to surface on various poker forums, fuelled by a tweet on the Fox Poker Clubs twitter page that read.
"The club may be closed but the location will be refurbished and reborn in Spring 2013 as an exciting new Genting venue."
Genting are yet to make an official statement regarding the new venue, but it is highly likely that they will be taking advantage of the clubs full casino license and central London location by opening a new casino.
About The Fox Poker Club
The Fox Poker Club was first founded in 2005 by Chris North and Ian Hogg and was granted a full casino license in 2008. In 2010 a million pound investment saw the club move into its current location on Shaftsbury Avenue - a stones throw from China Town and Leicester Square. Over the next 12 months the club had attracted over 20,000 members and employed approximately 80 staff.
In 2011 the club was purchased by brick & mortar casino operator Genting who continued to operate it as a live poker venue and integrated it into the Genting Poker tours. As a last hurrah, the club played host to the final of the 2012 Genting Poker Series immediately prior to its closure.