What Happened to JNandez’s Channel
Professional poker player Fernando “JNandez” Habegger saw his long-running YouTube channel removed after receiving a third strike from the platform, despite deliberately avoiding new uploads for more than two months in an effort to protect the account. The takedown targeted a legacy video rather than recent content, according to Habegger, who turned to social media to ask for answers and guidance on how to resolve the issue.
At the time of the removal, it was unclear whether the PLO specialist would be able to recover the account. Update: On Sept. 6, Habegger posted on social media that his YouTube channel had been restored.
A Decade of PLO Content — And a Big Audience
Habegger, the Head Coach and Founder of PLO Mastermind, has been producing poker strategy and education content for over a decade. His YouTube channel, best known for pot-limit Omaha coaching and analysis, had built a sizable audience of roughly 63,000 subscribers before enforcement actions took it offline.
The CoinPoker Question
In discussing the strike, Habegger maintained he followed YouTube’s rules and noted he was playing on “regulated” sites, citing CoinPoker — a room he represents as an ambassador. CoinPoker is not licensed by any regulatory body in the United States; rather, it holds an eGaming license from the Government of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan. The reliability of such offshore licenses is often called into question.
A Tougher Landscape for Poker on YouTube
Creators have been bracing for stricter oversight throughout the year. A policy update earlier this year tightened restrictions around gambling-related content, with a particular focus on ad eligibility and monetization. Poker uploads have also faced audience-limiting measures: YouTube’s policy now limits poker content to viewers 18 and older, which directly impacts reach and discoverability.
Kevin Martin’s Warning Shot
GGPoker ambassador and poker creator Kevin Martin summed up the anxiety with a stark assessment, saying creators are “cooked.” He elaborated on the effect of age-gating, writing:
“Now on YouTube any online poker video is automatically age-restricted to 18+. This kills the content as viewers need to be logged into their YouTube accounts to watch the video (most are not). The YouTube algorithm then stops recommending your video even if it was crushing.”
Martin’s thread drew immediate concern from players, creators, and fans. Chess champion and poker content creator Alexandra Botez added that some of her short-form videos on the platform had been “age-gated.”
Why It Matters Beyond One Channel
The brief removal of Habegger’s channel underscores the precarious position many poker creators now face on YouTube. Age restrictions, stricter ad rules, and strike enforcement can all blunt the reach of instructional and entertainment content across the ecosystem.
Key Details at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Creator | Fernando “JNandez” Habegger |
| Specialty | Pot-limit Omaha; Head Coach & Founder, PLO Mastermind |
| Audience | ~63,000 YouTube subscribers |
| Enforcement Action | Third strike leading to channel takedown |
| Precaution | No new uploads for more than two months prior to takedown |
| Platform Claim | Habegger said the strike came from an old video |
| Site Mentioned | CoinPoker (“regulated”); Habegger is an ambassador |
| Licensing Note | CoinPoker holds an Anjouan eGaming license; not licensed in the U.S. |
| Policy Context | YouTube tightened gambling-content rules; poker content limited to 18+ viewers |
| Status Update | Habegger reported on Sept. 6 that his channel was restored |
The Road Ahead
While Habegger’s reinstatement is a relief, the broader picture remains challenging. With age gates in place and monetization standards tightening, poker creators will likely continue to test ways to comply with policy while preserving reach — a balancing act that could shape how fans discover and watch poker content in the months ahead.
