Players have been reporting to Pokerfuse.com that online poker sites are folding up in the Ukrainian and Russian markets.
The iPoker network has reportedly withdrawn from the Ukrainian online poker market, and several other companies have recently left Russia.
The iPoker network notified Ukrainian players August 15 that they have until the end of the month to withdraw real money balances, according to the report.
Players also told the website that Gala Casino Poker and Coral Poker, owned by the publicly listed Gala Coral group, and Mansion Poker are also pulling out of Russia.
Russian authorities have been cracking down on unlicensed websites operating in the country and there are only a handful of sanctioned online bookmakers run by local companies. The reason for the iPoker Network’s withdrawal from Ukraine is less clear. Online poker is popular in the country, and there has been little regulatory pressure to withdraw from the market, the report noted.
