PokerStars has pulled out of Slovenia’s online gambling market, marking the third year in a row it has pulled out of a European gaming market that was debating new online gambling regulations.
PokerStars left Portugal last year and the Dutch market in 2014.
PokerStars’ released a message to players in Slovenia.
“We hope that we will be able to return to the market in due course, and will continue to support the implementation of fair and consistent regulation that serves the needs of all stakeholders and includes a strong commitment to consumer protection, particularly of vulnerable people, in Slovenia. There is already a successful framework for such regulation in Europe and PokerStars is currently licensed in 12 EU countries. We hope to apply for a license in Slovenia when it is possible.”
However, a report in OnlinePokerReport.com outlines how in all three markets, a lengthy process to draft new online licensing and regulations has forced legitimate operators out of those markets creating a climate for illicit online gambling sites to thrive.
For example, Portugal published the final approved text of its new gaming laws in April 2015, and immediately insisted that all unlicensed poker operators leave the market. Though the country did issue one online gambling licenses, recent reports by the Portuguese players association Anaon said further regulatory amendments concerning the technical requirements system for international shared liquidity have still not been finalized.
Anaon noted that these will have to be submitted to the EU Commission before poker licenses are issued, a process that is taking on average three to four months. Regulated online poker in the country is not expected to launch until November.
That means that major operators could end up being shut out of the market for more than 18 months.
The loss of the Portuguese market was noted by Amaya Inc.—owners of PokerStars—as a negative factor in Amaya’s third quarter report which lowered revenue projections for the year.
Meanwhile, Dutch regulators have been trying to finalize regulations since 2014, and has barred unlicensed operators from advertising there. New Dutch gambling legislation has hit many delays, but the final bill has been presented in the lower house of the Netherlands parliament where it is expected to pass. It will then go to the country’s Senate.
However, it sets the tax rate for internet and land-based gambling at a common 29 percent of gross gaming revenue, which many online companies have balked at.
Finally, Slovenia began the process of introducing its own online gambling regulation in 2013, and in March 2016 notified its new laws to the EU Commission for approval.
Its new regulatory regime should be in place by the end of 2016, with licensees back in the market late this year or in the first quarter of 2017, according to OnlinePokerReport.com.
