Portugal will delay the launch of a regulated online poker market until at least November.
The country approved regulation to legalize online gaming in 2015, which led several major online providers to exit the country until the licensing procedures were finalized. So far, however, Portugal has only awarded one online license—a sports betting license to Betclic Everest.
According to local media, some online poker issues still remain over shared player pools, which is delaying implementation of new licensing.
Portuguese regulator Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ) has said the country’s online poker market would be limited to players in the country and liquidity would not be shared with other jurisdictions. But the regulator then reversed its position in April during a meeting with the Portuguese players association ANAon. The SRIJ said it would permit international liquidity for online poker with the caveat that business-to-business licenses which allow for the sharing of liquidity between a variety of online poker operators on a single shared network would be prohibited.
Last week, ANAon released a statement saying that two proposals are being reviewed by the SRIJ including one that would permit shared liquidity for online poker.
Any plans would then have to be submitted to the European Commission, with countries across the continent then given three months to state their opinion on the matter.
