Pokerstars Reiterates Its Intention To Depart Aussie Market (update)
By Brian Cullingworth, Last updated May 18, 2017
"Unfortunately, there is no framework currently for poker operators like us to be locally licensed…"
Pokerstars has apparently reiterated its intention to depart the Australian online poker market as a consequence of federal government moves to amend the Interactive Gambling Act (2001) in order to eject unlicensed online casino and sportsbook operators; a move that by implication would effectively ban all online gambling services, including poker.
The Australian publication WGM8 reported over the weekend that it had seen a letter to Aussie punters from the online poker giant which advised that if the changes envisaged by the federal government took place Australians would likely be blocked from real-money action on the Pokerstars sites.
"The Australian Government's intention is to keep the online community safe, which is a goal PokerStars commends," the company missive said. "Unfortunately, there is no framework currently for poker operators like us to be locally licensed and the Bill will all but end the offering of real money online poker to Australians.
"PokerStars is the most regulated poker site in the world and currently offers poker to customers through its Isle of Man global gaming license.
"PokerStars always seeks to comply with local regulations, so if the proposed amendments in the Bill pass into law you will likely be blocked from playing for real money on our site. We will continue to offer free-to-play services such as Jackpot Poker to the extent that it is legal for us to do so."
InfoPowa readers will recall that local poker fans have formed their own action body – the Australian Online Poker Alliance – to lobby their political representatives against an online poker ban by instead filing "carve-out" amendments.
Such an amendment has already been filed by Australian Senator David Leyonhjelm of the Liberal Democratic Party.
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Infopowa news was a staple of Casinomeister’s news from 2000 until 2019. Brian Cullingworth was the main writer, contributor, and was one of the most knowledgeable persons I have ever known involved in the online casino industry.
We first met in January 2001 at the ICE in London where I observed him going booth to booth interviewing online casino, software, and licensing jurisdiction representatives. Brian was also heavily involved with our forum as “Jetset“, he was involved as an informal consultant to eCOGRA, the OPA, and was a player advocate who assisted countless aggrieved players with his connections to industry folks. He also published “Casino Cautions” via Infopowa news for quite a number of years. These can be found in our news archives.
His passing in February 2019 was a dark day for us. He will be forever missed.
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