Just last week, we brought you the news that PokerStars was removing services from Israel due to the area being considered a grey market. PokerStars gave players in Israel plenty of notice and provided information on why the removal of services was taking place as well as how to withdraw funds. Now, it seems PokerStars is removing their services from Slovenia, but giving players less notice than the Israel withdrawal.
Players were given just three days’ notice about the removal of PokerStars from the Slovenian market but were told that PokerStars does plan on returning. PokerStars has now announced they will be leaving the market as of today, along with Full Tilt services. Players in Slovenia will no longer be able to access either site when it comes to real money online poker game play.
Slovenia was formerly part of Yugoslavia but became independent and has been a member of the United Nations since the first month of 1992. In 1995, the country established the Slovenian Gaming Act which put regulations in place for land based casinos. Back then, online gambling was not on the agenda so legislation did not include whether online gambling was legal or illegal. Because of the legislation not including online gambling, operators were taking to offering services in Slovenia while being based off-shore, not having a license to do so.
PokerStars has provided their online poker gaming services in the area for quite some time. Back in 2012, the government started taking action against companies who were offering online gambling services from areas located outside the country by blocking access of players to these sites. PokerStars was affected during this time frame. Companies who offered such services dealt with the action by the Slovenian government by changing domain names.
Slovenia is currently working to introduce legislation that will regulate and license online gambling. Back in 2013, the Finance Ministry of Slovenia had begun working on online gambling laws and told the European Union that they planned on creating such legislation. Towards the end of 2013, the Slovenian State Lottery was to manage the process of online gambling legislation and it was believed that as many as 30 licenses to last five years each would be given for online casino, poker and sports betting. However, this was some time ago and PokerStars has now decided to remove themselves until legislation has been put in place.
It makes perfect sense that the online poker room would remove operations from Slovenia. After removing from Israel and then Slovenia, it appears that PokerStars is making moves to remove their services from any area that may put the brand at risk. PokerStars can easily stop offering services and wait to see if Slovenia puts legislation in place. Then simply follow the steps to gain licensing and then offer their services once again in the area.
PokerStars has seen how operating in areas that are considered grey markets or even in areas where legislation exists can be a problem. The brand had to work extremely hard to be able to offer services in New Jersey and now are facing a fight in the state of California. Indian tribes of the state are continuing to be against the brand, stating the poker site should not have operated in the US after the UIGEA was enforced. The brand did and is now having issue being able to be included in licensing if online poker legislation is passed in the state.
It will be interesting to see if PokerStars will remove their services from any other markets in the coming weeks as they have done with Israel and Slovenia.