Just over a week after it was announced that PokerStars was removing services from Australia, partypoker is now following suit. As of today, it has been confirmed that partypoker will be removing their online gaming services from the country, due to the approval of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill, which prohibits unlicensed online gaming providers from offering services.
On their official blog, partypoker revealed that they will no longer accept gambling customers from Australia starting on August 31st 2017. Players were reassured that their funds are safe and will remain safe, able to be withdrawn whenever they like.
Managing Director of partypoker Tom Waters stated that the company is sad to leave one of their stronger markets and party will continue to work with the Australian Online Poker Alliance to try and convince the Australian government that online poker should not be included in the overall online gaming ban.
On the 9th of this month, the proposed changes to the online gambling laws of Australia were approved, moving quickly as the Senate had voted in approval of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill just days earlier. Partypoker will be the first to exit as of late, with PokerStars not set to remove services until sometime in mid-September. PokerStars will no longer offer real money gaming but does have plans to offer play options.
The bill received Royal Assent last week so now it will become law. This change has affected many big operators in the online gambling industry as sites offered their services in the country despite there being a gray area. 888poker, 32Red and Vera&John are just a few examples of gaming companies that split after the move to make changes to the online gambling laws in the country began.
The Australian Online Poker Alliance is trying to see the government provide a carve out for online poker so that players will still have access to real money gaming. However, this movement has been slow going and for now there seems to be no solution presently on the table.
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