Top-rated online poker room partypoker has announced it is quitting several unregulated markets this month. The process is being done as the online poker rooms parent company, GVC Holdings, prepares to move out of all unregulated areas. The operator is leaving such aeras as Poland, Montenegro and Norway.
Starting Now
In the affected countries, players will no longer be able to deposit funds. The start date of the change began today, December 1. Players will be suspended starting on December 17, so players only have a short time to take part in online poker via party.
Existing players can log in and request a withdrawal as the brand moves to stop services in the affected regions. Any cashback owed to players will be credited by December 23. Any non-cash rewards like tournament tickets and loyalty points must be used by December 17 or they are voided.
Colette Stewart, the Twitch and Community Manager for partypoker, posted on a Discord forum that by the middle of this month, the company will no longer offer services in unregulated markets. She pointed out this was a management business decision. Going forward, the parent company GVC, will be operating only in regulated and licensed markets.
Moving Forward with Plans
Back in November, GVC Holdings announced that they would be withdrawing any company brands from unregulated and gray markets. The company has created a new commitment where they will only operate in markets that are 100% regulated.
Right now, the company sees 96% of its group revenue from regulated markets. By the end of the year, the company has a goal to create 99% of revenues from regulated markets. By the end of 2023, GVC has said they will be at 100%.
The goal is to see the company be able to expand in the United States. Operating in regulated markets is essential to being approved for online sports betting and casino services in the US.
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