Shortly after it had become known that 888poker would no longer accept Australian players, word has leaked out that one of the world’s largest online poker rooms would also leave the Slovenian iGaming market.
The move comes at a time when the Central European country is in preparation for the implementation of new iGaming laws. Slovenia initiated efforts to regulate its online gambling market in 2013, in order to ensure regulatory compliance with EU regulations.
Over the next several years, the local government worked on a regulatory framework that would set effective laws for the provision of gambling services in the country. It is believed that the new regulations will be adopted by mid-2017.
All interested casino and poker operators, including 888poker, will be able to apply for a license from the local regulator. However, lottery and sports betting will still fall under the purview of the state-run monopoly.
888poker has not been the first major online poker brand to leave the Slovenian market. Last summer, PokerStars also confirmed its exit from Slovenia. The poker room stated that it would return as soon as possible, or when the new law is adopted, to be more precise.
Slovenia’s market may turn into a highly lucrative one, despite the fact that the country is relatively small in terms of population. As it seems, it will probably attract big industry names, particularly ones offering online poker. One of the main reasons, if not the main one, behind this is the country’s close proximity to Italy where the online poker market is ring-fenced and thus closed to international players.
Once Italy regulated its market in a manner that prohibited locals from playing against international competition, many active cash game players moved to Slovenia, where there were no such restrictions. This is why PokerStars and 888poker’s exit from the market has certainly come as a big blow.
As mentioned above, 888poker announced last week that it was leaving Australia, as well. Local players were no longer allowed to play at the poker brand’s website from January 16. New law that would put significant restrictions on offshore operators with operations Down Under is expected to be adopted anytime now and it is believed that more such operators are to leave the market prior to its re-regulation.
