After achieving licensed status from Bulgaria in mid-February this year, online poker provider Pokerstars has launched its Bulgarian website, including the currently beta testing Pokerstars 7 software in desktop mode.
The company is the first to launch operationally since the Bulgarian authorities opened the market, a point made by Rational Group communications chief Eric Hollreiser, who commented:
“PokerStars strives to be first-in-market when online poker licenses are made available and we’re proud to be the first locally licensed poker site in Bulgaria. We believe in the potential of the Bulgarian market and that is why our company has invested in the local licence.”
Unlike nations like France, Spain and Italy, Bulgaria has truly opened its market and does not restrict action within its geographic borders, giving operators far more leeway to build meaningful businesses with an international player community.
That means that Pokerstars.bg players can mix it up online with players at other Pokerstars websites licensed in several countries, and the .com and .eu player pools.
The company already holds licenses to operate in France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Estonia, Malta and the Isle of Man.
Pokerstars sister company Full Tilt, which offers casino games in addition to poker, is involved in the application process for a Bulgarian licence, according to Rational Group sources.
Earlier this year the Bulgarian State Gambling Commission approved the independent testing agency eCOGRA as the nation’s i-gaming testing partner.