PartyPoker has advised its Czech clients that it has abandoned its quest for a Czech online gambling licence, with parent group GVC Holdings citing its dissatisfaction with local licensing regulations, which the company claims are not compliant with European Union principles.
The company has not closed the door completely, noting that in the event of a more reasonable approach being adopted by the Czech government it would consider re-applying.
Earlier this year PartyPoker suspended Czech activity pending its application for a licence (now withdrawn) as the Czech Ministry of Finance moved toward a regulated market.
With a high 35 percent tax rate on GGR, the Czech politicians have managed to discourage many leading operators from entering the new market.