Pokerstars has apparently reiterated its intention to depart the Australian online poker market as a consequence of federal government moves to amend the Interactive Gambling Act (2001) in order to eject unlicensed online casino and sportsbook operators; a move that by implication would effectively ban all online gambling services, including poker.
The Australian publication WGM8 reported over the weekend that it had seen a letter to Aussie punters from the online poker giant which advised that if the changes envisaged by the federal government took place Australians would likely be blocked from real-money action on the Pokerstars sites.
“The Australian Government’s intention is to keep the online community safe, which is a goal PokerStars commends,” the company missive said. “Unfortunately, there is no framework currently for poker operators like us to be locally licensed and the Bill will all but end the offering of real money online poker to Australians.
“PokerStars is the most regulated poker site in the world and currently offers poker to customers through its Isle of Man global gaming license.
“PokerStars always seeks to comply with local regulations, so if the proposed amendments in the Bill pass into law you will likely be blocked from playing for real money on our site. We will continue to offer free-to-play services such as Jackpot Poker to the extent that it is legal for us to do so.”
InfoPowa readers will recall that local poker fans have formed their own action body – the Australian Online Poker Alliance – to lobby their political representatives against an online poker ban by instead filing “carve-out” amendments.
Such an amendment has already been filed by Australian Senator David Leyonhjelm of the Liberal Democratic Party.