PokerStars exits Macau, China and Taiwan

The online poker brand is to exit the Asian markets after Flutter decided to cease operations in certain jurisdictions.

Macau.- Flutter Entertainment has taken the decision to the remove online poker brand PokerStars from the mainland China, Taiwan and Macau markets.

PokerStars has sent an email to customers advising that it has made a number of banking changes to facilitate player withdrawals.

The company has lowered the minimum amount available for bank wires for players in these markets and has enabled withdrawal via Much Better for mainland China and Macau.

While online gaming is not allowed in Mainland China and Macau, the group had managed to operate legally. In 2018, the Stars Group, then the owner of the PokerStars, entered into an agreement with Hong Kong-based International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) to license the PokerStars brand for land-based live events and poker rooms across Asia. That agreement included Macau.

The Stars Group was this year acquired by UK-based bookmaking company Flutter Entertainment, owners of Paddy Power Betfair.

In its recent financial report, Flutter indicated that it would be removing Stars Group brands from a small number of jurisdictions where Flutter did not want to operate.

It also said it had reviewed the PokerStars business and “identified further opportunities to invest in areas such as marketing, product and technology while boosting its gambling/anti-money laundering procedures.”