Online operators leave Australia

Vera&John joined a list of operators that are considering ending business in Australia.

Australia.- The online gambling provider Vera&John announced that they will close their business in Australia after the country revealed a new online gambling legislation that establishes that offshore casinos cannot offer services to local punters.

The company released a statement where they don’t explain the decision in detail, but they confirm that it’s mainly a “business decision.” The Australian federal government has introduced the Interactive Gambling Amendment bill 2016 in November with the intention to shut down unauthorised offshore operators. Vera&John said that all current accounts will be closed within a week and that the remaining funds in Australian accounts will be transferred to their owners.

Under the new law, operators will not be able to offer local players gambling services unless they hold a local license. If they violate the rules, they could face penalties up to US$1 million. Last week, PokerStars announced that they’re considering the idea of leaving the Australian market in the near future.