PokerStars fined over geolocation failure
The online poker operator was fined in New Jersey for allowing out of state clients.
US.- The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) announced that they set a US$25.000 fine on PokerStars for allowing out of state players to gamble on its New Jersey mobile website.
The state is one of the three that legalised the online gambling industry. David Rebuck, Director of the DGE, said that an investigation concluded that a software glitch was responsible for allowing people within the borders to wager on the online service. “Having considered the findings of the Division’s investigation, and the factors in mitigation presented by PokerStars, and finding sufficient legal and factual support for the penalty therein, I hereby order a civil penalty of $25,000,” Rebuck said.
PokerStars’ parent company Amaya paid almost US$5 billion three years ago for the rights to operate its poker platform in New Jersey, therefore a US$25.000 fine is not substantial to the company’s financial situation. Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time an online operator is fined by New Jersey’s DGE, and even though the division confirmed that Amaya already fixed its software, specialists believe that companies should be more careful in the future.
