Portugal halted online poker
The national gaming regulator –SRIJ– is assessing the announced shared liquidity for online poker.
Portugal.- Online Poker regulation has been delayed until next November. As the Portuguese players association ANAon revealed, the national Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (Gaming Regulator and Inspector) –SRIJ– has taken this decision whilst it is evaluating the next steps as to shared liquidity for the online sector.
The gaming entity is preparing a proposal to introduce to the European Commission in order to establish economic conditions for the online poker operations. Portugal is joining the proceedings of other countries in the continent which are trying to clarify the rules for the gaming industry.
Although the government and the SRIJ have approved a year ago the online gaming regulation, only BetClic.PT has received a license to offer regulated online games just before the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Other gaming bidders in the Portuguese markets have been rejected by the Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos.
At first, Portugal was determined to follow France, Italy and Spain steps as to set international liquidity for online poker. After the opposition of ANAon in April 2016, the gaming authority stated that it would permit international liquidity for online poker with the caveat that business-to-business licenses which allow for the sharing of liquidity between a variety of online poker operators on a single shared network would be prohibited. So far, the SRIJ has not made a decision to reactive the poker sector in the country.
