PartyPoker to return to 21 online gambling markets under GVC

PartyPoker returns to 21 new online gambling markets including jurisdictions it exited as part of its “volume to value” strategy.

PartyPoker has begun operating in a number of new national markets after GVC Holdings completed its deal to buy bwin.party.

Bwin’s online poker room has written to affiliates asking them to estimate the number of first time depositors they anticipate in each market.

New sign-ups from 18 countries in EU and South America served by bwin.Party were blocked in April 2013. The decision was likely a mix of regulatory concern and simple cost analysis. The remaining countries may represent markets either too small or simply unprofitable for bwin.party to maintain operations in.

Many EU countries on the list curbed or prohibited online poker such as Greece, Poland, Romania, Cyprus and Hungary. Finland and Serbia, on the other hand, had a small regulated online poker markets.

South American countries — Argentina, Brazil and Colombia — were also blocked same with three former Soviet Republics Armenia, Belarus and the Ukraine.

Many of the markets that PartyPoker is re-entering are expected to introduce online poker licensing systems such as Colombia, which opened a consultation on launching a regulated online gambling market. Brazil has approved a legislative attempt to legalize online sports betting, casino and bingo games last year.

Bwin.party group head of partypoker and Cashcade Tom Waters confirmed the news to EGR, saying that it had re-opened in a “limited number of regulated territories” following a “thorough review” of PartyPoker’s operations.

“Along with other operators in the industry, we do accept gameplay from customers based in yet to be regulated territories where customers are not prevented from accessing online gaming products,” said Waters. “We have re-opened registration for a number of markets and could potentially look to do more if the commercials support it.”

Bwin.party look to withdraw from 18 countries.

Bwin.party have announced they are blocking players from 18 countries within the EU and also South America. Those countries involved are Greece, Poland, Romania, Cyprus, Finland, Serbia, Armenia, Belarus, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil and finally Colombia.

The move was announced to affiliates by the company on an email on Friday 19th April.

On the email it said that from the 30th April no new singups will be accepted from those countries and also there was a request that all marketing material aimed at those countries be removed. However all existing accounts will remain open, and affiliate commission to those accounts will continue to be paid.

It is thought the move is connected with those countries mentioned looking to reduce or prohibit online gambling within their borders in the future along with the commercial aspect that those mentioned are small in operating value and allows bwin.party to focus their efforts on more lucrative markets such as the US and more recognised and profitable regions such as the UK and Spain.

Serbian police arrests two in first-ever raid on internet betting

Serbian police said Wednesday that they arrested two men suspected of running an unregistered internet betting site. The arrests are the first-ever in connection with online betting and lottery, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The suspects allegedly made more than 55 million dinars (750,000 dollars) since 2005 offering bets on football, basketball, tennis and hockey matches in Europe and North America.

They took payments by credit card and had the income transferred to their accounts from various offshore firms, paying no taxes on their unregistered business.

Following a raid, police seized 60,000 euros (80,000 dollars) in cash, several computers and two cars.

Sport betting in Serbia is legal and extremely popular. In its statement, the ministry promised to crack down on those operating without permits.