World’s largest poker site- PokerStars has announced the shutdown of its Australian online gaming operations on September 11, 2017. This drastic move has come after the Australian Senate passed a bill that seeks to ban unlicensed online casino and poker services to customers who are based in Australia.
Knowing that this would happen, PokerStars has already informed its Australian players that it was preparing for a mid-September exit from Australia. The decision was announced by the poker brand after the above-mentioned bill received Royal Assent, which meant that nothing would prevent it from taking effect as a law. It is not only PokerStars, the online gaming operator PartyPoker has also confirmed its exit from the Australian market. PartyPoker plans to leave Australia on August 31. Several other operators have already left Australia.
While PokerStars leaves Australia, it will continue offering its best poker play action through the main PokerStars client on Desktop, mobile & web, and through the newly launched PokerStars Play App on Android and iOS platforms. Any funds you have in Stars accounts are or will continue to be safe for withdrawals. Any tournament ticket or due tournament money will be converted to cash for withdrawal, effective the exit date.
As an advocate of sensible online gaming regulation, PokerStars hope that the future legislation will allow the company to return to Australian market and offer its online gaming services once again.