Internet poker group PartyPoker has announced that they've ceased offering real money operations in the Czech Republic until it is able to obtain a gaming license in the country.
The group has been offering both free and real money play in the country, but in order to continue doing so legally they needed to to cease operations until the Czech regulator gives them the go-ahead. The country recently imposed their own licensing regime, and operators who offer services outside of that regulating body faced stiff penalties.
The move to get a license comes after industry giant PokerStars launched their Czech product this week, which would have cannibalized a lot of PartyPoker's audience, who may be wary of using an unlicensed operator.
Those who currently are PartyPoker users can still withdraw funds, or they can keep their account balances until the group is licensed and back operational.
Comments
Obviously Party Poker would loose some of their Czech punters waiting for a licence to the largest shark in online poker business which is PokerStars but they couldn't do much about it and things should start getting better once they get that license.