32Red is the most recent in a line of gaming businesses to exit the Australian market. The company will no longer permit new registrations from Australian gamers, attributing the decision to recent regulatory shifts.
This mirrors comparable actions taken by industry giants like William Hill, Vera&John, and 888 Holdings. PokerStars, which has already cautioned its Australian customers about possible account suspensions and a registration freeze, could be the next to follow suit.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill of 2016 is the impetus for these withdrawals. If enacted, this legislation would effectively outlaw all unlicensed internet gambling in Australia, including well-known online poker sites. Sports wagering, on the other hand, would be permitted.
The measure, which recently passed its third reading, suggests a number of steps to clamp down on unauthorized providers. These include hefty penalties, blocking access based on IP addresses, and compiling a blacklist of unlawful gambling websites. It is now awaiting a final vote in the House of Representatives, and if passed, it is expected to become law within a few months.
While 32Red, which runs a variety of online casinos, poker rooms, and sports betting sites, is discontinuing its primary services, the company has indicated that its partners will continue to get payments from current Australian players for the time being.
Marketing collaborators have been instructed to take down advertisements, clickable links, and other promotional content from their web pages. Additionally, they’ve been requested to cease all marketing efforts for 32Red offerings effective immediately.
Nevertheless, this legal measure isn’t anticipated to be voted on until the subsequent Australian government assembly in May 2017. Therefore, Australian poker enthusiasts can continue to partake in the forthcoming Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) organized by PokerStars. Projections suggest it will be the largest one to date, boasting a substantial $55 million in assured winnings!
admin