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Partypoker leaves the country but the Stars Group's online poker site is still available.
“We no longer offer our services in Switzerland due to regulatory changes,” - GVC
As Switzerland's new online gambling low came into effect, the operators had to adjust quickly, which resulted in GVC's Partypoker [3] exiting the middle-European country. Players can still log in to their Partypoker accounts, but only to withdraw funds.
The Stars Group's PokerStars remained active, with only its casino offering withdrawn. “The Stars Group continuously monitors the regulatory environments of the countries where players access our games from and where a regulatory model exists always seek to comply with it,” a statement issued by TSG to PRO [4] reads.
[5]
“Following such a review, we have taken the decision to discontinue the PokerStars Casino offer in Switzerland,” it continues. “Players will still have access to our full range of poker games at PokerStars. Players funds remain safe and available for withdrawal at all times,” the statement also adds.
Switzerland's Money Gaming Act adopted new rules in November 2018, permitting licensed casinos to bring their games online. The act came into effect on January 1, 2019. There are currently 21 licensed online casinos in the country and TSG is planning on cooperating with one of them.
“Switzerland is also a great market for us,” said CEO Rafi Ashkenazi. “It has been growing very, very meaningfully in the past couple of years and we are hoping to continue to grow it because there is such a positive momentum in the business with Switzerland.”
Partypoker's website is no longer available
The iPoker Network [6] may also be able to enter the Swiss market. A licensed operator the Swiss Casino Group announced earlier that they were working with Playtech to create an online product. Despite the announcement's lack of specific online poker would be a natural fit, as the company already has an online casino, which includes an online poker room.